Do pro-LGBT and "anti"-LGBT Christians often talk past each other?

[Thorolfr]

I can’t think of any instance where society suggested to me that the the defining factor about me was my status as a heterosexual.

Since more than 90% of the population is probably heterosexual, what would be the reason for most people to identify themselves that way unless it’s to make the point that they’re not homosexual? That doesn’t mean, however, that the sexuality of heterosexuals is not important in their lives. But if I never identified myself as gay and no one else did either, how would I ever meet other people like me? Even if someone who is gay is not looking to meet someone for a romantic relationship, they might want to meet for friendship or support, or for political reasons.

Also, for most gay people, their sexuality is not the only “defining factor” about who they are. It’s one factor among many. Speaking for myself, among the things that might define who I am are my family’s heritage (mostly of early New England stock with English origins), my nationality (American), the university I attended, my religion, my political affiliation, my profession, and my sexuality (gay). My sexuality is not the only defining factor and in fact it rarely ever comes up in what I do day to day outside of the Internet. I can’t even remember the last time I told someone in person that I’m gay.

 

[Annie]

People on one side (within the Church) are focusing on homosexual acts , and the discussion around homosexuality is always connected to this issue.

People from another perspective (still within the Church) are focusing on homosexual persons more generally, because they see that homosexuality is not merely a disordered desire to sexual activity, but a more encompassing factor that determines how someone desires to live in relationship, share love, etc.

I think the main problem here is two-fold.

One is that in discussing the “policy” aspect of an issue, we discuss it in a different way than we do when we discuss the “human” aspect of the issue.

This division of ways of discussing things was obliterated by the feminist saying, the personal is political, which while having a good point, should not be the sole structure in existence for discussion.

So, I might argue vociferously against legalizing same-sex marriage, but that does not indicate how I would interact on a personal basis with a “married” same-sex couple.

The second part of the problem is that a lot of people assume that I would behave hatefully towards homosexual people because I argue against a policy that homosexual activists want (and have gotten).

 

[ascetic]

If your question lies in the thread title and in the last line as you said to Nelka, then your answer is yes.

Sadly, that tends to happen ubiquitously. Just look at the marijuana and the firearm threads on these forums and also: public discourse in general! Although I will say the former tends to do it better than the later.

I think that’s because people don’t really want to be of one mind as St. Paul instructs us, even if only unconsciously. Rather, they want to win.