Quote Originally Posted by kookyinc View Post
The problem I'm having with you is that you take my examples as suggestions of a singular factor for something, and this is not what I'm doing. I said,
Now I get to make light of my qualify like you did with your "if and or" comment. I stated apparently because all you have talked about IS the bible. Please go on though and tell me of these other prejudice works that have developed homophobic behavior through the history of man. Or where are these monolithic homogenized cultures of intolerance? Also if it is not asking too much I would like to hear how people can "unconsciously" be homosexual. As if people can be gay without them knowing they actually are gay.


Quote Originally Posted by kookyinc View Post
Again, these are not the only factors, not all must be present, and multiple can be present in different people. I'm sorry it's not a formulaic rule, but please, try to understand, this is a fluid issue that can not be addressed with a rigid set of factors X, Y, and Z needing to always be present exactly as I state them.
If you can't understand that last paragraph, I promise that I will abandon all hope and cease talking to you on this thread because obviously it means you're as dense as a black hole.
I understand what you are trying to do but you don't see the basic level that I am trying to get out of you. One of your claims is that prejudice works or cultures create homophobic behavior. You seem to think that they are a given and start from there. This to me is an inadequate starting point. Why are these works created and why do people attach themselves to it? What is at the base of this? That is what I am trying to get your answer about but you are just on the periphery with you sentiments like how religion causes it or something similar to that.


Quote Originally Posted by kookyinc View Post
Actually, yes. It's called dogma. It's called fearing to question one's belief for fear of hellfire (in this example which relates to Christianity). People don't just sit down and question what they believe about the nature of human existence, the meaning of life, and the universe itself just willy-nilly. Why would they if they believe something strongly enough? And why would they if they believe that examining these concepts with a critical eye will lead to eternal damnation? Some just do not want to take this risk, however nonexistent it may be to the outside observer. Take it from an ex-Christian, it took a lot of persuading and suggesting to get me to even consider re-examining my faith.
How do you know that people don't question the nature of human existence. That is probably one of the reasons people do get into religion because they think it retains answers about why they are here, what they are suppose to do, how to do it and what comes from doing it. Admittedly humans do think they have the answer until they are confronted with something that contradicts or lessens the value of their answer but with all the "non-Christian" happens of the world evolving in the eyes of Christians, how can they not be led to question?



Quote Originally Posted by kookyinc View Post
Again, because if you are taught from birth that clouds are made of ghosts and if you doubt for even a second that clouds are made of ghosts, the ghosts will tie you to a bed and beat you with reeds for eternity, you won't even dare to doubt whether clouds are ghosts. Some people are taught to never think critically and objectively.
I think that would deny people a conscious which sociopaths don't have but being a sociopath doesn't follow to you being a homophobe or vice-versa.


Quote Originally Posted by kookyinc View Post
Correct, but no intelligent person would say that every person in a culture believes all of the exact same things. It's more of a generalization. For the most part, people think X or Y.
Then is it really a culture? Or just an abstract to better compartmentize terms? Does a culture even believe one thing unanimously?


Quote Originally Posted by kookyinc View Post
Here it appears you mix the words "majority" and "everyone." Most very strong Christians think that at least homosexuality is a sin when practiced. Not all, most. Many people in the USA are homophobic because the culture in the States generally makes homosexuals and homosexuality the butt of a joke or an insult (an example being, "That's so gay.") Not all, but many.
So you think homophobic behavior stems from saying things like "that's gay?" What if homosexual people where to use this phrase?


Quote Originally Posted by kookyinc View Post
I'm not talking about an ignorance to whether homosexuality exists, I mean an ignorance to how a homosexual person feels.
I'm a straight male. I do not know how it feels to be romantically attracted to a man. I know some men feel these feelings, but I do not know what they feel like. Thus, it is harder for me to empathize with these feelings compared to if I had to empathize with the feelings of a straight man. Granted, this alone does not make one a homophobe, but when this lack of empathy is combined with a culture that can breed contempt for gays, you can get a solution of homophobia.
Yes, but homosexuals aren't imbued with some remarkable emotion that heterosexuals don't have. They are human, you are human so it seems practical to say that what a homosexual thinks and feels of love is probably the same as you think and feel love. Of course you can trying to turn it into metaphors by saying love is like 100 chocolates or whatever but both you and a homosexual would elicit the same "love" response.

Anyways, I think this topic has run its course. I will give you the last word since you've been a good sport.