Thread: Qualifications for parents

Originally Posted by gugi

I don't think this is the case. Our modern society is far more moral than the ones before it. For example things like slavery, racism, gender equality, acknowledging the right of other people to be different even if you disagree with them, even considering that parents aren't free to treat their children as possessions.... way different than these things used to be.

Of course, some may consider the current views on these to be immoral, but I don't think anybody who has posted so far in this thread is like this.

I do realize that there is plenty of people who consider homosexuality to be immoral, or various other types of sexual behavior for that matter, but I'd say that most of these things are completely arbitrary.
Pedophilia, for example, used to be the way to go not too far back.

I tastefully disagree. Most schools have metal detectors in them. Drug abuse, suicides, teen pregnancies, vulgarity, lack of respect, and abortions, just to mention a few, are all off the charts compared to 50 years ago. Our entertainment industry belongs in a toilet. Am I wrong?

The point of all of this is 1. the foster kids are property of the state. 2. if you dont' belive in the policies of the state, then you will not have the state's property placed into your guardianship.

the State can discriminate based upon religion, but the citizens cannot.

Originally Posted by mhailey

The point of all of this is 1. the foster kids are property of the state. 2. if you dont' belive in the policies of the state, then you will not have the state's property placed into your guardianship.

the State can discriminate based upon religion, but the citizens cannot.

I think you are splitting hairs the wrong way.

The state is not discriminating based on religion, but on whether they condone homosexuality. Like others have said, there are plenty of Christians that are okay with homosexuality.

It is flat out state sanctioned discrimination against a religious belief.

This thread is not about the tenants of Christianity, and whether or not Christianity is tolerant of homosexuality. As such I will not engage in such a discussion in this thread.

Originally Posted by mhailey

It is flat out state sanctioned discrimination against a religious belief.

This thread is not about the tenants of Christianity, and whether or not Christianity is tolerant of homosexuality. As such I will not engage in such a discussion in this thread.

No, its about basic human right. Whether or not a religious group condemns or condones it is beside the point.

Originally Posted by markevens

No, its about basic human right. Whether or not a religious group condemns or condones it is beside the point.

I agree this thread is about basic human rights. The question is who/what determines what those rights are since they have to be "codified" some where, some how, some way.

That there is the difficult part isn't it?! That is why, I guess, laws are made to suit the majority opinion rather than the individual.


Mick

Originally Posted by mhailey

It is flat out state sanctioned discrimination against a religious belief.

So you're saying if the couple had said they were atheists and they just thought being homosexual was wrong the state would be fine with it?

That the state was only concerned with the fact that the belief they had was religious?

Originally Posted by markevens

For me, it isn't whether a parent teaches a kid their religion (which I think all religious parents will, and its not necessarily a bad thing) but whether or not they allow their child to doubt and question, and particularly whether or not they instill open-mindedness or close-mindedness.

Well said This is basically what I'm trying to say.

Originally Posted by frank47

MickR, just to know where you are coming from and where your bounds are, what if one of your kids decides to be a Roman Catholic priest or nun. What would you do?

I am coming from the place that respects tolerance, and as one who tries very hard to be tolerant, even if I disagree with what is being said. Being human it doesn't always work that way, as my patience is limited just like anybody else's. My boundary is fairly wide, but within reason. If one of my children aspired to a life of religion, any religion, that would be their choice, and one that I would research, if necessary, to give them all the pro's and con's of, so that they would enter into it knowing full well what to expect,or search for something else. My children have not been baptised/indoctrinated into any one faith. They will be able to start with a clean slate into any religious venture they so choose to take...If they so choose to believe in any.

Originally Posted by TrilliumLT

Gay, Straight, whatever. religious, atheist, whatever. All that really matters is that there is a roof over there heads food in there belly and that they have a good moral compass.

I agree 100%

Originally Posted by frank47

I tastefully disagree. Most schools have metal detectors in them. Drug abuse, suicides, teen pregnancies, vulgarity, lack of respect, and abortions, just to mention a few, are all off the charts compared to 50 years ago. Our entertainment industry belongs in a toilet. Am I wrong?

We don't all come from planet america! Yes, some of that occurs even in this little backwater called Australia. Compare all that to middle age Europe and I think you will find a lot of that happened then too...Well maybe not the metal detectors or schools part .
I think you're right though, it is a big problem in the U.S. Did you know that the U.S has one of the highest percentage of their population who are devout christian...I guess religion isn't the answer if you look at all those issues together. High percentage of problems and high percentage of people who turn to god to solve all their problems...Might make a good argument for the atheists out there .

My extended family has people with a wide range of beliefs, I have devout catholics, devout church of england, devout buddist, practitioners of witchcraft and even dyed in the wool atheists. My Parents, Uncles, Aunts, Siblings and myself, all still get along just fine despite our chosen beliefs.


Mick

Originally Posted by frank47

I tastefully disagree. Most schools have metal detectors in them. Drug abuse, suicides, teen pregnancies, vulgarity, lack of respect, and abortions, just to mention a few, are all off the charts compared to 50 years ago. Our entertainment industry belongs in a toilet. Am I wrong?

I think part of the problem is the tendency to idealize the past. Was there less or more violence 50 years ago? I think it depends how you measure it. And the way you describe things it appears that you are measuring it rather subjectively without taking into account the overexposure and sensationalism of the current media compared to 50 years ago.

As far as abortions go 50 years ago abortions were illegal and thus way unsafer, so direct comparison is rather silly.

Every generation seems to think that their children are far far worse than them.

As far as entertainment, you know that when a lot of the old christian hymns that nowadays are symbols of piety were written they were considered almost a blasphemy because they were using worldly tunes suited for taverns. I know there's a lot of trash on the TV and you know what - my TV set has been collecting dust in the attic for many years. I can pick and choose to entertain myself with stuff I enjoy and so can everybody else. Some people enjoy playing say grand theft auto, and I think the fact that they enjoy the violence has nothing to do with the availability of the game.,
You know what christianity says about these things - if you have it in your heart you're just as bad as if you have actually done the deed (yet the laws of our society are based mostly on actions and not on beliefs like it used to be).