Firstly I would like to make clear, I did not write this article. The Northern Irish newspaper, The Belfast Telegraph wrote it.I just want to see what the kawmunities opinion is. A plea has gone out from the Christian Institute for funds to support the firm ahead of the court case in March. Ashers - a Christian-run business - is being taken to court by the publicly-funded body after refusing to include a slogan 'Support gay marriage' on a cake ordered by a gay activist. In today's paper the Christian Institute states: "We're supporting Ashers Baking Co as they face court for upholding marriage". The full-page ad on page 15, featuring a photograph of Daniel McArthur, Ashers' general manager, continues: "The taxpayer-funded Equality Commission is taking Ashers Baking Company to court for refusing to decorate a cake with the message 'support gay marriage'. "The Christian Institute's Legal Defence Fund supports Christians facing difficulties for holding to their religious beliefs in an increasingly secular society." It adds: "Help us help Ashers and others like them." The Christian Institute is a nondenominational Christian charity. Its website accepts minimum donations of £10 but it estimates the cost of fighting the Equality Commission will run to tens of thousands of pounds. Simon Calvert from the Christian Institute explained that while it was difficult to put a figure on the cost of legal proceedings, "we can be confident it will run into tens of thousands of pounds for this particular case". If the case goes to appeal the legal bill will run even higher. "No matter how small or large the donation, we will be incredibly grateful. It will help us help people like the McArthur family," Mr Calvert said. Although most of the Legal Defence Fund's work goes under the radar, the Ashers case has made headlines across the UK. Mr Calvert claimed that the McArthurs were admired for "graciously taking a stand for the Christian faith". He added that the Christian Institute had received thousands of calls in support of the McArthurs and when he recently addressed a meeting in Reading, west London, the congregation inquired about the Ashers case. "They have sympathy and compassion for their plight," Mr Calvert said. The Equality Commission has backed the complaint of discrimination following the incident at Ashers Bakery in Newtownabbey last July. The cake was ordered for an event to mark International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. Bible roots Ashers Baking Co was founded and is run by Christians. It is named after one of the 12 tribes of Israel. Following the completion of the conquest of Canaan by the Israelite tribes, Joshua allocated the land among the 12 tribes. To Asher - who were gifted bakers - he assigned western Galilee, (Joshua 19:24-31). The-Raj opinion below. In my opinion this was pretty clear discrimination. Where in the Bible does it say,"Thou shall not bake a cake with a pro-gay marriage slogan!"? Faith and ignorance have fine line. I am not religious but I respect my fellow humans. I show compassion and try to help those in need. Piling pressure on a heavily supported yet vunerable group is in my opinion idiotic. Raj out. Leave your thoughts below. No blatant Gay bashing in forums, same goes for religion.
Re: An Interesting News Story Much reading prowess you have. If you are willing to add positively to this thread please enlighten me. If not leave.
Re: An Interesting News Story It is a dividing topic really. As much as there is clear gender discrimination in this case. There also are people who have the right to their religious beliefs. If you ask me then I will support the person who was biased against on the basis of gender. You do not need to bring your religious beliefs in your business dealings. Religion is best kept at home and in the church or where ever may your God reside. No one ever saw God in person say that he opposes gays. If you have to believe scriptures handed down from centuries and bring them in your dealings on a daily basis then you should think again. I pray to God as well. However I do not oppose nor dicriminate against fellow humans based on what I have been told by my ancestors about God. Disclaimer: These are my beliefs and I do not mean any harm to what your beliefs may be.
Re: An Interesting News Story Why is it everytime I see any religious article from where ever. It does only one thing. Invite hatred amd prejudice of some sort. Scrap all religions grow up accept when you're dead that's it game over and enjoy life while you can. App religion does is cause conflict through fear of eternal damnation anyway. No matter which religion you look at they state " worship me or go go to hell " or similar meanings. It's all bs. Live happy do no harm and make the best possible life for your family
Re: An Interesting News Story I gave you constructive criticism. Make it better, and not a brick wall of words
There is an anti-gay bias in KaW too... Just look at the first bar we hit in AFF...why do we have to attack and ass the gaze of Moutos???
Re: An Interesting News Story I agree with the points you have made, yet people will always be desperate for hope. That is where religion comes in.
Re: An Interesting News Story @Optimal If it is as you say, then why do we have order? Go shoot up a school? Rob a bank? Cause mayhem. I'm not going to be held accountable for it. Who cares about you people? If anything, religion has held our world together with the belief of a heaven and hell.
Aj why do you think for so many centuries it was the churches and religious leaders dealing with justice. To maintain order and put the fear of god into the masses. Simple manipulation to control people and install fear that provides a more submissive docile community. People need hope because they fear death more than anything. They fear that nothing comes next. The reason we don't all go out and kill maim etc. hopefully we are a little more evolved these days. But certainly don't assume we didnt used to behave that way. Humanity has been barbaric and done exactly that. It's why communities grew. Strength in numbers. And this game is actually a very amusing representation of why people came together to start off with.
Re: An Interesting News Story While I appreciate your opinion, can you relate this to the topic at hand? Also Religion and basic morals are seperate. I am non-religious and consider myself a decent human.
If people fear death why will I jump off a bridge at the drop of a hat? Anyways its the buissness right to refuse service for any reason.
You mean other than a religious order defining what is socially acceptable within a region and it itself set up the anti gay mentality in its teachings centuries earlier. The institutionalised hatred and cultures all around the world. The lack of tolerance all created by religion. Nope sorry cannot explain the hypocrisy there. People need to accept that there is a consequence for their religion and lifestyle choices. Stop looking to something or some being else to justify your life and actions. Take responsibility for yourselves. And for some people be grateful they don't live in a nation that would kill them for just being in love.
First of all, damn wall of text. I understand your opinion on this. Though, I believe people get a bad taste of God and link those who do wrong with him. Yes, some religious leaders are/were/is corrupt. There are corrupt people everywhere. Have you ever explored the possibly that those leaders were using God as a means of pushing their non-religious goals? People sin. (Do bad) We all sin. There is no fear of God. Most none believers make him seem more evil than he his portrayed. Again, don't link those who do wrong with him. I haven't assumed anything. The world is too sophisticated for it to be over after death. There would be no point in any of this. Tell me, what is the point? Why do we live good lives? Why do we have morals? Why do we follow any laws? Because it's the correct thing to do? Because we are "evolved?" No. I refuse to believe in that because we are sophisticated. Thousands of years from now, We will look just as barbaric as the men from the beginning of time.
The problem with Christianity now, is that people have opinions on everything. The bible says love thy neighbor. If my neighbor is gay, so what. I don't care. It doesn't affect me nor should it affect any other Christian.
Arc do you calculate the risk before you jump and know you have a high certainty of survival? If not your are trying to commit suicide. If yes. You are just as fearful of death as every other adrenaline junkie on the planet. But accept risk v reward and the reward is a massive buzz you only get pushing yourself to the limit.
The problem with religion and an all powerful god is simple. Child cancer. Still born children. Disease Now I'm not perfect. But I'm pretty certain that if I were a god capable of creating all life one earth I would forget to create cancer and a whole host of other issues.
Uh no you don't survive with weights locked to you. It's not for a buzz its because life is meaningless and cruel
So.. The person who doesnt support gay marriage must directly support it by selling a cake with propaganda displayed on it? Yet people whom dislike christian charities can hold media attention protests at the doorsteps of Hobby Lobby or Chick-Fil-A? Skewed logic there... You don't like it, go elsewhere for service. There are plenty of places that cater to certain lifestyles. Its called free market.