Christie to sign ban on gay conversion therapy, says homosexuality is not a sin

[memphis]

Support the law 100%. But I am horrified to hear a sitting gov'r engage in this nonsensical "sin" foolishness. Perhaps he can next tell us his opinions about unicorns.

[memphis]

Good. It's psychological harm of the deepest and most disrespectful kind. The very fact that these places exist to feed off the fears of parents who then coerce their child into going there, or leaving scared young people with no choice is disgraceful. Telling young people the fact they feel like sh-t is because they are gay rather than the fact that everyone around them is moronically homophobic and sending them into an environment full of repressed religous queens who all pretend it's working is just pathetic. Pathetic, sad and lonely people run these organisations who all say 'it works look at me!' while they are in the programme and like any quackery or cult, the moment they leave they admit that it was all a load of damaging and often expensive crap.

Exactly.

As for the argument that banning this violates religious freedom, freedom of religion does not cover such idiotic psychological abuse.

Religion, by definition, is idiotic psychological abuse. We're all sinners in the hands of an angry God.

[memphis]

Religion, by definition, is idiotic psychological abuse. We're all sinners in the hands of an angry God.

Not all religion is as obsessed with sin and rage as the Fundamentalists tend to be.

The emphasis does vary, but isn't a need for salvation due to man being fundamentally broken universal? I'm thinking more of Western religion, of course. I don't think the word religion applies to lot of Eastern thought.

[memphis]

Speaking very anectodotally as an American Jew with ultra-Orthodox relatives, most Jews in America are not particularly observant. It's very much an ethnic identity, but as far as keeping kosher and all the rest, it's far too much hassle. Only the very, very serious do. Christianity doesn't ask as much. All you have to do is believe, and maybe go to church for an hour on Sunday. It's a much easier thing to get sucked into. And it seems to stunt intellectual growth. How many Nobel Prize winners are devout Christians. They've been told science is fatally flawed from a young age and they totally close their minds to it. Seeing young children instructed in religion is a very sad thing.