We get all sorts of letters at Outsports. Here's one that arrived today:

Your website, that I found by mistake, is disgusting in the way it
portrays
sex in the Olympics. It should not be played out that way be sexually
describing the athletes. Yes you have a right to your choice, and it
is a
choice, not a trait, or sickness. God is a perfect God, and therefore
would
not go against His word in the Bible. Homosexuality is an abomination
to
God, and unless you repent, confess your sin to Jesus, and become born
again, you will not see the kingdom of heaven. Yes that is right.
Read it
yourself and you will see. You cannot disprove the Bible. It is the
perfect word of God. I pray that those that have chosen the deviate
lifestyles will come to their senses and realize that God will forgive
them,
and then they receive Him as their Lord and Saviour.

God will bless you,

Mike

Five bucks says he got a chubby while looking at some of the pics.

Did the letter come on Stationery from some right wing, bible thumping, hate mongering church?? These people amaze me at how un christ like they can be.

This reminds me of one of my all time favorite bumper stickers. Jesus protect me from your followers!

Mike

What sex is in the Olympics? Synchronized sixty-nine? wink

It was an e-mail, not a letter. I simply wrote back:
Thanks for writing.

Saying any more only encourages them!

A truly hellbound individual would have taken the opportunity to post that bozo's email address all over the internet. Very classy of you not to do that.

You know I should have done the same. When I ran for student assembly in college I got a few nasty emails (like that) from one person. I forwarded each one to the Judicial Administrator. Of course that caused him to send more emails. No sense in trying to win a pissing match with a skunk eh?

That's what happens when you "accidentally" google "Paul Hamm naked."

That was a classy and appropriate response.
I commend your restraint.
I find I seldom have it myself anymore.

Rob

Maybe, being the true bible-thumper they are, they just googled "Paul naked"?

Yikes, I am going to burn in hell!

If Heaven is a place where Falwell, Robertson and Bush will eventually reside, then I'll gladly take Hell. And I'll keep a seat warm for each of you. Cocktails will be served at 5pm every day. The drag show is optional.

Yay! Hell! Hmmm, what to pack? I hear it's a dry heat.

In hell, the drag show would be mandatory, wouldn't it? :confused:

Odd that you would go to the trouble to start a thread that has no point other than confirming the fact that some people are idiots.

Are you simply trying to stir the pot?

I don't think the point was just that idiots exist--it's a reminder that there are people who are still doing proactive things to tell us as gay people that the problem is not what we do, it's who we are.

And I don't consider the message board to have the same impact/attention as Outsports editorial content. Clearly you have to be digging pretty deep into Outsports to find a particular posting, so this is designed for those of us who choose to participate, not just for those who scan the home page.

So what's wrong with stirring the pot--especially if we're all going to burn?!

[ August 20, 2004, 05:04 AM: Message edited by: Brent ]

See, it's people like this that scare people away from religion and the Bible. His theory is that he will make us turn away from God since, in Mike's eyes, God hates us so much. And as we turn away from God, Mike will have even more stones to throw our way. Don't believe Mike's Nazi-like hatred and bigotry. I AM NOT ASHAMED to say that I BELIEVE in God, that I go to a BAPTIST church (that welcomes me!), that I AM a Christian, and that I AM gay. I feel very sorry for "Mike". I can only wonder why he has not felt the love and compassion from the one God we both worship. I pray that God shows mercy while teaching him to love and understand those whom he will not allow himself to accept.

[ August 20, 2004, 06:12 AM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]

FROM MIKE: "Homosexuality is an abomination to God, and unless you repent, confess your sin to Jesus, and become born again, you will not see the kingdom of heaven. Yes that is right. Read it yourself and you will see."

Boy I'd love to have a conversation with Mike! I would explain to him that he needs to do more than just read the Bible, but also understand it. And separate out the misconceptions created by our culture.

For one, Mike himself points out that 'homosexuality is an abomination' and then says we need to 'confess your sin'. If Mike understood the Bible he would know that "sin" and "abomination" are two different things. Eating pork is an abomination, a man cutting his hair is an abomination, and mixing natural and un-natural fibers (like a poly/cotton blend shirt!) is an abomination (all from the book of Leviticus). But they are not sins. A sin is a much more serious greviance.

Second, anyone claiming to be a Christian who threatens others with damnation to hell are also lacking any serious understanding of the religion. Because, there are NO unforgiveable sins. Anyone and anything can be forgiven.

And something that Mike should know and everyone should point out if you are confronted with this -- "homosexuality" is NEVER in the Bible. The concept of homosexuality did not exist in ancient Hebrew or Greek cultures, nor did the word exist. The idea of homosexuality as a sexual identity has only been in existance for a little over 100 years. The Bible was written about 2000 years ago, so obviously any reference to homosexuals or homosexuality is something that has been "revised in" during modern times.

Oh, and if anyone looked at Netscape today, they had a number of sections on meeting the "sexy stars of team USA" with numerous photos and articles of female athletes in skimpy outfits. Guess we're not the only ones mixing sex and the Olympics.

[ August 20, 2004, 06:35 AM: Message edited by: HotlantaTarheel ]

Only a sadistic god would have made me gay so that he could condemn me to an eternity in hell for it.

I think I am in pretty good standing with whoever runs this joint. God doesn't hate gay people.

My parents are very religious and they used to say similar things to me. Not so much the "you're going to hell" as the "you need to repent" stuff ... and I used to be very offended by it all. But as I've gotten a bit older and a bit wiser (I hope), I came to realize that people are colored by their perspectives. My family is from a small suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, and they've rarely done too much outside of their community ... certainly they were never exposed to much open homosexuality. All they ever heard were condemnations from the Bible/in church or stories on tv and their opinions were formed accordingly.

I'm not trying to make excuses for this guy, my family, or anyone else ... but I had to learn for my own sake that everyone is human; we all have our strengths and flaws. This guy probably isn't the hateful monster you'd imagine. I know in my heart that (1) people don't choose to be gay and (2) even if they did it wouldn't matter, that (3) all paths, all religions lead to God and (4) God loves us all. Above all else, it's important for me to believe in a loving God. Being sure of my own beliefs allows me to take into consideration what this guy has to say and discard it without personally letting it get to me. That is a choice I make, because hate in your heart will consume you too.

Just a little something to throw out there. His intentions were good, however misguided and however much we may disagree. I say thank you, Mike,for your concern and for taking the time to email. And tonight I'll give my boyfriend an extra kiss.



[ August 20, 2004, 06:57 AM: Message edited by: Gaga4Gaby ]

Could it be Cobb County?

Nope. Clayton

I hope that if Mike finds this thread of messages, he reads this position paper my pastor wrote about the Church and homosexuality. He wrote it in the 1990s after my church was kicked out of the Southern Baptist Convention (as well as out of the Baptist General Convention of Texas) after a homosexual became a Deacon in my church.

You're a better man than I, then, because I think he's just a plain old-fashioned bigot.

Don't feel bad, Joe. I'm better than everyone I know.

That's right! - sex has NO place in the Olympics. Which is why, of course, that Durex has donated !130,000 condoms! for the 17,000 athletes competing. Apparently aside from the medal hopefuls, the athletes are turning the games into a big boink fest - and I have to believe there's at least some same-sex loving going on (I mean, softball is an olympic sport, right? so we know our Sapphic friends are there in force).

Not to mention the athletes - male and female - who have posed almost or completely nude prior to the games. Clearly the competitors have a real hang-up about sex.

Not to mention that the original Olympics were all male, athletes competed nude, rubbed with olive oil. It was considered not just acceptable but expected for young athletes to have sexual relations with their mentors.

Forward to present day. Men's beach volleyball is played by athletes in shorts and T-shirts, looks appropriate considering they leap, throw, fall down in the sand. Women's beach volleyball is played by athletes in skimpy bikinis. A lot of the audience is male. But of course it's only gays who mix sex and sports.

Well in a way, the email was written to all of us. So Jim sharing it with us makes sense. Besides let's consider the fun factor!

This nimrod should perhaps put his bible down for a few minutes and read any one of many books about the ancient Olympic games. He will see that the athletes were nude and that many of them were big old fags. When those gymnasts dismounted, they really dismounted. wink And Team Handball had a whole differnt meaning. Thank you New York I'll be here all week!

Anyhoo why do these twits who write these diatribes always have the worst grammar, sentence structure and spelling? Perhaps Trailer Park Internet Service could provide some sort of Grammar Tutorial?

Love this line

Yeah bang-up job with the horrid conditions throughout Africa. And India. The Middle East. Central America. Let's be real here, if there is a God, he ain't perfect. And what's the deal with porcupines? Were they really neccessary? wink

And the thread title:

Can I have a window seat? And I'll have the chicken please. And let's face it, if heaven is full of the emailer and his ilk, hell is just fine with me. Maybe we Outsporters could have a Super Bowl soiree! :cool:

I certainly hope not.

I've never done drag, but I have this feeling if I did, I'd look like Phyllis Diller BEFORE the facelift.

Or like PF when he goes out on the weekend, but then maybe that's the whole idea of hell.

And the lube will probably dry up WAY too fast.

He who brings up Phyllis Diller should not throw stones at the one who brings up Mrs. Klugman eh??

Hell's not so bad. Once you get used to the Muzak versions of Springsteen and the 24/7 Judith Krantz readathons, it's a day at the beach!

~Adam

Brent, stirring the pot usually prevents whatever's inside it from burning, so bring on Mama's big wooden spoon and turn up the fire! :mad:

Good job deconstructing "Mike's" claims, Hotlanta. This simplified, dumbed-down theology is ludicrous at times!

NPR yesterday had a show on "Sex In The Ancient Olympics," which I missed unfortunately. If any NPR freaks can link us to it, I think we'd all find it as fascinating as dismissive of "Mike's" view of the Sacred Games. Actually, I'm surprised he didn't object to their pagan origin. But that would have required some learning and consistency of thought.

I am NOT trying to defend "Mike", but God IS perfect, He makes no mistakes (that's why we are normal and not freaks, as "Mike" would like for us to believe), and His plan for the world is perfect, too. There is a lot we see as wrong in the world, but we are not able to see from God's perspective why things are the way they are or why they happen the way they do, but it all works toward a perfect goal. I believe in predestination so much that I am surprised that I haven't joined the Presbyterian Church.

Imagine no religion
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

Exactly. And if I read the Gospels correctly, the ones who are quickest to condemn others are the ones who should be most worried about their "fire" insurance. eek!

As always I find myself loving a Jim Allen post.

I'm still waiting to hear about the actual sex in the Olympics he talks about, like synchronized sixty-nine..."Wow, they're like a well-oiled machine...oh, NO! A costly mistake! Jones did an extra tongue twirl around the knob while his teammate Smith started a steady deep throating! The judges will deduct points for sure..."

Organized religion has poisoned Christianity - and all other religions. Jesus would not be pleased to see how people use him to justify hatred and ignorance.

Yeah, I'm sure Jesus is none too pleased. And Jesus is probably also not too enthused about returning either. The last time he was here he got nailed to a tree and died. Would you wanna go back? I didn't think so.

I won't believe in Heaven and Hell,
No saints, no sinners, no Devil as well,
No pearly gates, no thorny crown.
You're always lettin' us humans down.
The wars you bring, the babes you drown,
Those lost at sea and never found.
And it's the same the whole world 'round,
The hurt I see helps to compound
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Is just somebody's unholy hoax.
And if you're up there, you perceive
That my heart's here upon my sleeve.
If there's one thing I don't believe in...
It's you,
Dear God.

Quote the whole song!

Nah, the rest of it is theologically fuzzy and unsupportable. God really can't be concerned with the price of beer, can She?

My God surely is, though lately I'm trying to get her more concerned with the price of vodka.

Are these two going to hell, too? I mean c'mon, gay sex in the sand in front of a crowd?


Happy, Happy

Joy, Joy.

Surely they will be collectible, so I went to eBay and searched for \"condoms olympic\". There was one hit, but it's for a pin. The pin depicts five condoms linked to mimic the five rings that make up the Olympics symbol. I'm sure it violates the IOC's carefully guarded trademark.

Give it some time. Olympic condoms will show up soon enough.

Olympics condom pin.

gmginsfo said:

NPR has a link called NPR Goes to the Games, but I couldn't get it to open correctly.

[ August 21, 2004, 10:29 AM: Message edited by: twin58 ]

PatSanFran, hahahahaha! [sing-songy kids voice used for taunting] Dax is a bottom! Dax is a bottom!*

* Not that there's anything wrong with that.

No indeed - without all thos enice bottoms out there where would I be? - VERY FRUSTRATED! :mad: eek!

Rob

How interesting that the writer of the letter is encouraging us to read the Bible and see the truth. That's exactly what the defrocked Irish priest who attacked the Marathon racer in the Olympics as well as walking onto the track at the Grand Prix race in England wants us to do. I once was a leader of a Bible study group and for the life of me I don't remember it saying anything about disrupting sporting events!

Wait....is there a pic of Paul Hamm naked somewhere????

We wish.