LilithSlave said:
Ah, I'm glad I found this video again. It much better explains my position against the Salvation Army that I can usually say in my own words.
I'll give my take on the issue and that's all it is, my take.
The people at the Salvation Army do not let their beliefs get in the way of helping anyone in need.
Let me make it clear that any person who decides not to donate to a charity over this difference in belief...
Is also entirely justified as they are entitled to give to the charity of their choosing.
My problem with this movement is thus,
the Salvation Army is also a religious group and are anti-homosexuality? (I dislike the umbrella nature of this sentiment but we'll go with it).
They're allowed to be.
You can't force a person into how to live or who to be in life and that goes both ways (pun not intended).
The same right to beliefs can't be taken away from anyone. Not by religion, not by legislation, not by punishment of death.
This is the power of will.
Damaging the reputation of a charity that does good work and saves lives over a difference in opinion that is
irrelevant is a fucking shitty thing to do. It is, evidently, irrelevant to the work of the charity. It is irrelevant to the people they're helping. It is irrelevant.
The only example I could find in a quick search:
-Ministers within the church cannot be practitioners of homosexual sex.
Which is entirely consistent with their theological beliefs. Although, it was denied exemption from anti-discrimination laws by the US federal government in 2001.
-The Salvation Army maintains that they were "not trying to get permission to discriminate against hiring gays and lesbians for the majority of its roughly 55,000 jobs and merely wanted a federal regulation that made clear that the charity did not have to ordain sexually active gay ministers and did not have to provide medical benefits to the same-sex partners of employees." <--- Denied by US federal government.
-The Salvation Army offers its services to all who qualify, regardless of sexual orientation, and opposes the abuse of people based on sexual orientation. However, they also oppose gay marriage: "Christians whose sexual orientation is primarily or exclusively same-sex are called upon to embrace celibacy as a way of life."
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvation_army
In short, I believe that anti-homosexual points of view are fine as long as they don't directly attack the freedom of others and I think the Salvation Army satisfies those criteria, it's nothing personal. For the record; I support gay rights due to the fundamental freedoms they promote.
Anyway, thanks for sticking with me, while the video you shared was certainly interesting and informative I'd like to hear your personal opinion if you have the time. May you do so knowing that you are well within your rights to disagree with me.