How would you react if a very religious person accepted his sons being atheist and gay?

Sounds like a good dad to me. The message question is tricky, as receiving skills are as important as sending skills. He could think he’s sending one message, but an entirely different one might be received.

@BellaB Let’s speculate he doesn’t really think of sending any message (but still sends one anyways). What would be the entirely different message you mention?

I was wondering what reaction would such an unusual decision cause.

I’d be super impressed. It makes me so sad when people’s religion outweighs their love for their children. To see the opposite would be heartwarming.

@Sneki95 , what is the unusual decision?

Bob is a loving father, who accepts and loves his son as a whole person.

The message he is sending to the world is, “Thus the love of God which abides in everyone is expressed by me.”

@BellaB well, his accepting his sons? At least I’ve never heard of such a case. Where I live, I’ve never heard of any case of parents responding to a gay child in a way that is not throwing out of the house. Having a religious figure, like a priest, accepting the atheism and homosexuality from his kids somewhat seemed unusual decision to me. Perhaps I should’ve said “unheard of” rather than unusual.

@zenvelo That was what I kinda aimed for.

Ah, ok. I haven’t seen that kind of rejection in a few decades, definitely not in my family or immediate circle. My parents and their friends were always very accepting of other people. I’ve read about rejection like that, but it sort of disappeared here in the 1980’s.

I’ll have to think about what things were like back then.

Bob is someone I’d love to meet and would certainly respect and admire.

“Heretic!”

Maybe Bob is smart enough to know that ‘God” has nothing against homosexuality, it was the Catholics and Romans that did the re-write on this.

All Christians should be that loving.

It happens all the time is what I think. Love for one’s children and a Christian faith that believes in acceptance and treating all people as one would hope to be treated sounds right to me.

Of course there are plenty of Christians who don’t behave that way, but many do.

I haven’t lived among people so intolerant as to reject their children for being atheist or queer in a very long time. The situation that you describe does not occur 100% of the time, but I would say that it is more the norm than not.

So this is supposed to be impressive, worthy of mention even?
That a dad should unconditionally love & respect his kids regardless of his bloody religious leanings?
What does “Bob” want…a fucking medal?

@ucme Bob wants nothing. He doesn’t even exist.

Well if Bob doesn’t exist neither does his gay son, sooo, guess it’s a wrap. lol

@Coloma Haha
@Sneki95 I know he doesn’t, hence the ” ” in my answer.

Great! What kind of message does he send the world? He’s a good dad.

Is Bob actually Dick Cheney? When it comes to gay stuff Republicans are fond of change of heart when you know, it actually affects them.

^^Drives me crazy. I probably should be glad they see the light, but instead it pisses me off. How disappointing when they don’t give a shit unless it affects them personally.

@johnpowell I think the OP lives outside of North America, though I could be wrong.

My brother and his husband had a commitment ceremony with a minister officiating 20 years before they could marry. And I know a lesbian Episcopal priest. Bob would not be remarkable in much of the US.

A father is a father is a father…

This does happen a lot though. Not every religious person is a jackmaster.

I wonder how the uber religious would view him?

I have uber-religious friends who are open minded to all types of lifestyles, religions, etc.

So do I. And your point?

@Dutchess: you asked the question above my post. I responded.

I didn’t ask about the people you know personally.

@Dutchess: And?

I was wondering how the uber, self righteous, judgemental Christians would actually react. I mean, all of us here think it’s wonderful, but not many of us here are self righteous, judgemental Christians.

Technically, if they’re self-righteous and judgmental, they’re not Christian, so it’s not an issue.

I agree, but they would disagree. They were sent by gawd!