Pop to LJ: Do you associate homosexuals with sado-masochism, and if so, why with such rare intensity?
Either you've studied the mind-twisting techniques of 'sensitivity training" or you're just a natural (which is really a must anyway.) Let's analyze the construction and intent of your 'innocently' posed question. The underlying purpose of the lead in, "Do you associate homosexuals with sadomasochism," is to induce an immediate sense of guilt and shame and thus an automatic denial such as, "Of course I don't! I never said such a thing." The follow up is the "move in for the kill" part. Having induced guilt/shame/capitulation, one is now expected to accept that the loathesome practices engaged in by SMs are 'natural" and iff he/she objects to sadomasochism, then he/she is the guilty party. At this point, if the 'sensitivity training' has been successful, the 'trainers' self-repressed guilt has been successfully transferred to the 'scapegoat.'
Interesting points.
No time for me to discuss more at the moment. But I'll just add my .02 to this one.
Your point regarding accepting some secularist standard in place of moral standard based on religious principle (upon which, ultimately, all moral standards are based) is just substituting a gold standard for a fools gold standard.
And I can testify from studying and life experience that the moral so-called relativists who base their "morality" on secularism are more intolerant, rigid and totalitarian than anyone else. As in, "If you don't believe what I believe I'll force it upon you, or at least do as much hurt to you as I can in the process".
They're still worshipping someone or something - their own minds? Their genitals? Who knows.