[Hegewisch Dupa]

I agree with you - it's the subtle way to make FReepers look stupid.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I, too, doubt that calling people contemptuous names can advance their souls' salvation, or your own. Religious or moral conviction rarely leads to leering vulgarity, so I assume the name-calling has some other motivation. Maybe there's a FR poster or two who feels more like a big man through a little display of meanness? It's a common enough fault.

That's one thing that made me a little doubtful about her story, though: that she went to a Sunday School "where the teachers hammered home the lessons of conservative faith. ...that [people with same-sex attraction] were disgusting and basically godless, very low people"?

It just doesn't seem likely. Not that they would deny the danger of truly losing your soul, but most of the conservative churches would use words like damaged rather than damned -- and they'd be calling, not for hell, but for healing.

I wonder if this reporter would follow up and say, "What church? What pastor?"

Nah. That's too much like actual reporting, i.e. work, and not just presenting Miss Civic Role Model with a print bouquet.