Twelve year old commits suicide -- because he was taunted for being gay.

[Aštra’el]

Children can get bullied for a variety of reasons. Any sign of weakness or perceived sign of weakness is exploitable.

Some suggestions: Teach your children to have better discipline over their emotions. Help them learn to strengthen their bodies using fitness and nutrition. Teach them about the value of respect, and honor. Encourage them to make connections with the people around them and to be loyal to their companions, so that their companions are in turn loyal to them. Make them understand that when conflict of any form arises in their lives- and it will- that they must take responsibility for their thoughts and actions, and they must find a way to overcome that conflict.

 

[Lain]

Then walk the talk.
If you both agree that bullying is a serious offense and that excommunication is proper for serious offenses, you must agree that excommunication is proper for bullying.

I have no idea what you are talking now about or where you've gotten these ideas honestly. When did "agreement" come up? Or "serious offense"? Or even what excommunication is for?

 

[Koldo]

I have no idea what you are talking now about or where you've gotten these ideas honestly. When did "agreement" come up?

Just now. Have you lost track of the conversation?

Or "serious offense"?

Is bullying a serious offense or is it not?

Or even what excommunication is for?

Catholicism 101.

 

[Lain]

Just now. Have you lost track of the conversation?

Is bullying a serious offense or is it not?

Catholicism 101.

I can be rather daft at times.

Possibly.

Is that a book or something?

 

[Koldo]

I have no idea what you are talking now about or where you've gotten these ideas honestly. When did "agreement" come up? Or "serious offense"? Or even what excommunication is for?

By the way, I did read your deleted post.
I wonder if you deleted it just because you realized that saying that 'ordaining a woman' is worthy of excommunication whereas 'bullying' isn't would make you look bad.

 

[Lain]

By the way, I did read your deleted post.
I wonder if you deleted it just because you realized that saying that 'ordaining a woman' is worthy of excommunication whereas 'bullying' isn't would make you look bad.

I deleted it because I think in this instance it makes me look bad to give a long reply to a short message. It looks whiny/needy/desperate/*****y. Online dating protocol on the mind perhaps?

 

[Quagmire]

I don't see how it's funny.

Maybe not funny/haha, but funny in the ironic sense considering:

"The researchers found Tennessee to be the least Catholic state with only 3.5 percent identifying as Catholic adherents".
Most And Least Catholic States In America (PHOTOS) | HuffPost Communities

I don't think the threat of excommunication by the Catholic church is going to have much of an impact on the typical Bible-belt Christain.

 

[DNB]

What needs to be discussed? The idea that people who claim to be followers of the "Prince of Peace," Christ, could so depart from Christ's instruction to love one another that they could drive a child to suicide.

Isn't that at least a little obvious to you?

Well, the question is, what's your issue?
You said it yourself that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Are you unable to discern the fact that those who do not practice his teachings, are not Christian?
Have you not defended homosexuals based on the same type of accusations, saying: '...not all homosexuals are like that...', attempting to refute the stereotypes?.
You appear to be getting a little desperate and hypocritical in your allegations, or insinuations.

 

[InChrist]

What needs to be discussed? The idea that people who claim to be followers of the "Prince of Peace," Christ, could so depart from Christ's instruction to love one another that they could drive a child to suicide.

Isn't that at least a little obvious to you?

Yes, that should discussed. Definitely spewing hate is a departure from the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. Could be that those who behave in such a way have religion, but do not know or have Jesus in their life and heart.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Well, the question is, what's your issue?
You said it yourself that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Are you unable to discern the fact that those who do not practice his teachings, are not Christian?
Have you not defended homosexuals based on the same type of accusations, saying: '...not all homosexuals are like that...', attempting to refute the stereotypes?.
You appear to be getting a little desperate and hypocritical in your allegations, or insinuations.

I beg your pardon? "Desperate, hypocritical, allegations, insinuations?" You either need to provide better evidence for those allegations -- or apologize.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

What needs to be discussed? The idea that people who claim to be followers of the "Prince of Peace," Christ, could so depart from Christ's instruction to love one another that they could drive a child to suicide.

Isn't that at least a little obvious to you?

That news is awful!
Christendom has been ignoring Christ since it’s establishment though: not just killing assumed “enemies”, but even killing their own brothers! (Titus 1:16 & 1 John 3:10-15 are applicable.) As you said, people ‘claiming’ to be followers of Christ.

I’d like to know what those young bullies were/are taught at home...what their parents are like.
Surely, some of the fault can be passed around.

 

[Spirit of Light]

A grade 7 student in Shelbyville, Tennessee, took his own life on November 28. He did it because he was constantly being taunted -- for being gay, and for not being religious. Constantly told that he was going to Hell because "Jesus hates you."

And now he's dead. If this is so, then I think it is something that casts a black shadow on religion that needs to be discussed.

There is, however, another really interesting part of this little news item -- I can only find it in the BRITISH PRESS. Nobody in America, it seems, thinks it's important enough to comment on!.

What am I missing about this? Is this a fake story -- as I mentioned, I can find nothing in mainstream press, and I don't want to be accused of spreading misinformation, so any assistance from members would be greatly appreciated.

Reading this make me sad, bullying someone who was born Gay? Should not religious people watch their own back first? Some religions has teachings about the topic, and it is a difficult topic to discuss. But honestly where has religious people gone when they bully a kid so they end there life?
Dang it...i get pissed off.
Before we judge others it is wise to look inward in to our own life.

As a religious person i am not better than that little boy...i am not gay, and I been on the bully side toward gay people before. I hate my self for being one who harmed others.

Religions are meant to make us better humans, not making us haters

 

[Koldo]

Maybe not funny/haha, but funny in the ironic sense considering:

"The researchers found Tennessee to be the least Catholic state with only 3.5 percent identifying as Catholic adherents".
Most And Least Catholic States In America (PHOTOS) | HuffPost Communities

I don't think the threat of excommunication by the Catholic church is going to have much of an impact on the typical Bible-belt Christain.

By the way, excommunication is not exclusive to the Catholic Church. And if anything, it is even easier for smaller churches to impose penalties on their members.

 

[Shadow11]

The most you see now a days in the Catholic Church is maybe the denial of communion but to be excommunicated is very rare if it happens at all. They don't have a guard in the communion line to see if a person is eligible or not they don't check at the door and as a matter of fact anyone can walk in and take communion no questions asked. They denied Biden but he's not excommunicated and never will be.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Children can get bullied for a variety of reasons. Any sign of weakness or perceived sign of weakness is exploitable.

Some suggestions: Teach your children to have better discipline over their emotions. Help them learn to strengthen their bodies using fitness and nutrition. Teach them about the value of respect, and honor. Encourage them to make connections with the people around them and to be loyal to their companions, so that their companions are in turn loyal to them. Make them understand that when conflict of any form arises in their lives- and it will- that they must take responsibility for their thoughts and actions, and they must find a way to overcome that conflict.

Good advice but there's nothing wrong with meeting a bully head on with your fists as well.

While I was still not on top of the pecking order in the heyday, I did manage to get in a couple of scraps that moved me out of at least several bullies relentless ironsights. Some became friendly even afterwards. Go figure.

 

[Shadow11]

Self esteem should be taught not pride - a prideful person is easy to take down because its based on a false sense of self and easily breakable unlike self esteem. If you have self esteem no one can take it away from you because you know your true-self not the made up ego.

 

[Aštra’el]

Good advice but there's nothing wrong with meeting a bully head on with your fists as well.

While I was still not on top of the pecking order in the heyday, I did manage to get in a couple of scraps that moved me out of at least several bullies relentless ironsights. Some became friendly even afterwards. Go figure.

Absolutely. When I mentioned strengthening the body with fitness and nutrition, and taking action to resolve a conflict, this was among the outcomes I had in mind.

 

[Kenny]

Its sad that this happened but I don't think we are getting the full story. In ny opinion there is more to it than "gay child kills himself because of religious bullying".

-He was teased about wearing the same clothes everyday, probably teased by even non-religious.
-He painted his fingernails pink(is that more trans than gay?) and was probably teased by even non-religious.
-If you aren't religious you won't care about hell.
-He is 12 years old..he was probably confused. How does a 12 year old know if he is gay, straight, trans,,?
-How did he commit suicide? Was it by something his parents left laying around?
Etc etc.

To blame it on him being being gay and teased by the religious saying you're going to hell, in my opinion isn't the full story.

That is quite possible... thanks for thinking outside of the box.

 

[Kenny]

Whilst I can agree that there were other factors. Religious folks like to claim moral superiority. That they compounded to the hate is a bigger indictment than for non religious.

Quite true!

1 John 4:20
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love Godwhom he has not seen.

 

[1213]

Bullying is horrible in any form or fashion and for any reason. Taunting and saying "you are going to hell" is an ugly religious message and an anti-Jesus message.. I did find it here:

12-old-dies-suicide-being-152558778.html and elsewhere
...

According to that: "The parents said their son never put any blame on anyone". If he didn't do so, why should we? Do you know better than him? It is sad obviously, if someone thinks it is a good idea to commit suicide, but perhaps we shouldn't imagine the reasons.

Also, if people tell "you go to hell, because of...", shouldn't that, if the person really believes it, make the person want to be alive, to avoid the hell?