# Grand Inquisitor Cory Booker **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 7, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137 "2019-02-07T20:57:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/101 "2019-02-08T21:19:20Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > I don’t believe its appropriate or moral to judge others. Another thing the bible teaches. I’m not judging anyone. I’m making a moral judgment of whether an action is moral or immoral. I’m not sending anyone to hell. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/102 "2019-02-08T21:20:32Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Really? > > Okay. A name is an inherited immutable characteristic. > > Sexual intercourse is a voluntary action (excepting cases of coercion). Nah, you can change your name. People do it all the time. Ask Puff Daddy, or P. Diddy, or Puffy, or whatever he goes by now. Sex is something the human body is driven to do. It’s biological. It also does not harm you in any way how others choose to handle that if both participants are willing. What if someone told you who you could or could not have sex with. You’d be ok with that? ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/103 "2019-02-08T21:23:23Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > I’m not judging anyone. I’m making a moral judgment of whether an action is moral or immoral. I’m not sending anyone to hell. I personally look at it as who is harmed? Who? Certainly not you. So why judge what others choose to do in their own homes. It has zero effect on you. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/104 "2019-02-08T21:34:41Z")
Religion isn’t a free pass to get away with anything you want. We aren’t discriminating against the Sikh when we don’t allow knives on planes. We aren’t discriminating against Jews or Muslims by serving pork at schools and government buildings (and I say that as someone who, while not religious, doesn’t eat pork for cultural reasons). And we aren’t discriminating against Christians by taking a stand against bigotry, on the court or elsewhere. Religion is no excuse for bigotry, and a Christian using his faith as an excuse to mistreat homosexuals should be just as inexcusable as a murderer claiming he was only killing for Quetzlcoatl. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/105 "2019-02-08T21:35:37Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Sex is something the human body is driven to do. Do you do everything your body is driven to do? Would it be prudent or moral for you to do so? > [@Airbeck](#): > > It’s biological. Two men/two women are incapable of procreating, so the biology argument works against gay sex. > [@Airbeck](#): > > What if someone told you who you could or could not have sex with. You’d be ok with that? Yes. My wife tells me I may only have sex with her. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/106 "2019-02-08T21:36:57Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > I personally look at it as who is harmed? > > Who? Certainly not you. So why judge what others choose to do in their own homes. It has zero effect on you. Good for you. I’m not advocating legal punishment for gay sex. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/107 "2019-02-08T21:38:52Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > And we aren’t discriminating against Christians by taking a stand against bigotry, on the court or elsewhere. > > Religion is no excuse for bigotry, and a Christian using his faith as an excuse to mistreat homosexuals should be just as inexcusable as a murderer claiming he was only killing for Quetzlcoatl. Making a moral judgment re: human sexuality is not the same thing as bigotry. Making a moral judgment re: human sexuality is not the same thing as mistreating homosexuals. ---
**Author:** ![senoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@senoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senoy)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/108 "2019-02-08T21:40:50Z")
I came here for a discussion about Dostoevsky and Booker perhaps concealing truth for the sake of humanity. I leave disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/109 "2019-02-08T21:50:07Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Making a moral judgment re: human sexuality is not the same thing as bigotry. Your son/daughter/sister/brother – choose whichever is most applicable-- comes out as gay and introduces you to their new, same sex fiance. How do you feel about this? > [@](#): > > Making a moral judgment re: human sexuality is not the same thing as mistreating homosexuals. Maybe not. Preventing gay couples from filing joint tax returns, counting as next of kin, adopting a child, and a million and one other things you do to gay people because of your “moral judgement” IS mistreating them. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/110 "2019-02-08T21:54:14Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Maybe not. Preventing gay couples from filing joint tax returns, counting as next of kin, adopting a child, and a million and one other things you do to gay people because of your “moral judgement” IS mistreating them. I’m not doing any of those things to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/111 "2019-02-08T21:56:08Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > I’m not doing any of those things to anyone. But you’re against gay marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/112 "2019-02-08T21:59:20Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > What’s disturbing is that merely believing that gay sex is immoral is considered a “reprehensible belief” by those in power, especially considering that nearly everybody in the Christianized world believed that until roughly yesterday. Why the hell would I care whether most folks believed that? Isn’t that a perfect argumentam ad populum or whatever? In any case, while you may think you’ve successfully dodged the question, you haven’t. What do you think about World Church of the Creator? Should their beliefs be respected, yes or no? If no, why not? ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/113 "2019-02-08T22:02:19Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > But you’re against gay marriage. One can’t be for or against something that doesn’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/114 "2019-02-08T22:03:22Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > In any case, while you may think you’ve successfully dodged the question, you haven’t. What do you think about World Church of the Creator? Should their beliefs be respected, yes or no? If no, why not? I’ve never heard of the World Church of the Creator. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/115 "2019-02-08T22:03:44Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > What’s disturbing is that merely believing that gay sex is immoral is considered a “reprehensible belief” by those in power, especially considering that nearly everybody in the Christianized world believed that until roughly yesterday. Y’know, if all you did was believe that, and those beliefs never turned into actions, that wouldn’t be a problem. But… the belief is wrong. There is no moral element to consensual gay sex. There is no reasonable argument to be made for a moral element to consensual gay sex. And up until recently, we were _throwing people in cages_ for it. Like, [less than a decade ago](https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/08/gay-people-are-still-being-arrested-for-having-consensual-sex-in-some-red-states-like-louisiana.html). _That’s_ fucking immoral. The belief that there’s something wrong with gay sex is just a belief… up until it gets turned into action. Say, by a justice on a court making a ruling that harms someone based on that belief. Hence why it might be generally a good idea to keep justices who hold such beliefs off the court. Look, it took until 1995 for the majority of Americans to be okay with mixed-race marriages. All that meant was that for most of American history, the vast majority of people held a dangerously wrong belief, and often did horribly immoral things based on that belief. That you’re just now cottoning on to the fact that there is nothing wrong with gay sex (and, yeah, there isn’t) really speaks volumes to how poorly your religion has taught you. ☹ I’m sympathetic, I really am. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/116 "2019-02-08T22:08:48Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > I’ve never heard of the World Church of the Creator. Their positions have been explained at length in the thread; please answer the question. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/117 "2019-02-08T22:12:11Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Y’know, if all you did was believe that, and those beliefs never turned into actions, that wouldn’t be a problem. But… the belief is wrong. There is no moral element to consensual gay sex. There is no reasonable argument to be made for a moral element to consensual gay sex. And up until recently, we were _throwing people in cages_ for it. Like, [less than a decade ago](https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/08/gay-people-are-still-being-arrested-for-having-consensual-sex-in-some-red-states-like-louisiana.html). _That’s_ fucking immoral. The belief that there’s something wrong with gay sex is just a belief… up until it gets turned into action. Say, by a justice on a court making a ruling that harms someone based on that belief. Hence why it might be generally a good idea to keep justices who hold such beliefs off the court. > > Look, it took until 1995 for the majority of Americans to be okay with mixed-race marriages. All that meant was that for most of American history, the vast majority of people held a dangerously wrong belief, and often did horribly immoral things based on that belief. That you’re just now cottoning on to the fact that there is nothing wrong with gay sex (and, yeah, there isn’t) really speaks volumes to how poorly your religion has taught you. ☹ I’m sympathetic, I really am. Looking past your blithe dismissal of multiple millennia of philosophical and moral development re: human sexuality… Your example from Louisiana looks to me more like a prostitution sting; but regardless, I am not advocating the state punishing anyone for consensual sexual activity, including prostitution. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/118 "2019-02-08T22:12:37Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > I’ve never heard of the World Church of the Creator. FFS, dude, I’ve mentioned them like three times in this thread. Have you just not been reading along? [Here you go.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity_(religion)) Read up. They’ve been granted constitutional protections because of their religions. Then come back and answer the freakin question. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/119 "2019-02-08T22:15:07Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Making a moral judgment re: human sexuality is not the same thing as mistreating homosexuals. Does driving queer people to suicide count as “mistreating?” [Because there’s a strong link between religious belief and suicidal ideation among queer youth.](https://socialwork.utexas.edu/news/new-study-on-the-link-between-religion-and-suicide-for-queer-youth/) > [@EscAlaMike](#): > > One can’t be for or against something that doesn’t exist. Setting aside the brain-bending insanity of saying SSM “doesn’t exist,” how do you square that statement with the billion plus Hindus in the world avidly worshiping a pantheon of deities that you and I both think don’t exist? ---
**Author:** ![EscAlaMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/escalamike/32/4177_2.png) [@EscAlaMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EscAlaMike)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2019, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137/120 "2019-02-08T22:18:38Z")
LOL, okay I read the wiki. Seems like a fake religion to me, but should they be respected? I guess it depends on what you mean by “respect”. Should they be punished civilly or criminally based on their alleged beliefs? No. Are they entitled to my respect? No. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grand-inquisitor-cory-booker/829137.md?page=7)