eHarmony to Precipitate Same-Sex Relationships
by Motte Brown on 11/20/2008 at 10:50 AM
Just as I suspected a year ago, eHarmony founder Neil Clark Warren, a confessing Christian, has agreed to facilitate relationships the Bible explicitly condemns. As part of a settlement in a discrimination case filed against eHarmony, the company will launch a new dating service for the gay community called Compatible Partners.
Here's the story:
The settlement is the result of a complaint New Jersey resident Eric McKinley filed against the online matchmaker in 2005. McKinley, 46, said he was shocked when he tried to sign up for the dating site but couldn't get past the first screen because there was no option for men seeking men.
"It's very frustrating and it's very humiliating to think that other people can do it and I can't," he said. "And the only reason I can't is because I'm a gay man. That's very hurtful."
Neither the company nor its founder, Neil Clark Warren, acknowledged any liability. Under the settlement, eHarmony will pay New Jersey state division $50,000 to cover administrative costs and will pay McKinley $5,000.
McKinley called the settlement "fabulous" and said he was happy with the outcome. He's considering signing up for the new site once it launches.
Pasadena, Calif.-based eHarmony said it plans to launch its new service, called Compatible Partners, on March 31.
It's not like eHarmony lost the case. They settled. They simply rolled over with little more than a whimper. And I believe there are only two reasons for this: 1) The case provided cover for the company to launch a more hedonistic service for more riches or 2) They feared losing and were looking after the bottom line, wanting to protect the empire Warren has built on hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of disappointed romantic hopefuls.
Like the Boy Scouts of America, eHarmony should have been willing to shut the whole thing down instead of helping precipitate sinful sex between men and men and women and women.
101. David said the following at 7:47 AM on Nov 25:
Churches are already losing their Tax exempt status for not performing "Gay Ceremonies". Gays don't just want acceptance, they want to Force Churches to go against Biblical teaching. America needs to wake up before our Pastors are imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, Once Gay Marriage is legalized Nationwide and Hate Crimes Legislation expanded, The Bible will be Censored! And over 50 percent of voters have no right to complain; They endorsed Sin! And as far as AN IMMORAL WAR, don't forget; We are fighting the enemies of Israel!
102. Kim said the following at 9:23 AM on Nov 25:
First of all, David (#101), whoa...the enemies of Israel? Who are you even talking about?
And the only reason I ask whether you know and love someone who is gay is because it is easy to condemn where there is no love. And how can you love someone you don't know?
Compassion, grace, and mercy seem to come easier when you've held the hand of someone who's been told that they're not accepted in a church, or that their desire for marriage is threatening the very institute of marriage, because of the gender of the person they love.
103. IMO said the following at 9:51 AM on Nov 25:
"Compassion, grace, and mercy" must always be applied to the person, not the sin.
Compassion, grace, and mercy toward a sinful lifestyle? Won't find that in the Bible.
104. Christina (in green) said the following at 10:56 AM on Nov 25:
Hey Kim,
Have you read any of the articles written by this guy named Randy Thomas on Boundless.org?
You know -- the one who has struggled with his gay tendencies, giving them up to God and foresaking the homosexual lifestyle?
Yeah ... him.... Somehow, I think he'd strongly disagree with what your advocating ... oddly enough. Like it sounds like you are in favor of encouraging homosexual lifestyles?
Well, here ... here's a struggle of a man who was my mother's best friend when she was growing up. What you advocate, puts to shame his struggle and Randy's struggle to live a Godly life.
He was attracted to men. He went to a pastor to talk about it. The pastor worked with him ... TOLD him that the homosexual lifestyle is contrary to God's word, but helped him through it.
The guy never got married. He never fell in love with a woman. But he never had any kind of relations (or intimate relationship) with a man, either. He devoted his life to music, instead.
His favorite hymn? Amazing Grace.
How fitting ... talk about compassion and grace and see what kind of grace a gay man identifies with when he truly desires God.
Certainly not the kinda grace you seem to believe in.
105. Kim said the following at 11:20 AM on Nov 25:
It's interesting that I made no mention of whether or not I believe homosexuality to be a sin.
All I advocated for was offering compassion, grace, and mercy to the homosexual men and women we know and love.
And apparently that means that I don't believe in the "right kind" of grace.
Interesting.
106. BDB said the following at 11:35 AM on Nov 25:
Adam (#93) wrote:
>>Look at Clinton. He came into office when the DOW was around 3200. He left office when the DOW was about 10600. Businesses did fantastic under Clinton. <<
Yes, a Democratic president combined with a Republican congress intent on balancing the budget IS good for the economy. Split government is EXCELLENT for economic stability, which in turn is excellent for prosperity. It keeps both parties from giving their buddies special treatment.
A Democratic President with a Liberal Democratic congress is a disaster for the economy. The short-term drop had more to do with Obama's failure to name a Treasury secretary - wasting time on less-critical offices. He has now fixed that problem, and the market is up a little. He's also addressed the two biggest criticisms: lack of foreign policy skills and military experience - by selecting Clinton for SecState and, based on the rumors, leaving the existing Republican defense secretary in place. So, to an extent, Obama is listening to his critics, at least more than Bush seemed to listen to his critics. That will reassure the market for a while.
107. IMO said the following at 12:37 PM on Nov 25:
"Compassion, grace, and mercy seem to come easier when you've held the hand of someone who's been told that...their desire for marriage is threatening the very institute of marriage, because of the gender of the person they love."
That's where I see the compassion, grace, and mercy directed at the sin, not the person. There is no such thing as a biblically gay marriage.
I'm not going to accept my gay cousin's desire to "marry" another gay because I believe it's wrong.
Does that make sense now?
108. Kim said the following at 12:59 PM on Nov 25:
Yes, IMO, but whether or not you choose to "accept" your cousin's desire for marriage does not make it any less real. And offering your love to him while he grieves not being able to make his relationship legally permanent, regardless of whether or not you think that desire is right, does not mean you are condoning his sin.
109. Christina (in green) said the following at 1:12 PM on Nov 25:
Kim,
I am not against "showing love" to a homosexual who is struggling.
But it sounds as if you'd think my communicating to someone struggling that it IS wrong regardless of any support I may offer is, to you, not displaying compassion, mercy, and grace.
And yet, grace can only be fully appreciated in the midst of your depravity. The knowledge that you are still loved and that there is still hope even when faced with your own sin, your own failings, and your own wrong-doings.
But it seriously sounds like you are in favor of us letting them marry, of us telling them that what they're doing is ok... when that would be blatant lies and it would be "condoning". And that's what I'd term not the right kinda grace =p
110. IMO said the following at 1:28 PM on Nov 25:
"And yet, grace can only be fully appreciated in the midst of your depravity. The knowledge that you are still loved and that there is still hope even when faced with your own sin, your own failings, and your own wrong-doings."
Amen to that. I never felt so much grace in my life as the moment I was saved!
Ephesians 2:1-9
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
111. Kim said the following at 1:55 PM on Nov 25:
IMO,
Your statement that you've never felt so much grace as you did when you were saved is beautiful, and I believe, heartfelt, but makes me worry about our experiences of grace as Christians.
I hope I'm living my life in a constant awareness and experience of God's grace - knowing, even though I may be a Christian, I still have done nothing to deserve that grace and being able to freely offer it to others because it is freely offered to me every day.
I fear that we sometimes think we must make people feel as badly about themselves as possible so that they will really feel "grace." I don't think it works like that. Besides, conviction is not my responsibility but the Holy Spirit's. I hope we aren't trying to take on that role.
112. BDB said the following at 2:22 PM on Nov 25:
Kim (#108) wrote:
>>And offering your love to him while he grieves not being able to make his relationship legally permanent,<<
Actually, in these civil union states, they CAN make it legally permanent.
In seeking to redefine marriage, they want to pretend that it's the same. Biologically, it's NOT the same, and no amount of legal pretending can change that biology.
If a man divorces his wife because she "doesn't understand him," and then is grieving because his children refuse to speak to him and his new girlfriend, well, I'm sorry you're grieving, but you are reaping the consequences of your sin. You can say it gently after listening, but it is still the truth.
113. jensings said the following at 3:05 PM on Nov 25:
eharmony is a joke! I had an account there when I was single (am now happily married w/out the use of a web service).
When I would enter my true height which is 5'11", I would be matched with only tall men. When I would change my height, making myself shorter, then I would be matched with completely different men!
Also I was matched with a man that was everything in a man that I (according to their diagnosis) would have major conflicts with!
eharmony is all about money, money, money! nothing else!
so it doesn't surprise me that they settled.
114. George Mole' said the following at 7:34 PM on Nov 25:
I think I am more angry at eHarmony for caving in and settling than I am at the out-of-control legal system that came after them. They should have fought this as far as possible, and at the same time gone public with an advertising campaign about the situation--in other words, made their case to the people, openly and loudly. They also should have set up a legal defense fund and asked for contributions, so they could have a fighting chance against the unlimited taxpayer funds that the bureaucracy has available. Then, if they lost in court and on appeal, they would know they had fought for their rights...and the public would be more aware of what the government is doing in our name.
115. IMO said the following at 8:45 PM on Nov 25:
Kim,
Hey we agree on something!
"I fear that we sometimes think we must make people feel as badly about themselves as possible so that they will really feel "grace." I don't think it works like that."
I don't think it works like that either.
My actual nature is to encourage others. At the same time, I don't back down on Biblical truth. So in person, it's a balancing act. It always is for me.
116. Kim said the following at 6:12 AM on Nov 26:
IMO,
I hear you about it being a balancing act. I agree. I just hope if I err at all, it is always in being too merciful, you know?
117. Nicole said the following at 8:49 AM on Nov 27:
It is silly that a person can sue a business for not having the service that they want. That would be like walking into Taco Bell and demanding a pizza or you will sue them out of business! What's next? Will anyone be suing the homosexual dating sites for discrimination?
118. BDB said the following at 11:19 AM on Nov 27:
Nicole (#117) wrote:
>> That would be like walking into Taco Bell and demanding a pizza <<
Is that where the combined Taco Bell/Pizza Hut restaurants came from?
119. Christina (in green) said the following at 12:00 PM on Dec 1:
On a more light-hearted note...
Someone was complaining about the use of the word "precipitate".
I was curious about its use, too...
"Its raining men!!! And more men!!!"
But apparently, the word also is used when referring to hasty decisions...
That applies here, right?