Defacing Bibles?

[Lairënuriel]

This is a touchy one:

http://www.gaynz.com/news/default.asp?dismode=article&artid=4973

[Wolfchild]

Good on him. It is well known that Sir Ian McKellen is a homosexual, and so why should he allow any level of respect towards that  section of the book- especially considering the article itself describes it as "offensive". I can quite understand that to stay in a room with the Bible as, in my opinion, a fraudulent, homophobic and dictating series of oddities and nothing more, would cause him to take action. I would consider it more of a "correction" rather than "defacing".

[Bombadil_Ulmo]

I don't know whether Ian McKellan is Christian or not, but ASSSUMING he is not,
I think that is absolutely horrible.  Defacing any holy book, not just the Bible, but any other holy book as well, is pure disrespect.  Despite being a Catholic, I would never deface a holy book from another religion.  Most Bibles in hotel rooms are in a drawer.  He doesn't have to look in that drawer if he doesn't like what's in there.  He can go the entire night watching TV without having to think about the Bible. 
Just for the record, though, I would have no problem tearing apart one of the "holy books" those crazy nutjobs who begin cults write.

[Beren One-Hand]

I would like to say that I think what McKellen did in that instance was wrong.  Each one is entitled to believe what they will, but as Bombadil said, defacing any holy book is wrong - it is irreverent and disrespectful.  The Bible can offend, but to the end that it promotes holiness and righteousness.  You can flip through its pages and single out many instances where various sins are spoken of.  Homosexuality, in the biblical sense, would be classified as an immoral sin - i.e. others include: incest, rape, etc.  And I agree with what the Bible says.  However, the Bible does not say that a believer is to disrespect or bash a "sinner" either.  The Bible also says that God will judge those outside the church . . .  The Christian who opposes homosexuality has the same right to do so as the homosexual who opposes Christianity.  We live in a post-modern world, supposedly, so we should be open minded enough to allow those with more conservative views to express their views as well.

Let me say that I hold McKellan in the highest regard as an actor, and do not factor in his sexual orientation when I watch him in films or rate him as an actor, because he is one of the best out there!