Hey Force

I am an avid student on religions, and grew up a Christian, but I am no longer one.

I did an indept study on the whole homosexuality issue when I was studying. I am not saying I am all wise, and my word on this is final, but I disagree with you. The texts in the Bible condemning a homosexual lifestyle, does not refer to bi-sexual people. The ten commandment used, is the one of faithfulness to ones wifehusband. But the reasoning is as follows - only marriage between a man and a woman is allowed, so any homosexual experience is against the 7th commandment.

Churches who are pro-gay, try and explain this away, by saying God, in Leviticus, is condemning the practice of temple prostitutes, which was a prevailing practice in cultures of the time, and this included home-sexual pros.

This fails to explain away the new testament condemnation, and does not, I think after studying these texts, adequately explain the old Testament texts.

They also try to explain Paul's words on this, by saying it must be read in the cultural context, but this too is not quite right, as Paul wrote to the Greek and Roman Christians, and culturally, it was not such a strange practice for them. Rich Roman men often had a young boy on the side, even if they had healthy sexual lives with their wives.

To be really honest, I see no way away from this, the bible condemns homosexuality, no two ways about it.

Before people start shouting foul at me, please understand, I am not condemning homosexuality, I am saying the Bible does. I am also not saying all Christians are.

A bit of absolute honesty, this is one, of the reasons I am no longer a Christian, even if, at that stage, I really wanted to be one, I truly felt that the Bible was condemning me.


The only real road out for Christians who not want to condemn homosexuality, is by saying that some passages in the Bible may not be the infallible word of God.

Another road is the current popular one, and I ave no real problems with some of this:
1. Following the example of Jesus, Christian s hate the sin, but not the sinner.
2. Christians accept that they can not enforce their moral views on others, (again, Jesus's example). Therefor, even if someone thinks homosexuality is a crime, they must still allow gay people the same rights as straight people. This, I think, follow that golden rule of 'do upon others...'
3. Condemnation, this Jesus again taught, must be left to God. He decides who is righteous and who not. Christians should love all his fellow man.


This is just some toughts.

I have a question too, Force - You say that only if it is proven gayness is inborn, should marriage become a federal issue. Now, I believe there are different reasons why different people are gay. Some are born this way, some choose, some are made.

But my question is this - I know our constitution better than yours, but I do understand yours allows freedoms of choice. I mean, you ar enot born with a gun, yet you have the freedom to bear arms. So even if someone chooses to be gay, and chooses to marry another man or woman, should heshe not federally be allowed this same right, since it is their choice?

I am truly just asking your interpretation on this.

Finally, I do not know you, I joined after you left for a spell. but I just want to say that I do enjoy your posts, and am glad you are back. What ever those problems where, you seem like the kinda guy that can overcome most things!

__________________
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“From the point of view of the pharmaceutical industry, the AIDS problem has already been solved. After all, we already have a drug which can be sold at the incredible price of $8, 000 an annual dose, and which has the added virtue of not diminishing the market by actually curing anyone.”