RE: Homosexual Marriage & Christianity?

[Matt]

Nothing says "Love Thy Neighbor" like pretending person A, as a heterosexual, has this divine, legal right to tell person b, as a homosexual, they don't deserve the same basic human rights as you do. Didn't we get past this nonsense with the civil rights movement, women's suffrage, desegregation, etc?

In a country where one out of every two marriages ends in divorce, us straight folk don't exactly have the authority or clout to tell anyone they are going to tarnish the good name or sanctity of our marriage.

If the church REALLLY wants to turn the over 15 million gay Americans living in this country off from Christ and his message, this is a great way.

I'm sure Jesus would be the first one blocking off that gay man with cancer's hospital room when his partner of 20 years wants to see him one last time before he dies, but can't because he doesn't have the legal rights afforded by marriage.

don't be rediculous.

first of all, the Bible is quite specific that homosexuality is not just a sin, but a 'detestable' sin. is turning on people to a religion by lying to them really going to help?

when you are a christian you must make a conscious effort to try and not sin (even though there is unlimited forgiveness, the LORD knows your heart), and if homosexuality is listed as sin, you should stray away from it. you must reform.

that being said, from a christian standpoint, this is no more of an affront to gays than teaching nonviolence is to murderers.

i didn't see a 'no gay marriage' clause in Deuteronomy but that is because homosexuality was just another sin. 'detestable', but nonetheless another sin. even ancient greeks who were raging homosexuals and pedophiles knew man and man was not part of what marriage is.

marriage, as also in sex, is between a man and woman. their is something perfect about the joining of two to make one.

just look at your anatomy.

so, if GOD did not intend for people act homosexually, why on earth would it be wrong to teach a class that gay marriage is wrong?

do they condemn all gays in the class? i don't know. if they do, that is shameful, they should pray for them instead of judging, but it is completely obvious that homosexuality does not work in christianity.

finally, what the hell does the last part of that have to do with anything? is this your sentiment when people discuss marriage? someone on their deathbed?

[Matt]

I believe in God's design for marriage. The union of one man and one woman.

And what does God's design for marriage say about divorce and having children out of wedlock?  Don't these acts disgrace God's design just as much as say one man and another man getting married?  In fact, aren't these two disgraceful acts the real reason why families in America are so troubled?  Or do you still blame the two gay people down the street, raising a child together?  Sadly, I find most Christians ignore and will quickly forgive someone who has divorced, or mothered a child out of wedlock.  In my mind, the sins of an unwed mother and the sins of two men getting married would be equal.  Both go against God's design.  Unfortunately the issues are treated very differently, would you not agree?  I respect your belief, 1980, but find all of the hypocrisy that surrounds this issue very troubling.

agreed.

[brainstormer]

Matt, I applaud your ability to not stray from your beliefs, and at the same time recognize that there can be two sides to every issue.  It is important to at least try to understand both viewpoints.  Thank you.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

Matt, I LOVE YOU. are you available.

Only if you are under 25, thin, white, and hot.

Hahaha, just kidding. but yes, KUDOS

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

oh, i forgot, ASL?

[Driven1]

so, if GOD did not intend for people act homosexually, why on earth would it be wrong to teach a class that gay marriage is wrong?

does UNF or FCCJ have such a class?  and how many credits does it offer to the student?

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

so, if GOD did not intend for people act homosexually, why on earth would it be wrong to teach a class that gay marriage is wrong?

does UNF or FCCJ have such a class?  and how many credits does it offer to the student?

zero credits but life in purgatory?

[Driven1]

so, if GOD did not intend for people act homosexually, why on earth would it be wrong to teach a class that gay marriage is wrong?

does UNF or FCCJ have such a class?  and how many credits does it offer to the student?

zero credits but life in purgatory?

what is purgatory?

[Driven1]

I believe in God's design for marriage. The union of one man and one woman.

And what does God's design for marriage say about divorce and having children out of wedlock?  Don't these acts disgrace God's design just as much as say one man and another man getting married?  In fact, aren't these two disgraceful acts the real reason why families in America are so troubled?  Or do you still blame the two gay people down the street, raising a child together?  Sadly, I find most Christians ignore and will quickly forgive someone who has divorced, or mothered a child out of wedlock.  In my mind, the sins of an unwed mother and the sins of two men getting married would be equal.  Both go against God's design.  Unfortunately the issues are treated very differently, would you not agree?  I respect your belief, 1980, but find all of the hypocrisy that surrounds this issue very troubling.

the real problem with brainstormer's sentiment is the logic is flawed.

his logic goes:  since i see other people sin, i can live a blatantly unrepentant sinful life and it's OK.  no one (who would deny this reality) really WANTS to know the truth (Romans), so I won't get into the details, but suffice it to say that this is not reality.  as my good friend RSG has said before, saying something is true a hundred times doesn't make it true if it is false.   

[civil42806]

I really dislike this discusion.  The courts have never dictated the rights to marriage until now.  I firmly support the right to gay and lesbian marriage or civil unions.  But that should be resolved in the legislature of the individual states but not judical fiat.  We are setting ourselves up for a decison as divise as Roe vs Wade

[Driven1]

I really dislike this discusion.  The courts have never dictated the rights to marriage until now. 

the courts have never needed to before now.  doesn't that tell us all we need to know?

it is certainly a divisive issue though. 

[civil42806]

I really dislike this discusion.  The courts have never dictated the rights to marriage until now. 

the courts have never needed to before now.  doesn't that tell us all we need to know?

it is certainly a divisive issue though. 

No it doesn't tell all we have to know.   Why are the courts suddenly deciding they have to be involved, what changed.  the states consitution or there personal opinion,  I think the latter.

[Driven1]

btw...you think "Christianity" is "harsh" on homosexuals?  HA!

Try being gay in Saudi Arabia!!  See how far you get there? 

a quick google search found this story...

Published 10/7/2007
Prison authorities in Saudi Arabia have begun administering 7,000 lashes to each of two men convicted of committing "homosexual acts", a local newspaper reported yesterday.

The Okaz newspaper says that the sentence was being meted out in "phases" and was being conducted in a public square in the southwestern city of Al-Bahah.

Neither man has been named.

The floggings began on Tuesday. The men were dragged into the square, their shirts removed and they where whipped. They were then returned to prison. The process was repeated on Wednesday and will continue daily until all 7,000 lashes have been administered. Shari'a law, as interpreted and enforced in Saudi Arabia, allows sentences ranging from imprisonment and flogging to death for “deviant sexual behaviour.”

In the past several years there have been a number of reported mass arrests at "gay weddings" in various parts of the country, but little official information has been released on the outcomes of trials. Last year 20 men were arrested at what officials say was a "gay wedding" in the town of Jizan. Their fate is unknown.

In April, 2005,35 men were sentenced by a Saudi court to be flogged after they attended what was described as a “gay wedding”.

A month earlier a gay couple was beaded in a public execution in the northern town of Arar, near the Iraq border. The pair had been convicted of killing a blackmailer. If they had been exposed as gay they could have been executed anyway.

In 2004 Saudi police raided another event described as a gay wedding party for two African men from Chad at a hotel in the holy city of Medina. Around 50 people were arrested.

[civil42806]

btw...you think "Christianity" is "harsh" on homosexuals?  HA!

Try being gay in Saudi Arabia!!  See how far you get there? 

a quick google search found this story...

Published 10/7/2007
Prison authorities in Saudi Arabia have begun administering 7,000 lashes to each of two men convicted of committing "homosexual acts", a local newspaper reported yesterday.

The Okaz newspaper says that the sentence was being meted out in "phases" and was being conducted in a public square in the southwestern city of Al-Bahah.

Neither man has been named.

The floggings began on Tuesday. The men were dragged into the square, their shirts removed and they where whipped. They were then returned to prison. The process was repeated on Wednesday and will continue daily until all 7,000 lashes have been administered. Shari'a law, as interpreted and enforced in Saudi Arabia, allows sentences ranging from imprisonment and flogging to death for “deviant sexual behaviour.”

In the past several years there have been a number of reported mass arrests at "gay weddings" in various parts of the country, but little official information has been released on the outcomes of trials. Last year 20 men were arrested at what officials say was a "gay wedding" in the town of Jizan. Their fate is unknown.

In April, 2005,35 men were sentenced by a Saudi court to be flogged after they attended what was described as a “gay wedding”.

A month earlier a gay couple was beaded in a public execution in the northern town of Arar, near the Iraq border. The pair had been convicted of killing a blackmailer. If they had been exposed as gay they could have been executed anyway.

In 2004 Saudi police raided another event described as a gay wedding party for two African men from Chad at a hotel in the holy city of Medina. Around 50 people were arrested.

I lived there for 3 years, between saudi, bahrain and Uae,  its worse than you can imagine

[civil42806]

You haven't lived until the saudi authorities insist you attend a public execution.  There have been huge mistakes in the Iraqi war, abu gharib amongst them.  But I always remeber the executions we attended, and the attention  that was payed to us by the locals.   What ever we have done it doesn't compare to the beheading of a woman for adultry