I have been accused of doing articles like this to stir up the pot. No, I truly believe that I have a right to my opinion, and will state it. If you don't like it, don't read my posts, but don't attack me for my beliefs, and don't expect me to be nice to your comments, and whine about my responses.
Having said that, back to my topic. I read a post whereby Christians are being demonized for their disaproval of homosexuality. The Bible does not condemn one sin over another. The Bible simply states a sin is a sin, and no sin is worse than another. Yes, Christians believe homosexuality is a sin. I am a Christian, so that is what I believe, but why attack Christians over this? Do the Jews, Moslems, Mormans believe it's not a sin?
Russia came out yesterday, and predicted the United States government would fall by 2010 and one of the causes is our liberal attitude toward homosexuality.article
I personally believe the Russians are full of it, but let's attack the Russians. No! It's easier to attack Christians becuase our God preaches peace and love. I hate no one. I grew up with two homosexual guys as my best friends. I don't hate them, but I don't pretend to say that homosexuality is good anymore than a lie is good. All have sinned including me, and I have enough not to judge others, but the attacks on Christians angers me, and I guess that's because I'm not a good Christian, but like all Christians including homosexuals, Jesus forgives and loves us all.
Sometimes, in the rush to be politically correct we become ashamed of our Christian beliefs. Not me. If you are a homosexual, God loves you as he loves me, and we are all sinners and will be judged by God and God alone.
Romans 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
Morman's viewpoints to lengthy to list.
http://www.i4m.com/think/history/mormon_gays.htm
Quran:
"Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males, And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)! They said: "If thou desist not, O Lut! thou wilt assuredly be cast out!" He said: "I do detest your doings:" "O my Lord! deliver me and my family from such things as they do!" So We delivered him and his family,- all Except an old woman who lingered behind. But the rest We destroyed utterly. We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)! Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe. And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful." (Qur'an 26:165-175)
I could go on, but no mainstream religion preaches that homosexuality is healthy. In fact, Christianity is the only religion I know of that offers salvation for any and all sinners.
So why is Christianity being singled out? Because it's easy.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 90
An absolute, total nonsense. I'm a Russian, who has enough information about what is going on in my country, bit I haven't heard anything like that, even though I'm well aware that our so-called "Orthodox" dudes would condemn not only homosexuals (or feminists or liberals), but even yourself, dearest Carol, simply because you're not an Orthodox. To ascribe such attitude to all Russians, and even to all our Russian Christians, is a downright offense. I'm as pro-gay as possible and I'd highly recommend all the self-appointed "Christians" to turn their attention to something that really matters - wars, hunger, social injustice, etc, and not to peep into other people's beds. Taking my upbringing into attention, it's distasteful, to say the least. Period.
Blessings - S.
article
Blessings - S.
Blessings - S.
Thanks for throwing it out there though.
The arguments of Panarin seem in line with many of similar extremes in religion, from the Bible Belt of the US to Iran and crosses all sorts of religions. Those based on the Hebrew Scriptures as a common base might be selectively looking at all the fire and brimstone, divine nuclear strikes against the heathens. Sodom and Gomorra come to their minds. They forget the story of Jonah. Had he lived in the 20th century he probably would have had a “Nuke Nineveh” bumper sticker on his Ford. He gets told to preach to them and afraid that they might convert, he runs away. God literally drags him back, he preaches there, the disaster is avoided, and what does he do? (This is the part few people read by the way.) He complains to God that he knew that they would have repented and now they have not been destroyed. In other words people are often generally upset at the foreigner; they look for any excuse for God to harm them and will actually help the process along. To them sin becomes an excuse and as Jesus points out later they spot the small sin in others but fail to see the real sin within themselves, often hidden by a thin layer of appearances.
I'm agnostic, but I really believe God exists. I just also think everyone's wrong. But eh, who knows.
I tire of the blame game myself
Gos makes no mistakes there is a reason for everything on earth and in heaven
Doesn't that phrase from the Lord's Prayer mean anything? "and forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." Last time I checked, trespass meant crossing defined boundaries and there doesn't seem to be a lot of respect for boundaries in today's churches.
Jesus met people 'where they were' and did not condemn them for it.
I am divorced and have been 'single again' for 15 years. I LIKE being single and am not inclined to marry again though I don't rule it out. But since I am happy being single, many "Christians" seem to think there's something wrong with me. I worship God, not the institution of marriage. Jesus wasn't married...neither was Paul. Why should I be? Doesn't make me any less of a Christian than any other.
I could go on for quite a while about this.
"Hate the sin, but love the sinner" <-- I understand the meaning of the phrase, but I am also painfully aware of how much hurtful it can be. I think it's the most self-righteous, inconsiderate philosophy people have come up with in regards to homosexuality, and the worst part is that these people honestly believe they're doing the right thing, so it's hard to blame them.
I hate no one. But I do not agree with certain lifestyles. In that, a person who
lives that kind of lifestyle, that is between them and our Lord.
Linda, I do not see anything wrong with your choice of being single. If that is your choice and you are happy, that is all that matters.
I have friends who are gay, I do not hate them, I just don't believe in that lifestyle.
JESUS loves everyone. He came to earth for all.
God has given us free will to make our own choices.
If we make bad choices, then we repent, ask God to forgive us.
Move on and try not to make those same mistakes.
If we are truly like Jesus, when we say we are saved, then
we must remember to live that way as best as we can.
And Carol, I believe Chrisitans have always been singled out and
always will until the Lord's Return.
And I know it's not. Just for the record. Since when could people choose what they were into?
I have friends who are gay, I do not hate them, I just don't believe in that lifestyle."
For the record, I am NOT gay. This is exactly the kind of presumption I take issue with.
Lev 21:5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.
What about Divorce?
Matthew 5:31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’?a? 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
See alot of things happen these days that dont adhere to what the bible says. Of course unless you know ancient Hebrew we only have the word of the Church of England under King James that what we have is the exact interpretation of the bible and not translated to follow the wishes of the church of England/Catholic Church. The point is there are many commandments in the bible...are you going to follow one or all of them?
From a Gay Christian, a Minister.
Read, learn and get your heads out of your butts.
It's, like,
"I love you, but I'd love you more if you weren't you."
Er. What?
I could write a whole post about that rather contradictory philosophy. Maybe I will.
Congratulations to Bryan:
"Carol the reason Christianity is singled out in this case is because many more Christians are pushing for laws against Homosexual marriage than any other group.
From the highest office in the land, there has been hatred slammed on gay people for their chosen lifestyle.
Perhaps it could also be that Christians are viewed as the most judgmental of the religions here in America. "
And kudos to Linda:
"Too many 'Christians' do the singling out and then have the nerve to act surprised when the one who is singled out reacts defensively.
I think this is what Jesus was referring to when he spoke about hypocrites? "
I do believe that Christians who try to use the law as a means of enforcing their religious beliefs should not be surprised that their bigotry is exposed.
THAT explains all the posts about people who lie going to Hell! LoL!
"Russia came out yesterday, and predicted the United States government would fall by 2010 and one of the causes is our liberal attitude toward homosexuality.article"
Thak God for Godless Russians! You forgot Iran...the axis of evil is pretty much all anti-homo. The axis of evil and Christians UNITE! LoL!
"So why is Christianity being singled out? Because it's easy."
Or hypocritical?
Straight from christian, were those words.
Many people see the flambouyant parts, but never see those who are your neighbors, coworkers, etc. that work and act similar, but have another kind of lover.
Enough saying well i knew such and such...That does not show you do not have prejudice, it shows you do, by the way they exclaim it.
glitter-graphics.comFor posting to the surprise monthly prize group
I just do not like that kind of lifestyle. That does not mean I hate people who are gay.
Everyone single person has free will from God to choose how they live their lives.
Their is a difference between disliking people and hating.
I am done with this subject.
I love how you twist what I say, but show your ignorance, with your constant attacks on Christianity. There is no hypocrisy in that.
"You don't realize how silly you look when you say in one sentence that your religion teaches you to dislike someone for being born the way they are, and then a few lines later to claim you're all peace and love? Or to claim you're peace and love on this post and be anything but on another? Is inconsistency one of those "all sins are equal" things by any chance?"
Sandy Knauer™ , Mar 8, 2009, 1:29am EST
I am quite consistant in what I say. I'm sorry for you if I don't fit neatly into a box you have defined.
"If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination." (Leviticus 20:13). "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion. ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you." (Leviticus 18:22-24).
There are also New Testament Bible verses on homosexuality, including, "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." (Romans 1:26-27).
Look, I am not one to judge anyone. It is between you and your maker. I dont dislike homosexuals but i do not condone their lifestyle choices.
Sandy, it doesnt have anything to do with bigotry or racism as you pointed out. The moral degredation of today's society is based upon political correctness and it makes me sick.
I dont have to be ok with anything. I have the right to voice my opinion and push for my agendas that I believe will make a better society. the problem with today is the "everything is ok and dont rock the boat" mentality. Everything is not ok. Our government is a bunch of thieves (tax evaders), liars (no earmarks etc), and the fabric of todays society is being challenged to stay together.
Why is it wrong to stand up and say something? If a woman was getting beaten up, how many people here would do something about it and not just walk away? ME.... I am one. I have beaten a man half to death for that and would do it again on a moments notice.
Why dont we use pleasantries anymore? Why do we not promote opening doors for people? Helping when it is needed without being paid for it? Offering personal time for things that are greater than yourself? Not stealing because it is wrong and not because you wont get caught?
We need help. We've gone too far with PC and I fight it every step of the way.
~M
You did a good job at describing where heterosexuals get confused, but where, can you point out that any sin is worse than another?
Judging is a sin. You cannot judge a person , and think then you are without sin.
The News Channel you take in and repeat from is your choice.
It says a lot about a person.
An interesting question, and I'm sure dear Carol (who claims that she has every right to voice her opinion) would be interested to hear my response as well. Of course, technically, it is NOT wrong. You can stand up and say pretty much anything you want, even here in Russia (FYI, Carol). If you choose, you can stand up and say that our Earth is flat. That it is perfectly OK to kill people if God tells you so. That women are subordinate creatures. That slavery is absolutely legal and that some races (lower ones) are divinely predestined to serve others (higher ones). The funniest thing is that you can find ALL this on the pages of the Bible - and quote it as your source. Yeah, you CAN do all this - but then, please, don't be surprised at the people's reaction. Most of us have long since left this medieval mentality behind, and to quote the Bible in defense of one's anti-gay stance doesn't differ much from a Southern plantation owner quoting the SAME Bible in defense of his own pro-slavery stance. Not a single bit. There's only one true basis for any true moral I know, and it is called the Golden Rule. And if only you seriously intend to apply this rule in your own life (what every Christian is expected to do), you'd quickly see why there is nothing wrong in a committed same-sex relationship, while racists, warmongers, hypocrites and child molesters (read: a significant segment of the "conservative" side) are plainly wrong.
Well... NOW you see why? :-)
Blessings and best wishes - S.
The bible was written by men, what can you expect.
And quite frankly homosexuality has been openly practiced in Europe for thousands of years. Granted, it was openly practiced but kind of hush hush at the same time.
I would never choose to believe in a God who would cast me out because of people I have slept with. It's lunacy to do so.
I am tired of all this PC as well. Why can't we be more like Jesus?
I don't like certain things but that does not mean I am being hateful.But Svetlana , there is something wrong with same sex relationships, it goes against God's laws.
There are too many people who seem to care only about Man's laws.
what about God's laws? What about doing what HE would have you to do?
I am not perfect, no man is. I love everyone, we aall come from Adam and Eve,
God created us in HIS own image.
HE does not make mistakes. HE loves us all. WE only have to
accept HIS love and ask HIM into our lives.
When HE is within us, and we say we are truly Christians, we
let go of our past lives, our past mistakes, and we live the way God
would have us to live.
HE gives us a choice : For HIM or aganist HIM.
There are only 2 choices to make.
~ As for me and my house, WE will serve the LORD~
As for slavery, that is wrong, no matter what. There were slaves in Bible times,
but guess what? They were set free. God heard their cires, their prayers, HE saw
their pain. HE cares for us all.
The Civil War was not started because of slavery, it was about taxes.
Slavery was brought into the war. And I do believe the North had indentured
servants. It was wrong. there are still people today being treated as slaves.
And God still hears us< HE still cares. HE still wants all of us to turn to HIM.
And the bible is not a joke and it is not funny.
We are the ones who turn away from Him. HE never leaves us.
All people sin, but there is a bridge between us and God. and that is Jesus.
Because He dies for our sins, we can be saved from eternal death.
We can live with HIM in Heaven someday.
no one can tell you what to do, we all have to make
that choice ourself.
No matter what the BIBLE says about slaves being obedient to their masters? He-he-he... now it's quite something. :-) If one part of the Bible is plain wrong, why not another part? And what better proof I needed for what I wrote in one of my earlier poems - everyone picks and chooses, the only real question is WHAT to choose?...
FYI, I'm myself a great-great-great-granddaughter of Russian peasants - read, serfs - read, slaves. Russian serfs were treated exactly the way your Afro-American slaves were treated on the fields of Georgia or Mississippi, or worse. My vivacious great-Grandma was born several years after Alexander II the Liberator of Russia abolished servitude in Russia - in 1861, the same year slavery was abolished in America - only this time without a Civil War!...
Blessings and best wishes - S.
but guess what? They were set free. God heard their cires, "
Maybe for Moses, but not in New Testament times. Jesus didn't speak against slavery (and it was everywhere). None of those slaves are recorded in the New Testament to have gone free.
Using "God gave us free will" when referring to homosexuality is a bunch of crap. Sure we all make good decisions and bad decisions and do make choices about life. Who one falls in love with is not a choice.
This was told to me by a wise girl several years ago. I believe her exact words were "You can't help who you fall in love with." And she wasn't a homosexual btw, nor was she referring to homosexual relationships, but I think it applies to those as well.
Just thought you might like to know that Mormons are Christians.
Just thought you might like to know that Mormons are not Christians.
It was a Russia Scholar, not the country that said that. But I agree we cannot accept the homosexual lifestyle. It's good for the country not to.
The interpretation of the Bible you choose is your choice.
In regard to Homosexuals ,It's in plain English in the Bible,Peter. Ok? If you have an IQ or 70 you can see it.
Aislinn G., Mar 9, 2009, 3:22pm ED
It's ok, you don't have to believe. You are still going where the Godless go after death. Unless you change your mind before it's too late. Just remember, forever is a long time. If I were you I would look into this. I hope you look into it.
Bryan B., Mar 7, 2009, 1:11pm EST
Yes Bryan we Christians hate evil lifestyles. We don't hate the person, but we sure do hate the homosexual lifestyle. We even hate it when we do evil. I know I do. Bryan,You do understand that God is the judge don't you? We Christians will be sticking with God.
Secondly, I live in the capital of Mormon world and let me tell you, THEY ARE CHRISTIANS. Anyone who believes otherwise is just stupid and obviously doesn't know anything about the Mormon religion.
Just google it
The Bible was not written in English. It was written in several ancient tongues over a period of centuries, and then translated to a point that much of it no longer even resembles the original text.
As an example: The original Greek definition of "virgin" meant simply an unmarried woman. Remember all those "virgin" goddesses? That didn't mean they didn't have sex. They just weren't married. The whole notion of virgin=no sex came later. So while there is no disputing Mary WAS a virgin (she wasn't married) that does not mean she didn't have sex.
Another example of bad translation can be found in Exodus 22:18. This is generally translated as "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." However the key word in question, m'khashepah, doesn't mean "witch." It refers to a specific type of spellcaster, a necromancer, that uses magic to hurt other people. Magic and witches themselves were never considered evil per se (and even Holy men in the Bible are cited as having sought out witches at various points. But a necromancer that uses magic to kill people was to be put to death. I think generally speaking rational people would agree with that. Unfortunately, this was mistranslated, deliberately, to refer to all witches. And this mistranslation was used to justify the witch burnings.
Further, think about the time period the Bible was written in. The survivability of many cities depended on people having children. A large family meant you could get more work done. A small population made you suseptible to invasion. Homosexuality was condemned because such unions did not produce children, and children were practically a form of currency. We no longer suffer a lack of people. We aren't at risk of being invaded because we don't have a big enough population. One could argue we have a moral obligation to REDUCE the planet's population. But the point is that saying homosexuality today is wrong because it wasn't a good idea 5,000 years ago when civilization was young doesn't fly.
Isaiah 7:14. A Virgin Shall Conceive?
Why do many claim that "virgin" in Isaiah 7:14 should be rendered "young woman," "damsel" or "maiden"? Would not these renderings effectively negate the force of this word as being a prophecy about Jesus' miraculous birth?
It is important to capture the occasion for which this prophecy was given in order to understand it. The setting begins with Ahaz, king of Judah, refusing to join Rezin, the king of Aram (Syria) in Damascus, and Pekah, the king of the northern ten tribes of Israel in Samaria, against the Assyrians, who had subjugated most of the Near East. For Ahaz's resistance to their overtures, Pekah and Rezin marched against Judah with the intent of overthrowing the Davidic dynasty and placing the son of Tabeel (Isaiah 7:6; Tabeel is probably a distortion from a name meaning "God is good" to something like "Good for nothing!") on the throne in Jerusalem.
In order to reassure Ahaz that nothing like this was going to happen, God sent the prophet Isaiah to join King Ahaz as he was out inspecting the water reserves for the city of Jerusalem, apparently calculating how long he could hold out against these two firebrands from the north. Isaiah's instructions from God were to invite king Ahaz to request from God any "sign" (that is, miracle) that he wished, for that miracle would be God's promise to the king that Pekah and Rezin would not have their way. God's word to Ahaz was "If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all" (Isaiah 7:9).
Ahaz refused, protesting that Scripture (presumably Deut. 6:16) did not allow him to tempt/test God. But, Isaiah explained, this was not the same as testing God, for God himself invited the request. It appears, however, that Ahaz had in the meantime sent off a secret message with financial encouragements to the king of Assyria with the request that he attack either or both Rezin and Pekah, thereby forcing them to withdraw from Ahaz's doorstep.
Despite Ahaz's reluctance to cooperate, Isaiah proceeded to give a "sign" from the Lord himself that would be for all the house of David. Isaiah 7:14 begins with a therefore, indicating that what precedes is the reason for what follows. So the divine word is not unattached to all that we have just described. Isaiah began: "The Lord [?ad??n?y the name signifying that he is the one who is master over everything] himself will give you [plural, thereby referring to the whole Davidic house] a sign" (even though Ahaz had refused to request such in his unbelief). "Behold [untranslated in the NIV, but a term that calls special attention to a particular fact] the virgin [h??almâh] will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel [that is, 'God with us']."
The word h??almâh has caused much debate. The Septuagint translated it by the Greek noun parthenos, a word that has the specific meaning of "virgin." But what does the Hebrew mean? When all the passages in the Old Testament are investigated, the only conclusion one can come to is that the word means "virgin." To date, no one has produced a clear context, either in Hebrew or in the closely related Canaanite language from Ugarit (which uses the cognate noun g?lmt), where ?almâh can be applied to a married woman. Moreover, the definite article with this word must be rendered "the virgin"—a special one God had in mind. Added to this is the question of what would be so miraculous ("sign") about a "young woman" having a baby?
Nevertheless, this message must have some significance for Ahaz and the people of his day, rather than it being only for an event that turns out to be more than seven centuries away! What significance could it hold for Ahaz and his generation if this event pointed solely to something over seven hundred years away? There was simultaneously a near as well as a distant fulfillment, and the prophecy simultaneously pointed to both a near and a distant future. Rather than a son of Tabeel taking over the throne of David, through whom God had promised to send his Messiah, a son was born to Ahaz: Hezekiah. It may well have been that the prophet pointed to a "young woman" standing nearby, who at the time was unmarried and a virgin (the two were assumed to go together). The son born to them, then, would be Ahaz's son, Hezekiah.
But this interpretation raises at least two major problems: (1) Hezekiah's birth was not the result of a miraculous conception, and (2) Hezekiah, according to most chronologies, was about ten years of age at the time. To the first objection, we respond that this misunderstands the connection between the near and the distant fulfillments in prophecy. Rarely does the "now," or near fulfillment, meet most, much less all, the details and expectations that the ultimate event completes. For example, John the Baptist came in the "spirit and power" of Elijah (Luke 1:17), and he was in that regard Elijah who was to come; but Elijah would still come again before the great and notable day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5). Likewise, many antichrists have already come, but they are a small kettle of fish compared to the person and powers of the final antichrist (1 John 2:18). Again, five prophets in four centuries declared in five different crises that they were undergoing the "day of the Lord," yet they in no way experienced what the final day of the Lord would be like. Similarly, "now we are the children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known" (1 John 3:2; emphasis mine). Here is that same tension between the "now" and the "not yet." So Hezekiah did not fulfill all that the prophet had in mind, especially since he spoke of "you" as a plurality of the house of David.
What about the chronological problem? There is one remaining synchronism in the kings of Israel and Judah that has not been resolved: it is a ten-year problem in the years of Hezekiah. A reexamination of the date of the Syro-Ephraimite War, I believe, will show that the prophecy is properly aligned for the announcement of the pending birth of the next resident on the throne of David, thereby providing an unbroken string of occupants leading up to the grandest of them all.
Therefore, the word ?almâh was deliberately used because it always referred to a young woman who was a virgin. God promised that there would be something miraculous about the birth, and if that promise was not completed in the near fulfillment, then it would be in the final fulfillment. That One would be Immanuel, "God with us."
Hard Sayings of the Bible.
Aislinn G., Mar 11, 2009, 10:34am EDT
If you could only understand how ignorant you are. I will not make fun of you.
Just google it
Thank you Peter
Kelly - You had to bring the big J word into this, didn't you? Are you guys on crack? Virgins don't have babies. Now go back to your nice church like a nice little God fearing child.
You are kinda sinister sounding Aislinn, don't you think?
I don see a correlation between homosexuality and evil, so I don't believe I shall muck around in the bible looking for one, thanks just the same.
Please either use indentation or break up your paragraphs. You very, very LOOOOOONNNGGGG post all runs together, making it difficult to read. Paragraphs are our friends.
You can't use the Bible to prove the Bible. It's a circular arguement. It's like saying "Of course I'm right, because I said so last week."
GOD did not write the Bible. Human beings did. You can claim they were divinely inspired and all that, but at the end of the day God did not pick up a pen and write anything down. The books of the Bible were written over a span of centuries in a variety of languages, and finally assembled in the book we currently know it generations after the books were written. Different factions of judeo-christian worship can't even agree on which books belong in the canon. You cannot use the Bible to prove itself.
To date, no one has produced a clear context, either in Hebrew or in the closely related Canaanite language from Ugarit (which uses the cognate noun g?lmt), where ?almâh can be applied to a married woman. Moreover, the definite article with this word must be rendered "the virgin"—a special one God had in mind. Added to this is the question of what would be so miraculous ("sign") about a "young woman" having a baby?
It is only difficult to grasp if you cling to the notion that Mary had to have never had sex. In the context of other mytho-poetic literature, there is no issue. Greco-Roman gods reproduced with mortal women all the time. Such unions were used to hold up certain heroes as divine. The Pharoahs of ancient Eygpt were in effect believed to have been descendent of the gods. Within the context of other myths, its stands to reason that Jesus would by default be the result of a union between God and a mortal mother. He wouldn't have any credibility as a mytho-poetic figurehead otherwise.
So the miraculous point is not a young woman having a baby. The Miracle is that the woman gave birth to a god's baby. The act of sex is not relevent to the equation. Mythology is full of unmarried women getting knocked up by gods.
1 Corinthians 2:14
A person who isn't spiritual doesn't accept the things of God's Spirit, for they are nonsense to him. He can't understand them because they are spiritually evaluated.
In fact, careful study of the Book of Genesis reveals two back to back creation myths that actually differ from each other. In the first version, god makes "mankind" using the Hebrew word which implies multiple people at one. The second version has god creating only Adam, and then making Eve later. In The Alphabet of Ben Sira you find a most...interesting variant of the creation myth written by the author of Ecclesiasticus. Go find it and read it. You may wonder why the Church Elders declined to include it in the official canon.
In short, don't make assumptions I don't know anything about the Bible. I studied the Bible in college, and took courses in comparative religion. Unlike a lot of Christians I know, I HAVE ACTUALLY READ THE BOOK.
The Bible is a lovely book, full of beauty and inspiration. But it is NOT historical fact. It is the beneficiary of one of the best marketing campaigns ever put in place, coupled with the military might (Constantine) at a time when it was possible to use the sword to force conversion.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977618374
Hi Carol, that is some interesting reading you are talking about. In research I can only find one book that stands up to the test. After critical study of the holy books of the world's great religions. Except for the Bible alone with data from Hugh Ross, my suspicions were confirmed that they were penned from the limited space-time perspective of human beings and reflected the limited and often incorrect scientific knowledge of the times in which they were written. As Hugh Ross has written, only the Bible leaped beyond the dimensions of length, width, height, and time. only the Bible successfully predicted future scientific discoveries. Only the Bible accurately described cosmic origins and the anthropically fine-tuned nature of the universe and solar system. These discoveries, the obviously superior moral message of the Bible, and its uniquely complete solution to the human moral dilemma. Well thank you for the reply Carol. I will move on now ) take care
Cheers
scott k., Mar 11, 2009, 10:18am E
And I'm sorry you don't realize Mormons are Christians....but it's not my problem.
Oooh or better yet a boy and a girl, how's that for kinky for you?
I have an I.Q. over 70.
For those who quote Leviticus, the word abomination in Hebrew doesn't have the connotation we associate with it - look it up for yourselves.
Jesus taught the Christians to love, honor, and cherish one another. He never taught people to hate, or cast out, but to hate sin, which we could discuss different sins from smoking, to obesity, or obsessions; not the sinner. Jesus taught to love the sinner, and to accept and treat your neighbor as you would want to be treated yourself.
The Lord's prayer teaches us to do on earth as in heaven, and to forgive those who tresspass as we have been forgiven for our tresspasses. Does that not mean we should love everyone, and help those less fortunate, by our own hearts, and own love, not by some forced upon thinking?
Why is it that so many people want to jump in the bedrooms of homosexuals? Is it that you are scared that there may not be enough heterosexuals for your desires and lusts, or is it that somehow, you envy their ability to love, regardless of physical structure, but by the heart, and soul of the person?
I hate to say this, but you would have to be half cracked to believe that a gay or bisexual person has chosen whom they will love. For that lifestyle is full of peril, from castigation, to loneliness, to abandonement, to lies, to their lover thinking the grass is greener on the other side. They are treated like second class citizens by many, and are not given jobs, or places to live because they are different.
The morality of many has been compromised by putting themselves in the bedrooms of those who love someone different. they also show their hate by their words, and acions.
This world is so full of hate, and judgement, that no religion, no moral gauge of anyone has a right to judge others. If we spent half as much time showing love to those less fortunate than us in some manner, then this world would be a happier, more loving place to be.
Let us stop trying to classify sin, for those who have sex for any reason but to reproduce is in sin, those who lust food, money, fame, smoke, or pierce body parts all sin according to God. And for those who go to church on sundays and holidays-god says praising him as a habit-is a sin-so if you do not do it becaus eyou truly feel it in your heart-then guess what-YOU CANNOT JUDGE OTHERS.
The word of God is not to circumsize a person's heart, but to plant the seed of love and hope within their life...........................................................
I would hate for anyone to be accused of plagerizing the bible while telling others that homosexuality is a sin..........
So is theft....
My dear Christians are singled out because they are the ones who are doing all the judging. This is why I strayed away from R....... she was the one who was the evil one.
When you judge someone thats a sin. God/Jesus said to love one another.. not pick and choose the ones that fit your mold. It s funny she tried to get me kicked off and she was the one that got kicked out. Homosexuality has been around way before Jesus it is not a choice Carol. So that means you love them too...When God can make everyone perfect than it will be perfect right?? But God lets mistakes happen , homosexual is just like being mentally/physically handicapped they were born that way. If Homosexuality is a sin so is being mentally physically handicapped. What about the children that are born with both sex organs are they sinners????
Do you know the one who got your articles blocked came back under another name ...she is pretending to be new.