I will keep this short and to the point so as not to offend. Yes bilically homosexuality is wrong, "and abomination". As to why God made them like that, well anyone who has read the bible will tell you, God also gave us free will you know kind of like how the US gives people rights to do as they wish "within boundaries". I personally think it is wrong but I also have a live and let live policy. In other words if they want to suffer on judgement day that is their problem not mine. It is not my right to judge, also in the bible. For the most part I think war is wrong too, I feel that most conflicts could probably be solved in a more civil way but they still exist. I see by some of your posts that you think at least one war is wrong I feel the same way.
My point is that although I am of the opinion that gay marriage is wrong I have no right to stop it, nor the means for that matter. Neither do I or anyone else have the right to tell me what religion to practice or where I should be allowed to, although that freedom has been taken away over time. Go figure/ The very constitution that gave me the right to worship as I wish is being used against me by "people" to take that right away from me again.
As soon as you can give me one good reason and I mean a real one not that stupid "you might offend a Bhuddist or Wiccan" slop they fling around, as to why I shouldnt be allowed to put a cross on my desk while I am at work in a public place. Then and only then will I really care to start defending those who choose alternate lifestyles. Just think Bill. You spend a lot of time in courthouses which are government property. What if someday they decided that you couldn't talk to a client about the wife and kids while awaiting a decision, I mean you wouldn't want to offend the gays now would you.
That is what I feel almost daily. I am being persecuted because I am a Christian. Tell me where in the constitution it says they have the right to do that to me?

Sorry, thats a lot longer than I expected but I wanted to try and be concise and give my point of view, it's about the only thing I have left!

I also would like to note that I can't spell when I am tired! That would be Biblically and that and should be an "an" I am sure there are more mistakes but I don't have the spell check on and hey, it's only a comment! ;-)

Is there anyone out there who can tell me exactly where in the Bible it says that homosexuality is wrong? I have a gay friend who is an ex-priest and he couldn't find it anywhere. He left the priesthood because he couldn't live a double life

Nothing like a good religious education for questions like theses...

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." Leviticus 18:22

"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." Leviticus 20:13

See also Romans, Chapter One.

Of course, the Bible also rewards David for murder and adultery by giving him a throne...as my momma always says, 'Give me a semester to teach a class in Biblical morality, with the Bible as the sole text, and there'll be more complaints about obscenities and immorality and this-is-not-fit-for-our-children-to-read than any book you can name.'

Just to put it in perspective......

I'm sure the gay people in this country are thanking you, Bill, for speaking so eloquently. You can not imagine the pain I have over this topic.

I'm a Christian and have talked at length with several priests who feel we are equally as valuable and deserving of equal rights as straight people. Then, of course, there are others that tell me I've been seized by the devil and must fight. Hmmm, sad that the devil got ahold of an unborn child and never let go. I fought for many years, and finally had to be who I am. I am a good, honest, hard working person, devoted to my family. I have nothing to be ashamed of.

I hope all of you that have all the rights that I don't have are grateful every single day.

I think marriage should be banned for everyone but I have fucktard baggage that is contesting our divorce...the divorce that took over two years to get...which of course means we are going back to trial in early 2005.

Signed,
Mad in Minnesota

What we don't understand, we fear. Isn't that the oft used phrase? The Bible is so full of conundrums, beautiful passages and terrible pronunciations. In the final solution, every person must answer to their own soul, must answer to their own version of mortality. I only hope I grow each day with more tolerance, more compassion, and more understanding of my fellow man/woman who shares this fragile environment with me, be they gay, straight, or celibate. The immoral are those who spew hate and sanctimonious platitudes, IMHO.

I reckon my question is why is marriage a civil issue at all? Why should the government be involved in anyone's marriage? If marriage is solely a religious issue, then each religion sets it's own boundaries, and if you don't like them, then go to another. Or none. Or all.

Thanks Lucy, My Mum stopped reading the bible because she decided there was too much sex.

I merely offer this quote from Mark Morford, San Francisco columnist...

"Half the nation still actually believes gays can change their sexual orientation if they really want to. Most still feel homosexuality is a serious sin. And, perhaps most depressingly, the poll found that the higher the level of one's religious commitment, the more bitterly, violently opposed one is to gay marriage and new definitions of love.
Ironic, isn't it? It's a global truism: The more passionately religious you are, the more hateful and small minded you become, and the more desperate you are to convince everyone else that Satan himself is at the door, carrying nothing but a whip and a sinister grin and a big bottle of Astroglide."

Wow way to make friends Phillip. Because I am religious I am small minded I will keep it civil here and only ask about the Lutheran and Methodist in your life.

Comparing me to Satan, Philip? Pfft- and don't be dissing whips and Astroglide, although apricot oil is a much better lubricant- or so I'm told...

Just to clarify: knowing the specific passages that those who use the Bible as their sole reference guide for 'morality' (emphasis on use) refer to when they condemn homosexuality doesn't mean I agree with their interpretation or behaviour; just the opposite, in fact.

I am a Christian and, as the Apostle's Creed states, "I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting." Being a Christian is NOT an exclusionary religion; far from it. It is loving our neighbor as ourselves, it is forgiving and seeking forgiveness, it is knowing that we are ALL imperfect (sinners) and knowing that NONE of us should judge each other. BUT: It does NOT mean that we should forsake spiritual discernment; all things are NOT relative.

Those who call themselves Christians who only choose the condemning verses from the Bible to live their lives by aren't, in my theology, Christians at all. Want to use the Bible to make political decisions? Here's a few verses to help out..

School Prayer? "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:5-6

Tax breaks for the rich? Jesus favors a progressive tax code! "And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living." Mark 12: 41-44

And here are two good verses for our "religious right" President, "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." Romans 14:19 ~and~ "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him." Proverbs 26:12

Sorry for the long comment, Bill.

Philip didn't do it, Mark Morford did. i know of no one who can stir the pot better than Morford. Don't always agree with his comments, but he does let it all hang out.

I had a professor once who stated that if you quote the bible in a debate or legal process to prove a point, you were getting into quagmire. Are we there, yet, Bill?