Is homosexuality an important religious issue?

[QueenBee]

I feel people of faith, as well as others are making this a bigger issue than it actually is. For God's sake. I always argue that if this is what people consider the biggest issue in the world, than I am ashamed to be a resident of this world.
Arizona may be having a new law that allows business owners to deny service to gays based on religious beliefs.
How does any of this differ from 50-60 years ago when blacks could not come into a business? I would wager a bet that these same business owners would never deny service to a black because "that would be wrong".
Homosexuality is no more a choice than heterosexuality. Did any of the straight people here wake up one morning and said I CHOOSE to be straight. Or did you just always know you were?

[Maggot]

I agree, people are soooooooo stupid if a gay couple comes in to buy a cake or something don't just say "no" just charge an extra couple hundred bucks for breaking up the little statues set that go on top. Why let Americas liberals start high pitched screaming at the place for nothing. Unless you want the publicity or something.

[username]

Religion has nothing to do with homosexuality.

Huh? Some religions are opposed to homosexuality. That's part of their religious freedom. Homosexuals ought to be able to marry and churches ought to be able to refuse to marry people based on their beliefs. Damn Catholics wouldn't let me and my husband get married in their church. *shrugs*

[Cynical Ninja]

Hang on, hang on, I 100% agree with you. I have said this before about homosexuality. I don't think homosexuality is important to God/Jesus/Higher power/Universe. I think it's important to religious-holier-than-thou-pious-Jimmy Swaggarts of this world. I am not one of those. When I looked up homosexuality in the new testament and researched it further. The new testament is originally written in greek, it has been translated as homosexuality, but the actual greek is talking about sexual perversion, not sexual orientation. Anyway, the extremists have run with the translation. But it is incorrect. I can find the links to show you.

I believe God is love. If God is love and two people love each other, whether they are gay straight or bisexual, transexual, God MUST be present, because love is present. I am for gay marriage and equal rights to all human beings. I think the argument against gay marriage is ridiculous.

I think if Christians spent more time helping the poor and those in need in the the third world and less time interfering in politics and peoples bedrooms the world would definitely be a better place and maybe people would take them more seriously. Your serve Boris.

Ok we know what YOU think but what YOU think is fundamentally at odds with the doctrine of the religion you claim to be a part of.

Can you be homosexual and give a service at your church? No you can't by taking an active part in your religion you are validating their stance on homosexuality. You are going and bowing and scraping before a priest who thinks gay people are wrong and are going straight to hell because they are gay because God said so in leviticus and the vast majority of Christians believe that because the bible is the word of god right?

Or do you cherry pick from the bible like picking your favourite flavour jellybeans from an assortment?

Return of serve Serena.

[Cynical Ninja]

I agree, people are soooooooo stupid if a gay couple comes in to buy a cake or something don't just say "no" just charge an extra couple hundred bucks for breaking up the little statues set that go on top. Why let Americas liberals start high pitched screaming at the place for nothing. Unless you want the publicity or something.

Ya because in da garden of eden it was Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve! Duuuuhhhh!

As for high pitched screaming? I will stick to the tv evangelists for that thanks.

[aussiefriend]

Ok we know what YOU think but what YOU think is fundamentally at odds with the doctrine of the religion you claim to be a part of.

Not necessarily BB, it is at odds with mainstream fundamentalism which I am definitely not a part of. I am not part of a religion as such.

Can you be homosexual and give a service at your church? No you can't

Ah yes you can, there are gay churches that exist where gay people can come to church without fear of judgement or persecution.

You are going and bowing and scraping before a priest who thinks gay people are wrong and are going straight to hell because they are gay because God said so in leviticus and the vast majority of Christians believe that because the bible is the word of god right?

Not me! I don't go to church, I don't fit in and I don't believe what they believe. I believe the Bible is a spiritual book that is open to interpretation.

Aced you Boom Boom

[HairOfTheDog]

Jesus Christ.



Riveting.

[Maggot]

That will be 200.00 please$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Cynical Ninja]

I am not part of a religion as such.

(You said you were a Christian and you read the bible, last time I checked Christianity was a religion and its religious scripture was called the bible. You either believe that making you a Christian or you don't making you a none Christian.)

Ah yes you can, there are gay churches that exist where gay people can come to church without fear of judgement or persecution.

(There are openly gay Catholic priests in Australia? I don't think so!)


Not me! I don't go to church, I don't fit in and I don't believe what they believe. I believe the Bible is a spiritual book that is open to interpretation.

(Making you no more of a Christian than me! You are just a religious tourist cherry picking the word of God for your own purposes)

Aced you Boom Boom

(Nope return of serve I think you'll find Serena, juice!)

[Cynical Ninja]

Jesus Christ.



Riveting.

Your meaningless opinion which contributes nothing is duly noted.

Next time you have a meaningless opinion which contributes nothing instead of posting it write it on a small piece of paper and shove that paper up your ass.

Cheers.

[Duchess]

There are a lot of gay clergy here. The Methodist church in my little town has a lesbian pastor. No one here bats an eye and takes it all in stride. I'm proud that my little country town is so open minded.

[Cynical Ninja]

That will be 200.00 please$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Yes of course religious clergymen who conduct heterosexual marriages do it for free don't they?

Oh, hang on a second, no they don't! They put a dollar value on it like everything else making any point you were trying to make utterly pointless maggotyboo.

As usual.

[Cynical Ninja]

There are a lot of gay clergy here.

Any openly gay Catholic clergy?

No didn't think so.

[Duchess]

Any openly gay Catholic clergy?

No didn't think so.

Stop being so fucking presumptuous with me.

[HairOfTheDog]

Jesus Christ.



Riveting.

Your meaningless opinion which contributes nothing is duly noted.

Next time you have a meaningless opinion which contributes nothing instead of posting it write it on a small piece of paper and shove that paper up your ass.

Cheers.

I've no experience sticking things, including gerbil-like creatures, up my ass. No desire either. You can wish it to happen, but it's a futile wish, CN. So, you're stuck with me posting my meaningless opinions as I see fit; same as you.

I'm seriously curious as to your goal in this little "volley" with aussie? Clearly, your faith in what you believe and don't believe is much stronger than aussie's faith in her fluctuating beliefs.

In addressing questions and challenges posted by you in this thread, she's denied or ditched her previous claims of religiosity, attempted to negotiate her previous claims of non-religious "spiritual" belief, defined the Bible in a way that allows her to answer your questions so as to conflict the least with your opinions and support whatever it is she believes or claims to believe at any given time...

Whatever aussie really believes, I sincerely hope it's beneficial to her well-being and quality of life. I've not seen any person attempt to compromise what they claim as their religious and/or spiritual beliefs so readily, much less in the context of an internet forum. Faith in oneself and one's beliefs is harder to come by for some than others. And so it is.

That's my meaningless opinion.

[aussiefriend]

Clearly, your faith in what you believe and don't believe is much stronger than aussie's faith in her fluctuating beliefs.

Them thars fightin' words.

Hey listen, I have not changed my point of view I have always felt like this. Many christians would consider me not a christian. It's not my place to say who is and isn't a christian. Although God is love and when you hold up signs that say 'God hates Fags' you are in direct conflict with God, as there is no hate in God as God is love.

I am strong in my beliefs, it is an ongoing journey, I am not going to compromise my beliefs. I try to life a life of honesty, integrity and kindness when I am dealing with others. Except you.

To answer CN, I wasn't talking about the Catholic church. I turned my back on the Catholic Club years ago. We all know that they don't have gay priests. Whatever, they are all over the shop. My irish mother is all for it though.

I am not cherry picking, on the contrary, I find that the extremists cherry pick and twist things to fit in with their own political agendas. Such as the homosexual debate. I don't like most christians and find them intolerant and hateful of others. Some are plain stupid and embarrassing and sometimes when people find out I am a christian, I want it to come with a disclaimer, not one of those, not what you think. So no, I don't cherry pick, I try to live my life the way God would have me live, fighting for human rights and third world causes rather than networking conservatives to hoard a personal fortune.

Get it? Got it? Good! Game set and match.

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm not the one playing soft-serve theological tennis with you, aussie.

You've danced all over the court without even knowing which side of the net you're on during your "Serena" carnation - explaining, defending, rephrasing, modifying and generally going in circles. That's my view from the stands. Still looks that way to me, but I hope that doesn't matter much to you.

I think CN had a point about you bowing down to religious leaders who practice the "discrimination" that you oppose. You have very much praised Christian televangelist Joel Osteen and his tearful uplifting sermons, although he is by definition one of "those" Christians who you claim aren't "your kind" (you were indeed talking about Christians not Catholics). He believes homosexuality is a sin and he would not marry a gay couple because it's against scripture. Those are his words.

Of course, he also believes that they are God's children and doesn't like to focus much on that part of the scripture - it's so gosh darn negative and all. His sentiments too. From the content of your posts in this thread, it's clear to me why you're such a fan and actually purchase his books.

As for me, I have no interest in changing your religious/spiritual beliefs or those of anyone else, nor defending my own. Spirituality is, by definition, personal and intrinsic. So, game, set, match...the only player in this particular game is you, at least that's the way it should be. I hope you win.

[aussiefriend]

Hey, you leave Joel out of this. He is awesome, he is an inspiration and totally fabulous. We watch Joel EVERY week, and we get up and sing and dance when the songs are on. It is part of our life. His messages are all about what I am talking about. And their family even put their money where their mouths are, they do much work helping the poor and his brother is a doctor and even spends 6 months of the year every year working in Africa. That church is the biggest in the US. It probably generates a large amount of money for Houston with tourism and other aspects. The church would employ a large number of staff and that would involve ministering to those affected by drugs and homeless outreach. I think their points of view are probably conservative, but they keep them to themselves and don't allow politics to enter into their message. That was a really low blow HoTD to play the Joel card.

[Duchess]

[Maggot]

I'm beginning to like Joel myself. He seems like a nice guy.