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Re: Here's the thing: your opinion seems to be informed by the Roman Catholic Faith. MalkierKnight Send a noteboard - 12/08/2010 11:23:35 PM
And, fair dos to the Roman Catholics, but their way ain't necessarily the right way.

So. Onwards and upwards.


Aside from the good you could do by allowing gay marriage, I see your point about feeling like you were doing wrong by allowing homosexuals to marry in your church.

But it wouldn't be good for our church, and it's our church that matters to us.

There is this thing in the Bible called "disputable matters". There are central tenets of the Christian faith that most, if not all churches have in common: the virgin birth, the death of Christ on the cross to save us from our sins, the Resurrection.

And then there are the other things, the things that can be interpreted in different ways. These are things like contraception, homosexuality, etc.

It's important you understand that before I continue.

I admit that I don't know every practice in your church. Does it approve of contraceptions? Does it permit divorce?

We do approve of contraception because we do not believe that the Bible stipulates that sex is solely for procreation. There are many verses that talk about how enjoyable and good it is to have sex, and they wouldn't be there if sex was just for making babies.

As for divorce: as far as I know, there is no form for divorce in the church I attend, which suggests it isn't sanctioned as such. However, being realists, and knowing that people sin, I don't know whether we'd prevent people from remarrying. I've only been going here for 3 1/2 years (since I moved to the UK) and it's never come up. I know that in my church in New Zealand people can get married again, but that comes after some serious questions and the reasons for divorce have to be "good": continued, unrepentant infidelity, abuse, etc.

If it does to either then it seems like at least some sins are "sanctioned."

No, because those are not things that all churches consider to be sins. The only ones that are indisputable would be the 10 Commandments, and only then if the church cares about the Old Testament (mine does).

Also, I find it oddly important to you that homosexuality not be encouraged in any way in your church. Maybe the bible doesn't encourage homosexuality, but it places much more emphasis on accepting outcasts and taking in people of all kinds. We are all sinners and we are all gods children. Love your neighbor and love your enemy. Jesus Christ never once spoke any recorded words on homosexuality. Rather, he spoke much more on accepting outcasts. Embracing all.

Yes, He accepted sinners, but He also told them to repent and live a new life.

Banning gay marriage, in my view, seems like an unfairly emphasized part of the bible that hides what is often a form of homophobia. This may and probably is not the case with you and most members of your church. But to so vehemently oppose gay marriage, to deprive two individuals of a holy recognition of their love, in my mind, ought to require a bit more textual commentary than three lines.

That's your mind. Centuries of theologians past and present disagree with you. There are those who agree as well, and, as it's a disputable matter, there are few churches who would say that condoning homosexuality means that you are not a Christian.

And, for the record, I am definitely not one of those. For me, the homosexual act is one sin of many possible, neither greater nor lesser than others. It is just one.


Let me first say that I respect your opinion about homosexuality very much and that I think it's a great step forward from what many people few homosexuality as (i.e. something, for some reason, more unforgivable than other sins).

It doesn't seem like your church sanctions sins in the sense that others do. Though I'm interested to hear its beliefs on contraception.

But I think you should at least acknowledge that in certain instances (those where a church sanctions some sins) churches discriminate by banning gay marriage.

I'll admit a law preventing those certain churches from doing this might be too invasive and particular to work, but I think at the very least, it should be acknowledged as wrongful discrimination.
You must unlearn what you have learned.
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Gay Marriage - 12/08/2010 10:23:19 AM 2094 Views
I disagree on the latter part - 12/08/2010 12:04:15 PM 1427 Views
I follow your point... - 12/08/2010 12:14:17 PM 1413 Views
Suspect you would find plenty of denominations that would argue with you rather strenuously. - 12/08/2010 12:24:55 PM 1450 Views
See, that's what I'm saying... - 12/08/2010 07:37:26 PM 1376 Views
She didn't say that gays ought not be married. - 12/08/2010 07:45:37 PM 1250 Views
You didn't read my post. - 12/08/2010 09:10:21 PM 1309 Views
Actually, you didn't read my post - 12/08/2010 09:23:54 PM 1392 Views
Um, you're wrong. - 12/08/2010 09:37:13 PM 1335 Views
Re: Um, you're wrong. - 12/08/2010 09:44:17 PM 1294 Views
You're still wrong. - 12/08/2010 09:54:55 PM 1432 Views
Re: You're still wrong. - 12/08/2010 09:58:26 PM 1286 Views
Again, you are still wrong. - 12/08/2010 10:04:42 PM 1357 Views
Re: Again, you are still wrong. - 12/08/2010 10:17:13 PM 1179 Views
Wrong definition of "club" - 12/08/2010 10:30:52 PM 1450 Views
My clubs are cooler than yours. *NM* - 12/08/2010 10:35:13 PM 695 Views
I play golf with mine. *NM* - 12/08/2010 10:43:01 PM 712 Views
Re: Wrong definition of "club" - 12/08/2010 10:40:55 PM 1347 Views
Are you a member of one of those churches? - 12/08/2010 10:44:12 PM 1338 Views
Also also: - 12/08/2010 10:46:05 PM 1330 Views
Re: Are you a member of one of those churches? - 12/08/2010 10:49:44 PM 1326 Views
Re: Wrong definition of "club" - 12/08/2010 10:47:20 PM 1366 Views
I don't think he means that kind of club. - 12/08/2010 10:31:41 PM 1249 Views
Also - 12/08/2010 10:02:44 PM 1407 Views
And wrong again. - 12/08/2010 10:08:24 PM 1418 Views
Not so quick! - 12/08/2010 10:21:31 PM 1246 Views
Yes, so quick! - 12/08/2010 10:32:13 PM 1199 Views
Let's be reasonable here - 12/08/2010 10:41:53 PM 1300 Views
Why do you get to judge? - 12/08/2010 10:48:57 PM 1338 Views
I don't - 12/08/2010 10:53:21 PM 1225 Views
OK. - 12/08/2010 10:58:22 PM 1336 Views
Re: OK. - 12/08/2010 11:03:50 PM 1302 Views
Here's the thing: your opinion seems to be informed by the Roman Catholic Faith. - 12/08/2010 11:14:03 PM 1239 Views
Re: Here's the thing: your opinion seems to be informed by the Roman Catholic Faith. - 12/08/2010 11:23:35 PM 1355 Views
Then please stop. - 12/08/2010 11:01:05 PM 1305 Views
What's wrong with discussion? - 12/08/2010 11:05:48 PM 1259 Views
Discussion? Nothing. Your assertions about other people's views, something. - 12/08/2010 11:09:48 PM 1269 Views
Really? - 12/08/2010 11:13:46 PM 1302 Views
Yes. That is incorrect. - 12/08/2010 11:18:05 PM 1268 Views
What, because the expressive message of scouting is anti-gay? - 12/08/2010 10:12:54 PM 1163 Views
Re: What, because the expressive message of scouting is anti-gay? - 12/08/2010 10:23:36 PM 1281 Views
Well then that brings us back to my question, which you have yet to answer. - 12/08/2010 10:36:48 PM 1264 Views
Re: Well then that brings us back to my question, which you have yet to answer. - 12/08/2010 10:46:22 PM 1366 Views
Apparently you do believe that you are more qualified - 12/08/2010 10:57:00 PM 1229 Views
You are wrong - 12/08/2010 11:11:37 PM 1090 Views
Really? - 12/08/2010 11:19:10 PM 1157 Views
Not entirely true either... or, well, true as far as Brown goes. - 12/08/2010 10:08:42 PM 1254 Views
Heh... we discuss restaurants a post or two over there.. ---> - 12/08/2010 10:10:26 PM 1338 Views
Actually, I did. And since everyone else told you you're wrong about that I didn't see any need - 12/08/2010 09:38:33 PM 1350 Views
Re: Actually, I did. And since everyone else told you you're wrong about that I didn't see any need - 12/08/2010 09:55:05 PM 1248 Views
Gah. - 12/08/2010 09:59:45 PM 1202 Views
Yes yes yes. It was ungracious. I got bored. *NM* - 12/08/2010 10:03:17 PM 637 Views
What a mature response. - 12/08/2010 10:11:00 PM 1417 Views
Yes. - 12/08/2010 10:21:38 PM 1359 Views
Re: Yes. - 12/08/2010 10:35:51 PM 1309 Views
I can't speak for Rebekah, but I don't think the issue is that your points are invalid per se. - 12/08/2010 10:22:30 PM 1219 Views
I think my point was unclear in that post - 12/08/2010 10:55:34 PM 1293 Views
It seems that by your (to me nebulous) definition - 12/08/2010 11:05:01 PM 1324 Views
Re: I think my point was unclear in that post - 13/08/2010 10:58:28 AM 1221 Views
+1 - 13/08/2010 09:16:24 AM 1096 Views
Hehe - 13/08/2010 10:46:25 AM 1146 Views
Um - 12/08/2010 09:46:43 PM 1361 Views
That's a very good question. *NM* - 12/08/2010 09:49:05 PM 640 Views
So good it doesn't even need an answer, apparently *NM* - 12/08/2010 10:26:41 PM 692 Views
So good I responded to it someplace else. *NM* - 12/08/2010 10:56:05 PM 570 Views
It makes no sense - 12/08/2010 04:29:24 PM 1207 Views
Re: It makes no sense - 12/08/2010 07:39:25 PM 1272 Views
Re: It makes no sense - 12/08/2010 07:41:02 PM 1370 Views
It's not sanctioning anything - 12/08/2010 09:25:44 PM 1305 Views
Re: It's not sanctioning anything - 12/08/2010 09:28:45 PM 1292 Views
Nonsense - 12/08/2010 09:35:25 PM 1217 Views
Yes, but while marrying two murderers does not ensure that they will continue to murder... - 12/08/2010 09:08:53 PM 1191 Views
Re: Yes, but while marrying two murderers does not ensure that they will continue to murder... - 12/08/2010 09:42:21 PM 1304 Views
Suspect you've not read that either. - 12/08/2010 09:43:32 PM 1233 Views
What other church sanctioned circumstances encourage continued sin? - 12/08/2010 09:45:33 PM 1360 Views
Infant baptism, obviously. - 12/08/2010 09:51:48 PM 1345 Views
*NM* - 12/08/2010 09:53:17 PM 468 Views
*groan* I forgot that one! - 12/08/2010 10:09:07 PM 1325 Views
Re: What other church sanctioned circumstances encourage continued sin? - 13/08/2010 11:04:02 AM 1332 Views
Wow, it's almost like an entire denomination believes that! *NM* - 13/08/2010 03:41:07 PM 634 Views
really? - 13/08/2010 03:42:42 PM 1174 Views
- 13/08/2010 03:43:26 PM 1110 Views
Yeah, that's the Roman Catholic basis against masturbation and contraception. *NM* - 13/08/2010 04:12:00 PM 602 Views
Yes - 13/08/2010 04:22:58 PM 1142 Views
Which is interesting - 13/08/2010 04:28:09 PM 1123 Views
Yes - 13/08/2010 04:29:25 PM 1111 Views
Original poster. *NM* - 13/08/2010 04:32:18 PM 666 Views
- 13/08/2010 04:34:30 PM 1168 Views
Dude....please at least have a working knowledge of the Bible before you spout off. - 12/08/2010 10:47:13 PM 1172 Views
I like the part in 1 Corinthians (is it chapter 6?) - 12/08/2010 10:49:55 PM 1075 Views
Ya know?!? - 12/08/2010 10:55:27 PM 1194 Views
I'm not sure you're correct there. - 12/08/2010 04:33:02 PM 1285 Views
Re: I'm not sure you're correct there. - 12/08/2010 07:40:16 PM 1303 Views
There is a difference... - 12/08/2010 09:02:20 PM 1340 Views
No you don't. - 12/08/2010 09:16:52 PM 1320 Views
That's another concern - 12/08/2010 12:39:53 PM 1377 Views
Not quite my point - 12/08/2010 09:19:50 PM 1252 Views
secular marriage is decoupled from religious marriage - 12/08/2010 02:50:43 PM 1395 Views
Simple, require the legal and religious marriage to be performed separately. - 12/08/2010 02:58:43 PM 1209 Views
What in the world would that accomplish? - 12/08/2010 03:44:32 PM 1303 Views
Provide some much-needed clarity, evidently. - 12/08/2010 03:49:33 PM 1133 Views
the problem is it would be changing a centuries old tradition.. - 12/08/2010 04:26:47 PM 1162 Views
heheheheheheheHAHAHAHEHEHehehehehahheeh*cough* - 12/08/2010 04:55:09 PM 1195 Views
thats OK I am sure you will get over it - 12/08/2010 05:22:08 PM 1203 Views
Just guessing, but I think it was the "centuries old tradition" that set off the giggle fit. - 12/08/2010 07:25:38 PM 1305 Views
Really? I was hoping for something better - 12/08/2010 10:06:00 PM 1257 Views
So government recognition makes your religion meaningful? - 12/08/2010 10:11:54 PM 1361 Views
not my religion I'm agnostic - 12/08/2010 10:34:40 PM 1191 Views
OK, but the point remains the same. - 12/08/2010 10:51:59 PM 1309 Views
Of course it would - 12/08/2010 11:10:03 PM 1389 Views
I'm not far left, thank you very much. *NM* - 12/08/2010 10:20:31 PM 700 Views
no but your are European and that slants your views *NM* - 12/08/2010 10:36:01 PM 680 Views
Sure, but in this case it has little to do with left or right. - 12/08/2010 10:40:42 PM 1258 Views
that is what I said when I metioned you were European *NM* - 12/08/2010 11:11:31 PM 673 Views
Simples - 12/08/2010 09:30:31 PM 1276 Views
there are about 140 post ranging from boyscouts to infant babtism - 12/08/2010 10:57:46 PM 1248 Views
So. - 14/08/2010 01:27:59 AM 1124 Views
sorry I responded I forgot what a tool you are. my bad - 14/08/2010 02:48:57 AM 1632 Views
Agreed *NM* - 12/08/2010 03:45:04 PM 554 Views
I love you, Camilla - 12/08/2010 04:02:15 PM 1073 Views
Re: I love you, Camilla - 12/08/2010 04:04:10 PM 1272 Views
Is there an all above option? *NM* - 12/08/2010 04:23:24 PM 706 Views
Naturally. - 12/08/2010 04:25:14 PM 1261 Views
I know I do *NM* - 12/08/2010 05:17:35 PM 648 Views
Another thing - 12/08/2010 07:42:21 PM 1365 Views
A couple of things - 12/08/2010 12:58:09 PM 1265 Views
I disagree - 12/08/2010 07:47:26 PM 1395 Views
Well, you're within your rights to certainly - 12/08/2010 08:24:30 PM 1338 Views
there is major flaw in your argument - 12/08/2010 03:31:45 PM 1391 Views
Re: there is major flaw in your argument - 12/08/2010 04:01:32 PM 1277 Views
I should clarify that I support gay marriage - 12/08/2010 05:20:36 PM 1218 Views
One point about Prop. 8 - 12/08/2010 07:38:55 PM 1238 Views
I know that is the commonl;y held belief but I thinkit is wrong - 12/08/2010 10:32:58 PM 1169 Views
Religious institutions, though, pushed hard to pass it. - 12/08/2010 10:42:33 PM 1258 Views
that doesn’t translate into people voting for religious reasons - 12/08/2010 11:19:48 PM 1069 Views
there are major flaws in your argument - 12/08/2010 07:51:52 PM 1385 Views
Women can't be priests in the Catholic church. - 12/08/2010 08:00:24 PM 1023 Views
Hehe. You beat me by 6 seconds. *NM* - 12/08/2010 08:03:28 PM 595 Views
Great minds and all. *NM* - 12/08/2010 08:06:01 PM 598 Views
I was writing a reply to this post... - 12/08/2010 03:51:01 PM 1285 Views
I feel your pain *NM* - 12/08/2010 07:52:28 PM 680 Views
Forcing religious institutions to marry gay couples is hideously unconstitutional. - 12/08/2010 04:18:59 PM 1344 Views
100% agreed. - 12/08/2010 05:05:35 PM 1385 Views
This. *NM* - 12/08/2010 07:36:57 PM 513 Views
You are absolutely wrong - 12/08/2010 07:57:19 PM 1310 Views
By that token - 12/08/2010 08:00:30 PM 1180 Views
My God.... - 12/08/2010 09:49:18 PM 1258 Views
no You are absolutely wrong - 12/08/2010 10:08:57 PM 1185 Views
Well, that was horrifyingly stupid. - 13/08/2010 12:57:46 AM 1303 Views
I am a Christian who wholeheartedly supports Gay Marriage. - 12/08/2010 06:49:28 PM 1379 Views
Fair enough. - 12/08/2010 08:01:37 PM 1311 Views
Why do people equate.... - 12/08/2010 07:11:15 PM 1245 Views
Because "homophobic", like "xenophobic", has shifted a bit in meaning... - 12/08/2010 07:33:56 PM 1273 Views
So then.... - 12/08/2010 07:39:24 PM 1233 Views
Well, strongly anti-gay, yes. - 12/08/2010 07:43:40 PM 1068 Views
Homophobic is generally "anti-gay" or "anti-queer"... - 12/08/2010 07:46:22 PM 1370 Views
Re: Why do people equate.... - 12/08/2010 08:04:24 PM 1455 Views
+1 - 12/08/2010 08:06:19 PM 1397 Views
Stop with the pile on Camilla. - 12/08/2010 09:22:35 PM 1325 Views
You would have said nothing if I had just said "agreed" - 12/08/2010 09:27:33 PM 1150 Views
Which speaks highly of you.... - 12/08/2010 09:36:30 PM 1320 Views
This is being very petty. *NM* - 12/08/2010 09:41:26 PM 642 Views
As opposed to a snarky +1 comment? *NM* - 12/08/2010 09:45:02 PM 668 Views
It's not snarky. - 12/08/2010 09:47:47 PM 1315 Views
Its a +1 shorthand comment... - 12/08/2010 09:52:04 PM 1554 Views
Wow. Those two characters allowed you to read Camilla's motivations? - 12/08/2010 09:54:25 PM 1197 Views
*shrug* - 12/08/2010 09:58:42 PM 1381 Views
Yes, I am terribly selfish - 13/08/2010 09:10:54 AM 1175 Views
Re: Why do people equate.... - 12/08/2010 09:13:07 PM 1389 Views
Re: Why do people equate.... - 12/08/2010 09:26:41 PM 1280 Views
LOL - 12/08/2010 09:42:32 PM 1245 Views
Re: LOL - 13/08/2010 09:12:29 AM 1194 Views
you are exactly why the state needs to make a clear seperation between the secular and religious - 12/08/2010 09:33:22 PM 1245 Views
Ok, so if the state does then... - 12/08/2010 09:44:31 PM 1167 Views
No, marriage started because of property. - 12/08/2010 09:59:14 PM 1273 Views
So then two things come to mind... - 12/08/2010 10:04:39 PM 1249 Views
Only two? - 12/08/2010 10:27:08 PM 1244 Views
Is this the same guy... - 12/08/2010 10:43:02 PM 1148 Views
I thought the cow died in an accident, but yes... that guy. - 12/08/2010 10:58:46 PM 1217 Views
That's a little difficult to do - 13/08/2010 03:19:32 PM 1461 Views
Re: That's a little difficult to do - 13/08/2010 03:30:14 PM 1297 Views
Oh, I hope not - 13/08/2010 04:19:47 PM 1280 Views
I may be wrong - 13/08/2010 04:24:28 PM 1269 Views
Property isn't just agricultural. - 13/08/2010 06:11:12 PM 1197 Views
True enough - 16/08/2010 03:12:31 PM 1466 Views
yes but about half of the old testament deals with protecting those rights - 13/08/2010 05:16:09 PM 1246 Views
The relationship between religion and rain go even farther back... - 13/08/2010 06:15:32 PM 1245 Views
to me it is a beside the point when it comes to the law - 13/08/2010 06:25:50 PM 1224 Views
moot, not mute - 13/08/2010 08:48:04 PM 1526 Views
damn - 13/08/2010 08:52:23 PM 1329 Views
Actually, I agree with that - 12/08/2010 10:01:37 PM 1142 Views
See, now this, I could deal with.... - 12/08/2010 10:06:15 PM 1140 Views
So is it that you are hung up on the name then? - 13/08/2010 03:29:02 PM 1201 Views
Rights.... - 12/08/2010 09:34:45 PM 1235 Views
See, what I don't get is why gay people care about - 12/08/2010 08:18:45 PM 1238 Views
It's mostly about getting married in the eyes of the state. - 12/08/2010 08:42:52 PM 1350 Views
I'm fairly sure Jonte was referring only to the "churches have to accept gay marriages" bit. *NM* - 12/08/2010 08:44:52 PM 693 Views
Hmmm... Then I shall reply to that part here. - 12/08/2010 08:50:10 PM 1371 Views
Oh, so it is an american thing, then. *NM* - 14/08/2010 08:58:28 AM 636 Views
Starting again - 12/08/2010 08:23:08 PM 1365 Views
Not at all - 12/08/2010 10:58:45 PM 1277 Views
Re: Not at all - 13/08/2010 09:14:48 AM 1060 Views
Agreed *NM* - 13/08/2010 10:21:06 AM 539 Views
Oh dear - 13/08/2010 10:30:45 AM 1162 Views
But what if I like being selfish and evil? *NM* - 13/08/2010 11:25:01 AM 682 Views
Well, being English might help you get away with it - 13/08/2010 11:26:17 AM 1100 Views
I'm curious - 13/08/2010 01:49:15 PM 1226 Views
- 13/08/2010 01:54:19 PM 1115 Views
Okay, good. - 13/08/2010 01:58:14 PM 1276 Views
I suppose you also think that religious Pacifists should be eligible for the draft? - 12/08/2010 08:42:21 PM 1321 Views
very nicely said *NM* - 13/08/2010 02:16:53 PM 546 Views

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