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1. What would you do if your son or daughter came to you and told you they were gay?

My future husband and I would tell him or her "Welcome the Club!"

2. Do you believe that these "gay christian camps" can really change the child's sexuality?

Not at all. In fact, given what I've heard from friends who have been forced to attend such camps, the child's sexuality, self-esteem AND religiosity all suffer as a result from such an experience. I did not attend a gay christian camp myself, but my four years at an undergrad institution that's all-male, and predominated by conservative evangelical people and ideas resulted in similar damage, which took a few years to repair.

3. What do you think about the gay civil rights movement?

It's well-intentioned, but badly misguided on the best way to resonate with the people. Framing issues like marriage equality in terms of a moral right will almost always lose. The smart approach -- like the one taken in New York -- is to focus on the economic benefits to the people for allowing SSM, and relating gay rights to individuals in a person's own life.

4. Do you think that homosexuals should or could go to church without people telling them how wrong they are?

I believe homosexuals can and should go to church without people denouncing or condemning them, and in many churches in my denomination -- Episcopalian, they do so every week.

5. If you were to pray for a homosexual, what would you pray about?

For God to protect and comfort the individual, and to instill in the person the strength needed to put his or her God-given talents to good use for self, family, and country.

6. What do you wish would happen to the homosexuals?

That they receive full acceptance as people from greater society, and begin to adopt the social norms of that accepting society.

7. Do you think that the increase of people "coming out of the closet" is going to be a downfall of our society, or do you think that it is okay and just part of an emerging cultural group.

The increase of people coming out of the closet has no possibility of causing a downfall of our society. The real issue is whether America and other countries will allow gays the legal protections and economic opportunities to live fully normal lives - a failure to allow gays to do this probably means a great many other people in society are also being denied their full potential, and over time, that CAN lead to the downfall of great civilizations.

8. If I walked into church holding the hand of another man, say my lover, what would you think?

I'd think "Good for them!" You'd be about the 12th gay male couple at my church.

9. Do you think churches will ever accept homosexuality as just being human and embrace homosexuals in the church without telling them that they are sinners? Or saying things like, "We are all sinners?" Because by saying that, as a Christian, you are really just saying that the homosexual lifestyle is a sin, albeit in a less agressive fashion.

In time, the liberal wing of Christianity will likely conclude that a broad divine prohibition on homosexuality does not at the present time exist. Some gay-related activity will find disfavor with God -- such as the "Down Low" phenomenon, as it involves liviing a lie and harming others.

10. When the church tries and change an individual from being a homosexual to a straight person, does the church take into account the psychological impacts that would affect the "gay Christian" individual.

My church doesn't try to change people from gay to straight -- there's too many real problems in the country and world to deal with over wasting precious resources on a folly.

11. Finally, how should one who is a Christian but gay as well have unbiased fellowship with other Christians.

There's a choice in airlines, and a choice in churches, too. Stick to the more liberal Christian denominations for the time being.

Quoting avek00 (Thread starter): In time, the liberal wing of Christianity will likely conclude that a broad divine prohibition on homosexuality does not at the present time exist.

I'd have wagered that the liberal wing of Christianity already concluded that....   

LOL, not everyone within the wing, but it is steadily becoming a prevailing view...

I'm actually having a battle between my homosexuality and my faith. Up to this point, I have attended a Christian university that is very aware of and recognizes gay issues, but explains how it's a sin and not a part of God's plan for us. I know that I like men very much and can't believe that God would make me this way, and have it be a sin! But then I read scripture and it states that lying with men as with women is wrong. And the Bible can't be wrong because it's inspired by the Holy Spirit. I'm sure you can see my confusion...

So as I have just come out and stopped living a lie, I have unfortunately put my faith on the back burner. I know that I have a relationship with God, but I am just so confused right now and can't find an answer to this problem.

Since people pick-and-choose their way through the Bible, pork is unholy. As are sturgeon and catfish. I avoid pork at all costs. I love catfish, but have not eaten it for about a year.

It has nothing to do with anything, really. Just sayin'

Quoting flyerboy1990 (Reply 9): So as I have just come out and stopped living a lie, I have unfortunately put my faith on the back burner. I know that I have a relationship with God, but I am just so confused right now and can't find an answer to this problem.

Look in the book of Matthew where Jesus teaches that some eunichs are made by man while others are born as eunichs. In Roman times, eunichs were servants to women because there was no chance of them getting women pregnant. Eunichs that were "born that way" (gays, from research) were just as valued as castrated men. In fact, they lived open lives. Some hetero men even pretended to be gay so they could assist women, from what I understand.

Beyond that, Jesus re-wrote Jewish law. Jesus hung out with the lowest of society and treated them with respect and wants us all to do the same: treat everyone with respect.

[Edited 2011-07-12 01:33:27 by SA7700]

Why does Christian opinion matter any way? I don't believe Christian approval is required for anyone.
Only Christ and not people can say if it is OK. I (a Christian) always believe that it is not my job to judge others for their choices especially when it doesn't affect me.

Quoting flyerboy1990 (Reply 9): But then I read scripture and it states that lying with men as with women is wrong. And the Bible can't be wrong because it's inspired by the Holy Spirit. I'm sure you can see my confusion...

A bit of humor for you.

Break the cycle

Quoting flyerboy1990 (Reply 9): So as I have just come out and stopped living a lie, I have unfortunately put my faith on the back burner. I know that I have a relationship with God, but I am just so confused right now and can't find an answer to this problem.

I look at it this way. Religion teaches us that we're all children of God, and that each of us is special because that's how God wanted us to be. Well, may I recommend you listen to Lady Gaga's Born this way? No other song has captivated this issue quite like this one has.

If there is a God, I'm willing to bet that he would prefer for you to live a happy life (even if it means being with men) and doing good deeds than living a lie and deceiving others with it. I'm agnostic and I certainly believe this is the kind of God I would like to be real (if there is one).

In the end, do what makes you happy. If you're happy being with men, that's your choice and you shouldn't feel bad about it. Homosexuality has been discovered in other species as well. Are those species abnormal? No. To me, it's natural (not the way it's intended to be, but it's natural nonetheless).

Finally: until (IF) we can time travel and see for ourselves whether the events of the Bible did or did not happen; whether these writings and commandments were in fact a divine creation and not something someone made up, all we can do for now is decide whether to believe or not to believe it. You can still be selective with it. Nothing does and should bar a person from communicating with a deity. Isn't the biggest commandment "Love God above all things and your neighbor like yourself"?

You do this, you're fine.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to whip myself and burn my fingers for writing this as if I were a religious person (hey, 12 years of Catholic school, what do you expect?). 

Quoting flyerboy1990 (Reply 9): But then I read scripture and it states that lying with men as with women is wrong. And the Bible can't be wrong because it's inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Firstly, yes, lying with men as with women is wrong. But that's simply a matter of biology, a man has no vagina, therefore lying with one as with a woman is physically impossible. That's why we've adapted and selected other methods of "lying". Rule sidestepped, problem solved, bible obeyed.

Secondly, if you don't believe that the Bible can be wrong, how do you get around not stoning people in the street for whatever random stone-age transgression you see? Planting different crops side by side, etc. It's all over the place.

Cheers
Mats

Quoting flyerboy1990 (Reply 9): can't believe that God would make me this way,

You could look at it this way: God also makes people who have a penchant for murder or stealing, yet I think we'd all agree that those things are wrong, whether or not you're a Bible-thumping Christian. Therefore we must make sure it doesn't happen, or if it does, that justice is dealt.

-TLG

Quoting TLG (Reply 14): yet I think we'd all agree that those things are wrong, whether or not you're a Bible-thumping Christian.

Sure, mainly because it affects OTHER people. How does being one person being gay affect a straight person?

Quoting TLG (Reply 14): that justice is dealt.

What kind of "justice" would you expect a Gay person to owe a straight person?

Quoting mt99 (Reply 15): What kind of "justice" would you expect a Gay person to owe a straight person?

Don't mistake justice for vengance. Justice being dealt in regards to the "gay person" being able to enjoy the liberties and rights that the "straight person" enjoys.

Quoting flyerboy1990 (Reply 9):

My take is there is a lot in the Bible that kept society together. At the time, it would be very devastating for 2 functioning men of a society to fail to reproduce and create more offspring for the colony. I believe that being gay, you can still follow God's teachings and be an outstanding Christian. I see your confusion, and hope you are able to settle your unease!

Quoting flyerboy1990 (Reply 3): I'm actually having a battle between my homosexuality and my faith.

I just finished watching a movie called, "The Bible Tells Me So," on Netflix. Check it out...it might help. It also might help to stop taking the Bible so literally.

Quoting avek00 (Thread starter): 1. What would you do if your son or daughter came to you and told you they were gay?

I have no children. My brother has five. I fully expect at least one to come out. At that point, the reaction will be "and....?"

Quoting avek00 (Thread starter): 2. Do you believe that these "gay christian camps" can really change the child's sexuality?

No. They lead to either more suicides or exploding STD rates.

We always hear about how many Christians feel about homosexuality. I'd like to hear how The Devil feels about homosexuality?

Quoting Superfly (Reply 14): I'd like to hear how The Devil feels about homosexuality?

I think he's down with it:



 

Quoting san747 (Reply 15): I think he's down with it:

Cool.  

A fascinating read on this topic is a book by Tanya Erzen called Straight to Jesus. Simply incredible and engaging.

Quoting Doona (Reply 7):

You know, I've never interpreted "laying with men as with women" to preclude homosexual sex per se, but rather to prohibit what we refer to today as the "down low" phenomenon (i.e., a man having a secret sexual relationship with a man while also having a sexual relationship with a woman). Under the premise that most Biblical prohibitions have some basis in reason, it'd make sense to prohibit "down low" behavior because, as we've seen with the AIDS crisis, such behavior can contribute significantly to the spread of disease.

Aren't all the homosexuality laws in the Bible in the Old Testament? I heard when Jesus came, he made a new covenant and pretty much replaced all the old laws. In fact, I do not think Jesus ever talked about homosexuality. If he ever did, I doubt he'd treat them the same way certain people today would treat them  

Quoting DeltaMD90 (Reply 20): In fact, I do not think Jesus ever talked about homosexuality.

        

Quoting DeltaMD90 (Reply 20): Aren't all the homosexuality laws in the Bible in the Old Testament? I heard when Jesus came, he made a new covenant and pretty much replaced all the old laws. In fact, I do not think Jesus ever talked about homosexuality. If he ever did, I doubt he'd treat them the same way certain people today would treat them

Many of them are, but there are some in the New Testament, written by the apostle Paul. I couldn't quote them off-hand, but then I don't take the Bible literally. Far, far too many inconsistencies.

Quoting flyerboy1990 (Reply 3): I'm actually having a battle between my homosexuality and my faith. Up to this point, I have attended a Christian university that is very aware of and recognizes gay issues, but explains how it's a sin and not a part of God's plan for us. I know that I like men very much and can't believe that God would make me this way, and have it be a sin! But then

Interesting if a school, even a chrisitian one made a statement like this in Sweden they will face legal action. 

Quoting parton87 (Reply 23): Interesting if a school, even a chrisitian one made a statement like this in Sweden they will face legal action.

Not only in Sweden  

As a homosexual my self and a Catholic, i take a somewhat "meh" attitude. I don't feel arrogant enough to tell the church to change the teachings of the bible just to suit me. It is what it is, and i accept that. I figure ill deal with the consequences when i die, but I'm not going to force others to change the fundamental teachings of the bible, just because i happen to be gay; i don't need that validation. I am what i am; i know homosexuality as a catholic doesn't automatically lead to hell, so ill deal with it in death. Essentially i don't care either way, and am actually irritated by some of the more pushy people to FORCE the church to ignore it fundamental teachings....

Anyways that's my 2 cents.