I think we're forgetting something in all of this. I don't particularly care what specific Christian denominations believe in regards to homosexuality. I don't care what non-Christians care about it either.
Theology aside, there's one thing they're forgetting: homosexuality is not a theory, it is not a theology, it is a FACT. If we are to start legislating discrimination on the basis of what certain conservative religions believe, then why not go all the way?
Many conservative Protestants (Bob Jones III of Bob Jones University is a good example) believe that Roman Catholicism is Satanic. If it's true, then why don't we ban it? Others believe that the only place for women is at home making babies and the New Testament has a clear admonition against women having teaching authority over men....meaning, of course, that female teachers are bad. So why don't we ban that?
Or, if we are going to start digging up Biblical admonitions against women and homosexuals, why don't we start digging up some of the economic pronouncements? Remember Jubilee 2000? It was loosely based on a pronouncement that all debts must be forgiven every 50 years. Boy...would all the supply-siders be pissed off then!
Or why don't I go to the flip side. Roman Catholicism does not recognize any marriage outside of Catholic ones performed within its own church. I would say that, as a Catholic, it is their moral duty to tell all the heretical non-Catholics that they are living in sin with their invalid marriages and bastard children. Likewise, divorce is another "no-no." The legalization of divorce is yet another example of the global "culture of death."
And sure. I love the sinner and hate the sin all the time. Every time I see another sinner lying about the nature of homosexuals and homosexuality, I realize that their unforgiven sin of bearing false witness is just yet another ticket to hell for them. I pray every day that conservative Christians will wake up and realize the truth.
If it is not morally correct to discriminate against Protestants, Catholics, Jews, blacks, and women, it is not morally correct to discriminate against homosexuals. Period. It is the right of every individual to formulate their own morals and ethics, free from others' morality and ethics. You can pretend that homosexuals do not exist (just as I like to pretend that heterosexuals don't exist), but it ignores one clear fact: they do exist.
As for the Bible being an admonition against homosexuality, I disagree. It is no more an admonition against homosexuality than it is a sweeping admonition against heterosexuality. The word and concept of "homosexuality" did not exist until 1874, so any Bible that implicitly or explicitly uses that word is bearing false witness. Period.
The Bible does show examples of destructive same-sex and opposite sex behavior, but how such "destruction" is interpreted is wide. I can show you one very explicit example, as you might be surprised to realize that there is a heterosexual analogue to Sodom and Gomorrah:
"While they were enjoying themselves, the men of the city, who were corrupt, surrounded the house and beat on the door. They said to the old man whose house it was, "Bring out your guest, that we may abuse him."
The owner of the house went out to them and said, "No, my brothers; do not be so wicked. Since this man is my guest, do not commit this crime.
Rather let me bring out my maiden daughter or his concubine. Ravish them, or do whatever you want with them; but against the man you must not commit this wanton crime."
When the men would not listen to his host, the husband seized his concubine and thrust her outside to them. They had relations with her and abused her all night until the following dawn, when they let her go.
Then at daybreak the woman came and collapsed at the entrance of the house in which her husband was a guest, where she lay until the morning.
When her husband rose that day and opened the door of the house to start out again on his journey, there lay the woman, his concubine, at the entrance of the house with her hands on the threshold.
He said to her, "Come, let us go"; but there was no answer. So the man placed her on an ass and started out again for home.
On reaching home, he took a knife to the body of his concubine, cut her into twelve pieces, and sent them throughout the territory of Israel.
Everyone who saw this said, "Nothing like this has been done or seen from the day the Israelites came up from the land of Egypt to this day. Take note of it, and state what you propose to do." -- Judges 19:22-30
Notice the biggest difference between Sodom and Gomorrah and Gibeah: in Sodom and Gomorrah, a homosexual gang rape supposedly takes place. In Gibeah, a heterosexual gang rape supposedly takes place. But the reactions to contemporary audiences (if they even bother to know that Judges 19 exists) would be that Sodom and Gomorrah is a sweeping admonition against homosexuality, while Gibeah is an example of a heterosexual rape. Of course, these passages are neither: the sin, as stated in about 3 or 4 different places in the Old Testament is a violation against hospitality customs, not sex. But if "sex" is to be involved, there is one clear admonition: God does not approve of rape.
Do realize that every supposed sweeping generalization against homosexuality takes on two characteristics in the Bible:
1) It is either done in the context of idol worship, or
2) It is done in the context of rape.
I would think that we can all agree that idolatry and rape are wrong. Unfortunately, just as people now have fears and prejudices against homosexuals, they had them then 2000 years ago. It certainly doesn't mean it was right then, and it certainly doesn't mean it is right now.
I will take a clear stand against any conservative Christian who wishes to make a sweeping generalization about homosexuals or homosexuality, because it is plain wrong. It is wrong to abuse the Bible to justify fears and prejudices, just as it is wrong to defame homosexuals with lies to justify Biblical abuse.
If people would take the time to combat poverty with the same vigor as they do to fight abortion or gay rights, we would be a lot closer to eliminating poverty. As it stands, I think that the priorities of many Christians are very off base.
But, as they say, "Love the sinner, hate the sin."
Melon
