The Gay Thread

[jeevey]

Thoughtful post, deep. One of my most shaking moments in Bible school was when the professor asked, "Does God do things because they right or are they right because God does them?" I think it's so difficult when our sacred book tells us that God did something or commands something that our moral sense tells us is wrong. It's very difficult to resolve.

[Pearl]

Originally Posted by deep

I know you are a fan of Karen Armstrong, I am a somewhat fan also. I remember listening to an hour long program with her on public radio about Abraham. She had written a book on him. Her point was that this story and person is at the very heart of the 3 great religions, without him and this story they do not exist. It gave me a lot to think about. If anything like this happened I think Abraham failed the test. He was supposed to tell G-d that he loved him but he would not kill an innocent child and G-d could do what he wanted with him but please do not question his love for not commuting murder.

So what are we left with? Three great religions that believe slaughtering innocents is ok, if you can tell yourself it is what G-d wants. And again we have seen all three religions do just that.

It is true Abraham is at the heart of the three monotheistic religions. Maybe he did exist and maybe there is some truth to the story of Isaac. It is disturbing that God will test Abraham like that. It is more disturbing that Abraham was more than willing to do it. Maybe the point is, don't be that trusting of God. Or rather, like I said earlier, be careful of blind faith. Maybe even God wouldn't want us to have blind faith either. After all, He did stop Abraham and did not allow him to follow through. But still, its a pretty damning test.

Speaking of Karen Armstrong, she once said that when religion is personal and left to the individual, then it is fine. It's when institutions get involved and take away personal faith that religion becomes destructive. I agree with her.

[anitram]

Originally Posted by deep

I know you are a fan of Karen Armstrong, I am a somewhat fan also. I remember listening to an hour long program with her on public radio about Abraham. She had written a book on him. Her point was that this story and person is at the very heart of the 3 great religions, without him and this story they do not exist. It gave me a lot to think about. If anything like this happened I think Abraham failed the test. He was supposed to tell G-d that he loved him but he would not kill an innocent child and G-d could do what he wanted with him but please do not question his love for not commuting murder.

So what are we left with? Three great religions that believe slaughtering innocents is ok, if you can tell yourself it is what G-d wants. And again we have seen all three religions do just that.

Really great and thoughtful post.

[Galeongirl]

Wow, I never thought there would be a religious discussion in a thread on homosexuality.


For what it's worth, thanks to my Christian upbringing I know my biblical stuff. But I never saw that book as something literal, to me it was just another storybook. And I still honestly do not understand why the difference was made that declared this specific book holy. And why people convince themselves they are forced to live by the rules declared in this book(but coincidentally pick the ones they don't mind living by, ie homosexuality is disgusting and wrong, but shellfish and divorce are pretty ok). It's just mindboggling as a whole. But ah well, religion doesn't want me anyway so I don't even need to bother understanding it. I'll be sent to hell anyway, for simply being myself.


Just saw this on 9gag. They do have a point. If all humans are created by god, why are people so against gays? Cause they would also have been made by god...

[PhilsFan]

Originally Posted by deep

I know you are a fan of Karen Armstrong, I am a somewhat fan also. I remember listening to an hour long program with her on public radio about Abraham. She had written a book on him. Her point was that this story and person is at the very heart of the 3 great religions, without him and this story they do not exist. It gave me a lot to think about. If anything like this happened I think Abraham failed the test. He was supposed to tell G-d that he loved him but he would not kill an innocent child and G-d could do what he wanted with him but please do not question his love for not commuting murder.

So what are we left with? Three great religions that believe slaughtering innocents is ok, if you can tell yourself it is what G-d wants. And again we have seen all three religions do just that.

This is the best thing you have ever posted in this forum.

[MrPryck2U]

Except it appears he doesn't wish to spell the word "God". Really? G-d?

[LemonMelon]

It's a sign of respect in Judaism.

I don't know deep to be Jewish though.

[Pearl]

nm

[MrPryck2U]

Oh you shouldn't have deleted that Pearl. You're right. We humans do suck. We treat each other like shit. It's a wonder we're able to continue.

[Pearl]

Originally Posted by MrPryck2U

Oh you shouldn't have deleted that Pearl. You're right. We humans do suck. We treat each other like shit. It's a wonder we're able to continue.

I just figured it came across like I was going off topic, or ignoring the tone in this thread.

But here is what I meant to say:




This is how I think God sees us. Aside from how we treat gays, we are all awful to each other. Sometimes I wonder why God hasn't thrown the towel on us and gone off to create another planet where its intelligent beings would actually be intelligent.

[deep]

World Vision Hiring Homosexuals Ignites Controversy In Christian Community

[Galeongirl]

[jeevey]

That worldvision thing is disturbing--people are withdrawing their financial support to children as retaliation. Allow kids to go hungry in the name of Christ?

[deep]

That is a wedding dress

this is what happens when traditional marriage is under attack!!

We were all psyched when Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake finally tied the knot -- how could you not be happy for those two crazy kids? But not everyone was keen on Biel's wedding dress, a frothy pink confection by Giambattista Valli. Why pink, everyone wondered? What is it about the colored wedding dress trend?

Biel finally opens up about the dress -- and plenty of other wedding day tidbits -- to Elle magazine, who put her on the January 2013 cover. She tells the mag: "These are non-traditional times."

[Galeongirl]

Not sure what that has to do with this thread, but yeah. I truly couldn't care less about some random celeb's wedding dress. To each their own. If that's what they want to wear, then that's what they'll wear.

[Pearl]

I don't see the point in wearing white on a wedding day. Very few women are virgins on their wedding day. Besides, that traditional only began when Queen Victoria got married in the early 19th century. Before that, brides simply wore a nice dress, regardless of color. As for me, I might opt for an ivory or peach color.

[Galeongirl]

I want interference crackblue.

[Pearl]

I want to the see the pics when the day comes!

[Galeongirl]

Oh I'll post them. Am not joking, though maybe a little less painful on the eyes blue, but I'm definitely going for blue.

[deep]

Ohio will have to recognize gay marriages, judge says


these should hit the Supremes again.

Is it possible that there are 5 small-minded Justices that could fashion a ruling allowing states to discriminate?