I have different feelings about this issure.\n1. First there is part of me that says you cant pick who you love.\n2. Then there is my church side that says god made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.\n3. But who are they hurting?\n4. Then I remember what my mother says you should follow the  bible.\n5. But being the woman that I'am if you dont want to see look the other way. Dont have anything to do with it.\n6. If my child was to tell me she was gay and that she has found her soul mate would i stand in her way refuse to have anything to do with her? Hell no that my child I will love her nomatter who she loves\n\nSo my soul is in a fight with itself how can we as a people tell them they cant do marrage because its wrong when we comment sins ever day. He who is without sin throw the first stone.
201231
Since, your question asks whether the "government should let" homosexuals get married, The Bible doesn't factor in.  The government is supposed to be an institution of law separate from the rule of religion (separation of church and state).  That said... the U.S. Constitution provides that there can be no discrimination based on race, creed, religion or nation of origin.  That same amendment has been interpreted to also include sexual preference... hence, there is no way under the founding laws of the United States of Americ to exclude gays and lesbians from "legal" marriage.  As to whether or not gays and lesbians will ever be allowed to be married in "religious ceremonies" is a different matter.  That's when The Bible comes into play.  But... legally, the government cannot discriminate, and we are all guaranteed liberty and justice FOR ALL.
667554
I haven't read other responses yet, but I don't want to forget anything, so I'm gonna rush into my response.\nYou brought up some great points.  I think the main fact that you brought up is that our (when I say "our" I'm speaking for Christian conservatives b/c I can) beliefs have progressed for the better.  When you grow from being a child to an adult, your views of the world change.  The same thing can be said for collective thought.  I think that's a GOOD thing though.  It shows that we're changing for the better in many ways.  Thanks for letting your readers see how far we've come.\nOUR opinions aren't the last word.  You've just shown that.  However, from a Christian perspective, God's word IS the last word.  It (and HE) doesn't change.  Of course you can say that the God of the OT was a big meanie and the God of the NT was way nicer, but that's another discussion altogether.  In this respect, it's not wrong to say that the rules haven't changed.  Our UNDERSTANDING of the rules have.  The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know.  Cliched, but oh so true.  \nThe people who used (some still do) the Bible as an excuse to hate and abuse people of different color were NOT actually Biblically based.  They misunderstood (or intentionally so) the whole tribes thing & took that to mean different races.  Again, they weren't actually Biblically based.  People who say homosexuality is wrong and use the Bible to support that belief aren't taking the Bible out of context (in my opinion).  \n\nI can't speak for the bigoted stuff you mentioned like wearing sheets & crusading.  That's not a part of Christianity.  It's a part of retardation (no offense to mentally challenged people).  \n\nLike I said, your point is a valid one.  Opinions have changed, and they probably will again.  That doesn't mean we should just all not have opinions for fear that they will change.  There ARE fundamental truths, so it's important to hold fast to them.
415161
I am told by gays that it is discrimination but it's not.  They think we hate them.  I don't know any Christian that hates them.  We believe the bible and the bible says they're life style is wrong, that no homosexual will inherit eternal life.  We all have our own sins we have to bring before the Lord.  It's no worse than any other sin.  But how can God forgive them of it and heal them if they insist it isn't sin?  If your attitude is loving even though you don't accept what they do, then you are right with God.  The rest isn't yours to deal with,  it's theirs.  God bless you for having such a kind heart.
135985
This is one more of the lies the church tells to brainwash Christians. I've heard many priests telling that lie. So, Christians who take their word as the word of God, will not bother to think that this is at least mistaken (if not a straightforward lie).\n\nThe only way to make them see the lie is by asking them "Could you choose to envolve in a homosexual relation?" The answer is always "No." So you ask, "If you cannot choose, why do you think they chose?"\n\n-------------------\n\nBecause of a private message I received, I would like to add I am generalising and retelling my experience in Argentina. I am aware that there are people who don't conform to this description, and are better Christians than those I've had to come across.
194943
Wow!!  Either you're really brave, or a pot stirrer!!!  I like that! ;) I think you really opened a can of worms, though.  \nI believe in the right to choose, and also that the soul enters whenever it is ready... I lost a baby between my two kids, and it broke my heart. And, no, I didn't abort it, it miscarried.  I guess that the soul who would have used that vehicle chose not to come into this world at that time.  The whole idea that the body is the whole of a person, that the death of a body equals death of a soul, is absurd.  We come here to learn whatever lessons our soul has charted out, and sometimes we aren't quite ready when the body, or embryo, that we thought would provide us with the best opportunity for learning those lessons is ready for us.  At that point there is either a spontaneous death, or, sometimes, the mother's soul and the incoming soul have agreed that an abortion is part of the experience for each. If a soul is meant to be incarnated at a given point in time, there will be a vehicle ready to facilitate that incarnation.  No soul has to go without just because someone decided that she wasn't, for whatever reason, able to play the role of mother at that time.  \nThose who judge others should be very careful that they don't set themselves up to prove that they would truly do a "more virtuous" job with the same set of circumstances.  I get so sick of people who say, "well, if I were you, I'd do it differently."  Wow, don't quite realize the absurdity of that, do you?  If you were me, you'd have all my past experiences, and all my reasons, and you'd make  precisely the same choice I did, because you would then cease to be you.   \n  And just a word  or two to the man who feels that "such a woman" shouldn't be allowed to ever be a mother.....you aren't ever going to be allowed to be a mother, either...maybe that's because you're no more qualified than those you are judging.  And maybe next time you come back here to learn lessons, you'll decide to experience for yourself what it feels like to be faced with such a hideous decision.  Have you ever held the hand of a heartbroken woman who feels that she has no other choice, and felt your own heart break because you couldn't help her come to some sort of peace with the gut-wrenching guilt, and self-loathing that followed?  Have you ever thought about how horribly difficult such a decision must be, and what awful straits a person would have to be in, to even consider that as an option?  \nThe Cherokee say that a man should not judge until he has walked a thousand miles in another's mocassins.  Do you qualify?  I think not, or you would have learned compassion.  And if you are a Christian, do you really think Jesus would be as beligerant and vicious as you are showing yourself to be?  I thought the goal of christianity was for people to emulate Jesus, and that includes having the same loving, compassionate, non-judging attitudes he has.  All of you who judge should re-think the place where you are standing.  If you were utterly without sin, then you would be utterly compassionate.  If He isn't judging, how can you justify doing it in His place?
230587
I'm a Christian and I am not "opposed to gay people". But when you tell me these two things then I have to respond in what I hope is a compassionate manner.\n\n"The discovery that some of us are created and/or shaped in our earliest infancy toward same-gender attraction was made in the last 150 years."\n\nThat may or may not be true although for the sake of discussion let's say that it is. Many people have a tendency towards a particular form of behavior. When they get old enough to make mature decisions they have to decide whether that behavior is beneficial or not and since we are talking about God, whether that behavior is in His will for their life or not.\n\nSome people seem to be born with a terrible temper and are prone to violent behavior. They either end up controling their urges or they reap the consequences of giving in to them. It could be a struggle that they have for their entire life and one that they cannot always win. Hopefully they don't commit murder or just give up and make themselves a menace to those with whom they come into contact.\n\nJust because homosexuality isn't exactly the same doesn't mean that there are not legitimate parallels. Someone who finds themself attracted to members of the same sex still makes a choice about how they are going to deal with that emotion just like someone who is prone to anger.\n\nWhen you talk about not bringing up the "Adam and Steve" argument I have to go outside of the guidlines you want to impose on this discussion. It is apparent from the command God gave to Adam and Eve to go forth and multiply that He created men to have sex with women for the purpose of procreation. God also made sex an enjoyable encounter between two people as an added bonus. So where does that leave today's "Adam" if he is not attracted to any of the "Eves" in this world but instead finds himself attracted to the "Steves" around him?\n\nThe book of Corinthians provides at least one answer to that question and Jesus spoke of another for those who were able to receive it.\n\n1 Corinthians 6:9  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,  (10)  nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  (11)  And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  (12)  "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything.  (13)  "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"--and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.\n\nIn this passage the Apostle Paul is speaking to relatively new believers who have been born again by the Holy Spirit. He talks about how some of them USED to be things like drunkards and men who practice homosexuality.\n\nWhen I came to Christ at age 43 I had been a drunkard for many years and had developed a chemical addiction to alcohol. I haven't had a drink since a short time before becoming a Christian but it was a real struggle for me until I was born again. That doesn't mean that I'm never tempted to drink or that I've lost the desire to have a cold beer on a hot day but it does mean that now I have supernatural assistance to overcome my struggle.\n\nI don't go around telling people about how Jesus made wine for the guests at a wedding and how I would be justified in drinking since it's not illegal and doesn't hurt anyone else. Instead I know that it's not in God's will for my life to drink alcohol and so I consistently make the choice every day of my life
408088
That's a hard situation to be in but its also a common one.  One thing I beleive that we as Christians  should always do is seperate the person from the person's sin.  And this is especially true for our loved ones.  But truthfully this should be easiest with ones kids.\n\nOne thing I've been trying to do is try to look at things the way God does.  In this case before we submitted unto him and Christ came into our lives we have committed horrible sins (and continue to) yet he loved us and continues to love us.  He certainly does not approve in our action yet his love doesn't change.  Its a little more difficult for us to do this.  But we can always love and pray that they be ok.
49852
I am a straight man.  I have had many gay friends due to my involvement in theatre.  I do not hate homosexuals.  I am also a Christian and I know lots of people who hate homosexuality.  I don't understand why it is singled out as THE sin to hate.  I have told Fat christians that I think gluttony is a sin.  I have told rich Christians that greed is a sin.  I have then asked them why their sin is less of a sin then a homsexual's sin.  I have asked these questions many times in many adult Sunday School classes.  Needless to say it doesn't make me real popular.  So now to your question.  I think a lot of people hate homosexuals simply because they are told they should.  The Christian right is constantly bombarding us with the message that homosexuality is the number one threat to the family unit.  Of cours this is stupid.  Divorce, infidelity and not spending time together are the biggest threats to the family units I know about.  When a Christian tells me that homosexuality is a sin.  I always agree that the Bible does say that a man shouldn't lay with another man.  So by the letter of the law it is a sin.  But then I ask them if they have had to fight off strong urges to sleep with members of the same sex?  They always respond NO!  Then I say isn't it odd that most of the other sins in the Bible hold some temptation for us, but this one, if we are heterosexual holds none?  I then ask them if gay marriage was legal and the gay couples got the same tax breaks and property rights as straight couples would you be tempted to turn homosexual?  Of course they say NO!  Then I zing them with "So why do you suppose that of all the sins listed in the Bible we straight Christians spend so much time and energy focusing on the one that doesn't tempt us and never will?  Isn't it possible it's a convenient way to not deal with issues that DO effect us?  Isn't it possible that it's just a way to feel superior and holy without ever having to do anything but look down on others who are different than us?  100% of the time they then answer: "The Bible says homosexuality is a sin."  This one issue is truly one of the reasons it is hard to stay active in church.  When you KNOW people are judging and being blind and feeling so secure and right about it, it can drive you crazy.  Even when I tell them that I have watched gay friends die horrible deaths of AIDS without adequate medical care because their life partner of many years could not get them on a "family" insurance plan, it makes no impact.  Now having said all of that I would like to share with you some things about the current attitude in our society that makes me dislike the Gay Rights movement.  As a heterosexual Christian male, I am judged and hated before I even have an opportunity to share who I am.  As a straight male, I get sick of being told by effeminate men what is style.  I resent being almost always portrayed in the media as not as smart as gay men, not as in touch with our feeling, not as capable of expressing emotion.  I think on any given night on television there is a lot more straight male bashing then there ever was gay bashing.  There I got it off of my chest.  This is the longest answer I've ever written.  I wonder if anyone will actually read it all the way through?
637435
I will tell people about the story of my life, that is, how I met Jesus and how He changed me from the inside out. But I will not force people to accept Him. I believe that it is not my responsibility to tell people whether they are right or wrong, but rather to state my beliefs  and the reasons for my believing them, and hope they take my ideas into consideration. I mean, who am I to tell someone that they are wrong? The Bible itself says do not judge. I know that I am wrong in many ways as well, so why point out the sins of others when I have my own things to work on? It drives me crazy when I see those "christians" out on the street telling passer-bys that they are going to hell. It makes me question whether they have actually read the Bible. I mean, Jesus Himself says to remove the plank from one's own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else's. These are my thoughts on the subject. God bless!
422450
I can't claim to know anything about your problem, I'm a straight female.  But it just broke my heart to read your question.  This must be so difficult for you.  I don't know what to tell you to do, maybe you should try to wait for the right person to come along before you say anything, at least then you would have some kind of support.  I can't speak for your parents, of course, but if my child came to me and told me he's gay, I would be loving and supportive, a parent always loves their children, no matter what, at least that's the way I feel about my child.  I just wanted you to know I feel for you and wish you the best! :)
231518
Maybe not the best place to ask for non glib answers...\n\nWell, firstly you'd need do your research for yourself, if the bible defeniately says, in your opinion, that it's wrong to act on those desires.  It also might be important to think about whether it says it's wrong to be gay, ir just wrong to act on it.\n\nIf you believe it says it's wrong to act on gay feelings, and you are a committed Christian, then I guess you will have to stick with it, and try to get some proper help on how to deal with the feelings you have.  \n\nDon't run out and marry someone though.  No point pretending to like women in that way if you don't.  You'll just have to go without sex.  There are worse things that could happen you know.\n\nYou can't fit religion around what you feel like doing.\n\nWhich is one reason why I'm not religious.\n\nAnd i'd like to add...the bible may mention that it's wrong to have gay sex, but the ten commandments says you can't lie, and how many people go around lying without getting hassled by supposed forgiving chritians for it.  It's a rather hypocritical subject really that gets blown out of proportion.\n\nOne of the postings above had this to say of those with gay feelings..\n\n"They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided"  \n\nAnd good christians could do well to remember this.
6413
Kiara, no.  You are not alone in your feeling.  But may I make a suggestion?\n\nI grew up in a family where people routinely stabbed each other in the back.  It was a very unhappy place, and for most of our lives, certain people within the family came to resent others....this has lasted a lifetime in some instances.\n\nBut you have a choice to make, and let me tell you how I made mine; I came to know the love of Jesus Christ.  So no longer is my life about, who did what to me.  My life is about how to learn to love others unconditionally, as God loves me.\n\nYou have a choice to make too; which end of the pencil do you wish to use in your life?  The one that is continally writing down the offenses people give you...or the one that is continually erasing offenses, always forgiving, showing kindness with no expectation of return?  I can tell you one thing for sure; the second choice above will bring a life of peace and fulfillment; the first a life of bitterness and resentment.  The choice is yours to make.
656991
My advice to you is don't listen to the Christians. They use the "unnatural" and "abomination" arguments so much they've lost all meaning. Homosexuality is not a sin. I, like you, know good people who happen to be gay. And to address your confusion with the logic behind the persecution, there is no logic.
2043
I don't admire your position.  My suggestion would be to first do some soul searching; decide what you truly believe God or The Divine is and how you relate to Him/Her.  Is God merciful and kind?  Vengeful and Angry?  Is He simply a Creator that allows man to choose his own path or does he have our destiny mapped out for us?\nAfter that- another hard choice- the afterlife.  Do you believe in one at all?  Is there a heaven?  if so, is there a hell?  Do you believe a soul can be reincarnated?\nMy suggestion is to actually write these questions and answers down on paper to give yourself a very clear picture of your beliefs.  Think of as many theological questions and theories that are important to you and actually put them into words.  Then- RESEARCH.  I would say go to a clergy member, pastor etc but if you do remember they are only going to give you THEIR beliefs and teachings, not what you may consider your own.  So if you seek advice from a third party, take everything from a skeptics point of view unless you find someone that says EVERYTHING you've written down as your core beliefs. (Chances are- you won't)\nTry the internet, library, bookstore- whatever nonpartial resources you can find.\nLastly, keep an open mind.  Don't write down "I believe in the Bible so I must be Christian".  Judaism believes in the Old Testament of the Bible; Mormons believe in both the Old and the New Testamants but have a Third testament as well.  Wiccans don't believe in the Christian Bible, but have many of the same core beliefs as "love thy neighbor".  Here's a good web site that has a lot of information on a variety of religions   http://www.religioustolerance.org/  \nThere's no easy way out of this one.  You've got a long road ahead of you and I wish you luck.
576368
I couldn't agree with you more Missy and I also am heterosexual.\nIf two people, no matter what sex they may be are happy and want to marry each other, who is it going to hurt? NO ONE! Their marriage has no effect on anyone else but themselves! These people on the religous right are taught that anyone different than they  are must be bad and wrong! It's a shame that so many people belive this crap!\nGood question
450405
Alright... Where to start... For those of you out there that are against gay marriage... first of all, i must ask, what happened to the freedom that we hold so dear in our country? Didn't people come to this country to get away from small minded people that wanted to impose their beliefs onto other people? Although it does seem to be a trend in this country, what's different has to be wrong. It happened with racial segragation, it happened with women voting, it's happened time and time again, and now the new topic of bigotry and hatred is gay marriage. \n\nMany comedians have looked at a perfect oportunity with jokes such as, "don't they have the right to be as unhappy as straight married couples?"\n\nOk and this is specifically for you Rae... so you come from a "religious" background. So what does that mean? you were brought up in a closed minded church with people telling you what to think and what to believe? what is your reason for being against gay marriage? first of all, the adam and eve adam and steve phrase is way overdone and frankly just pisses me off because it's a prime example of the narrow-mindedness of christians.\n\nI was brought up in a church, so i suppose i have a christian background. But did you completely forget the new testament. Jesus gave a revalation to Paul that said all things are lawful but not all expediant. So this is my point. Even from a christian standpoint, you are allowed to do whatever it is that you want, but you have to pay the consequences.\n\nThat's the final verdict that the bible has to offer. Also from a christian standpoint, no sin is worse than any others right? so even if homosexuality is a sin, then why does it have to be such a point of contention for christians. It's no different than the evengelical preacher that gets a "hummer" from a transvestite, it's no different than a preacher that stand in front of a church and preaches the gospel and looks at porn(not that i'm saying porn is evil or anything), it's no different than a "goody-goody christian" that follows all the rules... but tells a little white lie here and there. according to the Bible a sin is a sin is a sin right? so why harp on this one? I'm not saying it's wrong, i'm saying why do the christians have to harp on the one "sin" they think is so bad...\n\nIt's all just hypocrisy. preach one thing, but live another.\n\nand as Littlefireyballofhate said, why is it that those with the most closed minds, have to have the biggest mouths? Just because it's something different, "OH" it has to be wrong?\n\npeople with such a narrow viewpoint of the world simply disgust me... The whole point, the foundation of America was for a land where there could be freedom of relgion, or from religion if that was your choice, freedom of expression, and freedom to do and say the things that you choose to be right. So what right does anyone have to shove their opinion down someone elses throat? you don't like it, get over it, and shut the hell up!\n\nThe bottom line is, whether or not your personal belief is that homosexuality is wrong or bad, even if this country proves to have more closeminded people than we expected, you will never be able to get rid of homosexuality, nor should it be "gotten rid of". If that's what makes someone happy, then for god's sake, let them be happy. Rae, you are happy in your life as a "straight" christian correct? so what, your beliefs say that what they are doing is wrong, let me remind again, freedom... that's what it all comes down to.\n\nClosed minded people just want to take away their freedom to express their love, and frankly if they do, what's next? you can't say or do the things you want? when does it stop. This country's foundation is freedom so why would you want to rob some of its citizens of the right to freedom which is held so de
637814
ok in relation to your stupid ADAM AND STEVE post in our gay section  read these QandA's\n\n\n\nThe condition of homosexuality:\nNowhere in Scripture is reference made to the condition of homosexuality, only to homosexual acts. \n\n"Aren't you trying to wriggle out of what the Bible clearly says about homosexuality?":\nWhat the Bible says about anything is selective, contradictory and liable to change in interpretation. People do not believe in " what the Bible says". People believe in traditions about what the Bible says. Judeo-Christian tradition certainly is homophobic but whether the words of Jesus are homophobic is another matter. The various Christian theological traditions are so different from one another that they cannot be identical with the words of Jesus. The believer must decide whether the words of Jesus are more important than Christian traditions. Arguing out of Christian traditions is circular. \n\nThe story of Sodom (Genesis 19):\nThe story about the destruction of Sodom is not about homosexuality. It is about the sin of breaching sacred hospitality. \n\nThe Old Testament prohibitions:\nThe Old Testament prohibitions against homosexuality in the Books of Leviticus (chapter 18, v.22; chapter 20 v.13) and Deuteronomy are essentially provisions of the Jewish Law. Those Christians who base their disapproval of homosexuality on them must be prepared to state whether or not they are prepared to keep the other provisions of the Jewish Law. \n\nRuth and Naomi, David and Jonathan, Jesus and the "Beloved Disciple":\nThese friendships, as described in Scripture, are not gay relationships. The first two friendships are about the righteousness of choosing those who are elected by God, namely, the Hebrew nation in the case of Ruth, and David in the case of Jonathan. The friendship between Jesus and the "Beloved Disciple" is a symbol of true faith and discipleship. \n\nThe Centurion's Servant:\nThis is one story in which a gay relationship may be mentioned. This is because the word used in Greek in the account given by Luke can mean "boyfriend"', we know that centurions and their personal servants often had sexual relations and it is stated that the centurion was very fond of the servant. If this story does mention a gay relationship, then it confirms that Jesus was less interested in what people did rather than in their faith and love. \n\nPaul's condemnations of Decadence of the Pagan World in his Letter to the Romans, (chapter 1 v. 26-27):\nThis is the one passage in Scripture that mentions lesbianism. The passage condemns the pagan world for failing to observe the will of God as revealed in creation. It depends, however, on whether you accept Paul's argument that this is what the pagans are doing in the behaviour he describes. If you do not, it adds nothing to Paul's remarks on homosexual behaviour. \n\nPaul's other condemnations of Homosexuality (1 Corinthians 6 v 9):\nNo-one is sure what the words used in these passages refer to. They could refer to some types of homosexual behavior but it is not certain.