Why do people say some social mores of the bible are outmoded...but this doesn't apply to homosexuality?
970603
The laws you are quoting are from Levitical law.  We wouldn't understand them in our 21st century culture, but they were necessary is keeping the society that was present more than three millennia ago in check, as all laws do.  If you could see what was permissable in societies surrounding the Israelites, you'd probably be horrified; infant sacrifice, for instance.  \n\nThe New Testament, being composed 1200-1400 years later, takes a different view of the law; as society has changed, it needed more than laws to keep it in check, but someone to embody and fulfil the law; hence Jesus.  Even with that, though, sin is still there and certain practices (homosexuality and witchcraft, for example) are still forbidden.  But they don't have the same command of death as a result.\n\nWhat you're referencing is Levitical law without the presence of Jesus to atone for the sins of the people.  Since I assume you didn't invent this list yourself, I would hypothesize it's actually used as a criticism of Jewish culture; or a particular figure like Dr. Laura.
384528
The reality is, as you are so correctly noting, that anyone can take the bible and use it to back up or justify just about any opinion.  So simply quoting some text out of context is no way to settle anything.  It is a waste of time.\n\nBetter, consider the overall theme and purpose of the bible which is simple that people come closer to God by coming closer to people.  So the point is we are to be kind to one another and work at getting along.\n\nStay nice.  Stay happy.
298784
Many peole who hate homosexuals claim that the Bible backs them up. But what does the Bible say?\n\nIn the Old Testament God condemns homosexuality for his Chosen People, the Children of Israel (Leviticus 18:1-3, 22). They are to be fruitful and multiply until they become as numerous as the stars in the sky and occupy the land between the River Nile in Egypt and the River Euphrates in Iraq (Genesis 15:5, 18). God's prohibition of homosexuality applies only to the Hebrews, not to the Gentiles.\n\nIn the New Testament Jesus says nothing about homosexuals. Paul condemns them, not because he wants to increase the population, but because he opposes all sexual activities, even within marriage (1 Corinthians 7:1, 5, 8-9, 29).\n\nAccording to the Bible, if you are a Jew, you must not be gay; if you are a Christian, you must not just refrain from homosexual activities, you should not have sex at all - unless you are a weak-willed wimp who cannot practice self-control.\n\nUnless you are a Jew or a Christian virgin, the Bible give you no right to bash gays. And if you want to be like Jesus, you won't condemn them at all.
773475
I believe you're right. I personally don't believe in the Bible because I don't believe the writings came straight from God himself. One place that speaks about homosexuality is the book of Leviticus, which is, in my opinion, a large compiling of BS. Another section that speaks out against homosexuality (supposedly) is the story of the Sodomites. However, I don't believe that story revolvs around rape and not homosexuality.\n\nI do know there's another one that blatantly says homosexuality is wrong, but because I don't believe the Bible is truth, I don't believe it's correct.\n\nIF homosexuality is a sin, then who is to say it's worse than any other sins?\n\nGod does love gay people, and that's it. Who's to say they know anything more about "Judgmenet Day" than anyone else? If someone's gay and someone else lies, which one gets the worse punishment? Nobody knows, and anyone who says they know are fooling themselves.
635285
In the story of S & G, there is no mention of homosexuality.\n\nLot offered his two daughters and finally the maid.\n\nIf they were homos, they must have been women.\n\nBible thumpers read a lot more into their bibles than is actually there. And, coincidentally enough, their interpretations always fit what they already believed.\n\nTruly amazing how flexible "God's word" seems to be.
650943
people are programmed to accept what is told to them as "normal". most of the religions denounce homosexuality as sinful, or even unnatural. thus the conditioning of the larger chunk of the society. it will be ages before we could fully understand the underlying "causes" of homosexuality. till then, there will always be those who fail to understand the fact that gay people are people too. and those that say gay people need not crow about their sexuality - would they be willing to listen if we kept a little quieter and submissive about our rights? chiefly the right to not be made fun of for what we are?
702758
We KNOW that the truth of the Bible isn't just in the way the words are used, but in the way they effect our hearts and souls.  As for your "boat,"  Hate the sin, love the sinner.  Homosexuality IS  a sin.
1121576
The Bible is clearly against homosexuality.  If you are gay, I recommend not believing in the Bible.
1139122
Because they think they are right and don't have respect for the beliefs of others.  You know, cuz a 2,000 year old book say to do this and do that, yet some of the "rules" are ignored while others are enforced.  Funny thing is, think about what the word gay meant just 50 years ago.  Think about how they spoke during Shakespeare's time almost 500 years ago.  Then they want to talk about interpreting something written almost 2,000 years ago?  Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.  Ok, then.
806793
When I was still a ministering among the misbelievers I frequently noted how often demonstrative revulsion toward a particular "sin" was how a person masked their fascination and obsession with it. Someone who vehemently railed against "fornication" was either fornicating at every opportunity,  were waiting for the opportunity to fornicate, or were actively trying to create scenarios ("making provisions for the flesh") in which they could engage in fornication and delude themselves and/or others they'd simply been caught in a weak moment. It never seemed that those who had relatively healthy sex lives had any interest in or concern over someone's else's sex life and whether or ot it was perverse. And while they'd acknowledge that "the Bibles says homosexuality is a sin", no married couple with a healthy sexual relationship ever seemed to think gay marriage actually threatened their own marriage in any way. More often than not deep, prayerful and continuous  concern about sexual sin in the world was something that manifested pretty exclusively in those whose sex lives were unsatisfactory in some way.
973213
Read this quickly, it may be censured by Tammy C.\n\nTammy C is now writing her own Bible. She quoted 1 Corninthians 6: 9-11 as condeming homosexuals. The actual word is effeminent; which is the greek word for incest; not homosexuals.\n\nAnyway, quoting Paul is disrespect for God and Jesus. Paul, himself, would not have wanted you to quote him or worship him by living your life according to him. Paul had no idea that his personal letters to Timothy, or Titus, or the Corinthians would someday be included in the "Book of God".  At the beginning of the second mil. about 1200 AD a group looked at about 150 scrolls and selected the 66 that would become  what we call the Bible.  \n\nIf you want to quote someone, quote Jesus. \n\nNow to answer your question. There is no place that condemns that particular thing. However, if causes disharmony it would be a sin. Why? Harmony is harmony; Disharmony is the only sin against God.\n\n PS. you had better read this quickly. It might be censured in a few minutes.\n\nMary W is writing her own Bible, too.  I am sick of religious leaders making up rules and interpretations of the Bible in order to build their empires and control people's lives.
988241
One of the many reasons I left the Christian Faith.  Damn women oppressing Nazis!\nEDIT_THIS IS WHAT TICKS ME OFF!  In one breath most Christians will tell you that being gay is an abomination, and in the next, they decide they don't want this one to apply.  You can't have it both ways.  Either you follow the Bible or you don't.  This is why people call Christians lying hypocrites.
977432
Doesn't the bible preach acceptance and love... doesn't it also say that our job isn't to judge, because he will do that?\nMy question is, why worry about people being gay, when we can't take care of our own citizens... and parts of the world hate us so much they are willing to die to kill us?  Is it really that important?  I don't think so!
318940
People who say that the Bible obviously condemns homosexuality have not studied the sources very well. The simple historical fact of the matter is that many, many Biblical passages, including those which are now said to be about homosexual acts, have been interpretted and reinterpretted with the times to mean vastly different things. Add to that the fact that some translations of the Bible, such as the King James version, were rewritten in areas to fit King James' political agenda and you have one big mess. \n\nThe best way to understand the Bible is to realize that it was written thousands of years ago, and to try to interpret what it was supposed to mean during those times. Figures of speech and illusions to things that were common place and obvious back then aren't the same now. For example, many Biblical scholars agree that the old testament lines regarding "unnatural" acts between men had to do with condemning pagan rituals of the time that involved sex. Much of the old testament is dedicated to laws that would preserve Jewish culture and keep it separate from competing cultures in the area. Sodom & Gomorrah's sin was bad hospitality to travelers, NOT homosexual sex.\n\nAlso, eating shellfish and wearing fabrics made of two separate materials are considered abominations and called such in the same chapters of the Bible that condemn men laying with men. Christians are fond of saying that Jesus made the old laws obsolete, and yet they quote out of Leviticus to condemn homosexuals. What about the abominations they commit everytime they wear cotton/polyester or eat at Red Lobster? Those are easy to ignore, but when there's an easy quote to throw at gays, they'll use it.\n\nIf you're interested in a more scholarly interpretation of the Bible than what a few biggots would have you believe, please read "What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality" by Daniel Helminiak. He's not some random gay person who could be said to have an "agenda," he's a real Catholic priest.
1041346
Many just can't get past the gay thing.They are more concerned with what two guys do in the privacy of their own homes then with what they themselves do.Jesus would not approve and would again say to modern followers, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone".
867581
If we are going to invoke Leviticus to condemn homosexuality then we must also remember that the Bible calls for the execution of homosexuals. Not only that but it calls for the stoning of disobedient children and adulterers. I wish that fundamentalist/evangelical Christians would not be so selective in their application of scripture. And to the guy who says that 80% of homosexuals have AIDS? Where on earth did you get such a ridiculous statistic? I've never heard such rubbish in all my life.
686973
Under "sources" is an interesting article on Christians and Homosexuality (it brings up some interesting points and answers your question in a more educated way than I could, having never read the big'ol'bible).\n\nIt starts out:"When Christians pour their judgment on homosexual men and women, they do nothing less than make a mockery of their own savior, Jesus Christ. The grace they are willing to accept as followers of Christ is suddenly not good enough to extend to those they find offensive. It's a double standard, based not in biblical truth but in fear and the desire for control. To understand this, we must understand what Christians believe, and how their beliefs are being subverted from living in love to the canonizing of condemnation...."