In Norway it is OK for homosexuals to marry in the church

[Bellicus]

I know that most users of this forum are from the US, and there it is not allowed for homosexuals to marry. But where I live it is OK to marry in the church, it is OK to be artificially pregnant for lesbians, and OK to adopt children for both genders. It is also OK to be a priest of the Church and the same time live as a homosexual. The only limit goes if a doctor refuse to artificially make pregnant or if a priest refuse to marry someone - then they don't have to. But still there would be no problems in finding someone that would support this. The leader of the medical ethics comity in the country have already been in a rage that some doctors have the rights to deny this from personal opinions.

And here I am, just another Norwegian, and I am not sure what to think. I can't find anything in my bible that would condemn the acts of my country, but I could find a lot that would condemn the actions of those that judge all this. I have a lot of personal opinions about this, but I cant find any biblical support for my opinions, so I remain neutral really.

What do all of you think about these laws, that was accepted now in 2008?

 

[D.W.Washburn]

I know that most users of this forum are from the US, and there it is not allowed for homosexuals to marry. But where I live it is OK to marry in the church, it is OK to be artificially pregnant for lesbians, and OK to adopt children for both genders. It is also OK to be a priest of the Church and the same time live as a homosexual. The only limit goes if a doctor refuse to artificially make pregnant or if a priest refuse to marry someone - then they don't have to. But still there would be no problems in finding someone that would support this. The leader of the medical ethics comity in the country have already been in a rage that some doctors have the rights to deny this from personal opinions.

And here I am, just another Norwegian, and I am not sure what to think. I can't find anything in my bible that would condemn the acts of my country, but I could find a lot that would condemn the actions of those that judge all this. I have a lot of personal opinions about this, but I cant find any biblical support for my opinions, so I remain neutral really.

What do all of you think about these laws, that was accepted now in 2008?

Hi, Bellicus!

Here in the US, same-sex marriages are recognized in some states. Same-sex marriage ceremonies are performed in some denominations. And gay clergy living in committed same-sex relationships are permitted in some denominations.

Same-sex couples can adopt children. Pretty much any woman with enough money can be artificially inseminated.

Some of us here in DoH (myself included) would very much approve of Norway's policies. Some of us would very much disapprove. That's what keeps the conversation lively.

If you search your Bible diligently, you will find five passages that directly address homosexual behavior. All of them are negative. Two of them are in Leviticus which also condemns eating shellfish and wearing mixed fabrics. One is in 1 Timothy and one is in 1 Corinthians; these both use terms whose meanings are ambiguous in the original Greek. The last one is from Romans 1 and can only be used as a blanket condemnation of homosexual behavior if it is read without concern for its context. So, the witness of the Scriptures is not clearly for or against homosexual acts. Nor does the Bible say anything about same-sex marriage.

However, we can now expect representatives of the other point of view to come out and tell you that I am wrong.

You are 100% right that the Bible is opposed to judging others. It is one of the clearest teachings in the Scriptures.

Luke 8:10-14

 

[KCKID]

I trust that any negative responses to the OP will come from Christians that also oppose divorce and remarriage in the Christian Church. Most have a tendency to bury their heads in the sand over the glaring adultery problem that exists thru'out Christendom and instead they turn their sights on the 'gay issue'.

If Jesus hated anything ...He hated hypocrisy.

 

[catlover]

I know that most users of this forum are from the US, and there it is not allowed for homosexuals to marry. But where I live it is OK to marry in the church, it is OK to be artificially pregnant for lesbians, and OK to adopt children for both genders. It is also OK to be a priest of the Church and the same time live as a homosexual. The only limit goes if a doctor refuse to artificially make pregnant or if a priest refuse to marry someone - then they don't have to. But still there would be no problems in finding someone that would support this. The leader of the medical ethics comity in the country have already been in a rage that some doctors have the rights to deny this from personal opinions.

And here I am, just another Norwegian, and I am not sure what to think. I can't find anything in my bible that would condemn the acts of my country, but I could find a lot that would condemn the actions of those that judge all this. I have a lot of personal opinions about this, but I cant find any biblical support for my opinions, so I remain neutral really.

What do all of you think about these laws, that was accepted now in 2008?

I wonder what the quality of life is in Norway as opposed to The United States?

 

[Morrigu]

I'm not sure if i want to move to norway or bring norway to the rest of the world

 

[Dogbean]

I guess this tells us that the church in Norway doesn't teach based on Scripture.

 

[Dogbean]

I trust that any negative responses to the OP will come from Christians that also oppose divorce and remarriage in the Christian Church. Most have a tendency to bury their heads in the sand over the glaring adultery problem that exists thru'out Christendom and instead they turn their sights on the 'gay issue'.

If Jesus hated anything ...He hated hypocrisy.

Divorce is only Biblical in certain, limited circumstances. I would adhere to those. I agree that there is a huge problem with adultery and rampant divorce.

 

[D.W.Washburn]

I guess this tells us that the church in Norway doesn't teach based on Scripture.

I guess this tells us that the church in Norway doesn't teach based on your understanding of Scripture.

 

[Dogbean]

Regular Guy,

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (New International Version)

15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

[BigBadWlf]

I guess this tells us that the church in Norway doesn't teach based on Scripture.

You are right. They church in Norway does not follow the teachings of Scripture as they do not endorse slavery, the use of rape to force a woman to marry, the killing of disobedient children or making of burnt offerings…shame on them!

 

[HaloHope]

Norway is officially awesome.

 

[D.W.Washburn]

Regular Guy,

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (New International Version)

15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Tackleberry:

Everyone who reads Scripture interprets it. Individuals interpret Scripture. Denominations interpret Scripture. We do not all interpret Scripture the same way. That should be quite clear to anyone who reads the DoH forum in even a cursory manner.

To say that the Church of Norway does not teach according to Scripture is really only to say that it does not teach according to your interpretation of Scripture. On the other side of the same token, you do not teach according to the Church of Norway's interpretation of Scripture. But, both you and the Church of Norway teach according to Scripture...

I still maintain that a lot of the debate here in DoH is not about sexuality as much as it about hermeneutics.

Peace.

 

[Dogbean]

Yes, Regular Guy. That is the typical argument posed by homosexuals who do not want to give up their sin. They love to literally interpret all Scripture that talks about love, equality, all the "feel good" stuff, but conveniently find ways to "interpret" the tough passages that condemn their sin in some other vague way so as to say that the Bible does not condemn their sin. Then they call it "their interpretation" so they can claim that they are Bible believing Christians that practice homosexuality willfully.

 

[artybloke]

Yes, Tackleberry. That is the typical argument posed by homophobes who do not want to give up their sin.

 

[Dogbean]

Clever, artybloke. Real clever.

 

[Speculative]

Norway rocks. That's what I think.

We just had a lesbian couple and their two children join our church. They were married in Oregon. I can't wait for the day when we can celebrate similar such marriages in our church here in Washington State.

 

[Archivist]

I wonder what the quality of life is in Norway as opposed to The United States?

According to the 2006 UN Human Development Index, Norway is the most livable country in the world. The US ranks 8th on that list.

InternationalLiving.com's quality of life index ranks the US 3rd, Norwary 11th. Norway looses points on that list for weather and infrastructure.

Either way, given Norwegian attitudes on the issues under discussion, I agree with those who have said that Norway rocks.

 

[catlover]

According to the 2006 UN Human Development Index, Norway is the most livable country in the world. The US ranks 8th on that list.

InternationalLiving.com's quality of life index ranks the US 3rd, Norwary 11th. Norway looses points on that list for weather and infrastructure.

Either way, given Norwegian attitudes on the issues under discussion, I agree with those who have said that Norway rocks.

Thank you for the information-we can conclude with the acceptence of gay marriages etc Norwegian society has not collapsed it's not a total failure...interesting.

 

[Morrigu]

Yes, Regular Guy. That is the typical argument posed by homosexuals who do not want to give up their sin. They love to literally interpret all Scripture that talks about love, equality, all the "feel good" stuff, but conveniently find ways to "interpret" the tough passages that condemn their sin in some other vague way so as to say that the Bible does not condemn their sin. Then they call it "their interpretation" so they can claim that they are Bible believing Christians that practice homosexuality willfully.

O M G *! I think this man might have the answer to unite every single denomination into a single represive church!!

Let's listen to him!!!


...

Sarcasm aside, you really think there is only one way to read.. well anything?



*P.S: Sinse when is [wash my mouth][wash my mouth][wash my mouth] an insult?

 

[gwdboi]

I would just like to point out that it's because of people like Tackleberry that I left the church in the first place. In Nowheresville, SC Tackleberry's views are held by most of the population making my town a very dangerous and even life threatening place for my boyfriend and myself. I just wanted to take the time to point out that hate starts with discrimination which leads inevitably to death in some form or fashion. I think that we would all agree that death is a generally bad thing preticularly for the person who was (beforehand) living. So perhaps radical fundamentalist doctrine can be interpreted as an all around bad idea being that it spreads hate leading to death? Just last year Sean Kennedy was murdered in Greenville, SC because he was gay and because people in SC think the way that they do, the murderer got off with very little (if any from what I remember) time. I think that we should all take some time to consider the various impacts our words and thoughts can have on society as a whole. Just a thought.