If homosexuality was encouraged...even in the Bible and excepted then there wouldn't be any constroversy[sic].
Of course, but thats like saying If bad was good, there would be nothing wrong with doing bad.
As for the puzzle peices[sic]...this has been said before, but logically a lot of different 'peices[sic]' fit into other 'peices[sic]' (I'm not solely talking about the human body here). Just because the peices[sic] fit doesn't mean we have to fit them there. Just because a man's ***** fits inside my ****** doesn't mean I have to have one in there. Or just because I have the ability to make children doesn't mean I have to.
Quite right, but this doesnt take away from the argument. Refraining from jamming two puzzle pieces together that werent designed to go together doesnt mean youre then somehow obligated to put two together that were designed for each other. The third option is to do neither: abstinence. It is to leave the field of sex altogether.
Why does it have to be immoral?
Because the ultimate authority concerning morality, that is, God, said it is. In this case, we have goodness itself denouncing homosexual activity.
I've always figured it was because of the whole sodomy...can't get pregnant thing.
Naw, I dont agree with that line of reasoning. If thats what made it wrong, I would think contraceptives should be classified as immoral as well, as well as having sexual intercourse with ones wife when she is no longer able to bear children.
I usually get it's wrong and disgusting.
Heh, coincidentally, I was talking about a friend over AIM about this as I was typing this reply to you. She said that exact same thing.
I usually get 'the bible'..then I wonder...of all the things going on in the world, why does God want to bother with homosexuals?
Because He loves them & wants the best for them.
Why give them so much heat?
Their homosexual actions are condemned, but this does not mean they are any more condemned by God than I am for lying, cheating, or lusting after women. I think often times, people think God hates homosexuals. This is untrue. Im guilty of sin just like the homosexual is; were in the same boat in need of a savior.
To say homosexuality is a sin and harmful is pointless because (in a consenting relationship) it harms no one. I see no point in calling it immoral when it harms no one.
This is the atheistic basis of morality: If it doesnt hurt anyone, its permissible. This is nonsensical. Suppose Im walking in a crowd of people and a man tries to trip me, but fails. Then another man trips me up, but in this case, it is an accident. Now after I came to my senses, I would be more upset with the man who tried to trip me but failed than the man who did trip me by accident, although the second has hurt me and the first has not. It seems theres more to morality than just did it hurt someone or not. The Christian basis of morality goes beyond such a basic philosophy and goes straight to the source of morality: God.
Why do people who think being gay is disgusting, etc...always become so involved in it?
The same could almost be said about those who do drugs in the privacy of their own home. If it concerns only them, why bother, right? Jesus answered this for us by telling us that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27-28), and I could not simply turn a blind eye to a loved ones actions if they were clearly contrary to the will of God.
You said that you didn't accept the word of homosexuals because you thought they were 'impaired'...or words to that effect. So, then it would be OK for me to say I don't accept the word of anti-gays and/or straights on their opinions of gays because they are blinded by stereotypes and prejudices and have never experienced being gay so they can only possibly have an empathetic (?) idea of what it feels like?
Thats not what is at stake here. We are talking about practicing homosexuals who say they cannot change versus ex-homosexuals saying that its possible. It is like a man at the bottom of a cliff saying, It cant be done whereas there is also a man who started at the same point, climbed the mountain, and is saying, It can be done. The accomplishment of the second man is proof that it can be done, although it does not mean the journey is easy.