Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
Sure you can apply biblical principles to things not explicitly addressed in Scripture. The Bible doesn't talk about cars or the internet but they have some spplicable principles. However, we need to apply them rightly, and as for the topic at hand, homosexual acts are sin. The bible is clear on that even if you don't like it or you don't recognize it.So? Are you saying that only things the Bible specifically mentions are appropriate, and its wrong to extrapolate the same principals into situations the Bible doesn't adequately cover?I more or less agree...
But look, lets cut the semantics, what do you think "sin" is, exactly?
For me, sin is an action that God has told us to refrain from because it will harm us or others, or disrespects Him.
Thats it. Thats all I think sin is... and Jesus new commandment is what I base this on.
I don't think sin is about a bunch of arbitrary rules made up by God to be legalistically invoked to the detriment of people... the rulkes are meant to HELP us... not HURT us... why are you so keen to hurt people?
"Take your pick. Adam and Eve are not real historical people, OR either or both of them was at least carrying a recessive "gay gene". If there is a third alternative, please enlighten me, but I just don't see it."I pointed out the passages that speak about David and Jonathon's sexuality.
Want me to do it again?
As for Adam and Eve, I'm not saying they WERE homosexual, just that... no... wait... check that... this far and no further... if we believe in a literal Adam and Eve, with their inbred incestuous children and all, then one of them, at least WAS homosexual. Absolutely definately. Without doiubt, at least ONE of them had to be carrying the genes that express as homosexual traits.
Take your pick. Adam and Eve are not real historical people, OR either or both of them was at least carrying a recessive "gay gene". If there is a third alternative, please enlighten me, but I just don't see it.
But was his doing it unexpected or unusual? Yes. Hence the mention.Many social customs of that time are mentioned in the Bible. The washing of feet is one. Because Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, does that mean Jesus had a foot fetish? No.
Wild animals eat there meat raw, does that mean I should too? Even when I know it places me at risk for disease?That "ask God when you die" is such a tired, lame coput.
As for the rest... when the genes that express as homosexual tendency are identified, that doesn't mean they are some sort of "defective" gene... indeed, I'd say thatr the fact that homosexuality is observed in all higher mammals, that such genetics is quite ancient, and extremely natural.
Corrupt genes tend not to code for anything at all. Genes that code for an identifiable trait... well... aren't corrupt.
"That "ask God when you die" is such a tired, lame coput."That "ask God when you die" is such a tired, lame coput.
As for the rest... when the genes that express as homosexual tendency are identified, that doesn't mean they are some sort of "defective" gene... indeed, I'd say thatr the fact that homosexuality is observed in all higher mammals, that such genetics is quite ancient, and extremely natural.
Corrupt genes tend not to code for anything at all. Genes that code for an identifiable trait... well... aren't corrupt.
"Further, as a thought experiment for yourself, don't have to tell anyone the outcome, if you read the above description about anyone elses relationships... the parental disaproval, the sneaking around, the kissing, the love greater than for women, all of that... outside of a Biblical context and about non Biblical charecters... would you assume that it was homosexual or heterosexual people being described?"But was his doing it unexpected or unusual? Yes. Hence the mention.
Some reason my cut and paste won't work for the rest of your post... but about teenagers... you find me just one heterosexual teenage male who isn't extremely interested in girls, even over the love of his best friend, and I'll eat my hat.
I have read Samuel, I believe in context.
I sincerely believe that the relationship discussed, if not overtly homoerotic, certainly has homosexual undertones. Reading it in context.
Further, as a thought experiment for yourself, don't have to tell anyone the outcome, if you read the above description about anyone elses relationships... the parental disaproval, the sneaking around, the kissing, the love greater than for women, all of that... outside of a Biblical context and about non Biblical charecters... would you assume that it was homosexual or heterosexual people being described?
No... the Bible ISN'T clear on it at all... as discussed, all the oft quted passages in the Bible are
A. irrelevant (Leviticus)
B. The writings of 1 guy (Paul)
C. Believably translated in ways OTHER than as pertaining to homosexuality
D. Without basis in reality... I mean, I can construct a logical arguement why rape and murder are bad things without resorting to Bible quotes, can you do the same for homosexuality?
How is homosexuality likely to impair my atainment of true joy?
"one of them had to be gay if you believe in a literal Adam and Eve... whence else diod the genetic component of homosexuality come from?"one of them had to be gay if you believe in a literal Adam and Eve... whence else diod the genetic component of homosexuality come from?
God created us using the same template as he did for animals, and our behaviour, biochemistry, psychology and sociology are all deeply coloured by our animal forebears. While I do certainly belief that God calls us to overcome our animal nature in many ways, I do not believe he asks us to do anything that is explicitly against our natures.
So if any trait occurs naturally in animals, I see no reason why the same trait isn't reasonably to be expected in humans.
Actually the "gay gene thing" as you so eloquently put it, is far more than just a dream, there is enough evidence extant to demonstrate a link between heredity and homosexuality, all that is required now is to isolate the specific codons involved and map their protein expression... but thats really only so much technicality... for all practical intents and purposes, quantitative studies have pretty much confirmed there is a genetic component to homosexuality.
Want links?
"original sin" is nothing more than God calling us to overcome our baser animal natures... thts it. Much simpler than believing we are still paying for the mistakes of some guy who ate an apple 5,000 years ago!"one of them had to be gay if you believe in a literal Adam and Eve... whence else diod the genetic component of homosexuality come from?"
There has been no genetic component of homosexuality identified. If you don't believe in a literal Adam and Eve then forget homosexuality, where did original sin come from. Remove a literal Adam and Eve and your problems would really go away. There could be no original sin, therefore you would not need a savior, because you would not inherit the sinful nature from your parents, Adam and Eve, and would not be able to sin. You would still be perfect. We all know that isn't the case though.
"God created us using the same template as he did for animals,"
Scriptures please.
"and our behaviour, biochemistry, psychology and sociology are all deeply coloured by our animal forebears."
Are you saying you are a descendant of an animal and not a special creation of God?
"While I do certainly belief that God calls us to overcome our animal nature in many ways, I do not believe he asks us to do anything that is explicitly against our natures."
The Bible is full of examples of things He asks us to do that are against our sinful natures.
"So if any trait occurs naturally in animals, I see no reason why the same trait isn't reasonably to be expected in humans."
That's because you don't believe humans are a special creation of God.
"Actually the "gay gene thing" as you so eloquently put it, is far more than just a dream, there is enough evidence extant to demonstrate a link between heredity and homosexuality, all that is required now is to isolate the specific codons involved and map their protein expression... but thats really only so much technicality... for all practical intents and purposes, quantitative studies have pretty much confirmed there is a genetic component to homosexuality.
Want links?"
I've seen them already. I've debated this before with someone who is transgendered and waiting to reassign his gender.
"original sin" is nothing more than God calling us to overcome our baser animal natures... thts it. Much simpler than believing we are still paying for the mistakes of some guy who ate an apple 5,000 years ago!
Scriptures please? Sorry, this is one of those "I have the comparative biochemical analyses, so I win" type things... remember, God gave us both the Bible AND the scientific method/enquiring minds
I am both an animal AND a spoecial creation of God. As are you.
The Bible is full of examples where he asks us to overcome the sinful part of our nature, yes... but never to go inherently against our natures... subtle, but distinct difference. See what I mean?
I DO believe humans are a special creation of God. I also believe tht God allowed us to evolve from animals, so is therefore presumeabley happy for us to have some baggage from our evolutionary journey.
Only thing that makes sense really... unless you believe God designed the total stuff up that is the human eye...
So if you've seen the scientific, objective data that clearly shows the link between homosexuality and genetics, why are you questioning it?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?