- from Leviticus - the tribe of Levi - the "Priest" tribe? Best I remember, there are so many more "no-no"s than just those you listed - I don't see how anybody could "live the law". Probably why there were such detailed instructions for offering sacrifices for forgiveness/atonement. (Neither here nor there as far as anything else is concerned, but I did like the idea of a "Thanks" offering. Wish I could burn some wheat - I think it was wheat - on the alter once in a while myself, just to say "Thanks Lord" )

About Paul though, Big time! But, again correct me if I'm wrong, if it'd been left up to the Twelve, Gentiles would never have been converted to Christianity in the first place. Which, to me, means I would never have been entitled to "The Gift". In my mind, I owe Paul for this at least.

Another thing about Paul (to me) was that he stressed love and understanding more than any of the other apostles. Take what he said about eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols in the temple restaurants, for example. For Paul himself it wasn't a sin, but for a newly converted Christian with a "tender conscience" i.e. he felt guilty about eating the meat, then for the new convert it was a sin. Paul instructed the ... I guess you'd call them "elders", to be considerate of new converts and not do anything that caused them to feel uncomfortable - like eating meat sacrificed to idols. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, to me, Paul was so flexible when it came to the technical stuff. (What you said about specific situations, etc.) Love was always Paul's message, so it seems to me; and what a person felt in his heart was what mattered to God - not following rituals like circumcision, etc. If Paul didn't say that Jesus was the example of the "spirit of The Law" (not the letter of it), he was probably thinking it.

John tried to write of the all inclusive love of God and Jesus, but he just didn't get it across to me the way Paul did. I think John was so "high on life" in spirit that he couldn't get back down on my level

I agree.

Thanks so much steveowc :!:

 

people and churches seem to use the Bible to justify their opinions, as if that makes it alright.
Do as you wish. Just remember the Bible is a guide for you to use to learn how to live your life in Christ, not to use to judge how other people are living their lives. If you don't know this, then you really should shut up and read your Bible more.

 

Do you know that there have been more ppl killed in the "name of god" than every war that has ever been fought combined. True fact.

Personally I think all religion is a bunch crap that was started by 1 person with a good intentions. Then greed, corruption and power got involved. ( My views are much more involved than this but that is not the topic......) But that is my opinion, and if you choose to believe in "god" whatever form or religion that maybe, I respect your decision even if I don't agree.

However, trying to use the basis of "god" and religion to deny people the right to make a formal decree of their bond to another person is crap too. My only question to the naysayers is this. What difference or effect will 2 women or men making a vow to care for the other have on you or your life?

The answer.............NONE! Wouldn't it be funny if someone found an old manuscript (assuming that "god" exists) that said that any union between a man and women was against the laws of "god", and those "sinners" would be dammed for all eternity? What would you do then chicken little?

Did you know that in 2000 there were 957,200 divorces? And that there were less than and estimated 138,000 gay and lesbian separations in 2000. (The numbers are estimated as there is no formal accounting).

Now if you ever triple that number that would suggest that gay and lesbian couples are 3X more stable and happier in their relationships than straight married couples.

Life is far too damn short, let people be happy no matter what their sexual preference is. It's not like they going door to door recruiting ppl.........ohhh wait that is the religious groups that do that.......hummmm.

Just because something requires a new way of thinking doesn't make it wrong folks. It took a new way of thinking when someone said the world was round, and that you would not sail off the edge of the earth if you went too far. The same thing for the fact hat Earth is not the center of the universe, and the same when someone said that blacks could ride in the front of the bus and go to the same schools as whites.

Open mindedness and tolerance is the key. So be careful of who you judge, some day they just might be the one judging YOU!

 

we passed a bill in Michigan that defines a Marriage as a Man and A Woman-Yeah for Michigan

 

Not everybody is Christian, religious views cannot be argued as fact, because if they could, whose religion is in fact the right one? I'm Pagan and bi-sexual, but I have several Christian friends, I wish closed minds came with closed mouths. Two people of the same gender aren't harming anybody by loving one another. This whole wretched world could use more love, and less predjudice and hate. I am all for same sex unions, but I think it should be called something other than marriage. Marriage is a Christian idea and ceremony. For example, when two Pagan lovers unite in a relationship, they call it a "hand fasting", the terms, rules, and expectations are different. I also don't wear a ring, as this is a Christian symbol of a Christian marriage. I am legally married; but only because the state wouldn't otherwise recognize my union with my spouse, and would have denied me the benefits that married couples recieve had we not gotten "married." I did require the justice of the peace judge to leave god out of our ceremony, and while many may not agree with what I did, it is my right under the constitution. The point I'm trying to make is, give your opinion without bringing religion and it's ideas of morality into it. Don't be a sheep; think for yourself.

 

I believe that same sex marriages should be allowed. It's that person preference. Two men or two women who love each other should be allowed to do so without discrimination. I also think they should have the same rights as a married man and woman such as family benefits and medical. What makes a union between a man and a woman any different or better?? A male couple or female couple can bring up children just as well or even better than a man and a woman couple. I've seen well adjusted children from same sex unions and some not so well adjusted, but the same goes for the unions between a man and a woman. Who am I to judge. To each their own I say. Drive safe everyone.

 

So what if two consenting adults wish to be married. HOw does same sex marriage impact your lives??????

Probably no more than someone on the other side of the world who is getting divorced impacts your lives.

So people need to get over their religious nonsense and quit quoting the bible to suit their needs.

Let them get married and let them adopt those children who were thrown away by supposedly "normal" people. I'd rather have that adopted child grow up gay and loved than a throwaway kid who will grow up to rob or kill you as an adult.

I think God would want a child loved, opposed to the alternative.

And their is absolutely no proof that children adopted by gay people will grow up to be gay, none, zilch.zero! I suppose if you believe that and disregard the facts, I guess we can say that kids adopted by midgets will get shorter as they get older.

 

I'm all for gays/lesbians.

More girls for me! Plus, if 2 people want to make a commitment to each other, so be it. Its Y2K, people are crazier than ever

 

I would only be against gey marriage if they outlawed divorces and made sex outside of marriage for everyone illegal and a felony for being a crime against nature. Cohabitation would also be illegal and any children created in an illegal act would of course be removed from their criminal parents and NEVER be allowed to obtain citizenship. They of course would also have a number for a last name or the government would assign them one.

and yes this is an old topic, but fun nonetheless

 

Well said Inmate. I could agree with you more. Drive safe everyone.