EvC Forum: Condemn gay marriage, or just gay rape?

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Topic: Condemn gay marriage, or just gay rape?

Adminnemooseus

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Message 571 of 573 (586583)
10-14-2010 1:25 AM

CALL FOR CLOSING SUMMARY STATEMENTS

We're approaching 600 messages and the message connections to gay marriage seem to be pretty minimal. I think it's time to lay this topic to rest.

To replay message 1:

With the issue of gay marriage being so relevant right now, I figure it would be a great time for a fresh discussion of what the Bible truly says about the issue.

Modern translations of the Bible into English make it clear as day that engaging in homosexual behavior is sin. But some people say that these translations are not accurate, and that the original phrasing in Greek and Hebrew only condemns gay rape, prostitution, temple rites, etc. From this viewpoint, the Bible is silent on the issue of same-gendered marriage.

Is it valid historical, linguistic, and cultural scholarship to interpret the Bible in this way? Or is it needlessly complicated hand-waving that explains away a valuable teaching and shoehorns human reasoning into scripture?

See a biased take here: Religion, the Bible and same-sex marriages

Please confine your messages to being ONE final message per member. I think I'll close this topic in about 24 hours.

Adminnemooseus

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Admin writes:

It really helps moderators figure out if a topic is disintegrating because of general misbehavior versus someone in particular if the originally non-misbehaving members kept it that way. When everyone is prickly and argumentative and off-topic and personal then it's just too difficult to tell. We have neither infinite time to untie the Gordian knot, nor the wisdom of Solomon.

There used to be a comedian who presented his ideas for a better world, and one of them was to arm everyone on the highway with little rubber dart guns. Every time you see a driver doing something stupid, you fire a little dart at his car. When a state trooper sees someone driving down the highway with a bunch of darts all over his car he pulls him over for being an idiot.

Please make it easy to tell you apart from the idiots. Message 150

Omnivorous

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(1)

Message 572 of 573 (586802)
10-14-2010 10:29 PM

It doesn't matter what the Bible says.

One valid response to the OP's bible study question is, who cares what that book says?

Modern Christians don't commit genocide against their enemies' babies, don't kill witches, don't wear the clothes Deuteronomy demands, and do eat shellfish.

The Bible has no more authority to dictate our social policies than do Mayan glyphs.

Can you spot the gay soldier?

Dost thou prate, rogue?
-Cassio

Real things always push back.
-William James