The most prosperous society, in my opinion, is a both a free and just society buttressed by property rights and minimal government intrusion into the lives of its citizenry. Whenever we have government involvement in anything, it is always at the expense of one group for the benefit of another, or, that there is always some social preference that wins the flavor of the day and then becomes a “policy”.

I always understood my protestant teachings as a young lad, as that I was “free to choose”, everywhere and always, regardless of whether it met God’s approval with the important result being that I was also free to suffer the consequences of my actions (if any). The knowledge that you can fail in your actions is what makes one’s resolve to succeed and to chose right and do the right thing…..resiliant. Human action is purposeful action motivated by the individual’s desire to move from a less to a more desired state (Mises, Human Action).

Presumably this also holds true for heterosexuals, homosexuals, bi-sexuals, and whatever-sexuals. And I am suspiscious of any group or governing body that believes it knows best over the rest. I am suspect of anybody that presumes to hold such prescient knowledge.

The message I got from the teachings of God when I was a kid, was that it was trivial if my actions were coordinated by a rule of law, where choice was not relevant. Far more important it was for me to exercise Luke 6:31 voluntarily, than by having it legislated and then enforced upon me. The moment we start to impose social preferences on others who do not share those preferences, is the moment we give up civility for totalitarian dogma where education becomes little more than a propaganda for social conformity. If for no other reason, you have to reject legislation that tramples personal and economic freedom, because we know that such aims do not ensure that fundamental or inalienable rights remain with the individual.

So, that means I would have to respect the school that teaches that homosexuality is bad equal to the school that teaches homosexuality is good, equal to the school that is indifferent. Regulation will not solve this disagreement, but, regulation will pitch one group against another. And that outcome, in my opinion, absolutely limits awareness and enlightenment.

cheers

mp

there are health risks of driving to work.

anyway say what you want but you sir are the minority. The large part of my generation does not follow religion blindly. It will be a better world when all religion is extinct (which global trends indicate by the way).

It makes me sick how your “god” can say that his way is best and you better play by his rules to have a good afterlife. If he was as forgiving as you all seem to say, he would allow ALL people access to heaven via forgivness even if in life they did not follow the written word of a bunch of rich old men in the Roman Empire who wanted to control their peers.

It is sad that in this modern age a person is thought less of because of their own personal sexual orientation and it is even sadder that your children will be raised with such a narrow minded view of the world.

that said, I clearly disagree with what you say and think, but I respect and defend your right to say and think it. Something that would not be as easy for you.

good luck with this letter. I hope the MLA reading it will keep in mind basic rights of freedom in this country

Regarding the article I linked: I’m not particularly interested in that stat in this conversation, which I never brought up. My view of the perils of homosexuality does not stand or fall on whether homosexuals by and large have hundreds of partners. Interestingly, however, the article is indeed citing peer-reviewed journals, not just making up numbers on the spot. Whether those journals are accurate is not for me to say.

But that article does have MANY other pertinent things from “peer reviewed journals,” which you duly ignored. The health risks of homosexual behaviour have been known for a long time, but it is no longer politically correct to talk about. (Speaking of suppression….)

but IT IS SUPPRESSION!! You are saying it is a sin. That is your belief. That is not what everyone beleives. And by saying that because you think it is a sin and therefore is wrong and therefore should be tolerated or greeted with an open mind is oppression. Plain and simple.

I apologize for the language in my previous post but really? 1000 sexual partners? 365 days in a year. That is sex with one partner everyday for 2.8 years. Really? You think that is possible? That article implies 1000 different partners for 14% of homosexual males. Thats is un tested hokum science. As stated, show me a peer reviewed medical journal that comes up with these same stats.

The Bible is clear on homosexuality in a host of passages. Just a couple of examples from Paul’s letters:

In the context of speaking of humans foolishly failing to honour God, Paul says, “For this reason God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error” (Romans 1.26-27).

In speaking to the Christians in Corinth: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6.9-11).

The English translation of the pertinent phrase above, “those who practice homosexuality,” actually renders two Greek terms (malakoi and arsenokoitai) denoting the “passive” and “active” partners in the homosexual act.

I want to point out a couple of things about this passage. First, ALL of these practices are activities that disqualify one from the kingdom of God. If you were to attend my church, chances are you would hear far more sermons addressing some of the other matters in the list than sermons addressing homosexuality. Perhaps there are “Christians” out there who pick on homosexuals and ignore the sorts of sins that are more likely to be in their own midst. (I’m aware of a cult in the USA that does that sort of thing.) All I can say is that neither I nor my fellow leaders in my church have an “anti-homosexual” agenda. We have an anti-sin agenda, because God does.

Second, Paul says that “such” had been “some” of the Corinthians. In other words, in background, they were like the surrounding culture in their city, which was one of the most hedonistic of its time. Before Christ laid hold of them, some of them were practicing homosexuals, some were swindlers, some were worshippers of idols, and so on. The Word of Scripture is not merely that homosexuality is bad or that theft is bad or that lust is bad, on down the line. It does say that, but the point is that in Jesus there is a remedy for the sins of human beings.

Contrary to what you say, the point here is not “suppression.” Rather, the point is the ability to identify sin for what it is, not to point fingers at others, but to provide the remedy. As Jesus said, those who think they are well do not seek a physician.

Yes, I want the freedom to teach what the Bible says, including that homosexual activity is wicked. That freedom is not for the purpose of fomenting hatred. It’s to help safeguard my children, just as I teach them right and wrong about a whole host of things. And it’s to teach them about the world that Jesus came to rescue.

So these people choose not to share that they have STD’s with their sexual partners. huh, well I guess that’s evidence! You win!! Because never ever has a heterosexual christian chosen not to mention his/her condition to their sexual partner!

“you are clearly on the wrong web site.”

Thats pretty obvious but I tell you what:

You prattle on about gays being immoral but you are attempting to suppress a group because their beliefs and values differ from your own.

Here is a question: Where in the bible does it say that homosexuality is ungodly? I want a straight quote here. No extrapolations, assumptions or personal views. Word for word what does the bible say?