LTTE (USA Today): Christians not represented in views about gay rights

[Bluebear]

I read USA TODAY's article on homosexuality and religion and struggled to find balance ("God and gays: Churchgoers stand divided," Cover story, Life, Tuesday).

Couldn't you feature a loving and committed person who believes that the Bible is the authority on homosexuality as well as other issues? Sincerely right or sincerely wrong, there are church members who accept the Bible as the word of God and strive to obey it. They should be able to at least share their thoughts.

All of those quoted were portrayed as intelligent and concerned human beings who, of course, support gay rights. But could you not also find intelligent and concerned human beings who have a different opinion and would appreciate the chance to share it?

Melinda Gholson, Laurel, Miss.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-06-18-letters-other_x.htm

[bertha katzenengel]

1. Dear Miss Gholson,

You are already represented. What do you think the Musgrave Amendment is all about?

:eyes:

[msongs]

2. what did jesus actually say about gays and lesbians?

there is NO positive correlation between the bible and intelligence

Msongs
www.msongs.com/vocalistwanted.htm

[northzax]

3. Dear Mrs. Gholson

(I'm assuming it's "Mrs." since she's a good christian, she must be married) The reason you can't find a caring and concerned person with another opinion is because they don't exist. It's like looking for a caring and concerned Skinhead. How can you honestly say you care and are concerned for other people when you support an agenda to demonize and punish people for actions between consenting adults who are simply doing what they were born to do? If your precious little book was really all that caring and compassionate, it would recognize that humans vary greatly, but the one thing that most have in common is the desire to be in a caring, compassionate relationship with a person they love. In much of the world, people don't have this choice at all, we are fortunate, in the US, to have a society that frees us to make choices, and if two men or two women want to engage in a caring, loving, compassionate relationship, how can you honestly say that is wrong and still be caring and concerned for your fellow man?

As for the thinking part, basing an absolute morality on a document written 2,000 years ago that has undergone multiple translations and been changed multiple times for political purposes is not, what I call thinking. I call that blind faith (which isn't a bad thing, neccesarily) but not thinking. I would say the same to someone who based their entire life, uncritically, on the writings of Aristotle, so it isn't an anti-Christian thing.

The reason that the US society and government are based on the Constitution, and not the Bible is that the founders of this country recognized that, while there were certain absolute rights they could consider, socities and times change, and a system to change, slowly and conservatively, the document to recognize that there are new situations, and rights that they could not understand at the time, is important. The Constitution can be changed (deliberately) to expland rights as new interpretations, technologies and societal pressures evolve, but the basic truths are the same. Meanwhile, the Bible also says the basic truths are the same, but leaves no method to amend them, expand them, as new pressures affect society. Jesus would not recognize many modern Christians, heck, the only people he'd probably recognize are ultra-orthodox Jews and hypocrites. Which one are you?

[Bluebear]

10. Bravo, bravo.

Encore.

[northzax]

17. thanks

whilst I am of the heterosexual persuasion, it is an issue near and dear to my heart. I stood up with my sister this weekend while she married my new sister, and it pisses the living fuck out of me that she has to leave the country to live with her. It's just fucking inane. Land of the free, home of the brave, and I have to take a 6 hour flight to see my only sister and the love of her life. What the fuck is up with that?

on edit: anyone who tells me that my older sister, the absolutely most loving and best person I know, the one who took care of me as a kid, the one who stood up for me to the bullies, the one who skiied down a mountain next to the tobbagon when I broke my leg, who cries for me when I'm sad, the one who is my biggest cheerleader when I am successful, the one who taught me how to be an adult while remaining a child at heart, the one who loves babies and puppies, the one who has a deep and abiding faith in family and mankind, the one who called me crying when the Red Sox won the Series because our grandfather didn't live to see it, the one who is my fiercest advocate when life is hard, the one who has all her friends call me by my childhood nickname when no one else does, the one who included me in everything she did even when I was in the way, the one who bought me a replacement stuffed animal when I lost my favourite one, the one who struggled mightily just to be with the person she loves, and so much more. Anyone who tells me that this person is doing something wrong simply by doing everything in her power to be with the one person in the world who completes her, that person can, quite simply, go fuck themselves. Anyone opposed to a lifetime commitment between two people perfectly suited for eachother, two people for whom the world only makes sense when they are together, simply because those people happen to share the same chromosomal makeup? that person doesn't know my sister. And it makes me sad, and pisses me off to no end. For 31 years, she's taken care of me, and stood up for me when no one of my generation would (parents don't count, right?) and now I make my stand for her. This is where I draw the line in the granite. If you're on the other side, I want no part of you, you are wrong. Your mind is full of ideas half a century out of date (or half a millenia, maybe). I will no longer stand by and let anyone speak ill of her, directly or by extension. I would be so lucky to find a woman as loving and wonderful as she did. So go ahead, tell me that my role model is wrongheaded and a sinner, I will fight you to my dying breath on that issue, ma'am. You are wrong, and history will prove it so.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. I'd like to stand up and be counted as a Christian in support of

gay rights.

[Aristus]

5. Me too!

n/t

[Bluebear]

11. Brightest blessings to you both!

:hug:

[gratuitous]

14. Not only stand up and be counted

But we had about a dozen folks from our teeny tiny congregation marching in the Gay Pride Parade yesterday in Portland, Oregon. Along with folks from about three dozen other congregations. Marching on a fine late Spring day, right down Broadway, in support of full inclusion of our g/l/b/t/i fellow human beings, not just in our society but also in our congregations.

[Warren Stupidity]

6. Letter to Dr. Laura

Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

More of what Biblical Law would imply, were we to take the bible literally:
http://www.halexandria.org/dward210.htm

[progressivebydesign]

7. helluva lot of things in the Bible that 'loving' people wouldn not support

I'm thinking of beating and killing slaves, killing neighbors, sacrificing animals... you name it. For people to pick and choose what they want to believe out of the bible, THEN use it as some reason to defend their bigotry, that's ridiculous. You can't just decide that the Bible speaks for you when it's convenient. If the bible is THE last word for those supposed "loving" people, then I expect them to come out in favor of EVERYTHING in the Bible. Can you imagine basing your entire life on piece of fiction?

[Kerrytravelers]

8. Dear Ms. Gholson,

If it were possible to find a caring, loving person who is against legal equality of all people, they would be represent. However, it is not possible because to be a kind, caring person is to want equality for all people, not just those who use God's name as a sword to inflict inequality and bigotry.

[lukasahero]

9. "could you not also find intelligent and concerned human beings..."

"could you not also find intelligent and concerned human beings who have a different opinion"

Key words being "intelligent" and "concerned".

And well, the answer is: apparently not. I understand they tried. ;)

[Bluebear]

12. "Concerned" always gets me nervous.

It usually equates to "busybody" with these types.

[Skittles]

13. I am SICK of hearing the views of those people, Ms. Gholson

I don't WANT to hear the views of people who dehumanize gay folk. F*** OFF!!!!

[Bluebear]

15. KICK her ass!

:hi:

[Skittles]

16. I THINK I WILL

GAWD I HATE BIGOTS. HOWDY PT!!! :hi: