[bible]

Today someone posted something on Facebook that sparked an interesting argument. The post read "I need everyone to answer this question: Is a gay dude more of a boy friend or a girl friend." Naturally most of the comments that followed were in jest... but one individual went so far as to say "They are neither. They are nothing but sinners." They also went on to say very hurtful and hateful things, including "i have a seat beside my father in heaven while those faggots burn in hell." Naturally this kid had no idea what he was talking about and sounded way too similar to the WBC nuts. If he truly believes that "his Father in heaven" would consider homosexuality to be a sin... yet "his Father in heaven" would consider the condemnation of a group of people based on an inborn trait to be a cause that should be both prompted and supported by the bible or Christian fundamentals he has another thing coming. Hiding behind a faith you dont even understand because you have hate in your heart and its easier to back up that hate with a passage from a book that teaches of love seems backwards and pathetic.

Most who reference the bible in regards to views on homosexuality refer to the story of Sodom and Gamora. That is the biggest gun they have in their arsenal, and typically they are incorrect in their beliefs that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for homosexual acts. In fact, the city of Sodom had been doomed to destruction long before. Jesus and five Old Testament prophets all speak of the sins that led to the destruction of Sodom -- and not one of them mentions homosexuality. Even Billy Graham doesn't mention homosexuality when he preaches on Sodom. Listen to what Ezekiel 16:48-49 tell us: "This is the sin of Sodom; she and her suburbs had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not help or encourage the poor and needy. They were arrogant and this was abominable in God's eyes."

But what does the story of Sodom say about homosexual orientation as we understand it today? Nothing. It was common for soldiers, thieves, and bullies to rape a fallen enemy, asserting their victory by dehumanizing and demeaning the vanquished. This act of raping an enemy is about power and revenge, not about homosexuality or homosexual orientation. When people say "In the bible it says that man should not lay down with a man"... that is in reference to a totally different occurance that has to be kept in context of the time it was written. The sexual act that occurs in the story of Sodom is a gang rape -- and homosexuals oppose gang rape as much as anyone. Again, most people who hide behind the bible to forward their own hateful agenda dont really have a leg to stand on!
　
Biblical ignorance is an epidemic in the United States. A recent study found that 38 percent of Americans polled were certain the Old Testament was written a few years after Jesus' death. Ten percent believed Joan of Arc was Noah's wife. Many even thought the epistles were the wives of the apostles. (LOL!)

This same kind of biblical ignorance is all too present around the topic of homosexuality. If you read the bible you would realize that Jesus says nothing about same-sex behavior. The Jewish prophets are silent about homosexuality. Only six or seven of the Bible's one million verses refer to same-sex behavior in any way -- and none of these verses refer to homosexual orientation as it's understood today.

Most people who are certain they know what the Bible says about homosexuality don't know where the verses that reference same-sex behavior can be found. They haven't read them, let alone studied them carefully. They don't know the original meaning of the words in Hebrew or Greek. And they haven't tried to understand the historical context in which those words were written. Yet the assumption that the Bible condemns homosexuality is passed down from generation to generation with very little personal study or research. The consequences of this misinformation are disastrous, obviously.
　
In fact, the Bible accepts sexual practices that we condemn and condemns sexual practices that we accept. Lots of them! Here are a few examples.

DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.

DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.

MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.

LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.

MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.

DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.

The list goes on: The Bible says clearly that sex with a prostitute is acceptable for the husband but not for the wife. Polygamy (more than one wife) is acceptable, as is a king's having many concubines. (Solomon, the wisest king of all, had 1,000 concubines.) Slavery and sex with slaves, marriage of girls aged 11-13, and treatment of women as property are all accepted practices in the Scriptures. On the other hand, there are strict prohibitions against interracial marriage, birth control, discussing or even naming a sexual organ, and seeing one's parents nude.

And that is the end of my rant. I am very passionate about the topic if you can't tell.... and I am tired of CHRISTIANS using the bible as a means to forward a hateful agenda. They should be ashamed to claim a faith they dont take the time to understand.