The new disinfranchised -- Christians??

[noshameinChrist]

The US Constitution was created to be flexible, as it was a document created primarily to undergird the will of the people. In this democratic-republic system in which I live I understand that legal change may take place ultimately based on the will of the people.

I was recently asked if I support homosexual marriage. My response was no. However, and again, I see and understand the shift that is taking place in our society. The evidence clearly suggests that homosexual relationships are becoming more than a tolerated lifestyle in our country, they are (and in many locals already have) becoming an accepted lifestyle.

I strongly believe, as this effort moves forward, Christians will be faced with a hard line decision - Either accept the homosexual lifestyle without challenge or be economically, socially, and/or politically isolated and labeled by terms historically applied to deplorable groups such as the Klu Klux Klan. As a person of color, with a deep understanding of this country’s history leading up to the civil rights struggles of the 60s, I am disgusted by this prospect. Nevertheless (and using a phrase borrowed from scripture) “the writing is on the wall�. I wonder if others see this. How many Christians, committed to the teachings of scripture, have considered what is taking place?

Although I am a Christian (the “fundamentalist� label has been attached to me, and while I only self-proclaim to being a Christian, I am not offended by the term) I have no plans to fight what this country decides to do on a “legal� basis with regard to the acceptance of homosexual lifestyles. As a Christian, however, I plan to always oppose sin.

Should Christians be concerned who hold the same position?

[Ooberman]

The US Constitution was created to be flexible, as it was a document created primarily to undergird the will of the people. In this democratic-republic system in which I live I understand that legal change may take place ultimately based on the will of the people.

I was recently asked if I support homosexual marriage. My response was no. However, and again, I see and understand the shift that is taking place in our society. The evidence clearly suggests that homosexual relationships are becoming more than a tolerated lifestyle in our country, they are (and in many locals already have) becoming an accepted lifestyle.

I strongly believe, as this effort moves forward, Christians will be faced with a hard line decision - Either accept the homosexual lifestyle without challenge or be economically, socially, and/or politically isolated and labeled by terms historically applied to deplorable groups such as the Klu Klux Klan. As a person of color, with a deep understanding of this country’s history leading up to the civil rights struggles of the 60s, I am disgusted by this prospect. Nevertheless (and using a phrase borrowed from scripture) “the writing is on the wall�. I wonder if others see this. How many Christians, committed to the teachings of scripture, have considered what is taking place?

Although I am a Christian (the “fundamentalist� label has been attached to me, and while I only self-proclaim to being a Christian, I am not offended by the term) I have no plans to fight what this country decides to do on a “legal� basis with regard to the acceptance of homosexual lifestyles. As a Christian, however, I plan to always oppose sin.

Should Christians be concerned who hold the same position?

What a thoughtful, honest and intelligent post!

I wish your position was the norm. I understand that people have different religious predilections, but ultimately, we must err on the side of a secularly interpreted Constitution for the protection of both Church and State.

From the time the gay Rights movement started to now, there has been so much pain, hatred and violence towards gays and those who support them. Children have been killed because people thought they were gay - dragged behind trucks, strung up on barbed wire. Funerals have been interrupted, and loving partners have been denied access in the final hours of their loved ones.

And this has only been the documented cases since "the love that dare not speak its name" started to speak.

I shiver at the horrors that have gone on in the name of God since Moses penned his first anti-gay message.


We The People have a chance to stop the fear and hatred in our country, in our time.

I hope all people see that while ones religious views might be sacred to them personally, they are not absolute or universal.

Christians, if Jesus is about Love - even love of an enemy, should embrace anyone who thinks like the OP. He clearly has the Right and Good position and should be applauded, not shunned and ostracized.


Of course, there will be many who do, but we know they will become an increasingly unimportant minority, only noted for their outdated views and occasional acts of violence.

[noshameinChrist]

The US Constitution was created to be flexible, as it was a document created primarily to undergird the will of the people. In this democratic-republic system in which I live I understand that legal change may take place ultimately based on the will of the people.

I was recently asked if I support homosexual marriage. My response was no. However, and again, I see and understand the shift that is taking place in our society. The evidence clearly suggests that homosexual relationships are becoming more than a tolerated lifestyle in our country, they are (and in many locals already have) becoming an accepted lifestyle.

I strongly believe, as this effort moves forward, Christians will be faced with a hard line decision - Either accept the homosexual lifestyle without challenge or be economically, socially, and/or politically isolated and labeled by terms historically applied to deplorable groups such as the Klu Klux Klan. As a person of color, with a deep understanding of this country’s history leading up to the civil rights struggles of the 60s, I am disgusted by this prospect. Nevertheless (and using a phrase borrowed from scripture) “the writing is on the wall�. I wonder if others see this. How many Christians, committed to the teachings of scripture, have considered what is taking place?

Although I am a Christian (the “fundamentalist� label has been attached to me, and while I only self-proclaim to being a Christian, I am not offended by the term) I have no plans to fight what this country decides to do on a “legal� basis with regard to the acceptance of homosexual lifestyles. As a Christian, however, I plan to always oppose sin.

Should Christians be concerned who hold the same position?

What a thoughtful, honest and intelligent post!

I wish your position was the norm. I understand that people have different religious predilections, but ultimately, we must err on the side of a secularly interpreted Constitution for the protection of both Church and State.

From the time the gay Rights movement started to now, there has been so much pain, hatred and violence towards gays and those who support them. Children have been killed because people thought they were gay - dragged behind trucks, strung up on barbed wire. Funerals have been interrupted, and loving partners have been denied access in the final hours of their loved ones.

And this has only been the documented cases since "the love that dare not speak its name" started to speak.

I shiver at the horrors that have gone on in the name of God since Moses penned his first anti-gay message.


We The People have a chance to stop the fear and hatred in our country, in our time.

I hope all people see that while ones religious views might be sacred to them personally, they are not absolute or universal.

Christians, if Jesus is about Love - even love of an enemy, should embrace anyone who thinks like the OP. He clearly has the Right and Good position and should be applauded, not shunned and ostracized.


Of course, there will be many who do, but we know they will become an increasingly unimportant minority, only noted for their outdated views and occasional acts of violence.

I want to be fair and clear. I do not support homosexual marriages, because I believe homosexual sex is a sin. I also believe fornication and adultery are sins. My plea is for all people to turn to God.

[Ooberman]

The US Constitution was created to be flexible, as it was a document created primarily to undergird the will of the people. In this democratic-republic system in which I live I understand that legal change may take place ultimately based on the will of the people.

I was recently asked if I support homosexual marriage. My response was no. However, and again, I see and understand the shift that is taking place in our society. The evidence clearly suggests that homosexual relationships are becoming more than a tolerated lifestyle in our country, they are (and in many locals already have) becoming an accepted lifestyle.

I strongly believe, as this effort moves forward, Christians will be faced with a hard line decision - Either accept the homosexual lifestyle without challenge or be economically, socially, and/or politically isolated and labeled by terms historically applied to deplorable groups such as the Klu Klux Klan. As a person of color, with a deep understanding of this country’s history leading up to the civil rights struggles of the 60s, I am disgusted by this prospect. Nevertheless (and using a phrase borrowed from scripture) “the writing is on the wall�. I wonder if others see this. How many Christians, committed to the teachings of scripture, have considered what is taking place?

Although I am a Christian (the “fundamentalist� label has been attached to me, and while I only self-proclaim to being a Christian, I am not offended by the term) I have no plans to fight what this country decides to do on a “legal� basis with regard to the acceptance of homosexual lifestyles. As a Christian, however, I plan to always oppose sin.

Should Christians be concerned who hold the same position?

What a thoughtful, honest and intelligent post!

I wish your position was the norm. I understand that people have different religious predilections, but ultimately, we must err on the side of a secularly interpreted Constitution for the protection of both Church and State.

From the time the gay Rights movement started to now, there has been so much pain, hatred and violence towards gays and those who support them. Children have been killed because people thought they were gay - dragged behind trucks, strung up on barbed wire. Funerals have been interrupted, and loving partners have been denied access in the final hours of their loved ones.

And this has only been the documented cases since "the love that dare not speak its name" started to speak.

I shiver at the horrors that have gone on in the name of God since Moses penned his first anti-gay message.


We The People have a chance to stop the fear and hatred in our country, in our time.

I hope all people see that while ones religious views might be sacred to them personally, they are not absolute or universal.

Christians, if Jesus is about Love - even love of an enemy, should embrace anyone who thinks like the OP. He clearly has the Right and Good position and should be applauded, not shunned and ostracized.


Of course, there will be many who do, but we know they will become an increasingly unimportant minority, only noted for their outdated views and occasional acts of violence.

I want to be fair and clear. I do not support homosexual marriages, because I believe homosexual sex is a sin. I also believe fornication and adultery are sins. My plea is for all people to turn to God.

Yes, I got that. And you are welcome to pray and plead to God all you want. I would never want that right taken away from you.

Likewise, I hope you would never stop people from doing something your religion forbids, if that thing is not considered wrong by people of different faiths. (Obviously we can drill down about what is acceptable, I'm not talking about a free for all).


I think you are right to see the writing on the wall.

Gay marriage will be legal within our lifetime, maybe in a matter of months. We will also see an increasing level of acceptance over the years as the culture shift gets closer to other secularized nations. MOre and more, anti-gay sentiment will be associated with muslim extremists, Fred Phelps and other fringe groups.


I have no doubt Christianity will survive. It is a robust religion and has shown an ability to handle wide varieties of beliefs under its banner. I don't know if Islam can - I am really not familiar with it's intricacies.

The trouble, if there is any trouble at all facing the long-term survival of the Christian religion, seems to be the very obvious comments against homosexuality recorded in the Bible - and the rather violent treatment prescribed. Paul didn't do Christianity any favors. He didn't do anything to lessen the blow. And Jesus's vocal support for the OT - including Samson (which I find horrid, since he was, essentially a suicide bomber).

Essentially, there will always be this record of homophobic sentiment that literalists will key in on, and as long as we have Christianity, we will have a light for homophobic "moths" to flock to.

This homophobic sentiment in the Bible will forever be tied, for some, as the word of God (as you know, since you are one of these people who feel it is the word of God, though you don't seem homophobic).

This is the problem. We can't edit those words out without undermining the entire Bible, and we can't keep them in and have Christianity on the right side of history.

I am sure Christianity will persist for another millennia or so. It's shown itself to be resilient to all kinds of horrors committed by people following the text. Largely, because of the overarching theme of Love in Jesus's message, most Good people (non-homophobic), are able to pick and choose which parts of the Bible they like, so the homophobic bits are only picked up by people seeking it out.

As modern science progresses, I think we will find ways to cure and treat people who focus in on the calls for violence in the Bible and castrate the evil done in God's name. That is, the people - like phelps - drawn to the literal word of the Bible might be found to have a certain psychological profile. Perhaps we migth even treat it in the womb some day!

A man can dream, right?

[mitty]

[Replying to post 22 by noshameinChrist]

While you may regard homosexuality as a sin, does your god regard it as naughty given that there is nothing in the bible about female homosexuality, let alone any condemnation? And Jesus didn't mention anything about homosexuality, but he did about adultery, and that is because an adulterer has choice whereas a homosexual does not have choice, which Jesus recognized (Matt 19:12).

[Divine Insight]

I find it peculiar that you accuse Christians of being judgmental, yet you accuse me of being a "bigot" and harboring "hatred". Very peculiar indeed, especially since I have not attempted to label you at all. I don't know you.

Why? I'm not proclaiming that any of those behaviors are a "sin" or that some supposedly "benevolently loving God" will hate you because of this.

So I'm not passing any judgments on you at all. On the contrary, if you feel that these things are bad, then you are the one who is passing judgment on yourself.

To answer your questions:
1. If there is an absence of sexual contact, then what would be the purpose of marriage. Sexual conduct is not limited to intercourse, you will agree to this, right?

LOVE would be the purpose of marriage. Isn't that supposed to be the case anyway?

Or do you believe that marriage if for having SEX?

And no I do not agree with you that sexual conduct is not limited to intercourse. As far as I'm concerned sexual conduct is necessarily intercourse and anything short of that cannot be considered to be sexual conduct.

If you when out necking with your girlfriend and were hugging and kissing and petting and having a grand old time but you did not have intercourse, and your parents asked you, "Did you have sex with your girlfriend?". What would be your answer?

Surely you wouldn't claim to have had sex with her if you did not have intercourse with her.

And therefore none of that hugging, kissing, and petting qualifies as "Sex".

It's just intimacy and affection.

You are attempting to pervert everything in the hopes of using biblical bigotry to condemn anything you so choose. That tactic is a cheap trick that I personally won't fall for.

Better luck with using those kinds of underhanded tactics on others. They don't work on me.

2. What you describe seems to be a same-sex friendship, and you are asking whether or not it would be OK to adopt children, etc. I have no problem with two people who have determined to be celibate to adopt children.

Well if they are going to adopt children and make a commitment to live with each other then they certainly qualify for marriage. Sex has nothing to do with it.

Again, my position is against "sin". If you deem it appropriate to label me a "bigot" or a "hater", then that is your choice. This is not my motivation.

Fine. But even your position to be against "sin" is highly questionable and potentially dangerous.

Do you condone the killing of homosexuals in the name of God as the bible commands that you should do?

Do you condone the killing of witches in the name of God as the Bible commands that you should do.

Exod.22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

If you know that someone is a witch and you allow them to live, then surely you are committing a sin for not acting in accordance with the word and commandments of your God.

The problem with being "against sin" with respect to the Bible is that this mentality can be used to do great harm.

The Old Testament commands that it is your duty to seek out heathens and kill them, along with their wives and children.

Jesus himself is quoted in the New Testament as stating that not one jot nor one tittle shall pass from law until heaven and earth pass.

So are you going around seeking out heathens and killing them as the Bible commands you to do?

Or do you just select which bigotries you'd like to support in the name of God and which ones you'd prefer to ignore?

Do you rule over your wife as God has commanded that you should do? Does she never speak out in public on matters of religion or important politics?

Have you stoned any unruly children you might have had to death?

And certainly you are totally free of any debt because the Bible teaches that its a sin to go into debt.

And you are perfect as your father in heaven is perfect, because this is what Jesus has commanded that you must be and to fail to obey Jesus would be a sin, we can't have you committing any sins if you are so anxious to renounce them.

Matt.5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

If you are anything less than perfect as Jesus has instructed that you should be then you are the sin of the world, and therefore you can hardly claim to be against "sin".

I'm not the slightest bit impressed with people who attempt to use the Bible to support their bigotries whilst hypocritically violating 99% of what is in that disgusting dogma.

I believe like Jesus:

Woe unto you, Christians, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Woe unto you, Christians, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Woe unto you, Christians, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Woe unto you, Christians, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

Woe unto you, Christians, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Woe unto you, Christians, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Woe unto you, Christians, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

Woe unto you, Christians, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

Everything Jesus accused the scribes and pharisees of in his day applies to the Christians of today.

Show me your perfect sinless life first, then I'll be willing to listen to your accusations of other people's sins.

So have you suffered any witches to live lately?

Trying to uphold the commandments of the Hebrew mythology is virtually impossible. In fact, if you tried to do that you'd be arrested and convinced of horrible crimes real quick.

To even tell me that you are against "sin" as described by the Holy Bible only tells me that you are potentially an extremely dangerous person.

[Divine Insight]

I want to be fair and clear. I do not support homosexual marriages, because I believe homosexual sex is a sin. I also believe fornication and adultery are sins. My plea is for all people to turn to God.

The problem I have with your position here is not one concerning your motivations. I'm sure your motivations are well-intended.

However, even the best motivations can go awry. Basically what you are attempting to do is shove your beliefs onto other people in the name of your "God".

I have no problem with "Christians" who get their own morality from the Bible. It's when they start trying to shove that morality onto others when it becomes a problem.

Like I say, you believe that something is a "sin" and claim that your plea is for everyone to turn to "God" (where the Bible is supposedly the word of God).

But the problem there is that the Biblical dogma is filled with horrific things.

I could claim to take you up on your intention and grab the Bible and take it literally. I could go out killing witches, heathens, homosexuals, etc.

What would you do then?

Would you try to argue that I'm not "Following the teachings of the Bible"?

pft.

That's baloney. I just showed you in a previous post where the Bible demands that I kill heathens, homosexuals, and witches.

Now all of a sudden YOU are the one who is refusing to "Turn to God" and obey his commandments. You then become the "heathen".

Remember Jesus taught, "Not one jot nor one tittle shall pass from law until heaven and Earth pass". So clearly the commandment that we should kill homosexuals, heathens and witches is still a valid law.

These ancient fables are extremely dangerous, in spite of what the motivation behind following them might be.

Your own personal motivation to follow these teachings is actually quite irrelevant.

As is your own personal interpretations of what they might even be instructing people to do.

[Ooberman]

Isn't worshiping other Gods a sin, according to Christianity, yet they don't lobby to make laws against that.. Why just the gays?

Adultery
Carving images
and a whole host of others... why just gay marriage?

I heard a debate that claimed it was because some religions typically focus on sexuality: sexual mores and taboos and try to codify them. God is the easy scapegoat to blame for homophobia and other feelings of disgust toward alternative lifestyles.

[noshameinChrist]

I want to be fair and clear. I do not support homosexual marriages, because I believe homosexual sex is a sin. I also believe fornication and adultery are sins. My plea is for all people to turn to God.

The problem I have with your position here is not one concerning your motivations. I'm sure your motivations are well-intended.

However, even the best motivations can go awry. Basically what you are attempting to do is shove your beliefs onto other people in the name of your "God".

I have no problem with "Christians" who get their own morality from the Bible. It's when they start trying to shove that morality onto others when it becomes a problem.

Do you mean like me trying to educate my kids? There are so many in society NOW who are trying to force my kids to believe there is absolutely nothing wrong with homosexual conduct. I'm sorry, but Who is forcing "morality" who here?

Please be assured, I would not force-feed anyone the gospel of Christ (1 Cor 15:1-4). Those who want to hear it, great, I will be willing to share it (Mark 16:15-16). Those who don't have no worries about me attempting to chase them down (Mark 6:11). I cannot speak for others.

Like I say, you believe that something is a "sin" and claim that your plea is for everyone to turn to "God" (where the Bible is supposedly the word of God).

But the problem there is that the Biblical dogma is filled with horrific things.

I could claim to take you up on your intention and grab the Bible and take it literally. I could go out killing witches, heathens, homosexuals, etc.

What would you do then?

I would try to teach you about Jesus Christ, and point out that such killing is not consistent with his teachings (Luke 9:54-56].

Would you try to argue that I'm not "Following the teachings of the Bible"?

Yes. At the very least you would be lacking an understanding about Jesus' teachings. I am a follower of Jesus Christ.

pft.

That's baloney. I just showed you in a previous post where the Bible demands that I kill heathens, homosexuals, and witches.

Now all of a sudden YOU are the one who is refusing to "Turn to God" and obey his commandments. You then become the "heathen".

Remember Jesus taught, "Not one jot nor one tittle shall pass from law until heaven and Earth pass". So clearly the commandment that we should kill homosexuals, heathens and witches is still a valid law.

You miss quoted the passage. You missed a key part. Please read Matthew 5:17-18. You need to understand that Jesus did in fact "fulfill" as he explains in verse 17 of that chapter.

These ancient fables are extremely dangerous, in spite of what the motivation behind following them might be.

Your own personal motivation to follow these teachings is actually quite irrelevant.

As is your own personal interpretations of what they might even be instructing people to do.

Please see comments above.

[noshameinChrist]

[Replying to post 22 by noshameinChrist]

While you may regard homosexuality as a sin, does your god regard it as naughty given that there is nothing in the bible about female homosexuality, let alone any condemnation? And Jesus didn't mention anything about homosexuality, but he did about adultery, and that is because an adulterer has choice whereas a homosexual does not have choice, which Jesus recognized (Matt 19:12).

Sorry, but do you know what a Eunich is? The person is someone who doesn't have sex at all. Your application of scripture is off. In addition, while a person might not be able to determine how they "feel", they do have a "choice" about how they act on those feelings.

[noshameinChrist]

The US Constitution was created to be flexible, as it was a document created primarily to undergird the will of the people. In this democratic-republic system in which I live I understand that legal change may take place ultimately based on the will of the people.

I was recently asked if I support homosexual marriage. My response was no. However, and again, I see and understand the shift that is taking place in our society. The evidence clearly suggests that homosexual relationships are becoming more than a tolerated lifestyle in our country, they are (and in many locals already have) becoming an accepted lifestyle.

I strongly believe, as this effort moves forward, Christians will be faced with a hard line decision - Either accept the homosexual lifestyle without challenge or be economically, socially, and/or politically isolated and labeled by terms historically applied to deplorable groups such as the Klu Klux Klan. As a person of color, with a deep understanding of this country’s history leading up to the civil rights struggles of the 60s, I am disgusted by this prospect. Nevertheless (and using a phrase borrowed from scripture) “the writing is on the wall�. I wonder if others see this. How many Christians, committed to the teachings of scripture, have considered what is taking place?

Although I am a Christian (the “fundamentalist� label has been attached to me, and while I only self-proclaim to being a Christian, I am not offended by the term) I have no plans to fight what this country decides to do on a “legal� basis with regard to the acceptance of homosexual lifestyles. As a Christian, however, I plan to always oppose sin.

Should Christians be concerned who hold the same position?

What a thoughtful, honest and intelligent post!

I wish your position was the norm. I understand that people have different religious predilections, but ultimately, we must err on the side of a secularly interpreted Constitution for the protection of both Church and State.

From the time the gay Rights movement started to now, there has been so much pain, hatred and violence towards gays and those who support them. Children have been killed because people thought they were gay - dragged behind trucks, strung up on barbed wire. Funerals have been interrupted, and loving partners have been denied access in the final hours of their loved ones.

And this has only been the documented cases since "the love that dare not speak its name" started to speak.

I shiver at the horrors that have gone on in the name of God since Moses penned his first anti-gay message.


We The People have a chance to stop the fear and hatred in our country, in our time.

I hope all people see that while ones religious views might be sacred to them personally, they are not absolute or universal.

Christians, if Jesus is about Love - even love of an enemy, should embrace anyone who thinks like the OP. He clearly has the Right and Good position and should be applauded, not shunned and ostracized.


Of course, there will be many who do, but we know they will become an increasingly unimportant minority, only noted for their outdated views and occasional acts of violence.

I want to be fair and clear. I do not support homosexual marriages, because I believe homosexual sex is a sin. I also believe fornication and adultery are sins. My plea is for all people to turn to God.

Yes, I got that. And you are welcome to pray and plead to God all you want. I would never want that right taken away from you.

Likewise, I hope you would never stop people from doing something your religion forbids, if that thing is not considered wrong by people of different faiths. (Obviously we can drill down about what is acceptable, I'm not talking about a free for all).


I think you are right to see the writing on the wall.

Gay marriage will be legal within our lifetime, maybe in a matter of months. We will also see an increasing level of acceptance over the years as the culture shift gets closer to other secularized nations. MOre and more, anti-gay sentiment will be associated with muslim extremists, Fred Phelps and other fringe groups.


I have no doubt Christianity will survive. It is a robust religion and has shown an ability to handle wide varieties of beliefs under its banner. I don't know if Islam can - I am really not familiar with it's intricacies.

The trouble, if there is any trouble at all facing the long-term survival of the Christian religion, seems to be the very obvious comments against homosexuality recorded in the Bible - and the rather violent treatment prescribed. Paul didn't do Christianity any favors. He didn't do anything to lessen the blow. And Jesus's vocal support for the OT - including Samson (which I find horrid, since he was, essentially a suicide bomber).

Essentially, there will always be this record of homophobic sentiment that literalists will key in on, and as long as we have Christianity, we will have a light for homophobic "moths" to flock to.

This homophobic sentiment in the Bible will forever be tied, for some, as the word of God (as you know, since you are one of these people who feel it is the word of God, though you don't seem homophobic).

This is the problem. We can't edit those words out without undermining the entire Bible, and we can't keep them in and have Christianity on the right side of history.

I am sure Christianity will persist for another millennia or so. It's shown itself to be resilient to all kinds of horrors committed by people following the text. Largely, because of the overarching theme of Love in Jesus's message, most Good people (non-homophobic), are able to pick and choose which parts of the Bible they like, so the homophobic bits are only picked up by people seeking it out.

As modern science progresses, I think we will find ways to cure and treat people who focus in on the calls for violence in the Bible and castrate the evil done in God's name. That is, the people - like phelps - drawn to the literal word of the Bible might be found to have a certain psychological profile. Perhaps we migth even treat it in the womb some day!

A man can dream, right?

While we obviously will disagree on the subject matter, I do appreciate the manner in which you've expressed yourself.

Be assured, it is not my role or desire to hurt anyone. I do however maintain that homosexual sex is sin based on scriptural teachings (which I obviously believe to be from the God who created me).

I'm personally not concerned about the long term survival Christianity. The God I serve has power to handle all things according to his will. I'm sticking with Him.