I'm gonna sound crazy, but bear with me...

• Kenny? wrote on 2013-06-21 16:56

  Quote from Phunkie;1110139:

  I don't want to start a huge discussion on this, do you disprove of homosexuality? If so, why? That's kinda what I got from the bolded letters. xD Correct me if I'm wrong.
  
  I've done extensive research on it and the homosexuality referred to in the Bible =/= same-sex, committed, loving relationships that exist today. Huge difference to condemn the latter based on the former.
  
  Our views on slavery and the role of women have evolved over time, despite the verses in the Bible which explicitly regulate slavery and describe how a woman should act. To not do the same with homosexuality, when studies have proved that a same-sex orientation is not a disorder and just as normal as opposite-sex orientations, is actually inconsistent.

  
  
  Well it isn't a "disorder" anyways, I agree that it is a part of the human conscience that varies from person to person, but the word disorder makes it seem like homosexuals are "unworldly".
  I would not say that I disprove of homosexuality- if that's what it came off as, however I do not feel that the idea is right, in my eyes. Like I said, the people are great, but the idea can be unsettling. I'm not homophobic, yet the idea strikes me as off. Yes, I am influenced by my religious beliefs, and yes this is biased. I think a lot of it has to do with social norms and how we are taught by society. Christianity does not conform to any one culture, but of course, being that we are human, we take all of these beliefs that we have and mush them together to form an idea in our head. Slavery and the role of women, as you said, are also discussed in the Bible, however in days gone by, those issues have become less of a battleground, whereas homosexuality is emerging now as a major debate. I'm sure in the past, people firmly held onto beliefs that related to those topics, though just because they have become more accepted does not mean that we are blindly following what we learn.
  I believe that God did not intend for marriage to be between two individuals of the same gender, however I do believe that He intends for love to exist nonetheless. In modern context, homosexuality suggests a romantic relationship, not just loving one another. That's just my opinion.
  
  And yeah, I don't want to start a huge discussion on this either. I have a feeling this will turn into some huge heated debate, and I don't really think either of us want that LOL... And besides, friends guys, we're all friends here :cheer:
• Phunkie wrote on 2013-06-22 01:44

  Quote from Kenny?;1110226:

  Well it isn't a "disorder" anyways, I agree that it is a part of the human conscience that varies from person to person, but the word disorder makes it seem like homosexuals are "unworldly".
  I would not say that I disprove of homosexuality- if that's what it came off as, however I do not feel that the idea is right, in my eyes. Like I said, the people are great, but the idea can be unsettling. I'm not homophobic, yet the idea strikes me as off. Yes, I am influenced by my religious beliefs, and yes this is biased. I think a lot of it has to do with social norms and how we are taught by society. Christianity does not conform to any one culture, but of course, being that we are human, we take all of these beliefs that we have and mush them together to form an idea in our head. Slavery and the role of women, as you said, are also discussed in the Bible, however in days gone by, those issues have become less of a battleground, whereas homosexuality is emerging now as a major debate. I'm sure in the past, people firmly held onto beliefs that related to those topics, though just because they have become more accepted does not mean that we are blindly following what we learn.
  I believe that God did not intend for marriage to be between two individuals of the same gender, however I do believe that He intends for love to exist nonetheless. In modern context, homosexuality suggests a romantic relationship, not just loving one another. That's just my opinion.
  
  And yeah, I don't want to start a huge discussion on this either. I have a feeling this will turn into some huge heated debate, and I don't really think either of us want that LOL... And besides, friends guys, we're all friends here :cheer:

  
  
  Those issues have become less of a battleground, but aren't both slavery and the role of women interpreted differently today than they were in biblical times?
  
  Just food for thought.
  
  Homosexuality's okay. :) It is not God's will for gay and lesbian people to be seen as unequal (and therefore, discriminated against) because of a different sexual orientation.
  
  Generations from now, discussions against homosexuality will look similar to the pro-slavery discussions that a lot of Christians had here in the United States during the Civil War era. We will look at those same Scriptures used demonize same-sex intimacy as those same Scriptures used to promote the idea that slavery was ordained and mandated by God, and therefore was okay.
  
  I'm really passionate about all of this because this is an issue dear to my heart, haha. Other than that, I respect your view and I still love you as a person.
  
  

  Quote from Murasaki;1110212:

  I, unfortunately, can't get into this whole religion thing. It's like trying to get me to believe in Santa when I've already discovered it was just my parents all along.
  
  I have nothing against the people of faith so long as they don't try to get me to believe. It's for some, not for others.
  
  This inability to believe coupled with the fact that I will take something whole and not ignore the bad points means that religion is a pretty bad match for me in the first place.
  
  In short...I really don't care what people do or don't believe in, as long as they're treating each-other with respect.

  
  
  Respect goes a long way!! :thumb:
  
  But when you really think about it, all of us believe in something, whether we call it God or not, and all of us push our beliefs onto each other every day whether we acknowledge it or not.
  
  Whether it's the idea that drugs are bad, that you should be optimistic, that love will find you, God, good luck, yin and yang, karma, etc. We push all these beliefs onto each other every day, simply by engaging others in conversation.
  
  It makes you really wonder, out of all these ideals and things that we believe in on the regular, why is it that religion seems to cause us the most discomfort? We're quick to get annoyed at someone who lives for God, but we are indifferent when we are fed all of the negativity and cynicism of the world, because "that's just how things are."
  
  Nah, son.
  
  You don't gotta believe in God, but know that all of us have some sort of faith in something. We all believe in something.
• Cannibal wrote on 2013-06-22 03:50

  Quote from Hanna;1109897:

  Episkey is the best person to talk about this with
  

  
  Ugh, yes. Episkey really helped me out when I was struggling and confused with religion, so I mean it 100% when I say that if you're ever interested in (or just wanna talk about) Christianity and you want to talk to someone close by about it, he's the one to go to. I appreciate his readiness to help me so so so much.
  
  On this topic though, I'm just glad you're happy, Joel, and I wish you the best. When used correctly, faith can really open your mind and help you to see things you didn't see before.
• Space Pirate Nithiel wrote on 2013-06-22 10:37
  I prefer the vengeful hate-filled God of the old testament that sent plagues and murdered babies and drowned 99.9% of the world's population.
  
  Much more realistic.
• Campylobacter jejuni wrote on 2013-06-22 15:05
  Silly.
• Yoorah wrote on 2013-06-22 15:25

  Quote from Murasaki;1110212:

  I, unfortunately, can't get into this whole religion thing. It's like trying to get me to believe in Santa when I've already discovered it was just my parents all along.

  
  Just thought I'd point out that this isn't logically sound. We know for a fact that Santa doesn't exist, but we cannot say the same with certainty about the possible existence of a higher being. It's more logical to remain open-minded.
  
  I'm not religious myself but I think the social and cultural aspects of religion can be truly wonderful.
• Chiyuri wrote on 2013-06-22 22:15

  Quote from Yoorah;1110606:

  Just thought I'd point out that this isn't logically sound. We know for a fact that Santa doesn't exist, but we cannot say the same with certainty about the possible existence of a higher being. It's more logical to remain open-minded.
  
  I'm not religious myself but I think the social and cultural aspects of religion can be truly wonderful.

  
  
  For higher beings in general no, but for certain beings as depicted in Some religions, it's the same as santa
• Yoorah wrote on 2013-06-22 22:26
  Well yes, but put in a bit more effort and take that train of thought a little further to realize why this is the case. It has no bearing on the argument.
• Chiyuri wrote on 2013-06-22 23:04

  Quote from Yoorah;1110795:

  Well yes, but put in a bit more effort and take that train of thought a little further to realize why this is the case. It has no bearing on the argument.

  
  
  tried to reread this multiple times but I can't really see what ya trying to say, mostly this "why this is the case" that is rather confusing. "What case?" is my main question.
• Valkyrio wrote on 2013-06-22 23:13

  Quote from Yoorah;1110606:

  Just thought I'd point out that this isn't logically sound. We know for a fact that Santa doesn't exist, but we cannot say the same with certainty about the possible existence of a higher being. It's more logical to remain open-minded.
  
  I'm not religious myself but I think the social and cultural aspects of religion can be truly wonderful.

  
  
  If you try to argue that God could exist - you can easily argue anything else exists as well. There's no evidence to God's existence.
  
  Of course, this isn't how I feel - but it's perfectly logically sound. Faith lies outside of logic.
• Chiyuri wrote on 2013-06-22 23:57

  Quote from Valkyrio;1110811:

  If you try to argue that God could exist - you can easily argue anything else exists as well. There's no evidence to God's existence.
  
  Of course, this isn't how I feel - but it's perfectly logically sound. Faith lies outside of logic.

  
  
  putting aside the christian god, the idea of a godly being is not too farfetched and perfectly fine logically.. as long as you don't try to add to many elements to it to the point it become an unlogical existance filled with contradiction. So technicly.. beside the christian religion(and some others), faith can lay within logic.
• Yoorah wrote on 2013-06-23 01:35

  Quote from Chiyuri;1110810:

  tried to reread this multiple times but I can't really see what ya trying to say, mostly this "why this is the case" that is rather confusing. "What case?" is my main question.

  
  It would be too difficult for many people to grasp the abstract concept of a higher being, therefore people shape this idea into something more tangible, like a man with a beard sitting on a cloud or whatever. The man with the beard may not exist for real, but the idea behind it could.
  
  

  Quote from Valkyrio;1110811:

  If you try to argue that God could exist - you can easily argue anything else exists as well.

  
  I'm arguing that one should not treat it as absolute fact. Doing so without proof would be a "faith" in itself.
• Chiyuri wrote on 2013-06-23 02:01

  Quote from Yoorah;1110847:

  It would be too difficult for many people to grasp the abstract concept of a higher being, therefore people shape this idea into something more tangible, like a man with a beard sitting on a cloud or whatever. The man with the beard may not exist for real, but the idea behind it could.
  
  
  I'm arguing that one should not treat it as absolute fact. Doing so without proof would be a "faith" in itself.

  
  
  ah ok.. but there isn't much point in it because what people beleive in in that case is not the idea behind it but the actual man with a beard. I think there is a lot more merit to beliving in the idea behind in it all of it's truth.. than just a man made interpretation of it.
• Phunkie wrote on 2013-06-23 13:59
  I dunno, folks. I just know that I feel good. :XD:
  
  I hope you all have a good day!
• Hanna wrote on 2013-06-23 21:33

  Quote from Phunkie;1111039:

  I dunno, folks. I just know that I feel good. :XD:
  
  I hope you all have a good day!

  
  People argue just to argue, enjoy your spiritual high
  
  

  Quote from Space Pirate Nithiel;1110549:

  I prefer the vengeful hate-filled God of the old testament that sent plagues and murdered babies and drowned 99.9% of the world's population.
  
  Much more realistic.

  
  you've never read the old testament, have you?