Will the Bible/Christianity evolve to accept homosexuality?

[VoiceOfReason]

Once the Church convinces their parishes to spread the word yet do follow Christ's teachings to love one another and to treat others as you would be treated, then persecution of sinners should stop. Once you no longer persecute those with whom you disagree, you have learned to tolerate them. It doesn't mean you accept them, but you can tolerate them, and I think that is probably the best that can be expected.

Huh? Does this mean that if you caught someone with kiddie porn, you wouldn't turn them in? Serious question.

False equivalency. I don't think there is any group that is trying to mainstream kiddie porn. Exploitation of children will never be accepted, nor should it. It is not the same thing as two consenting adults...

[VoiceOfReason]

[serious]

I'm sure this will derail but I hope it doesn't. I'm generally curious what some of you think about this, especially those who have a strong grasp of it (Valencia, you seem to always knock these out of the park).

I ask this question because it's happened in the past. The Bible was used to support slavery until slavery became taboo and then lo and behold, passages were used to be against it. Same goes with interracial marriages. I'm sure there are countless other examples. A lot of what "evolved' could have probably been used at the time to be against those positions but weren't because society, as a whole, was against them.

If current trends continue, will this happen in regards to homosexuality? The country/society has made an incredibly sharp shift towards being accepting of gay people and pushing towards their equality. It's a drastic shift to be sure, probably why there is so much friction. It's not as if all of a sudden all the anti-gay people died off, surely sentiment is changing. Utah of all states has gay marriage now! And on the other hand, Uganda is passing a kill all gays law that is backed by religious sentiment.

Now that public sentiment is changing, I have noticed cracks in Christian theology about supporting gay people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiani ... able_views Much of that revolves around mistranslating the bible, making the excuse that being homosexual is not a sin but the act itself is (equating it to gossping, lying, etc), that are laws supersede others (Golden Rule), and so forth.

So my basic question to the board's theologians, let's fast forward and gay people are widely accepted (if you don't believe that will happen, just pretend). Do you think that majority of Christianity will evolve to have it be accepted or not? That the Bible will be used to support gay people rather than demonize them?

Capt Jag... very nice thought provoking post. You are correct (and AG is not) about where public opinion is headed - towards the complete acceptance of homosexuals. And you are also correct that Christianity has "adapted" before and I believe it will again. The same Old Testament book, Leviticus, that says homosexuality is an abomination also says something similar about eating shrimp (things that swim without a shell that are not fish). The Bible will not (and should not) be rewritten... but just as the shrimp thing is still in there... the homosexuality references will be as well. But Christians will learn to instead point to what should be the heart of their religion - loving thy neighbor, doing unto others, etc.

Some folks will never get it... but they will die out eventually... and it is very clear how even the kids of these homophones feel.

[awesome guy]

[serious]

I'm sure this will derail but I hope it doesn't. I'm generally curious what some of you think about this, especially those who have a strong grasp of it (Valencia, you seem to always knock these out of the park).

I ask this question because it's happened in the past. The Bible was used to support slavery until slavery became taboo and then lo and behold, passages were used to be against it. Same goes with interracial marriages. I'm sure there are countless other examples. A lot of what "evolved' could have probably been used at the time to be against those positions but weren't because society, as a whole, was against them.

If current trends continue, will this happen in regards to homosexuality? The country/society has made an incredibly sharp shift towards being accepting of gay people and pushing towards their equality. It's a drastic shift to be sure, probably why there is so much friction. It's not as if all of a sudden all the anti-gay people died off, surely sentiment is changing. Utah of all states has gay marriage now! And on the other hand, Uganda is passing a kill all gays law that is backed by religious sentiment.

Now that public sentiment is changing, I have noticed cracks in Christian theology about supporting gay people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiani ... able_views Much of that revolves around mistranslating the bible, making the excuse that being homosexual is not a sin but the act itself is (equating it to gossping, lying, etc), that are laws supersede others (Golden Rule), and so forth.

So my basic question to the board's theologians, let's fast forward and gay people are widely accepted (if you don't believe that will happen, just pretend). Do you think that majority of Christianity will evolve to have it be accepted or not? That the Bible will be used to support gay people rather than demonize them?

Capt Jag... very nice thought provoking post. You are correct (and AG is not) about where public opinion is headed - towards the complete acceptance of homosexuals. And you are also correct that Christianity has "adapted" before and I believe it will again. The same Old Testament book, Leviticus, that says homosexuality is an abomination also says something similar about eating shrimp (things that swim without a shell that are not fish). The Bible will not (and should not) be rewritten... but just as the shrimp thing is still in there... the homosexuality references will be as well. But Christians will learn to instead point to what should be the heart of their religion - loving thy neighbor, doing unto others, etc.

Some folks will never get it... but they will die out eventually... and it is very clear how even the kids of these homophones feel.

Corinthians and Romans are in the new testament where homosexuality is called a sin and the homosexual denied inheritance of the kingdom. Do you think Christianity is just love thy neighbor? Jesus commanded us to love each other. He also commanded us to sin no more. I hope this helps, what you may be missing is that by separating ourselves from sin, we're showing that we believe the words of Christ. That we are loving our neighbors, being kind and compassionate. But we're also not committing sin or encouraging another person to sin, like encouraging/tolerating homosexuality. I pray you read your bible over the holidays and start understanding the religion you profess to be a member.

[HvilleHokie]

Yes, it will adapt. Many donominations already have. My church just had an openly gay woman (who is married) join on Sunday.

[awesome guy]

Yes, it will adapt. Many donominations already have. My church just had an openly gay woman (who is married) join on Sunday.

how is she gay if she's married? Or is she divorcing her husband to be gay?

[USN_Hokie]

Once the Church convinces their parishes to spread the word yet do follow Christ's teachings to love one another and to treat others as you would be treated, then persecution of sinners should stop. Once you no longer persecute those with whom you disagree, you have learned to tolerate them. It doesn't mean you accept them, but you can tolerate them, and I think that is probably the best that can be expected.

Huh? Does this mean that if you caught someone with kiddie porn, you wouldn't turn them in? Serious question.

False equivalency. I don't think there is any group that is trying to mainstream kiddie porn. Exploitation of children will never be accepted, nor should it. It is not the same thing as two consenting adults...

Are we talking about pedophilia, or homosexuality 50yrs ago?

[awesome guy]

Yes, it will adapt. Many donominations already have. My church just had an openly gay woman (who is married) join on Sunday.

Just yesterday you said preaching against adultery isn't wisdom and is hypocritical if you've ever done so in your life. So I'm curious how that jives with this revelation of attending church. I mean they do preach against sin there right? If not, then what are the sermons about?

[Once]

Well, I'm guessing she lives in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, or the District of Columbia where gay marriage is legal and not one of the states where civil unions are legal or gay marriage isn't legal (?). I'm also guessing she and her congregation (Hville's sect of Christianity) don't agree with your interpretation of God's word.

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking here, unless you're trying to say you don't consider her married (which is fine, but I doubt she cares).

Yes, it will adapt. Many donominations already have. My church just had an openly gay woman (who is married) join on Sunday.

how is she gay if she's married? Or is she divorcing her husband to be gay?

[USN_Hokie]

Some folks will never get it... but they will die out eventually... and it is very clear how even the kids of these homophones feel.

Aye was bourn and razed that weigh, deer.

[awesome guy]

Well, I'm guessing she lives in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, or the District of Columbia where gay marriage is legal and not one of the states where civil unions are legal or gay marriage isn't legal (?). I'm also guessing she and her congregation (Hville's sect of Christianity) don't agree with your interpretation of God's word.

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking here, unless you're trying to say you don't consider her married (which is fine, but I doubt she cares).

Yes, it will adapt. Many donominations already have. My church just had an openly gay woman (who is married) join on Sunday.

how is she gay if she's married? Or is she divorcing her husband to be gay?

I'm doubting H'Ville even attends church given he thinks shaking up is Christian. Those few churches that have played with the idea of gay marriage have torn themselves up. Of course you can believe anything you want, but if you're going to call yourself Christian then there are some things that go along with that, like homosexuality being a sin and thus homosexuals not being married in the eyes of God or the the church. I get that you invented your own gay friendly religion, but it's not Christianity. So you can make up the rules as you see fit, but to live in the lord's house requires living by the lord's rules.

[Hokie CPA]

Yes, it will adapt. Many donominations already have. My church just had an openly gay woman (who is married) join on Sunday.

how is she gay if she's married? Or is she divorcing her husband to be gay?

Well, I'm guessing she lives in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, or the District of Columbia where gay marriage is legal and not one of the states where civil unions are legal or gay marriage isn't legal (?). I'm also guessing she and her congregation (Hville's sect of Christianity) don't agree with your interpretation of God's word.

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking here, unless you're trying to say you don't consider her married (which is fine, but I doubt she cares).

She doesn't even have to live there. I have now attended two GLBT weddings, one in New Jersey (this one was legal) and one in Virginia (this was for show - they were officially married in Delaware). Both marriages are federally recognized now.

The New Jersey couple lives in Nebraska, but may eventually wind up back in Jersey. The Virginia couple is going to make a go of it here, where they will actively pursue getting Virginia's Constitution amended to allow their union to be recognized. They have also considered a move to Maryland.

...if you're going to call yourself Christian then there are some things that go along with that, like homosexuality being a sin and thus homosexuals not being married in the eyes of God or the the church. I get that you invented your own gay friendly religion, but it's not Christianity. So you can make up the rules as you see fit, but to live in the lord's house requires living by the lord's rules.

I didn't invent anything... Pastor taught me that my relationship with Christ is a personal one. I talk to Him and He offers me guidance. Christ teaches me to love my neighbor and to judge no one lest I be judged. So I pass no judgement on others. that's not my place. I live and I let live and, when the Roll is Called Up Yonder, it will be up to my Lord to determine whether you, I, or anyone else is worthy of the Kingdom of God. I do my best, but I laugh at a few too many off-color jokes. I might be Hellbound. LOL

[USN_Hokie]

Yes, it will adapt. Many donominations already have. My church just had an openly gay woman (who is married) join on Sunday.

how is she gay if she's married? Or is she divorcing her husband to be gay?

Well, I'm guessing she lives in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, or the District of Columbia where gay marriage is legal and not one of the states where civil unions are legal or gay marriage isn't legal (?). I'm also guessing she and her congregation (Hville's sect of Christianity) don't agree with your interpretation of God's word.

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking here, unless you're trying to say you don't consider her married (which is fine, but I doubt she cares).

She doesn't even have to live there. I have now attended two GLBT weddings, one in New Jersey (this one was legal) and one in Virginia (this was for show - they were officially married in Delaware). Both marriages are federally recognized now.

The New Jersey couple lives in Nebraska, but may eventually wind up back in Jersey. The Virginia couple is going to make a go of it here, where they will actively pursue getting Virginia's Constitution amended to allow their union to be recognized. They have also considered a move to Maryland.

Can a couple be all of those at the same time?

[Hokie CPA]

She doesn't even have to live there. I have now attended two GLBT weddings, one in New Jersey (this one was legal) and one in Virginia (this was for show - they were officially married in Delaware). Both marriages are federally recognized now.

The New Jersey couple lives in Nebraska, but may eventually wind up back in Jersey. The Virginia couple is going to make a go of it here, where they will actively pursue getting Virginia's Constitution amended to allow their union to be recognized. They have also considered a move to Maryland.

Can a couple be all of those at the same time?

Of course not. Don't be silly. They can be gay AND lesbian, as the terms are interchangeable among the female population. But they aren't gay/lesbian AND bi-sexual. The terms are contradictory. And transsexual is something else altogether!

[awesome guy]

Yes, it will adapt. Many donominations already have. My church just had an openly gay woman (who is married) join on Sunday.

how is she gay if she's married? Or is she divorcing her husband to be gay?

Well, I'm guessing she lives in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, or the District of Columbia where gay marriage is legal and not one of the states where civil unions are legal or gay marriage isn't legal (?). I'm also guessing she and her congregation (Hville's sect of Christianity) don't agree with your interpretation of God's word.

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking here, unless you're trying to say you don't consider her married (which is fine, but I doubt she cares).

She doesn't even have to live there. I have now attended two GLBT weddings, one in New Jersey (this one was legal) and one in Virginia (this was for show - they were officially married in Delaware). Both marriages are federally recognized now.

The New Jersey couple lives in Nebraska, but may eventually wind up back in Jersey. The Virginia couple is going to make a go of it here, where they will actively pursue getting Virginia's Constitution amended to allow their union to be recognized. They have also considered a move to Maryland.

...if you're going to call yourself Christian then there are some things that go along with that, like homosexuality being a sin and thus homosexuals not being married in the eyes of God or the the church. I get that you invented your own gay friendly religion, but it's not Christianity. So you can make up the rules as you see fit, but to live in the lord's house requires living by the lord's rules.

I didn't invent anything... Pastor taught me that my relationship with Christ is a personal one. I talk to Him and He offers me guidance. Christ teaches me to love my neighbor and to judge no one lest I be judged. So I pass no judgement on others. that's not my place. I live and I let live and, when the Roll is Called Up Yonder, it will be up to my Lord to determine whether you, I, or anyone else is worthy of the Kingdom of God.

He also taught you the bible is Christ's instruction to use on how to live, what is sin, and how to treat each other. You are commanded to judge sin and remove it from your life. You are commanded to spread the gospel, that also requires judgement. Let ye who is without sin was refusal to stone a woman for adultery. After Christ pardoned her, he commanded her to sin no more. He didn't accept her adultery, but also didn't let her die for it. That's the lesson of that scripture, not to walk around a sinner with your hands in your pocket afraid to call evil by name and lead others to salvation. WADR, your belief is a cop out and not supported by scripture. If you believe in God then why would you stand by and say nothing as the neighbor you claim to love as yourself is living a life that leads to their destruction? Kill them? no. Destroy their lives? no. Accept their sin as holey? no.

[VoiceOfReason]

[serious]

I'm sure this will derail but I hope it doesn't. I'm generally curious what some of you think about this, especially those who have a strong grasp of it (Valencia, you seem to always knock these out of the park).

I ask this question because it's happened in the past. The Bible was used to support slavery until slavery became taboo and then lo and behold, passages were used to be against it. Same goes with interracial marriages. I'm sure there are countless other examples. A lot of what "evolved' could have probably been used at the time to be against those positions but weren't because society, as a whole, was against them.

If current trends continue, will this happen in regards to homosexuality? The country/society has made an incredibly sharp shift towards being accepting of gay people and pushing towards their equality. It's a drastic shift to be sure, probably why there is so much friction. It's not as if all of a sudden all the anti-gay people died off, surely sentiment is changing. Utah of all states has gay marriage now! And on the other hand, Uganda is passing a kill all gays law that is backed by religious sentiment.

Now that public sentiment is changing, I have noticed cracks in Christian theology about supporting gay people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiani ... able_views Much of that revolves around mistranslating the bible, making the excuse that being homosexual is not a sin but the act itself is (equating it to gossping, lying, etc), that are laws supersede others (Golden Rule), and so forth.

So my basic question to the board's theologians, let's fast forward and gay people are widely accepted (if you don't believe that will happen, just pretend). Do you think that majority of Christianity will evolve to have it be accepted or not? That the Bible will be used to support gay people rather than demonize them?

Capt Jag... very nice thought provoking post. You are correct (and AG is not) about where public opinion is headed - towards the complete acceptance of homosexuals. And you are also correct that Christianity has "adapted" before and I believe it will again. The same Old Testament book, Leviticus, that says homosexuality is an abomination also says something similar about eating shrimp (things that swim without a shell that are not fish). The Bible will not (and should not) be rewritten... but just as the shrimp thing is still in there... the homosexuality references will be as well. But Christians will learn to instead point to what should be the heart of their religion - loving thy neighbor, doing unto others, etc.

Some folks will never get it... but they will die out eventually... and it is very clear how even the kids of these homophones feel.

Corinthians and Romans are in the new testament where homosexuality is called a sin and the homosexual denied inheritance of the kingdom. Do you think Christianity is just love thy neighbor? Jesus commanded us to love each other. He also commanded us to sin no more. I hope this helps, what you may be missing is that by separating ourselves from sin, we're showing that we believe the words of Christ. That we are loving our neighbors, being kind and compassionate. But we're also not committing sin or encouraging another person to sin, like encouraging/tolerating homosexuality. I pray you read your bible over the holidays and start understanding the religion you profess to be a member.

Nice response AG. I understand where you are coming from. This particular thread posed the question where do people think Christianity is headed with regard to homosexuality. My belief is that Christianity will adapt... like it has in the past... to no longer view homosexuality as a sin. I am sure you disagree and take a more absolute reading of the Bible than I do. But... hey... we both are granted the freedom to have differences... and we will both be judged when we depart this Earth.

Merry Christmas AG

[VoiceOfReason]

Once the Church convinces their parishes to spread the word yet do follow Christ's teachings to love one another and to treat others as you would be treated, then persecution of sinners should stop. Once you no longer persecute those with whom you disagree, you have learned to tolerate them. It doesn't mean you accept them, but you can tolerate them, and I think that is probably the best that can be expected.

Huh? Does this mean that if you caught someone with kiddie porn, you wouldn't turn them in? Serious question.

False equivalency. I don't think there is any group that is trying to mainstream kiddie porn. Exploitation of children will never be accepted, nor should it. It is not the same thing as two consenting adults...

Are we talking about pedophilia, or homosexuality 50yrs ago?

I see your point. My point is that with homosexuality, people have realized what is the harm for two consenting adults to show their love. With pedophilia... there is CLEAR harm to the most vulnerable among us. BIG DIFFERENCE!

[awesome guy]

She doesn't even have to live there. I have now attended two GLBT weddings, one in New Jersey (this one was legal) and one in Virginia (this was for show - they were officially married in Delaware). Both marriages are federally recognized now.

The New Jersey couple lives in Nebraska, but may eventually wind up back in Jersey. The Virginia couple is going to make a go of it here, where they will actively pursue getting Virginia's Constitution amended to allow their union to be recognized. They have also considered a move to Maryland.

Can a couple be all of those at the same time?

Of course not. Don't be silly. They can be gay AND lesbian, as the terms are interchangeable among the female population. But they aren't gay/lesbian AND bi-sexual. The terms are contradictory. And transsexual is something else altogether!

To put it another way, why are you afraid to live by the scriptures? I think the important lesson for people of modern times is doing so requires us to change our hearts. Instead you and others want to change the scriptures to match the sin in your heart. I employ you to do the inverse, seek the hard work of changing your heart to fit into what is asked of us by Christ. I'm not a holly roller on this, this is something I struggle with, like when to be submissive where as my natural character is to battle. We all have challenges. Weakening the challenge by saying the scripture says something it clearly doesn't leads us astray from God and away from salvation. It's deceptive and leads us astray.

[Once]

Before you get too offended, he may have been talking to me. I'm not sure, although that would make absolutely zero sense because I've repeatedly said I'm not a Christian. As an aside, I also didn't invent my religion. It has been around long before me. Lol.

I get that you invented your own gay friendly religion, but it's not Christianity.

...if you're going to call yourself Christian then there are some things that go along with that, like homosexuality being a sin and thus homosexuals not being married in the eyes of God or the the church. I get that you invented your own gay friendly religion, but it's not Christianity. So you can make up the rules as you see fit, but to live in the lord's house requires living by the lord's rules.

I didn't invent anything... Pastor taught me that my relationship with Christ is a personal one. I talk to Him and He offers me guidance. Christ teaches me to love my neighbor and to judge no one lest I be judged. So I pass no judgement on others. that's not my place. I live and I let live and, when the Roll is Called Up Yonder, it will be up to my Lord to determine whether you, I, or anyone else is worthy of the Kingdom of God. I do my best, but I laugh at a few too many off-color jokes. I might be Hellbound. LOL

[awesome guy]

Once the Church convinces their parishes to spread the word yet do follow Christ's teachings to love one another and to treat others as you would be treated, then persecution of sinners should stop. Once you no longer persecute those with whom you disagree, you have learned to tolerate them. It doesn't mean you accept them, but you can tolerate them, and I think that is probably the best that can be expected.

Huh? Does this mean that if you caught someone with kiddie porn, you wouldn't turn them in? Serious question.

False equivalency. I don't think there is any group that is trying to mainstream kiddie porn. Exploitation of children will never be accepted, nor should it. It is not the same thing as two consenting adults...

Are we talking about pedophilia, or homosexuality 50yrs ago?

I see your point. My point is that with homosexuality, people have realized what is the harm for two consenting adults to show their love. With pedophilia... there is CLEAR harm to the most vulnerable among us. BIG DIFFERENCE!

His point is you guys will just change the start of adulthood to 13 and presto, your problem is solved.

[USN_Hokie]

Some folks will never get it... but they will die out eventually... and it is very clear how even the kids of these homophones feel.

Aye was bourn and razed that weigh, deer.

Nobody? C'mon people, this is primo stuff!

[USN_Hokie]

Once the Church convinces their parishes to spread the word yet do follow Christ's teachings to love one another and to treat others as you would be treated, then persecution of sinners should stop. Once you no longer persecute those with whom you disagree, you have learned to tolerate them. It doesn't mean you accept them, but you can tolerate them, and I think that is probably the best that can be expected.

Huh? Does this mean that if you caught someone with kiddie porn, you wouldn't turn them in? Serious question.

False equivalency. I don't think there is any group that is trying to mainstream kiddie porn. Exploitation of children will never be accepted, nor should it. It is not the same thing as two consenting adults...

Are we talking about pedophilia, or homosexuality 50yrs ago?

I see your point. My point is that with homosexuality, people have realized what is the harm for two consenting adults to show their love. With pedophilia... there is CLEAR harm to the most vulnerable among us. BIG DIFFERENCE!

"Age of consent " is completely arbitrary...much, much more so than the traditional definition of marriage...

[HokieFanDC]

Huh? Does this mean that if you caught someone with kiddie porn, you wouldn't turn them in? Serious question.

False equivalency. I don't think there is any group that is trying to mainstream kiddie porn. Exploitation of children will never be accepted, nor should it. It is not the same thing as two consenting adults...

Are we talking about pedophilia, or homosexuality 50yrs ago?

I see your point. My point is that with homosexuality, people have realized what is the harm for two consenting adults to show their love. With pedophilia... there is CLEAR harm to the most vulnerable among us. BIG DIFFERENCE!

"Age of consent " is completely arbitrary...much, much more so than the traditional definition of marriage...

I'd say the age of consent and the definition of the word marriage are pretty arbitrary, depending on where and when you lived.

[chuckd4vt]

[serious]

I'm sure this will derail but I hope it doesn't. I'm generally curious what some of you think about this, especially those who have a strong grasp of it (Valencia, you seem to always knock these out of the park).

I ask this question because it's happened in the past. The Bible was used to support slavery until slavery became taboo and then lo and behold, passages were used to be against it. Same goes with interracial marriages. I'm sure there are countless other examples. A lot of what "evolved' could have probably been used at the time to be against those positions but weren't because society, as a whole, was against them.

If current trends continue, will this happen in regards to homosexuality? The country/society has made an incredibly sharp shift towards being accepting of gay people and pushing towards their equality. It's a drastic shift to be sure, probably why there is so much friction. It's not as if all of a sudden all the anti-gay people died off, surely sentiment is changing. Utah of all states has gay marriage now! And on the other hand, Uganda is passing a kill all gays law that is backed by religious sentiment.

Now that public sentiment is changing, I have noticed cracks in Christian theology about supporting gay people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiani ... able_views Much of that revolves around mistranslating the bible, making the excuse that being homosexual is not a sin but the act itself is (equating it to gossping, lying, etc), that are laws supersede others (Golden Rule), and so forth.

So my basic question to the board's theologians, let's fast forward and gay people are widely accepted (if you don't believe that will happen, just pretend). Do you think that majority of Christianity will evolve to have it be accepted or not? That the Bible will be used to support gay people rather than demonize them?

It most definitely will within the Protestant American church. There will be small pockets of resistance, but we're already getting there. It will be akin to women clergy and open air preaching here.
However, there's a long way to go abroad. For instance, if it were up to only American Methodists, the UMC would approve gay marriage and homosexual clergy. But, African and S. American Methodists generally universally don't approve of it. Though, it's still only a matter of 4-8 yes for the UMC.
The Catholics will probably take a very long time with this issue, though under the leadership of Popes like Francis, they may get there within 50 yrs.

[USN_Hokie]

Could you give me an example of the later?

I'd say the age of consent and the definition of the word marriage are pretty arbitrary, depending on where and when you lived.

[133743Hokie]

[serious]

I'm sure this will derail but I hope it doesn't. I'm generally curious what some of you think about this, especially those who have a strong grasp of it (Valencia, you seem to always knock these out of the park).

I ask this question because it's happened in the past. The Bible was used to support slavery until slavery became taboo and then lo and behold, passages were used to be against it. Same goes with interracial marriages. I'm sure there are countless other examples. A lot of what "evolved' could have probably been used at the time to be against those positions but weren't because society, as a whole, was against them.

If current trends continue, will this happen in regards to homosexuality? The country/society has made an incredibly sharp shift towards being accepting of gay people and pushing towards their equality. It's a drastic shift to be sure, probably why there is so much friction. It's not as if all of a sudden all the anti-gay people died off, surely sentiment is changing. Utah of all states has gay marriage now! And on the other hand, Uganda is passing a kill all gays law that is backed by religious sentiment.

Now that public sentiment is changing, I have noticed cracks in Christian theology about supporting gay people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiani ... able_views Much of that revolves around mistranslating the bible, making the excuse that being homosexual is not a sin but the act itself is (equating it to gossping, lying, etc), that are laws supersede others (Golden Rule), and so forth.

So my basic question to the board's theologians, let's fast forward and gay people are widely accepted (if you don't believe that will happen, just pretend). Do you think that majority of Christianity will evolve to have it be accepted or not? That the Bible will be used to support gay people rather than demonize them?

Capt Jag... very nice thought provoking post. You are correct (and AG is not) about where public opinion is headed - towards the complete acceptance of homosexuals. And you are also correct that Christianity has "adapted" before and I believe it will again. The same Old Testament book, Leviticus, that says homosexuality is an abomination also says something similar about eating shrimp (things that swim without a shell that are not fish). The Bible will not (and should not) be rewritten... but just as the shrimp thing is still in there... the homosexuality references will be as well. But Christians will learn to instead point to what should be the heart of their religion - loving thy neighbor, doing unto others, etc.

Some folks will never get it... but they will die out eventually... and it is very clear how even the kids of these homophones feel.

Corinthians and Romans are in the new testament where homosexuality is called a sin and the homosexual denied inheritance of the kingdom. Do you think Christianity is just love thy neighbor? Jesus commanded us to love each other. He also commanded us to sin no more. I hope this helps, what you may be missing is that by separating ourselves from sin, we're showing that we believe the words of Christ. That we are loving our neighbors, being kind and compassionate. But we're also not committing sin or encouraging another person to sin, like encouraging/tolerating homosexuality. I pray you read your bible over the holidays and start understanding the religion you profess to be a member.

Nice response AG. I understand where you are coming from. This particular thread posed the question where do people think Christianity is headed with regard to homosexuality. My belief is that Christianity will adapt... like it has in the past... to no longer view homosexuality as a sin. I am sure you disagree and take a more absolute reading of the Bible than I do. But... hey... we both are granted the freedom to have differences... and we will both be judged when we depart this Earth.

Merry Christmas AG

I personally believe Christianity will adapt and accept homosexuality as a lifestyle that some have chosen, but will continue to regard it as a sin. That doesn't mean they won't accept them in their churches, just that they will be viewed as sinners, as is everyone else in some form.