Homosexuality and Religion

Such a controversial topic that gives a bad name to both Christians and Homosexuals alike; is being gay a sin? There are a few factors that have decided my overall opinion on this topic, but first a few things that you should know before you read my judgement. (1) I was born and raised a Lutheran (a sect of Christianity) and attended church every Sunday until I was 20yrs old. (2) I was a dedicated believer in the idea that being gay was a sin so much so that I advocated against it until high school. (3) After reading the passages again and again I have ultimately decided that being gay is NOT a sin. The Religion Behind It: The first thing anyone has to understand is that when the word "man" was used in the Old Testament, it referred to the human race and not just men. Women had no real presence in the Old Testament save for a few notable ones such as Esther and Sara. Because of this undeniable fact there is a good possibility that both the men and women of Sodom and Gomorrah were included in this passage. For those of you unfamiliar, I suggest you read up on the passage (http://www.usccb.org...). But let us for a moment forget gender in this passage and take a look at the actions of the people in this city. They DEMANDED that the two traveling men be released to the public so that they could have sex with them. If you think about it (and I hope you don't have to think too hard) what deplorable action do these demands reflect? Let me give you a hint: rape. Now we weigh the crime of rape against the crime of homosexuality which are clearly two different crimes. It is true that God judges all sins equally, but while one is undeniably a sin the other is still up for debate. God repeatedly tells us throughout the Bible that He loves all of his children equally. This includes the bad ones: Lucifer, Judas, Pilate...so if God can forgive a murderer and love him/her, can he not also love a homosexual? Here Are My Thoughts: I believe, and I have spent hours debating the subject with myself and with others both religious and non-religious, both heterosexual and homosexual, and with those who had no opinion, that God did not destroy the two cities because men were having sex with men. I believe that God destroyed the cities because they were raping people. Demanding that travelers be given to the city to be forced into a sexual confrontation against their own will (never mind that Lot even offered up his own daughters, that's an argument for another time) was the true sin that ended in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. These are two COMPLETELY different offenses. Being gay is not a sin, it is not a birth defect, it is a lifestyle choice that does no harm to anything or anyone around it. To love someone is to be greater than that of a person who hates someone. As Christians we should remember that it is not our place to judge anyone much less make a public statement of outrage against it. Homosexuals are some of the most peaceful and loving groups of people I have ever encountered, although there are those that really put a bad name on their people much like those of us Christians who put our religion in a bad light. We shouldn't judge someone for loving another as God has taught us to.