From: k206027@smog.DKRZ-Hamburg.DE (Bakayaroo Banzai)
Newsgroups: alt.politics.bush,alt.politics.clinton
Subject: Re: God is intolerant of sin!
Date: 26 Jan 93 11:20:51 GMT
Organization: Deutsches Klimarechenzentrum GmbH, Hamburg

In article <1993Jan21.182717.8099@unet.net.com> stank@perrault.unet.com (Stan Knight) writes:
>In article <1993Jan21.040927.1225@walter.cray.com> matt@cray.com (Matthew Marchese) writes:
>>In article <1993Jan20.220959.19251@tc.cornell.edu> shore@dinah.tc.cornell.edu (Melinda Shore) writes:
>
>>This seems to be the root of the problem here. Melinda, you
>>seem to equate "limiting...civil rights" with hatred. Many
>>would disagree, especially since the U.S. Constitution
>>does not specifically grant equal rights to holders of
>>non-hetero sexual orientation.
>
>Back in my shcool daze I studied the Constitution pretty extensively and it's
>true it does not say anything about those with non-hetero sexual orientation
>having equal rights. But come to think about it it also doesn't say anything
>about those with hetero sexual orientation either. It does say something about
>ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS having equal rights though.
> 
Perhaps, but I think that the only real solution will be to pass an
amendment clearly forbidding sexual orientation as a basis of 
discrimination. If it also defined it as sexual orientation between
consenting adults I would have no problems supporting such an
amendment.

>>>seen posting after posting vainly attempting to demonstrate
>>>that the Bible states unequivocally that homosexuality is
>>>a heinous sin of incomparable magnitude.
>
>>Some people feel that way, I and many other Christians do not.
>
>I also konw many Christians who think that some of the actions of "fundies"
>are much worse then any act of homosexuality. The problem is that one goof
>ball uses God to justify hate and suddenly all Christians get that label.
>Likewise to some, one gay molests a child and all gays get that label. As far
>as I can tell the ones that are truly wrong are those who impose the labels.
>Doesn't matter which side they claim to be on.
>
This is absolutely the most sensible thing that's been said in this
whole discussion. 

If Melinda had clearly stated her definition of "Fundie" at the beginning
of this whole fiasco instead of at the end, much bandwidth would have
been spared.. What I resent is what you resent, namely, the assumption
on the part of many that since I believe that the Bible is the word
of God and that I believe that God considers homosexuality an offense
that I must be a hate-filled homophobe who does not support
equal rights for homosexuals when in fact the opposite is true.
When it comes to spiritual things I am a Christian, but when faced
with political choices I follow the Constitution. I believe that
there is no Constitutional basis for denying equal rights to gay
men and women. I find no contradiction with my position and I have
prayed about it and am at peace with my choice. I think that most
Christians would feel as I do if they'd only start thinking for
themselves instead of letting TV Evangelists do their thinking 
for them.
>
>Dare. Judge not... was something I was taught as a child as to what being a 
>real Christian was all about. Many follow this rule but unfortunitly the ones
>that don't are the ones that make the news.
>
Whether or not homosexuals will get into Heaven is not a question
that I can or want to answer. Everybody has to make their choices
and live with their decisions. I want to be free to make my own
choices and practice my religion freely without interference.
Therefore, it behooves me to grant others the same freedom
(Golden Rule y'know..). Jesus said if I love God and love others
with as much love as I show myself (paraphrasing here) then I
am fufilling *all* of the requirements of the Law of Moses.
Since love entails respect (I believe) I respect the beliefs
of others. Sorry for tooting my own horn here, but this is
what I truly believe.

P.S. I know this is old stuff but my newsreader is about 6 days
behind the US. We're probably in everybodies kill files by now
anyway...:)

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*  "Supernatural, perhaps...Baloney, perhaps not" - Bela Lugosi               *
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Matt Marchese	    The opinions expressed here are not those of my employer, *
Cray Research  	    my wife, my church, or myself...But they are the opinions *
DKRZ                of Elvis as revealved to me through the medium of my pet  *
Hamburg, Germany    hamster, Lee Harvey Oswald...                             *
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