The Bible and Love and Christians

[frogboy4]

I guess it just didn't seem reverent enough to me. But others may not have any issue with it at all. And I've only seen the 1973 film version- and yes, Victor Garber did a great job in the role of Jesus.

Right- and as long as that's the case, I don't see that there would be a problem. I tend to look at it as not really a case of discrimation (although I know some will look at it as exactly that) but more a case of non-qualification. A gay couple does not meet the church's and Bible's definition of marriage. This is the same reason many Christian denominations do not have women as pastors, because they feel that it is not Scripturally correct. Some churches do and I know Scriptures used for either side. And sometimes it almost comes down to preferences- if you don't like this way of doing things, then there are plenty of other denominations and churches that may be more to your liking. And too many times, the Christian church gets too bogged down in rather silly things that don't really matter in terms of eternity.
And I'm getting off onto a whole other topic there, so I'll leave it at that.

Yeah, I agree with that. The church has its hands full helping maintain the marriages of straight couples. We can find our own places for ceremonies. Weddings are big business and can be a great boost to the economy. I wouldn't be surprised if many churches welcome the idea of presiding over gay weddings, but most probably won't.

 

[RedPiggy]

The amusing thing is, though, that "Biblical definition of marriage" tends to be very convenient. We don't see polygamy on the lawbooks (other than to denigrate it), nor do we see concubines, and yet those things are in the bible. Go figure.

 

[CensoredAlso]

We don't see polygamy on the lawbooks (other than to denigrate it)

And thank goodness for that!

 

[Drtooth]

About Bin Laden and Pepsi, yes that is the one way America has managed to convert people, through brand recognition!

Here's the thing about Bin Laden... you know insufferable rich kids that pretend to take up causes because they think it fills them on some level of emptiness FOR being rich bratty kids? Him in a nutshell. He read the ramblings of some religious zealot and misconstrued them and he became the face of an organization of hateful crazies. And you know what the book was about? How "decadent" westerners are because they don't live in the dark ages of religion. That's right... the rich spoiled brat son of an oil tycoon pretended to care about someone else being decadent...

Now, he was a NOTORIOUS lover of American programming and movies, and it was let out that he LOVED the Wonder Years and had a crush on Hallie Berry (or someone else, I forget exactly). So basically, he was a spoiled rich hypocrite that became a spoiled rich hypocritical leader because people were like minded zombies following him... again, with no knowledge of him being someone who LOOOOOVED his US programs, music, food and celebrities. But hey, power corrupts, right?

I personally find that sort of fundamentalist thinking dangerous, but I'm okay with someone believing that as long as it isn't enforced on others. There's another recent attack on television program GLEE for "glamorizing" gays and I think that sort of charge is as ludicrous as it is disgusting. Everyone has a right to be represented in the media and it's now our turn for a little while. Portraying the challenges and issues of being gay in high school without having to battle some fire and brimstone lecture from on high is a good thing that shows how much we've progressed in this country in the ways of tolerance and acceptance of those who are different.

It is my hope that young people growing up won't feel that their wings are going to be inherently clipped just because they are gay and that they'll be able to pursue all the same opportunities this country has to offer any other person. To think otherwise, no matter where the sentiment comes from, is bigotry. Plain and simple.

I really hate that. All these pseudo-religious loud mouths denouncing any television program or movies that deal with tolerance issues as some big evil Liberal Hollywood brain washing machine that takes away their right to brainwash and indoctrinate their own kids with years of second hand intolerance and stupidity. Sorry, personal beliefs aside, killing intolerance isn't exactly a bad thing. Everyone should have equal rights... they don't have to love exactly what others are doing, but they shouldn't crush the rights of others.

I do find it passive aggressive that certain people complain that not being able to discriminate is a violation of their rights. That's a paradox, and no matter what, you can't escape hypocracy from a paradox. That's what a paradox is by default.

Plus, those people do have a very important right... pressing that little button on the TV that says "off!"

 

[CensoredAlso]

Here's the thing about Bin Laden... you know insufferable rich kids that pretend to take up causes because they think it fills them on some level of emptiness FOR being rich bratty kids? Him in a nutshell. He read the ramblings of some religious zealot and misconstrued them and he became the face of an organization of hateful crazies.

I've always considered myself liberal but that's one thing that has occasionally disenchanted me about the liberal movement. It's often made up of people who have never suffered or worked hard a day in their lives. Some of the so-called hippies back in the day may have "dropped out," but they also knew they could go back to the easy life any time they wanted.

 

[RedPiggy]

I've been accused of being profoundly spoiled, though in all honesty I grew up on the border between low class and middle class, IIRC. Still, we had a habit of giving toys to kids when we went on vacation, we appreciated not just store-bought toys but also the hand-made stuff made by grandparents, we shopped usually at Dollar General, and all the men tended to be penny-pinchers.

Of course, it seems to be an individual thing, as a cousin was raised the same way but has a bathroom cabinet filled with superfluous soaps and shampoos and stuff and has historically had no real sense of taking responsibility for anything. *shrugs*

 

[CensoredAlso]

I've been accused of being profoundly spoiled, though in all honesty I grew up on the border between low class and middle class, IIRC. Still, we had a habit of giving toys to kids when we went on vacation, we appreciated not just store-bought toys but also the hand-made stuff made by grandparents, we shopped usually at Dollar General, and all the men tended to be penny-pinchers.

Oh yeah I mean my family was definitely middle class. I don't mean people in that group all are spoiled and shouldn't have the opportunity to make a positive difference. Just that sometimes they need a healthy dose of reality.

 

[Drtooth]

I've always considered myself liberal but that's one thing that has occasionally disenchanted me about the liberal movement. It's often made up of people who have never suffered or worked hard a day in their lives. Some of the so-called hippies back in the day may have "dropped out," but they also knew they could go back to the easy life any time they wanted.

It's not just ONE side that uses that movement. Anyone can feel blaze and try to fill that void with pretending to help or pretending to take up a cause. And all that does is corrupt any pure hearted notion of the concept. Now I'm saying people SHOULDN'T care... they SHOULD! Everyone should care about everything positive they believe in and try their hardest to make it happen, even on small levels. But then there are people who only want to do something for Karma points or because it's stylish, and they basically do and contribute NOTHING. The best example I could think of is someone wearing a recycling symbol shirt because chicks dig it, and throws his gum wrapper on the floor. It makes the cause annoying, and certain figures paint them with a brush to assuage their laziness.

What BinBin did was a DARK example of this. He was some spoiled rich kid who read a book WRONG and decided to form a movement that was big on message but bigger on Ego. Instead of saying, "jeez! These guys are total D-bags! Let's rub it in their faces by doing something good and make them look like fools for not helping the poor, caring for the elderly, and giving everyone good health care" (basically like every other country in the world does to us), he read it as "We disagree with these people, we think our intentions are good, they disagree with their intentions, so they're bad... and good has to kill bad. so let's kill them because they disagree with us!" Bad rationalization, and bad math, using All X are Y. All Z are Y. Are all X Z? as their basis. So basically, we had someone who was a face for a movement and NOTHING MORE! I've strongly thought the cave thing was all BOGUS, and he was living in some penthouse somewhere with the rest of his dad's money. OIL money... which I won't get into.

 

[frogboy4]

It's often made up of people who have never suffered or worked hard a day in their lives...

Sure, and Republicans are often fat like Rush Limbaugh, Muslims are often calling for jihads and Italian-Americans usually have mob ties. Forgive my snark, but what you've said is presumptuous and false. Politicians as a group are usually financially better-off than most Americans regardless of party affiliation. It is a fact that the Democrats are comprised of more economic, social, ethnic and religious diversity of the two political parties. Your statement is better suited for the Republicans, but who the frog are any of us to judge the personal hardships of others?

 

[Drtooth]

It is a fact that the Democrats are comprised of more economic, social, ethnic and religious diversity of the two political parties. Your statement is better suited for the Republicans, but who the frog are any of us to judge the personal hardships of others?

I'm in the camp of saying Sure, they talk a good game, but when it comes to upholding that stuff (with exceptions) they're like when Johnny Fiama was singing with Tony Bennet... they stand before everyone and go... "uhhhfuuhhh huuhhh ehhhhh." and never let any of the things they say they're gonna fix get done.