That is where a lot of the hypocracy comes into play (not from you, btw). Yes, they are educated to “hate the ’sin’,” but love the ’sinner’. Somewhere along the way, the loud-vocal contingent morphed into hate-the-’sin’, crush-the-’sinner’. There are what I think a surprising number who, while cringing at the ’sin,’ are quite passive or complacent with the thought of civil unions. Problem is, they are scared or too nervous to speak up. Unfortunately, it makes their thought somewhat impotent.

There’s enough shit in there for someone to make anything one thing look good or bad. Whatever suits your fancy.

You got that right, although no one seems to understand the point about tithing is about giving to me. I try, but it doesn’t fly.

I have done a bit a study on this and I can tell you that the bible is sort of like football statistics. There’s enough shit in there for someone to make anything one thing look good or bad. Whatever suits your fancy.

Yup, it’s in there. There is also context. Keeping it simple, because this stretches my memory back to when I was a kid (yesterday???), that was basically the “before” part of an individuals before-and-after account of being “saved.” That commenter took serious liberty, but was technically correct by pointing out it was in there.

Oh, to be certain it’s understood, lest someone get the wrong idea about my reply, I am fully supportive of civil unions. A same-sex life-partner absolutely should have the same rights of survivorship/guardianship as my wife and I have with each other.

There was a post here a month or so ago that included a few verses from Ecclesiastes and mentioned (correctly) that the theme of the book is that there is no heavan or hell so you should just live life the best you can and have fun. (“Vanity, vanity, it is all just vanity.”)

Of the few comments, one guy said something to the effect: “Nice post, but where did you get that in the bible.” Well, it’s there. All the terrible, murderous commands, contradictions, obsolete fiats ignored, etc. but no one cares because to guys want to get married and it’s a “sin”.

Of course “their” rights are 100% in tact. Just more faux outrage and a new bogeyman. The silver lining is that most people who have a problem with gay marriage are a dying breed – literally, most are old.

The times, they are a changin’.

“It is amazing that people who want everyone to practice acceptance and tolerance towards them never embrace those actions towards others who disagree with them.”

What is it exactly you want us to accept and tolerate? That’s what I want to know. No one’s deleted your post, or told you you couldn’t post on here. You can still marry whomever you want to marry, live wherever you want to live, work wherever you want to work, worship however you want to worship (or not, if that’s how it goes for you). As far as I can see your rights are 100% in tact. So what else do you need accepted and tolerated?

I concur on all counts. There is never a limit to how far we should go to ensure equality before law.

All of the above, I say, and park your damn religion and/or religious dogma outside the doors of Leg Hall.

Personally I think the whole thing should never have entered civil law or policy, beyond the legal enforcement of privately-executed contracts.

But since it has, the gender of two adults wishing to civilly bond their lives, whether you want to call it marriage or civil union, is not a rational nor defensible basis for discrimination much less the denial of equal protection of the laws.

If we made statutory marriage as expensive as divorce, by charging the petitioners ALL the public (court) expense now incurred by taxpayers in divorce proceedings, forcing the public to pay for people to sort out their personal relationship wreckage, marriage would perhaps be taken more seriously.

I’d rather do business (and work for) people who WANT to do business with (or employ) me, rather than people who HAVE to under penalty of law.

The status quo is wonderful in that regard — if a person is stupid enough to express homophobia, I move on to someone who will do a better job. And eventually, said homophobic moron gets crowded out of business.

http://www.towardequality.org