NationStates Jolt Archive

I was just commuting home from work on my bike over a footbridge that crosses the freeway. A couple of eastern european immigrant teenagers were posted on the bridge holding a sign that basically blamed the rash of california wildfires on gods punishment for gay marraige (It seems like all the vocal protesters around here are Russian, Ukrainian or other old soviet bloc immigrants... seems the orthodox church they belong to has a hard on for homosexuality). Since they weren't blocking the bridge and weren't attaching the sign to the bridge, just holding it, they're within their rights to be there (although it does clearly demonstate that they are seriuosly in need of a life.. and I did point this fact out to them as I passed by).

But anyway, my point, it's here somewhere.. ah yes... it brought to my mind this arguement... It could just as easlily be stated that the wildfires (if indeed they are a result of 'God's judgement') are the big guys reaction to the rash of vocal intolerance to gay marraige rather than to gay marraige itself.

After isn't the old 'judge not your neighbor' thing a little more prominant in the bible than the vague admonishments to homosexuality?

So my question is, do you really think god judges us? (I personally think any higher power could really give a shit what we do) If he does is he more likely to judge us on gay marraige or on our homophobic intolerance to it?

If God sends fire to California for being gay, I suppose he sends Wind to the Bible Belt for being hopelessly ignorant. While we're at it, Earth goes to Communists, and Water goes to large cruise ships which presume to be very important. In frozen state, of course.

Those Russians are maybe wrong.

What if god is gay?

According the source, odds are 10% - 20% that he's gay.

Those Russians are maybe wrong.

What if god is gay?

According the source, odds are 10% - 20% that he's gay.

And was dumped by Saetan ?

Those Russians are maybe wrong.

What if god is gay?

According the source, odds are 10% - 20% that he's gay.

God is in all things. He dwells in all of us. Therefore, He's bisexual. ;)

I was just commuting home from work on my bike over a footbridge that crosses the freeway. A couple of eastern european immigrant teenagers were posted on the bridge holding a sign that basically blamed the rash of california wildfires on gods punishment for gay marraige (It seems like all the vocal protesters around here are Russian, Ukrainian or other old soviet bloc immigrants... seems the orthodox church they belong to has a hard on for homosexuality). Since they weren't blocking the bridge and weren't attaching the sign to the bridge, just holding it, they're within their rights to be there (although it does clearly demonstate that they are seriuosly in need of a life.. and I did point this fact out to them as I passed by).

But anyway, my point, it's here somewhere.. ah yes... it brought to my mind this arguement... It could just as easlily be stated that the wildfires (if indeed they are a result of 'God's judgement') are the big guys reaction to the rash of vocal intolerance to gay marraige rather to gay marraige itself.

After isn't the old 'judge not your neighbor' thing a little more prominant in the bible than the vague admonishments to homosexuality?

So my question is, do you really think god judges us? (I personally think any higher power could really give a shit what we do) If he does is he more likely to judge us on gay marraige or on our homophobic intolerance to it?

Intolerance, without a doubt. even if Homosexuality was called a sin straight from God's mouth in front of us, always remember what he said before:

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

God is in all things. He dwells in all of us. Therefore, He's bisexual. ;)
Sigged! (For the day) :hail:

I was just commuting home from work on my bike over a footbridge that crosses the freeway. A couple of eastern european immigrant teenagers were posted on the bridge holding a sign that basically blamed the rash of california wildfires on gods punishment for gay marraige (It seems like all the vocal protesters around here are Russian, Ukrainian or other old soviet bloc immigrants... seems the orthodox church they belong to has a hard on for homosexuality). Since they weren't blocking the bridge and weren't attaching the sign to the bridge, just holding it, they're within their rights to be there (although it does clearly demonstate that they are seriuosly in need of a life.. and I did point this fact out to them as I passed by).

But anyway, my point, it's here somewhere.. ah yes... it brought to my mind this arguement... It could just as easlily be stated that the wildfires (if indeed they are a result of 'God's judgement') are the big guys reaction to the rash of vocal intolerance to gay marraige rather to gay marraige itself.

After isn't the old 'judge not your neighbor' thing a little more prominant in the bible than the vague admonishments to homosexuality?

So my question is, do you really think god judges us? (I personally think any higher power could really give a shit what we do) If he does is he more likely to judge us on gay marraige or on our homophobic intolerance to it?



im pretty sure theres a quote in the bible, "judge not, and you shall not not be judged." So yea there is a huge emphasis on tolerance of other people (something I think we don't see to often though, cept in the church I attend :D)

God is in all things. He dwells in all of us. Therefore, He's bisexual. ;)

Only bi ?

Does it ultimately matter? Wether God judges or not, life continues and people still blame those who aren't to blame for something as simple as forest fires in CA.

Back To The Middle Ages Y'all!!!!

Does it ultimately matter? Wether God judges or not, life continues and people still blame those who aren't to blame for something as simple as forest fires in CA.

Back To The Middle Ages Y'all!!!!

Confess! Confess that you have been casting spells by the power of WITCHCRAFT! To power that device you call 'the computer'! Confess! CONFESS!

Only bi ?

Well, if there were more genders, He'd be attracted to them. God is love. Hot steamy erotic love. Mmm....

Well, if there were more genders, He'd be attracted to them. God is love. Hot steamy erotic love. Mmm....

Is he not also in the smile of every baby ?
Does God not love the birds and the bees ?

Confess! Confess that you have been casting spells by the power of WITCHCRAFT! To power that device you call 'the computer'! Confess! CONFESS!

*turns CM into a toad*
Shuddup.:D Back to topic.

God judges us all to be hilariously stupid.


:eek: new smilies? :gas:


:hail::soap::cool::salute:

Is he not also in the smile of every baby ?
Does God not love the birds and the bees ?

Yep. God can get pretty nasty. ;)

God is in all things. He dwells in all of us. Therefore, He's bisexual. ;)

And everytime you have sex, it's really God masturbating

Intolerance, without a doubt. even if Homosexuality was called a sin straight from God's mouth in front of us, always remember what he said before:

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
ah, but who's casting what stone?
Does God Judge us? yes
Did God send those hurricanes and fires because of whatnot? dunno.
but I would ask those people If God sent the wildfires in California, then what about the tornadoes in the Bible belt?

I was just commuting home from work on my bike over a footbridge that crosses the freeway. A couple of eastern european immigrant teenagers were posted on the bridge holding a sign that basically blamed the rash of california wildfires on gods punishment for gay marraige (It seems like all the vocal protesters around here are Russian, Ukrainian or other old soviet bloc immigrants... seems the orthodox church they belong to has a hard on for homosexuality). Since they weren't blocking the bridge and weren't attaching the sign to the bridge, just holding it, they're within their rights to be there (although it does clearly demonstate that they are seriuosly in need of a life.. and I did point this fact out to them as I passed by).

But anyway, my point, it's here somewhere.. ah yes... it brought to my mind this arguement... It could just as easlily be stated that the wildfires (if indeed they are a result of 'God's judgement') are the big guys reaction to the rash of vocal intolerance to gay marraige rather than to gay marraige itself.

After isn't the old 'judge not your neighbor' thing a little more prominant in the bible than the vague admonishments to homosexuality?

So my question is, do you really think god judges us? (I personally think any higher power could really give a shit what we do) If he does is he more likely to judge us on gay marraige or on our homophobic intolerance to it?

First, I'd like to say that I do not believe God would start a forest fire to punish gays; if He really wanted to punish them, there would be more direct ways.

Second, God does "give a crap" what we do. Matthew 10:30 says "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." God knows everything that we do, and if He did not care what we do, why would He have created us?

Thirdly, the Bible does speak against homosexuallity (contrary to what many other people think). In 1 Corinthians 6 it says "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." James 1:21 says "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." God is against homosexuallity.

Therefore, if it really was 'God's Judgement' that started the wild fires, contrary to what you say it would be to punish gay marriage, not intolerance to gays.

God loves us all... litteraly.

God does not judge, only Dr. Phil does.

But all seriousness aside, I don't think being gay is bad. Because, all humans are born perfect, right? It says so.

So if they're born gay (and I guess they are) they must still be perfect, and as such, how could they be wrong?

That might be a bit of a weak argument, so another thing: If God is smiting California for allowing gay marriage, what about all the other countries that allow gay marriage? They're not being smitten by God.

Lets not forget the Russians killed (among other things) plenty of people in WW2, and that's not good. Were they smitten? Yes, but not by God.

Does God judge us? Maybe. But certainly not in this life, I think.

Is he not also in the smile of every baby ?
Does God not love the birds and the bees ?

There are so many ways i could twist that... :D

And everytime you have sex, it's really God masturbating

Why, I must thank you for shaking me to the core and provoking me nightmares for the rest of my days.

I guess now it's possible to understand the term "Second Coming" of Jesus.

God judges, but hirricanes and fires only happen because God trusts us enough to leave the earth on auto-pilot. You see that fire right there? autopilot. That hurricane that killed all those people? Autopilot. God doesn't start fires. He's not an arsonist anymore. He's just that guy in the sky that watches everything you do.

You could say he's watching porn 24/7.

When you do things just right, people will wonder if you ever existed at all.

There are so many ways i could twist that... :D

That was, quite obviously, the intention ;)

Wow. That makes absolutely no sense. Well, then, what the the midwest do? Farm crops offensive to God?

That was, quite obviously, the intention ;)

Lol, brilliant!

God judges, but hirricanes and fires only happen because God trusts us enough to leave the earth on auto-pilot. You see that fire right there? autopilot. That hurricane that killed all those people? Autopilot. God doesn't start fires. He's not an arsonist anymore. He's just that guy in the sky that watches everything you do.

You could say he's watching porn 24/7.

porno for pyros?

porno for pyros?

Wasn't that a band or something?

Wasn't that a band or something?

Don't know, sounds hawt though.

Second, God does "give a crap" what we do. Matthew 10:30 says "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." God knows everything that we do, and if He did not care what we do, why would He have created us?


See, this is why God can't possibly exist; anyone who was really obsessed with the number of hairs on people's head could not possibly be allowed to be in charge of such a large company

If God sends natural disasters to show his anger then, looking at world events, one is forced to conclude that God is racist.

Now, I know a lot of God's supporters will say "he's from a different age" and whilst it is true that he may be up to infinity years old, that is simply not a good enough excuse.

Wasn't that a band or something?

Yeah I believe they came up with the name while watching the Los Angeles riots.

If I was God I would punish the world with Another 8 years of President Bush.

I'd also judge a lot of wet t-shirt contests.

Yeah I believe they came up with the name while watching the Los Angeles riots.

Yeah, thought I heard about them at one point. An alternative band I think it was or is.

Porno for Pyros (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porno_for_Pyros)

What an inefficient way to punish someone. Unless God's just punishing California for the hell of it, if he wanted a change in behavior wouldn't he make the punishment fit the 'crime?' Or announce it somehow, breaking news or burning bush and all that jazz?

Meh, I prefer the Futurama God:

When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all.

God is in all things. He dwells in all of us. Therefore, He's bisexual. ;)

Ah, but he also dwells in all living things. So, obviously a fan of bestiality.

If God sends natural disasters to show his anger then, looking at world events, one is forced to conclude that God is racist.

Now, I know a lot of God's supporters will say "he's from a different age" and whilst it is true that he may be up to infinity years old, that is simply not a good enough excuse.

"Jesus Christ doesn't care about black people"-probably not Kanye

I was just commuting home from work on my bike over a footbridge that crosses the freeway. A couple of eastern european immigrant teenagers were posted on the bridge holding a sign that basically blamed the rash of california wildfires on gods punishment for gay marraige (It seems like all the vocal protesters around here are Russian, Ukrainian or other old soviet bloc immigrants... seems the orthodox church they belong to has a hard on for homosexuality). Since they weren't blocking the bridge and weren't attaching the sign to the bridge, just holding it, they're within their rights to be there (although it does clearly demonstate that they are seriuosly in need of a life.. and I did point this fact out to them as I passed by).

But anyway, my point, it's here somewhere.. ah yes... it brought to my mind this arguement... It could just as easlily be stated that the wildfires (if indeed they are a result of 'God's judgement') are the big guys reaction to the rash of vocal intolerance to gay marraige rather than to gay marraige itself.

After isn't the old 'judge not your neighbor' thing a little more prominant in the bible than the vague admonishments to homosexuality?

So my question is, do you really think god judges us? (I personally think any higher power could really give a shit what we do) If he does is he more likely to judge us on gay marraige or on our homophobic intolerance to it?

It might explain why God keeps clobbering the Midwest with tornadoes

Oh...yeah, that's right. It was God that started the wild fires, not any mere mortal! Heh, heh, okay, I guess that means we can stop with the inquiry into my fireworks company.

In 1 Corinthians 6 it says "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." James 1:21 says "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."

Following this, almost no human will inherit the kingdom of god, especially not these days (too many people who drink a lot, cheat on their spouses, or like to earn a lot of money and then keep it to themselves)

So my question is, do you really think god judges us?

Yes. You can get a maximum of 10 points for presentation, 10 for technical merit, and 5 points for originality. (there's over 6 billion of us now, He really can't expect a lot of originality these days.)

You can also get bonus points for good attendance, and penmanship.

Yes. You can get a maximum of 10 points for presentation, 10 for technical merit, and 5 points for originality. (there's over 6 billion of us now, He really can't expect a lot of originality these days.)

You can also get bonus points for good attendance, and penmanship.

Does he grade on a curve?

I'm not actually convinced that God, himself, judges. Rather, I'm convinced that the individual judges themselves, and places themselves in relation to said God.

Does he grade on a curve?

Maybe. Depends on how good the porno is that particular day. He watches all kinds of porno. Softcore. Hardcore. Super-hardcore. Furry. You name it, he can watch it anytime he wants for free. Why else would he tell the flood-survivors to "go forth and multiply"? Because he likes math? I don't think so.

Only bi ?

Omnisexuality may be a bit difficult to explain to the people here, most of the frequent visitors of this forum at least understand the idea behind bisexuality somewhat.

Forest fires? Pah! My God is a God of wrath, doom, and anger. If he wanted people to be punished for being gay, he wouldn't pussyfoot with a couple hundred forest fires. No sir, he would send lightning...fire and brimstone from the sky...plauges...

Hell, if he was feeling peckish, he might send a giant pudding asteroid at San Francisco. To be fair, he only promised not to destory the earth again with a flood. At least it would have a delicous result. ;)

But in all seriousness, I do not think this is His punishment by any stretch. Keeping in mind that the Bible (my version, aka the Jewish one) is full of God displaying his wrath in open, obviously divine ways (pillar of fire, anyone?), I don't know why he would resort to something that might be mistaken for arson. He claims his work so nobody could mistake it.

Its like God made punishments for sinners and trademarked his favorites. And forest fires? Way too tame.

Forest fires? Pah! My God is a God of wrath, doom, and anger. If he wanted people to be punished for being gay, he wouldn't pussyfoot with a couple hundred forest fires. No sir, he would send lightning...fire and brimstone from the sky...plauges...

Hell, if he was feeling peckish, he might send a giant pudding asteroid at San Francisco. To be fair, he only promised not to destory the earth again with a flood. At least it would have a delicous result. ;)

But in all seriousness, I do not think this is His punishment by any stretch. Keeping in mind that the Bible (my version, aka the Jewish one) is full of God displaying his wrath in open, obviously divine ways (pillar of fire, anyone?), I don't know why he would resort to something that might be mistaken for arson. He claims his work so nobody could mistake it.

Its like God made punishments for sinners and trademarked his favorites. And forest fires? Way too tame.

Agreed. When God gets pissed, God gets creative. He's not some petty arsonist who lights people on fire because he doesn't get his way. That's not creative enough.

Christian extremists and their hate of homosexuality :rolleyes:

They should stop cherry-picking their verses and read the damn book from cover to cover, not just the parts that support their particular point of view. Judgement is, according to bible, reserved for their god only. It's quite ridiculous they are blasphemous enough to think they can judge in his stead.

Then again, it's quite funny how people attribute every natural disaster to be wrath of god. And quite idiotic too: How can they explain the logical leap of "merciful" and "good" - and so and so on - god killing innocents just to squash couple of gays? Wouldn't the "kill 100 innocents to bash single offender" policy kinda make god, you know, "evil" and merciless? :D

What I don't get is how these Christians know that their translation of the Bible is the right one? I went into a bookshop, just a normal bookshop and there were literally dozens of different bibles. They can't all be right when they say such vastly different things and have completely differing viewpoints. Then there's the issue of the Apocrypha, and the Mormon bible, and all the different books written to explain what the Bible is actually telling us, because apparently they're all different.

What I don't get is how these Christians know that their translation of the Bible is the right one? I went into a bookshop, just a normal bookshop and there were literally dozens of different bibles. They can't all be right when they say such vastly different things and have completely differing viewpoints. Then there's the issue of the Apocrypha, and the Mormon bible, and all the different books written to explain what the Bible is actually telling us, because apparently they're all different.

Easy. If the version fits their pre-concieved notions of how God and the world works, the version has been crrectly translated. If it says something they might not want to hear and tells them that they might not be right, then the offending version was obviously written by Satan, who is a horny black, homosexual, Mexican woman, because those traits fit the person's preconcieved notions of who is good and who is evil.

The Church did it all the time during the Middle Ages when the common folk could not read. The priests could say anything and the people would believe them, even if God and Jesus both came down from heaven and told said priests that whoever keeps lying like that is a lying douchebag who is going to burn in hell and then proceeded to toss the offending priests into hell.

During slavery, the slave masters had the slaves believe that God wanted them enslaved because being black is bad. Why didn't the slaves know any better? Because they couldn't read. Why? Because a slave master could kill any and all slaves who were able to read and that was perfectly legal.

Now that literacy has caught on, this would be harder to do if there weren't so many versions of the book. Don't like one version? Then keep looking because, somewhere, there's a version that agrees with whatever the hell you believe, no matter how insane.

First, I'd like to say that I do not believe God would start a forest fire to punish gays; if He really wanted to punish them, there would be more direct ways.

Second, God does "give a crap" what we do. Matthew 10:30 says "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." God knows everything that we do, and if He did not care what we do, why would He have created us?

Thirdly, the Bible does speak against homosexuallity (contrary to what many other people think). In 1 Corinthians 6 it says "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." James 1:21 says "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." God is against homosexuallity.

Therefore, if it really was 'God's Judgement' that started the wild fires, contrary to what you say it would be to punish gay marriage, not intolerance to gays.

Oh dear. With respect, correct, correct, and incorrect.

That God judges is made fairly clear from Scripture concerning Him, but the idea that you personally are visited with evil in your life in payment for evil you have done is anathema to a great many parts of the Bible. After all, it's the Bible that counsels us that the sun rises on the wicked and sets on the just, and one of the most beloved books of the Bible, that of Job, is the story of a just man unfairly inflicted with tremendous evil, and in that book God himself rebukes Job's false friends who insisted that Job was really guilty of something since evil had befallen him and he was just too proud to admit it. In that sense, the post above is absolutely correct.

But that being said, the post above takes the quote from Corinthians out of context, and I deeply suspect it mistranslates from the original Greek as well. To put some of the original context back in, add the extended quotation to it:


Such were some of you. But you have been through the purifying waters; you have been dedicated to God and justified through the name of the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of our God.

'I am free to do anything', you say. Yes, but not everything is for my good. No doubt I am free to do anything, but I for one will not let anything make free with me. 'Food is for the belly and the belly for food', you say. True; and one day God will put an end to both. But it is not true that the body is for lust; it is for the Lord --and the Lord for the body. God not only raised our Lord from the dead; he will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are limbs and organs of Christ? Shill I then take from Christ his bodily parts and make them over to a harlot? Never! You surely know that anyone who links himself with a harlot becomes physically one with her (for Scripture says, 'The pair shall become one flesh'); but he who links himself with Christs is one with him, spiritually. Shun fornication. Every other sin that a man can commit is outside the body; but the fornicator shuns inside his own body. Do you not know that your body is a shrine of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is God's gift to you? You do not belong to yourselves; you were bought at a price. Then honor God in your body.

If you look at the extended quote, you'll see shunning those who practice homosexuality isn't really his emphasis; it's directed against those who practice licentiousness generally. Which makes sense when you realize that at the time, Corinth was one of the major port of calls in the world, and as such it came with a large and flourishing vice industry: gambling, prostitution, drugs, etc. It was the Bangkok of its day. But if he was condemning licentiousness, then we have to ask ourselves if homosexuals are by definition licentious? The answer is no: a homosexual couple can be as devoted, loving, and monogamous as a straight couple. So I don't see how this is quite the indictment of homosexuality you seem to think it is. Rather, it's a generalized critique to giving in to your passions just because it seems like a fun thing to do, one that applies, I might add, equally applicably to straights and homosexuals alike.

To get back to the main point, the Gospels stress that while God judges, we do not and cannot know his judgment. Only one mortal knew His will, and He's long since gone elsewhere one way or another. In my own thinking, this emphasis on judgment is in some sense reminiscent of my first driver's exam: the more I focused on the sound of my driving instructor scratching demerits onto his little ledger, the more flustered I became and the more mistakes I made. The next day I asked to retake the exam, shut out everything but the road in front of me, and I made (IIRC) about 35 less driving errors. The point is that if you focus on the demerits God is granting you, you can't appreciate on what He's given you or focus on what you need to do.

I was just commuting home from work on my bike over a footbridge that crosses the freeway. A couple of eastern european immigrant teenagers were posted on the bridge holding a sign that basically blamed the rash of california wildfires on gods punishment for gay marraige (It seems like all the vocal protesters around here are Russian, Ukrainian or other old soviet bloc immigrants... seems the orthodox church they belong to has a hard on for homosexuality). Since they weren't blocking the bridge and weren't attaching the sign to the bridge, just holding it, they're within their rights to be there (although it does clearly demonstate that they are seriuosly in need of a life.. and I did point this fact out to them as I passed by).

But anyway, my point, it's here somewhere.. ah yes... it brought to my mind this arguement... It could just as easlily be stated that the wildfires (if indeed they are a result of 'God's judgement') are the big guys reaction to the rash of vocal intolerance to gay marraige rather than to gay marraige itself.

After isn't the old 'judge not your neighbor' thing a little more prominant in the bible than the vague admonishments to homosexuality?

So my question is, do you really think god judges us? (I personally think any higher power could really give a shit what we do) If he does is he more likely to judge us on gay marraige or on our homophobic intolerance to it?

I think you may have misread the Bible. Very little restricts what God does. Most of the restrictions are on us. We should love our neighbors (ie our fellow man) but as the Hebrews gathered and sang "Who is like You, Lord
?" there is no other God but God and he has no fellow gods. There are covenants with God whereby he self restrains himself.

Leviticus is quite clear that tolerance of gays by a community is a communal sin as opposed to an individual sin. You might think that this is a silly law or you may disbelieve tha tit was truly divine in origin. I think only the latter is really a worthy position because who are we to decide what is silly and perhaps a silly law is all the more important to follow because it is a true test upon our faith in the face of reason, love, compassion, or whatnot. It reminds me of Abraham being ordered to kill his only son that he and Sarah had tried to have for so long. Son killing is pretty bad m'kay? Yet, when God tells you to stab your son or drown the babies in the bathtub or whatever well you should do that right? Maybe your answer is yes or maybe it is no. The most important thing according to my religious background is that you contemplate it with an open yet very informed mind. I would be reluctant to dismiss the concept of homosexuality tolerance as a communal sin merely because it is distasteful. That is lazy man's faith. That is allowing your bias to interfere with your loyalty and sense of duty. It might also be correct but you really should think about it a lot for if you do not recognize and reflect upon the dilemna you are committing the major sin of not using the brain that God gave you.

I suppose he sends Wind to the Bible Belt for being hopelessly ignorant.In tornado form, no doubt. :)

Agreed. When God gets pissed, God gets creative.Destructive, you mean. If he were "creative", first thing he'd have worked on is his own miserable failings. Instead, of course, of turning them into weapons.

I was just commuting home from work on my bike over a footbridge that crosses the freeway. A couple of eastern european immigrant teenagers were posted on the bridge holding a sign that basically blamed the rash of california wildfires on gods punishment for gay marraige (It seems like all the vocal protesters around here are Russian, Ukrainian or other old soviet bloc immigrants... seems the orthodox church they belong to has a hard on for homosexuality). Since they weren't blocking the bridge and weren't attaching the sign to the bridge, just holding it, they're within their rights to be there (although it does clearly demonstate that they are seriuosly in need of a life.. and I did point this fact out to them as I passed by).

But anyway, my point, it's here somewhere.. ah yes... it brought to my mind this arguement... It could just as easlily be stated that the wildfires (if indeed they are a result of 'God's judgement') are the big guys reaction to the rash of vocal intolerance to gay marraige rather than to gay marraige itself.

After isn't the old 'judge not your neighbor' thing a little more prominant in the bible than the vague admonishments to homosexuality?

So my question is, do you really think god judges us? (I personally think any higher power could really give a shit what we do) If he does is he more likely to judge us on gay marraige or on our homophobic intolerance to it?

I think the wildfires are God's punishment for poor logging policies, promoting the over-growth of undergrowth (brush and smaller trees also known as tinder), human contribution to global warming, and living in a place where forest fires have happened naturally for thousands of years.

And by "God's Punishment," I mean, "a natural consequence of."

I think you may have misread the Bible. Very little restricts what God does. Most of the restrictions are on us. We should love our neighbors (ie our fellow man) but as the Hebrews gathered and sang "Who is like You, Lord
?" there is no other God but God and he has no fellow gods. There are covenants with God whereby he self restrains himself.

Leviticus is quite clear that tolerance of gays by a community is a communal sin as opposed to an individual sin. You might think that this is a silly law or you may disbelieve tha tit was truly divine in origin. I think only the latter is really a worthy position because who are we to decide what is silly and perhaps a silly law is all the more important to follow because it is a true test upon our faith in the face of reason, love, compassion, or whatnot. It reminds me of Abraham being ordered to kill his only son that he and Sarah had tried to have for so long. Son killing is pretty bad m'kay? Yet, when God tells you to stab your son or drown the babies in the bathtub or whatever well you should do that right? Maybe your answer is yes or maybe it is no. The most important thing according to my religious background is that you contemplate it with an open yet very informed mind. I would be reluctant to dismiss the concept of homosexuality tolerance as a communal sin merely because it is distasteful. That is lazy man's faith. That is allowing your bias to interfere with your loyalty and sense of duty. It might also be correct but you really should think about it a lot for if you do not recognize and reflect upon the dilemna you are committing the major sin of not using the brain that God gave you.

Well that's all well and good for Jewish fundamentalists, but Christianity commands tolerance of others and embracing the New Covenant (Christ's Word) means that God doesn't give punishments and rewards on Earth. He gives them in heaven.

Well that's all well and good for Jewish fundamentalists, but Christianity commands tolerance of others and embracing the New Covenant (Christ's Word) means that God doesn't give punishments and rewards on Earth. He gives them in heaven.

Yes I am coming from the Reformed Jewish tradition. I want to clarify that Reform Judaism has very little emphasis on the answers to moral and religious questions and a greater emphasis on the asking of and thinking about those questions.

Furry. You name it, he can watch it anytime he wants for free. Why else would he tell the flood-survivors to "go forth and multiply"? Because he likes math? I don't think so.Oooh, good point.

If I was God, I'd punish California too, but not because of gay marriage. Let us never forget who it was that gave us Ronald Reagan, easily the most overrated president we've ever had. I rejoice at every earthquake and look forward to the day California finally falls into the Pacific like so many used condoms and I can fish from the piers of lovely Arizona Bay.

If I was God, I'd punish California too, but not because of gay marriage. Let us never forget who it was that gave us Ronald Reagan, easily the most overrated president we've ever had. I rejoice at every earthquake and look forward to the day California finally falls into the Pacific like so many used condoms and I can fish from the piers of lovely Arizona Bay.
Wow.
Again, good post.

Omnisexuality may be a bit difficult to explain to the people here, most of the frequent visitors of this forum at least understand the idea behind bisexuality somewhat.A good # of posters here are actually quite twisted and have already affiliated themselves, in one manner or another, by use of teh interwebz, with all degree of perversion and licentiousness.

...If you look at the extended quote, you'll see shunning those who practice homosexuality isn't really his emphasis; it's directed against those who practice licentiousness generally. Which makes sense when you realize that at the time, Corinth was one of the major port of calls in the world, and as such it came with a large and flourishing vice industry: gambling, prostitution, drugs, etc. It was the Bangkok of its day. But if he was condemning licentiousness, then we have to ask ourselves if homosexuals are by definition licentious? The answer is no: a homosexual couple can be as devoted, loving, and monogamous as a straight couple. So I don't see how this is quite the indictment of homosexuality you seem to think it is. Rather, it's a generalized critique to giving in to your passions just because it seems like a fun thing to do, one that applies, I might add, equally applicably to straights and homosexuals alike.

I would like to add that the Bible also says:
In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

I agree that judgement is left for God alone, but we know what is right and what is wrong from the Bible. Shunning homosexuals is not the right thing to do, but neither is allowing gay marriage.

And to stay on topic, if it was God's Judgement that started forest fires in California, and if it was wrath due to either gay marriage or intolerance to gays, then it would be the former. Though I still disagree that it was God that started the forest fires.

I think you may have misread the Bible. Very little restricts what God does. Most of the restrictions are on us. We should love our neighbors (ie our fellow man) but as the Hebrews gathered and sang "Who is like You, Lord
?" there is no other God but God and he has no fellow gods. There are covenants with God whereby he self restrains himself.

Leviticus is quite clear that tolerance of gays by a community is a communal sin as opposed to an individual sin. You might think that this is a silly law or you may disbelieve tha tit was truly divine in origin. I think only the latter is really a worthy position because who are we to decide what is silly and perhaps a silly law is all the more important to follow because it is a true test upon our faith in the face of reason, love, compassion, or whatnot. QUOTE]


We should follow all the laws in the Bible because they MIGHT be a test of faith? Even the ones about stoning people who eat shellfish or swear at their parents?

[QUOTE]It reminds me of Abraham being ordered to kill his only son that he and Sarah had tried to have for so long. Son killing is pretty bad m'kay? Yet, when God tells you to stab your son or drown the babies in the bathtub or whatever well you should do that right? Maybe your answer is yes or maybe it is no. The most important thing according to my religious background is that you contemplate it with an open yet very informed mind.

There are plenty of people who have used "God made me do it." as a defence for a wide variety of crimes, including child molestation, rape, murder and promoting and encouraging mass suicide. I don't contemplate this with an open mind; my very closed mind says that it is wrong and sick, and even sicker to attempt to negate your responsibility by blaming something intangible and and whose existence is, by definition, unproveable, which cannot affirm or refute your claims.

God knows everything that we do, and if He did not care what we do, why would He have created us?

He was bored.

A good # of posters here are actually quite twisted and have already affiliated themselves, in one manner or another, by use of teh interwebz, with all degree of perversion and licentiousness.

I consider myself affiliated, but I haven't recieved my membership card yet...

...how long does it take to get mail from the 6th Circle of Hell?

I consider myself affiliated, but I haven't recieved my membership card yet...

...how long does it take to get mail from the 6th Circle of Hell?MSG! :fluffle:

God is in all things. He dwells in all of us. Therefore, He's bisexual. ;)You fail to honor the will of the almighty. Time for you to endure the torture of the... CUTE RABBIT!!!

God doesn't need to judge and punish us in this life, we do a pretty good job of it all by ourselves. All he has to do is sit back and let us do what comes naturally.