Ace Rimmer wrote:Well, you haven't offended me.
Therefore I'm glad.
Ace Rimmer wrote:I'm not the most eloquent person in the world, but I'll give it a shot. Your argument has one tremendous flaw in it. God did not create robots. He created beings and gave them the ability to make choices. God did create man in his image with the potential to be like him and gave him the instructions necessary to work towards that goal. Obviously, there's only one that's done it perfectly in this life. Had God wanted complete and total obedience without question as you imply, making it impossible to be gay etc, then he would have done so in all other areas such as murder, stealing, etc, etc.
It's interesting that you equate what I said to obedience. So you too hold the belief someone who is gay "wants" to be gay?
I never had the intention of questioning anyone's convictions, so I won't go further than that one question, out of respect for your faith.
To me it looks odd that such an empowered being would go 'Hah, my creation. Looks like me, but just a bit more flawed" but your point was...interesting.
Ace Rimmer wrote:Secondly, you are correct that we (as Christians) should not treat people differently. That is not to say that a [insert church/congregation] should ignore what it's members are doing and ignore the repeated behavior of a person that goes against its core teachings. Of course, as I said earlier, screaming "God hates fags" and degrading another human made in His image is different than explaining to a "follower" that his continued actions will lead the church to "put him/her out" for the sake of the rest.
That does clear up your stance on the 'issue'. Thanks. It seems like you're willing to accept them as God's children as much as yourself, which I guess is all that matters in the discussion. Or am I reading things as I want them to appear to me?
Ace Rimmer wrote:Thirdly, and finally, I would say theirs just as much "unopenmindedness" on every side. As for religion bringing blood shed, war, etc, well that's the misuse of religion and I would say that man would do such things even if 100% of the species was aethist/agnostic/whatever else category you want.
The reason I said there is more "unopenmindedness" on the side of religions is obviously because nearly every religion seems to prescribe that non-followers are infidels and grave things will happen to them. Which has led to crusades and stuff like that.
I'm willing to grant you that it's not perhaps _entirely_ the fault of religion, but on the other hand such massive killings were supported by the top echelons of the said religions. There clearly is a problem with Churches then ; while some -if not most- points that are taken as a law by the letter seem to spread more hatred than they'll solve, which contrasts heavily with the implied good goals of most religions (to live in peace and harmony, according to a code...).
I'm not saying that war and blood shedding would be over if there wouldn't have been religion. But blood shedding and war _over_ religion is the most hypocritic thing that could occur, in all seriousness.