[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Sad News WARNING: Bible Discussion

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

Judy:
>As for homosexuality, discussions of it in the Hebrew Bible (the Old
>Testament) pretty clearly refer to men only, not women.  One should
>also note that the Old Testament bans a huge variety of behaviors that
>are quite accepted in modern society. In the New Testament, I don't
>think Jesus ever mentions homosexuality at all, although he does
>condemn some other types of sexual behavior (for example, a man
>divorcing his wife for another woman.)  I think the only mention of
>homosexuality in the New Testament is by Paul. 

You know, you've brought up quite an interesting topic here. ^_^ (I mean that in a good way, btw).  The Old Testament and the New Testament certainly do seem to differ a little in terms of what is okay and what is not.

I think one thing you have to remember about alot of the rules from the Old Testament (i.e. don't partake of blood, homosexuality, and the myriad of, IMO confusing, rules about "clean" food) were created, I believe, as a code for the Israelites *before* Jesus came along.  These people had to do all *sorts* of strange (in a modern sense) things to save their souls, including animal sacrifice.  I'm not sure if I believe this, but I believe my pastor said once that a big reason for all the rules and rituals were...

a) The Israelites were traditionally bad kids.  ^_~ j/k.  But throughout the Old Testament they repeatedly ignore God's will.  Whenever they got near a group of "heathens" they almost invariably forgot who they were and what they were supposed to be doing.  In other words, they had a hard time following the most basic rules, let alone achieve the sinlessness that would let them into Heaven (which they couldn't do anyway, because NO ONE is *that* good).

b)  In order to make this fact abundantly clear, the code for living as a "good" Israelite was made deliberately impossible for a mortal to even comprehend living up to.  The point being, of course, that no one is perfect and they needed *Jesus* to save them from their imperfections (this is the purely Christian view - as I was taught it - on things, btw..I don't know how Jewish people interpret it).

Another interesting thing is that when Jesus *did* come along, he was much more lenient than anyone would have expected.  Yes, he condemned adultery, but he preached forgiveness for the adulteress (it is inferred in these sections that the man was rarely punished).  *He* could say, "This is wrong." b/c he had never done any wrong, but he also said it was wrong for a human #1 to say "You are wrong" to human #2, b/c human #1 is just as sinful as human #2.

...okay, that was pretty confusing...but read it a couple times really slowly and I think you'll be able to figure out what I was trying to say ^_^.

So basically, I'm not entirely clear if the Bible condemns homosexuality (esp. between women).  However, based on my knowledge of the Bible, I am fairly certain that any Christian who gives a homosexual a hard time is sinning just by doing so.  A "good" Christian *tries* to be free of sin.  The one that believes he or she has actually gotten nearer to this goal than the Average Joe is living a lie. ^_~  All in my very humble opinion, of course.  I must say that Christians who go around condemning others is a pet peeve of mine, though.  It gives us all a bad name.

On a brighter note! As for animals having an afterlife...the I believe there's a famous passage in the Bible that states that in Heaven "the lion will lie down with the lamb."

Now, this may be metaphorical, but I've always chosen to interpret as "I will see Fluffy again in the afterlife."

^_^

laura (who, after reading the HBFile, *thinks* this topic is not taboo, has tried very hard not to be offensive, wants everyone to know the opinions stated within are OPINIONS, and is dreadfully sorry if she's offended anybody.) 


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