The Supreme Court ruling that same-sex marriage must be recognized as legal in all fifty states has set off a right-wing, evangelical hysteria complete with warnings of civil war, natural disasters, and a general descent into the End Times. Anti-gay extremists have declared what amounts to a Teabagger Apocalypse.
Republican presidential candidates are vowing to ignore the Court’s ruling. They insist that it is unconstitutional, proving that they have no idea what “constitutional” means. They continue to press their religious argument that the United States should adhere to the principles of faith that they hold, rather than honoring America’s religious freedom. They are convinced that this decision will result in their arrest and incarceration, which the decision explicitly forbids.
Christianist activists go even further to assert that America has now gone past the point of no return. They say that God will smite our nation and its people for permitting the freedom to love one another in the way that nature made them. They believe that Christians will be subject to a horror worse than the Holocaust.
The question that none of them can answer is: Why is God so upset about marriage equality when he seems to have let other atrocities go by unpunished? If God were going to destroy America why didn’t he do it when we enslaved, brutalized, and murdered thousands of his children shipped over from Africa? Why didn’t he smite our young nation as it marched westward slaughtering the native inhabitants along the way? Why didn’t God get mad when we murdered hundreds of thousands of Japanese civilians with nuclear bombs? Even from the Christianist perspective, how could God let America survive after legalizing abortion, which they believe is child murder? Apparently their God is tolerant of dead babies, but the thought of two consenting adults committing themselves to one another for life is deserving of total annihilation. (Or maybe God just has a more rational view with regard to when life begins).
In addition, God has also given immunity to Germany, which continues to thrive despite their abhorrent past; and Russia, the nation led by Stalin whose regime killed millions; and Mao’s China. And today he lets ISIS march through the Middle East leaving untold corpses and misery it its path. If God is judging us humans, and punishing us when we do wrong, what the hell is he waiting for?
The Christian extremists can’t answer that question. They can’t explain why God is itching to turn America to dust, but doesn’t seem to care much about Syria. They just continue to spew their foreboding messages of doom based on nothing but their imaginary fears and whatever they believe will fill the collection plate. That’s why they are now settling on marriage equality as history’s greatest abomination when there is no logic or reason to support such a claim.
In the conservative media there is a rush to idiocy, as Fox News wonders whether people will now be allowed to marry in groups, or to marry their pets, or to engage in pedophilia or incest. Glenn Beck is worried that this decision will result in him being thrown off of radio by Feds who he thinks can now regulate speech. Others vow to defy the law and, if necessary, resort to revolution.
Reminder: We’re talking about the legal status of a state of cohabitation, not killing babies, gassing Jews, or owning human beings. What kind of God do these people believe in who regards the definition of marriage as worthy of eternal damnation, but not those other atrocities? And what are they so worried about anyway? Isn’t Armageddon the final stage of man’s tribulations on Earth, after which the righteous rise to Heaven to sit at God’s side in paradise for eternity? Don’t they want that to happen, the sooner the better?
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Given the absurdity of their thought processes, you have to wonder why anyone is taking them seriously. They can’t justify their outrage. They can’t even make sense of their own beliefs. If there is a judgmental God who values intelligence and reason, then the human race may actually have something to worry about.
[Addendum:] Much of the discourse that has developed in comments is focused on the question of whether the Bible or Jesus condemns, or even mentions homosexuality. That’s an interesting question, but it is not the one posed in this article. Near the beginning of the article the question is asked: “Why is God so upset about marriage equality when he seems to have let other atrocities go by unpunished?” And none of those posting their interpretations of scripture regarding the Bible’s stance on being gay answers that. Even if we were to accept the position that being gay is a sin, it still doesn’t explain why God would destroy America and its 360 million residents because a law honoring religious freedom (which is a founding principle of the country) is upheld by the high court to protect a minority of the population, when far worse atrocities went unpunished. Clearly the ultra-pious among us are feverishly struggling to find an argument that makes them feel comfortable holding a position that is patently irrational, even if it’s an argument that has nothing to do with topic at hand.
God made it clear how he wanted procreation to take place. He is also very patient and is in no hurry to punish those who disobey His laws. To those who are unwilling to accept the previous, their minds can devise many ways to distort the Scriptures. However, God is not mocked and, as usual, will have the last word, in His Own time…and not yours.
So you’re still saying that God thinks same-sex marriage is worse than abortion, slavery, or gassing 6,000,000 of the Chosen People?
No idiot, he is saying god will pass judgement when he is ready to return and not a moment sooner. Is your comprehension really that bad?
The article pointed out that gays getting married was worse than anything else according to the people quoted. So it was a fair question.
I’m just glad that there is no god to pass judgement on me, he wouldn’t live up to my high moral standards. Too much love and no hate for him to accept me.
So Skip why do you believe there’s no God?
And while you are at it Skip, why do you believe there are no unicorns?
If god isn’t to be mocked, why do none of you follow the rest of the laws in the old testament? Seems to me if you are suppose to follow one, then the rest should be followed also. Otherwise you are telling god to stuff it on those other laws. For instance divorce is mentioned way more than homosexuality, yet most christian religions are fine with it. And that is just one of the laws that is disobeyed. So again I ask, why do you ignore the rest of the laws? Could it be you are just hypocrites when it comes to following god’s laws?
Jesus Christ paid the ransom for mankind in the new testament. Because Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins many of the laws of the old testament are no longer relevent to mankind. Ex making animal sacrifices, not allowed to eat hooved animals etc.
Two things wrong, 1st christ did mention divorce, but never homosexuality. He was quite strong about divorce being bad. In the new testament it takes many decades before Paul, who never saw christ to mention the subject. So why if it was so important christ never mentioned it?
2nd Christ said emphatically that he did not come to do away with the old laws, but to fulfill prophecy. Matt 5:17-18
17″Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”
18″For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.”
Please, why do atheists know your bible better than you do? The last line, until heaven and earth have passed away, the law still applies. And I haven’t seen earth pass away yet.
So you are wrong on both accounts.
You do not know the Bible better. The Bible says that Paul encountered Christ on the road to Damascus. If you want to argue that Paul was blinded by the encounter and technically didn’t “see” Christ, you are splitting hairs. Paul himself says Christ “appeared” to him.
Also, if the law has not passed away, Christ has de facto mentioned homosexuality.
You are absolutely right. When Jesus came the rules changed to Love they neighbor as thyself. Love is the new commandment that we were to follow and we are failing miserably at that.
If you look at the history of the times in which the Bible is about then you would know that what Paul and others were writing about was the sexual abuse by the Romans and Greeks who sexually abused their male slaves and were pedophiles. They also spoke against Prostitutes in the temples of other cultures that they disapproved of. There were a list of things they disapproved of, including food choices, that we do today. What most forget is that when Jesus came everything changed and he said what we should do was Love one another. True Christians know that was the new law under which we were to live. Judge not lest ye bee judged. it is not our place.
So Paul thought Jesus appeared to him, eh?
This is just another example of “Jesus magically appearing in Toast/Smoke/Water Stains/Clouds/etc”. As Paul had never actually seen Jesus in the flesh before, if he did see anything at all (and we’ve only got his word for that) then what he saw was something which he believed was Jesus. He was unable, just as toast-fanciers today are, to state definitively that it was Jesus because he had no image to compare it with. His vision simply matched his internal view of what he thought Jesus might look like (i.e. Jewish and brown-skinned). This is hardly conclusive, you have to admit.
Some people really need to bone up on their critical thinking skills.
Oh and that was an answer to those who had hoped to catch christ saying the laws didn’t matter anymore, to which he gave his reply that yes they still do. In other words people like you.
Jesus also was about LOVE. That pretty much wraps his preaching into one word. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love your enemies. Love. I find it appalling that Christians are so self-righteous that they define love one way, for one people, and deny others the same. The Court has defined it legally, which is all the people are asking for. The same legal rights as you have. You don’t want to open your church to anyone not white and married, so be it. Good luck growing a close minded church like that. Just don’t tell every person that their way of belief is evil, and yours is correct. In my small town our UCC church will marry four gay couples soon. Four families will be created, and I think God will smile on them. He is not, however, smiling on the hateful bigots who think a battle flag is more important 150 years after a war, than seeing all people are important.
God has answered my prayers. Charles how good is he at answering yours. God loves me . He always has . You and your words will never change that.
Amen!
You’ll be waiting a long time for god to have the last word since there is no god.
I just hope that God gives me a head’s up on ending the world so I won’t have to bother doing laundry.
God created marriage for procreation? What about the ‘normal’ people who go into a marriage with no intention of having children, those that are infertile, older people who are no longer capable of procreating. Should we stone them in the town square?
Couldn’t have said it better myself. ????????????????????Wish people would just stay in their own lane and not worry about the next and casting judgements, etc. -Which is also considered sinning. The most confusing part to me is that most of the people complaining about the passing of the law are Heterosexual. How and why are the straight citizens of America being so concerned or bothered by gay marriage legalization when it affects then in no way, shape or fashion. It just baffles me…really. ????????????????????
So how exactly does one defy a law allowing marriage equality?
Unless you happen to be the one issuing marriage licenses I fail to see how any random citizen *could* defy a law that increases their options.
Being a non-believer is awesome! I never have to participate in absurd debates like this one. Also I can “mock god” all I want without worrying about my “eternal soul” or whatever. Go Team Atheism!
Atheism is also a religion….You believe in something other than mainstream, it’s a religion.
Atheism is a religion like baldness is a hairstyle.
pretty close, but when was the last time a bald person tried to convert the hirsute?
Non-belief is a belief? Sorry Denise, back to the books. Might wanna start with the dictionary.
Atheism is not a religion. Being religious means believing in a deity or God. Maybe you can show me the God of atheists. Waiting…..
It’s nice to not worry about how some church will treat you – takes away all their power over people. The pope can excommunicate me and it means nothing – very liberating.
I like what Joan Didion says when asked if she believes in God: “I believe in geology.”
He certainly didn’t mention it so it wasn’t something that mattered highly. He mentioned a number of things that were important to him that christians ignore. And if you agree with me on that matter of not doing away with the old laws and are just harping on one old law, then you are a hypocrite. Christ certainly thought that other laws should be followed, laws that christians don’t even think about following.
What you christians do is cherry pick what you like out of all of it and disregard everything else. You are willing to ignore all the other laws because following the one law that matches your hate is good for you, while the rest of the laws don’t help your cause.
I discount Paul and his ‘seeing’ of christ, which is why I don’t mention or use him. He is just like people like you, full of hate towards those he already disliked and using the old testament to justify his hate. None of the other apostles ever mention christ as saying anything about gays, just Paul. And since the others knew christ far better, and said what they thought christ was preaching, Paul is nothing.
And that’s accepting that there really was a christ who did all that preaching and the whole thing wasn’t just made up. But using your book to destroy your fallacies is better.
If I’m not mistaken, God is A-okay with slavery, or at least he was in the Old Testament.
He was ok with many things, murder, theft, war, slavery, mistresses (really a love slave, a F**k toy for those with money), and if you exercised your free will and walked away from him, wholesale destruction. The kind of god you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley (or anyway else) if you had something he wanted.
On top of that he has a split personality, it’s either love or hate with him. Of course his love or hate comes at a huge price, your eternal soul for him to do with as he pleases. If you kiss his ass enough, you might be rewarded and if you don’t, there is hell to pay.
All in all, I passed on begging to such an immoral bastard a long time ago. And given how too many of his followers act just like him, using his hate and anger to justify what they do, I’m glad I walked away . It took too long to get that anger and hate that they teach out of my system. A very destructive god that I can do w/o.
Me too. Still working on purging it out of my system
When discussing the “God of Abraham” that is presented in the “Holy Bible” there are a few FACTS & QUESTIONS that need to be examined:
1) WHO WROTE IT? In what language(s)* was it 1st recorded in other than in Oral Form?
2) WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN? Is it as it Appears: An on going project (Circa A.D. 325 – 1611)?
3) WHERE WAS IT WRITTEN? Which time, as there are multiple “Holy Bible(s)” having DIFFRENT BOOKS?**
4) WHY WAS IT WRITTEN? CONTROL of the ALL PEOPLE by the Clergy? (Who put the Crown on The King?)
5) HOW WAS THE TEXT & TRANSLATION* EDITED? Would it have been to PLEASE THOSE IN POWER?**
[* Hebrew &/or Aramaic] [** KJV vs. Roman Catholic]
Without these being addressed there can be no Rational Basis for discussion.
Well…since we seem to have so many ppl that have such an “extensive” knowledge of the bible I guess you’ll all agree with me when I give you this refresher course : let’s start with the WOMAN on this post that seem to find an issue with this news, there countless passages in the bible where you WOMAN are compared to cattle and called property!!! The bible clearly says that you shouldn’t work, or have any authority or even be able to stare your opinion!! Its in the bible!! 1st Timothy 2: 11-15 ” let a woman learn quietly with all submission, do not permit a woman to speak or exercise authority over a man, rather she is to remain silent” the bible that quote takes your rights and freedom…but I’m sure you already knew this since you are so well versed in the bible, but wait let’s not forget Deuteronomy 22:5 “a woman shall not wear a mans garment for if she does these things she is an abomination to the Lord your God” so to you all that wear pants and jerseys (man clothing) you are an abomination!! But now lemme refer back to my black / Latino community, how soon do we forget that it was not that long ago when you were fighting for equal right because you were just a human that was just different, but the bible you keep defending made you a SLAVE!! The bible in numerous passages speaks about slaves and how you need to respect your masters for example 1st peter 2: 18 “slaves, accept the authority of your master with all difference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh” so explain to me how do you follow a book that condemns you!?? Its clear that “Christians” pick and choose things only to benefit you! Lemme ask you this, if 2 strange man came to your house saying we got a message for you from God and 2 gay man wanted to “know” them, would you throw you baby daughter who are virgins to the man and tell them to rape them and do what they want with them but to leave the strange guys alone!??? The bible speaks of horrors like that parents selling their kids or sacrificing their kids, the bible says that woman are property that slaves should obey their masters! How do you sit there and quote the bible?? The same book that condems all of you!! I’m now gonna sit here and wait for a response of you bible professionals.
Cafeteria Catholics? Café Christians? Buffet Baptist? Epicurean Evangelicals? Olio Odinists? Pick & Choose Protestants? Say it ain’t so !!!!
What next TOFU TAOISTS?
All I can say to that is Amen !!! Can you imagine what kind of world were would live in if we obeyed every letter of Biblical law? Oh yeah, the kind we lived in thousands of years ago…a brutal, ugly world.
You’re twisting the scriptures also with your private interpretations
Denise Johnson PLEASE BE SO GOOD AS TO TELL EVERYONE WHAT THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE AND PROPER INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE IS.
I am sure that EVERY Christian [as well as the ENTIRE Blogosphere] awaits your enlightenment on this issue that has caused wars for millennia.
We are all sinners and we do not choose or pick what verse in the bible that is convenient! We all make mistakes and decisions in our life that don’t please God. We choose though to accept God as our Lord and savior and know he is working with us to become the people he wants us to b, so we are not perfect! We are humans, living in the flesh just like u! The difference is we accept him and accept his love! We are open for him to show us the truth. We repent and ask for forgiveness when we kno we are doing wrong. If u would acknowledge and accept that Jesus died for our sins, he will also show u the truth. Regardless of what many of u here say about God, kno that he still loves all of u and is waiting for u to let him into your life. Let’s not b blinded but open to accept him so he can transform us. He only will show u what is right from wrong. I’m no one to judge anybody, but without a doubt, there is a God who will judge everybody, including myself, whether many of u believe it or not!
Thank you for your post Vicki! It is absolutely amazing and horrifying the things that people are saying about GOD and OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST! Unbelievable! I feel for people who think they r right saying there is no GOD. ONLY A FOOL HAS SAID SO AND ONE DAY YOU WILL BELIEVE. I hope and pray that you r converted to join the LORD’S ARMY. Blessings, peace. love and joy to you all!
Kimberly Alexander according to you ALL who question the existence of your god are fools? I find that to be JUDGMENTAL ( What is that about Judge not lest ye be judged? Typical of Christians to judge others because we have a different beliefs). According to your post I am one of those fools. Let us examine this god of yours.
1) He is EGOTISTICAL ( 1st Commandment NO OTHER GOD BEFORE ME!!! Note he did not say there were no other Gods. Just that he has to be #1. 40% of the Commandments are basically Worship Me)
2) He is INSECURE (Need to be told he is #1 WEEKLY)
3) He is VIOLENT (Killed by Flood. Egyptian Plagues, Destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah)
4) He is RACIST (Abraham & the Chosen People)
5) He is VINDICTIVE (Follow Only Me or Burn Forever)
Christians are quick to say that is the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament a Loving God we need to follow. (Yet there is always the threat that if you do not toe the line [i.e. tithe & do what the priest/pastor/deacon tells you], his loving style is to toss you into a lake of fire.)
This is an Omnipotent Being who is all knowing & all seeing that demands you to Beseech & Pray to him for what he already knows you require. (Begging by another name is still begging)
Priests & Pastors are the ones who need and use the Fools, that buy what they are selling without question. Yes they have a product they peddle; For 10% or more of your Worldly goods for life we will get you a pass for the Pearly Gates. They even have a special offer for those that do not buy their “Saving Jewish Zombie” ; ETERNAL DAMNATION.
Sin is Sin we all have a dept to pay no sin is bigger than the other
Murder= wearing a dry fit shirt (Mixed Fabric) What a compassionate and just god.
The bible says that all have sinned(that includes me) and come short of the glory of GOD( Romans 3:23).
Since the very beginning GOD has given us the gift of “free will”, therefore we are not robots nor puppets .
The bible provides guidance & it equipps us with rules or laws that instructs us how to live life to the fullest ( thriving & not just surving).
We all have the ” free will” , choice and ” right” to either ignore or adhere to GOD’s instructions. The same way when our parents give us instructions, we either be obedient or yield to disobedience. And remember, for every choice there is a consequence ( good or bad).
Ultimately, GOD has asked for us to hate sin, no matter what it is, yet love the sinner . For it is his Judgment that reigns above all other judgment.
I’m not GOD and I have no right to judge so, do as you please and then work out your own soul salvation before GOD.
However, let’s be clear, just because I don’t agree with a particular sin or behavior doesn’t me i’m judging or rejecting the rule breaker, it just simply means , i’m not partaking in the behavior.
If you happen to enjoy smoking cigarettes which is bad for your health ( a sin against the body or temple , it slowly destroys and is outside of GOD’s will for the body) and you offer me a cigarrette and I decline…I’m not rejecting you…it’s the behavior that I know is unhealthy therefore, commonsense not trendsetting( it’s what everybody else is doing) tells me to reject it .
Before I end , I would like Jae to know how offensive and terribly wrong he/she was in saying that the bible made Latinos & Blacks (used a lowercase “b” when writing Blacks) slaves. GOD never made anyone slaves. Enslavement was instituted by mankind and people of color weren’t the only ones enslaved. Since the bible was written in Hebrew & Greek, I’m not even sure if the word “slave/s” carries the same connotation or meaning as we know it in modern times , nonetheless the Bible never instructs us to enslave each other.
I’m not sure if i have the authority to suggest this but, i say, since it seems that everybody’s doing whatever they want to do anyway, just live and let live.
What I will say in confidence is, that while we are down here exercising our choices ” free will” and ” rights” , we should seek GOD while he may still be found
Amen.
That long post is all well and good if you’re only interested in proselytizing, but it in no way addresses the topic of the article. Why are you afraid of facing the actual subject here?
God is die, threatened by profit and expansion
Oh the BIBLE!!! Once upon a time………..then everyone lived happily ever after in confusion, hate, discrimination, segregation and great FEAR and INTOLERANCE. Paul of Tarsus and, his new counterpart, Joel Osteen are the money men who sold Jesus, the product, to faithful believers for $$$$MONEY$$$$!!!!! Joel’s safe was just robbed of two days sermons…$600,000 on a non holiday weekend and thanks to Joel’s entrepreneurship the TAKE totals to a conservative $32Millions per year tax free. Paul’s creation, the Roman Catholic Church, has relics, arts, real estate, investments, and contributions throughout the centuries estimated to be priceless beyond priceless. All of this from shearing the FLOCK and pulling the wool over billions of FAITHFUL. Jesus turned over the money changers tables at the Temple in Jerusalem and today Jesus would have to have the biggest mining back hoes working 24/7 just to scoop up all the money RELIGION has accumulated and still accumulating. Divide and Conquer is also a good strategy to control weak minded Heaven seekers. Jesus was just a minor wannabe Messiah in his day who did not even know Greek the language of commerce in Judea, a disciple of John the Baptist. He pissed off the Temple elders for upsetting their Temple enterprise of selling forgiveness of sin by animal sacrifice. The Temple elders trumped up some charges and Jesus was tortured and scourged to admit he was the Messiah which was sedition against the laws of Rome, where the only God was the Emperor of Rome. The sentence was crucifixion by the laws of Rome. Jesus was an ignorant individual and his follower probably numbered in the hundreds as Messiahs in his day were a dime a dozen. Paul who never met Jesus, heard of Jesus, whose teachings were new and improved that if you believed his Jewish God or Abraham, your ticket is stamped to his Kingdom…Heaven. So Paul sold Jesus who died for the sin of people, “For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten son and whoersover believeth in him shall……………………hate, intolerant, discriminate, segregate and live happily every after…. Isn’t that a great fairy tale?
Well Said Sir!!!!
Yes, homosexuality is a sin in the Bible. If the Bible is real, the argument can be made that if homosexuality is really a sin, then it can’t be love at the same time, at least not in God’s eyes. Even if that argument were 100% valid, isn’t it up to God to deal with it in whatever manner he sees fit? If so, why do any of us try to prevent them from being equal under law? Unless people are out there committing crimes, let them live how they want, treat them as equals, love them as people, and let God deal with any judgment. Let’s stop trying to make homosexuality the “worst” sin, because the bible does not classify it as such.
Johnny34…. I think you are right on point. I agree.
Reese
Johnny34, I totally concur with you.
Why are people getting all upset about the rebel flag, Blacks, Gays. I guess what happened to Native Americans is ok. Funny how they talk about things they can feel self righteous about. There is no excuse for what happened to the Native Americans yet no one speaks up. And if people took the energy to look its still going on.
Oops. I actually intended to include the native American genocide, but it apparently slipped my mind. It has now been added.
Susan Johnson, thanks for adding to Mark’s list the atrocities committed against the Native Americans.
“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?? Then he is not omnipotent.?
Is he able, but not willing?? Then he is malevolent.?
Is he both able and willing? ?Then whence cometh evil?
?Is he neither able nor willing? ?Then why call him God?” …Epicurus ?
The world changed the day sin entered. We messed it up. We continue to do so. But I shit you not, Jesus came the first time as a sign of Grace but when He returns He will judge all man.
I don’t think arguing with the ignorant is a good use of my time. I am a sinner but am saved by grace. Those who “choose” not to receive that gift, your judgement won’t be coming from me, so do as you please.
God didn’t destroy America for slavery because this nation repented of slavery.
What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality? 12 Scripture Verses About Gay Marriage
By Frank Hagler April 01, 2013
Much of the debate over same sex marriage centers on one’s belief of whether homosexuality is a sin. If homosexuality is a sin, and marriage is ordained by God to be between a man and a woman, then the faithful can be tolerant of a sin but they cannot support it.
None of the major Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, or Islam) support homosexuality or gay marriage. The Judeo-Christian belief that homosexuality is a sin is based on the relatively few scriptures that can be found in the Old and New Testament of the Bible. Interpretation of the scripture varies between liberal and conservative scholars. For example many people interpret the word “sodomite” in scripture to mean homosexual rather than a resident of Sodom — even though there was no word for homosexual or homosexuality in Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek.
If you are going to stake your opinion on gay marriage based on what the Bible says about homosexuality it would be a good idea to have read the scripture. Here is a list of the twelve scriptures on homosexuality that can be found in the Bible.
1. Genesis 19:5: “And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them.”
2. Leviticus 18:22: ” Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.”
3. Leviticus 20:13: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
4. Deuteronomy 23:17: ” There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.”
5. Judges 19:22: “Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.”
6. 1 Kings 14:24: “And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.”
7. 1 Kings 15:12: “And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.”
8. 1 Kings 22:46: “And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.”
9. 2 Kings 23:7: “And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.”
10. Romans 1:26-27: “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”
11. 1 Corinthian 6:9: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.”
12. 1 Timothy 1:9:10: “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
According to the irony behind the words of the person that wrote this article, God doesn’t exist. My question is the same as the one from many believers. How can you hate something that doesn’t exist? Well I guess because that’s all you can do since no one’s arguments can’t disprove his existence…. one day everyone will have to acknowledge God’s existence and sovereignty, hopefully is not after death. I guess that’s why God is so forgiving, because after death there is no more chance..
Nothing in this article says or implies that God doesn’t exit. It questions the interpretations of a particular group of people who believe a particular doctrine.
I’d say the US was punished pretty hard for slavery during the civil war when we lost 600,000 men.
I’d say Germany was punished pretty hard when they lost millions of people and got there country bombed to smithereens.
i’d say aborting 50 million children has had profound consequences on our nation one obvious being that we no longer have a younger generation that will be able to support social security.
The author obvious can’t see the consequences of poor choices and probably doesn’t see those consequences in there own life.
This is surely awkward and like a new thing entirely in the history of mankind for America to legalize same sex marriage. And why do some people even go a head asking why God is not worried about other sins? Well, God is hearing and seeing everything and will respond at His right time. Just wait and see.
Jesus said in Matt. 5:17-19
“Think not that I’m come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I’m not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, on jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men to so, he shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”
In Romans 7:1, Paul states, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”
In Acts 24:14, Paul states, “But this I admit to you. . .I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the law or written in the prophets,”
Also in 1 John 3:4, which says, “Whosoever committed sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
I count 25 instances in the “Bible” that state that the Laws and statutes can’t be increased or decreased, and that they must be kept eternally.
Given that, I wonder how you so-called(given your lack of following those instructions)believers payed your house and vehicles off without borrowing the money? Are you aware that borrowing according to DEUT. 15:6 is one of those statutes you are STILL required to live by? DEUT. 15:6 “. . .and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow.”
Also, do you believe you will be “saved” by “faith” or “works?” The vast majority of the Bible instructs it to be through “works,” but it seems that those on this thread would prefer it is through “faith” so they don’t have to do the impossibly difficult task of trying to follow such draconian laws and statutes that the Bible instructs you to follow.
Just saying.
No it isn’t. Religion is about a belief in something that you worship. There is no worshipping among atheists. There is no belief in any divinity or supernatural entities. There is nothing to worship, the basic definition of religion. Atheism is the absence of religion.
That is what the bible says about women.
Every christian I know and have met, or read anything about what they believe, picks and chooses what to believe. That’s the whole point, that christians are choosing the part they like to justify their hate towards gays, while ignoring all the parts they don’t wish to obey. I don’t know of any christian who follows all those laws in the old testament, except where it says to hate gays. Then they are proud to follow that law.
If you accept that the bible was divinely inspired or guided by god to be written as it is, then slavery was approved by god, so was war and murder. That is what many christians believe, the divinity of the bible. If you don’t accept that divinity and say the bible was just written by man, your interpretation, then you would be right about god not approving. But I would say that you are in the minority in the christian faith.
Before my confirmation, I prayed for help. I wanted to believe a god was out there who could help me make sense of the world. Everyone told me what a wonderful thing it was to have god helping you. So I tried, prayed for years before I was confirmed. In the catholic church at that time, one was not supposed to read the bible, it needed a priest to correctly interpret it. So when I was given one, I read it, numerous times.
I was raised in a world of hate in the 50s’, the government said we had to hate commies, gays, and jews, the church said we had to hate anyone who wasn’t catholic, plus the commies and gays, and then once home my grandmother told me how it was a shame that Hitler had never been able to lead in the US, too many people deserved to die. Then throw in the bible reading and the bi-polar nature of the bible, hate, murder, theft, slavery in the old and love in the new. I had plenty of influences directing me towards the old and none for the new. So many people proclaiming that only they were the decent folk and everyone else was hell bound.
Yet when I looked at these ‘decent’ folk, they were no better than the people they railed against. Their god wasn’t making them a better person, their god argued that it was perfectly fine to do bad things when directed at others who didn’t follow their faith. Every evil was justified by their god.
By the time I was 16, I hated everyone, made it quite simple and easy. But I also reasoned that there couldn’t be a god, to create such madness, god had to be evil or sick. Everyone had their own religion declaring the same things, they were the only true path and everyone else was evil. Still goes on today. Always will. So I decided I would not worship or believe in such madness. It took an epiphany before I was 20 to stop hating, something religion should have.
I have studied religion and history for a long time. So much justification, so easy to do evil because of religion. I have a fundamentalist friend who wishes to save my soul. My soul doesn’t need saving. I told her quite frankly that even if there was a god and he came before me, I would refuse to worship such a being. Immoral bastard is just the beginning of how I would start with saying no. And you can’t just accept christ, his path is to that same god, his father.
Through my studies I find the idea of god as the abrahamic modern version to be ridiculous in concept. God has had to grow in strength and abilities to keep up with us as we grow more powerful. As science explores the universe, god has to hide more and more and become more powerful so that we can never see a trace of one. As long as the goalposts keep moving, then no one can prove there is no god. But just moving those goalposts show there is no god.
1st why would god seek to hide, seems to me he would want to be found. In the old testament he certainly did. He was always popping up. Now it’s you just have to believe. I stopped believing in fairy tales by 7. All I did was eliminate one more fairy tale.
Since when? There still people here who pine for those ‘good old days’. And what about genocide of native americans, I haven’t seen any repentance for that. And when you repent, aren’t you suppose to make amends for the wrongs you committed? I haven’t seen any of that either. What we did was impose jim crow upon them and still discriminate, that’s not repentance.
So what. The bible also says divorce and adultery are sins, yet we are very tolerant of them. There are also many other laws in the same sections which christians don’t follow. We are also not a theocracy where we follow biblical laws. Of which I am mighty glad. None of you could live according to biblical laws.
We don’t hate god. You are right in that you can’t hate something that doesn’t exist. Now followers do exist and they sure tempt me all the time with their evil ways to hate them. I resist, but it isn’t easy. They try very hard to make people hate them.
That’s not punishment from god though, that is just humans being evil. Taking away the blessings we supposedly have from being god’s chosen people would be punishment. And we still claim to be the chosen ones.
Who says there are no unicorns? Blasphemy!
God isn’t destroying America just because of one thing. The reason he didn’t destroy America back in the slavery days is because it wasn’t time. There is a timeline in which everything must take place. We are now near that time according to the Bible and the warning signs are screaming loud and clear. America is being used as an example and it is all apart of the Bible prophecy and all must happen. Just as he has used the meekest to win over the powerful, he is using the greatest nation to show all others what happens when you insist on going against his word and keep refusing to repent. Those who choose to follow God will be given understanding of what is happening. You see he wants us to want to know him and to come to him, and the closer you get to him the more he shows you, and the more understanding of his word and why. This world is our testing ground and we each have to make our choice or have it made for us, period. Those who say they don’t believe there is a God and those who ignore it all hoping to go unnoticed, are not exempt, God will make the choice for them.
Oh, that explains – – – nothing at all. Thanks.
Elaine when one looks back over history EVERY generation has at some point “Faced ALL the Signs of the End of TIMES”. Yet here we are. I have my doubts as to this ALL POWERFUL GOD. Could you answer a few questions for me: 1) Why does your ALL POWERFUL GOD “ALLOW” war, famine, poverty, and all the other evils in this world? 2) Why does your ALL POWERFUL GOD “NEED” MONEY & TAX EXEMPT STATUS? 3) Why do you think that your ALL POWERFUL GOD is going to “PUNISH” those of us that use the gifts NATURE has bestowed on us? These gifts include but are not limited to Freewill, Reason, Sexuality & Curiosity. 4) Last but not least; If Christianity is the ONE TRUE FAITH Why are there so many DIFFERENT SECTS? This question applies to any of the Abrahamic Religions.
Respectfully
Daniel
(Isaiah 45:7, KJV)–“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.”
(Amos 3:6)–“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?”
“The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He,” (Deut. 32:4).
“Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor,” (Hab. 1:13).
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There are several sites such as the one below, that try to explain what they think the scriptures are meaning yet when you read their explanations they end up being unanswered, such as this link – https://carm.org/does-god-create-evil .
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But i believe that when God said he created all and everything, that he did create evil, as he clearly states in the scripture, but it doesn’t mean he created it because he likes it or approves of it, No, not at all. I believe he hates all evil/sin and he wants us to as well, but think of it, how are we to become convinced ourselves that we also hate all evil/sin unless we experience it ourselves. He also made it to be used as an motivator, example and punishment. This time on earth is our testing ground. Live in the world but be not conformed to it. God is God and therefore makes the rules. I don’t see why it’s so hard for people to realize that and get over that and humble themselves enough to accept Jesus Christ, i don’t understand why anyone would take the horrible chance to go against God and think nothing will happen in the end. Anyone can read the bible, but only those who crave to know God and have accepted Christ, are shown the truth and given understanding. I used to read the bible but it wasn’t until i decided i really wanted to grow close to God and asked for understanding, that i began seeing things clearly. Many ask why does God let bad things happen, but those who have accepted God and Christ have the understanding of why, that’s why you see believers who have had their child killed, come to forgive quicker, or take death and the bad things with a calmer state. Did God say that this is heaven? No. He warned exactly what earth consist of and what to watch for and what many will endure. He laid out everything with the exception of the things he chose to withhold. Yes every decade has cried out sign of the times, but not at all like now. You clearly see now how satanism is pushing it’s way in and Christians are the most persecuted throughout the world, which is supposed to happen. We now have the capabilities and threats of the EMP which in Revelations it is described what will happen to america. I’m sure by now you have read for your self or seen the videos that explain it all. Research it your self. The bible has proved so much already all the things of future which none even knew about or could even fathom back then, but it was God who gave them the visions and told them to write it down.
What good would it serve God to show up and prove to all the unbelievers that he is real? That isn’t the way he wants followers, he want’s followers to come to the realization and to want to know the truth and to prove we are worthy. What he has prepared for those who turn to him and accept Christ, is so much greater than anything anyone on earth has known or can comprehend. Knowing that in the end you’ll be reunited with love ones who are also believers and in a life without the bad things happening, why would you forfeit that simply because you chose to stay stubborn because either you don’t like that their is a God over us, or cause he won’t show you proof first. This is not a game, it’s not fake. Everyone has to decide to whether accept Christ into their hearts or not. You’re in my prayers truly.
Elaine De Carmo, Are you aware of the history of your so call “Holy Bible”? This is a collection of writings that the ROMAN EMPIRE had put together to CONTROL a group of unruly peons. The religious leaders were gathered at the direction of the crown to put together a STANDARD RELIGIOUS TEXT TO BE USED TO GUIDE THE PEOPLE. This has happened more than once. (Councils of Nicaea and the Council of Trent. With the Council of Trent producing the “K.J.V. Holy Bible” for the British Crown).
The God of the Bible is Bi-polar or there are two different Gods. The God of the Old Testament [The one you were “quoting”] is a mean and punishing deity. His 10 commandments are 40% being the need to be told he is #1 [not to mention the power the priests get to hold as his “EARTHLY REPRESENTATIVES” Need our permission to marry, have kids, add the laws of Leviticus and we now control when your are required to be where, and what you are allowed to eat, what clothes you may wear…ETC] Disrespect me and I have been known to throw a tantrum that destroyed the WORLD or select cities as I wanted. Yes I give you freewill but if you choose to use it I will PUNISH YOU FOREVER.
Yet somehow you expect me to buy this same God as a loving All-Father. It don’t sell here. Your next response is I must not know what I am talking about because he sent his son to save the world [from the EVIL he himself made [Isaiah 45:7]. So this all knowing all seeing deity sends his son to “die” for our sins? Would this be the same deity that [being all knowing and all seeing] would know his son was in no way dead but in a coma from which he would awake in 3 days? What a sacrifice!!! FYI I am less than impressed as I have been in a Medical Coma for 5 days from an illness [again according to your Bible that was caused by your God].
Then there is Paul. Being a trained United States Army Medic / Medical Lab Tech (mos 91B10 /92B20) based on the area of the Earth, time of year, Personality Change the 1st thought is did this person have SUN STROKE? Yet Most of the “New Testament” is base on the writings of a man who never meet Jesus while Jesus was alive. I know that Paul said it was Jesus but he would no more truly know that than the person who sees a face in a piece of toast knows for sure that that is what Jesus looked like. ( hint it would not be the Blue eyed Jesus from the Catholic Church as Jesus was a Semitic Jew)
Christendom knew we were in the end times when Muslims took Jerusalem (1200 ad?). AND Again during WW I and Spanish Influenza people knew it was the end times (war, famine, pestilence ),and AGAIN during WW II [even worse loss of life].
As for the Pascal Wager that you present {better to serve God and be wrong there is no God than not serve and it turns out to be this one} this assumes there is ONLY ONE GOD. The same argument could be presented differently : Why did you serve ONLY this God and Ignore the Others; they are now irate at your disrespect.
In closing I will ask you a question that No Priest, Pastor, Rabbi, Deacon, or Believer has ever answered for me: If the Bible is the true word of God and the True Story of what occurred [mighty big ifs in my book but I degrees] Was it INCEST OR BESTIALITY? Just where did Adams offspring that are mentioned in Gen 5 get their mates? Or is there more than what is in the Bible making it less than the True Word of God?
Are you secure enough in your faith to face this? So far no Bible Quoting Christian has been, Are you the 1st?
Nature did not bestow freewill, God did, God created everything including nature and God gave us rules and he is letting us decide whether to be with him or against him. He did not give us the choice to stay neutral and not be apart of his plan.
Again we go to the Bi-Polar nature of this God you keep referring to. I GAVE you something and EXPECT YOU TO USE IT!!! You had better know I will PUNISH YOU if you use it BECAUSE I AM A LOVING GOD!!!
I detest Evil that is why I MADE IT!!!
What is your Choice? It is Wrong you worthless slug. Beg for mercy. ( or in Religious terms Pray to ME [the being that already knows what you want & need] I just enjoying hearing you beg!!!)