I'm Gay and I am also a Christian. Take your best shot this is the only chance I will give you.

[William769]

[Yo_Mama]

1. I'm sorry, you probably won't get much mercy from DU

What can I say? God loves you even if no one else does!

If it's any comfort there are many in your boat.

[William769]

6. God loves all no matter what.

[AmericaIsGreat]

15. Sure, he loves you

But because you're committing an act that is an "abomination" to him, he will not save you from being sent to be tortured for eternity in the afterlife.

At least that's what the Bible says and the Bible is, after all, inspired by god. Doesn't that worry you?

[William769]

17. Not in the least. The God I know, doesn't care who you love, only that you love.

[AmericaIsGreat]

19. That doesn't sound like the Christian god

Maybe you found the real god though because I would expect the creator of the universe not to be bothered with whether a man loves another man or a woman another woman.

The Christian god definitely cares, though. He said so himself.

[no limit]

33. Does God love the thousands of children that die painful deaths each year

all around the world for reasons he could have easily prevented?

[William769]

39. One of God's most precious gifts is free will.

If you want to blame God for all of our ill's & not man, you are free to do so.

[no limit]

41. You have a funny understanding of what defines a precious gift

also love the implication that all those children are suffering because of their own free will.

[William769]

42. Man's free will.

Of course I know you can't see that since you have one mission & one mission only.

And your implication says all I need to know about you.

[no limit]

43. Why must those children be punished for something they have no control over?

When all God has to do to fix alot of this suffering is make it rain a bit more in certain parts of the world. Man has no control over when it rains and what soil is fertile.

[roguevalley]

47. that is what trhe men who wrote the bible said. that is not what god

says.

[foreigncorrespondent]

53. Might have been inspired by God...

...but it was written by man, and no man has the right to tell another how they should live their life.

And that is the problem with Bible bashers. They believe they have the explicit right to tell others to conform to living life the way the Christian Bible states. Sorry, I'm not even Christian, and I am tired of being told I am not normal because a book written by man says I'm not.

[LiberalAndProud]

60. You sound like my mother.

That is not a bad thing.

I came to atheism late in life. I credit the current Pope and Ms. Palin for the revelation that faith, on the whole, has no merit. Including mine. That has been my personal journey.

To which my mother says, "God is love."

Which is a fine theorem if considered in a vacuum. That faith is so often used as justification for destructive lies, violence, hatred and bloody murder (and the believers truly believe) -- all that is antithetical to love -- that will put me off the God thing for the rest of my life. Clearly, not everyone will come to this same conclusion in the face of the evidence. It is and must be a personal journey.

But for you, William, I have the utmost respect and admiration. I am glad for you that you find fulfillment and contentment in your own faith. And so, I wish you Peace.

[roguevalley]

46. You will only get love and acceptance from me. God made you

as you were supposed to be. Perfect.

[Jester Messiah]

2. I'm not interested in taking shots at you.

So long as you don't intend to legislate your religion onto me, I see no reason why we couldn't be buds.

[William769]

5. I'm a firm believer in the 1st amendment.

And that religion has no place in politics.

[Jester Messiah]

9. Then we're good.

The gay thing isn't even an issue to me. People are people, love is love, happiness is happiness. I wish you nothing but the best!

[Sub Atomic]

3. OK. You asked for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gyaG7w2Oq0

[William769]

8. All I ask is you stop painting with a broad brush.

It's unfair and it's cruel to liken me Fundamentalist.

There are so may out there trying to do good in the name of God. It's the one's that want to smite you that have the big mouths. If you don't believe in God I'm fine with that (to each his own), but please stop throwing crap down my throat.

Trust me when I say I get it from both sides.

[reggie the dog]

12. have you never met open minded people who are religious?

would you have shunned martin luther king jr because he was a reverand?

i am an athiest but would have voted for reverand king for president

[Sub Atomic]

16. I probably have but would never know it.

I'm sure there are many who don't wear their religion on their sleeves.

The ones that do ruin it for the rest of you.

And sorry, that broad brush has been used against Gays for decades. Goose/gander.

[reggie the dog]

18. the painters using the brush do not own religion

on of my dearest friends in the world is christian but she never goes to a church, she has a bible and doesnt need any church as she says it.

when i leave town she blesses my car

cool person, just happens to believe in god, is not anti abortion, pro gay rights, not racist, is pro drug legalization, hell she is not a fundie at all

[the other one]

4. Reform Judaism will have you gladly

Think about it is all I'm saying...

[jaxx]

7. You have my respect.

[reggie the dog]

10. and i am a hetero athiest

what difference does it make?

the "religious" people who claim to hate "fags" in the name of their god are just biggots hiding behind religion, or blinded by biggots using religion falsely to brainwash people.

[Evasporque]

11. Do you eat shrimp?

[reggie the dog]

13. not from the gulf of mexico i hope

[William769]

14. Yes.

I also believe that the Bible was not written by God but by man who has made numerous misinterpretations in it.

[no limit]

26. So why would you believe any of the bible?

Since you have no way of knowing what is true and what isn't?

[William769]

29. I don't believe all that is written about U.S. History.

And thats just 200 plus years. Does that mean I should not beleive any of it?

[no limit]

31. Everything we know about U.S history comes from millions of historical records

records that cover centuries. You can have opinions on those records but the records exist for anyone to study.

What you know of God is based on a small set of texts you admitted were written by people hundreds of years after Jesus died then modified over a thousand years to fit political and ideological agendas.

You really don't see any difference?

[William769]

34. No.

I am also Cherokee, according to you I should not accept my ancestry that has been handed down by word of mouth Some of it I accept, some of it I do not.

History is history. You belive one thing I believe another & nothing is going to change either of our minds.

[no limit]

35. There is plenty of evidence for your ancestry

evidence dating back thousands of years. Actual physical evidence.

Can you point to any physical or historical evidence that Jesus even existed outside of the third hand accounts found in the books of the new testament?

[Angry Dragon]

20. There are all kinds of flavors of Christian

Ones that believe in a god and try to live a good life

Ones that believe in a god and try to force everyone else to believe as they believe, even other Christians

So to me it comes down to their actions

I know both kinds. The first I have no problem with. The second kind I have no time for and will condemn them


As for being gay. I have no problem with that.

[Pab Sungenis]

21. Join the club.

I hate how the right wing has co-opted the term "Christian."

[William769]

22. I almost feel like we need a secret handshake here.

[RKP5637]

50. +1000 +++ n/t

[dtexdem]

23. Good for you. It's important to be who you are and proud of it.

Good enough shot? Hey, I hope you give me more chances, after all.

[jwirr]

24. No shots - my niece is also gay and a Christian. There are a lot of

you.

[no limit]

25. How literally do you take the bible?

Including the old testament?

[William769]

27. The Bible like anything else is a guide.

As I stated above the Bible was not written by god & over thousands of years &different languages I belive some things have been muddled. The bottom line is for me at least God is love, compassion, healing, helping & so on.

[no limit]

28. But how can you say that you know this about God when everything you know about God

comes from a book you just admitted can't possibly be very accurate?

[William769]

30. The heart knows.

It's one of those things that can't be written about only experienced. Sorry you don't like my answers.

[no limit]

32. You don't think Muslims have the same experiences? Or Hindus? Or Jews?

Or Buddhists? what if you were raised in a different religion? Would your heart then tell you from your experiances that whatever that religion might have been must be correct?

I find the idea that your personal experiences confirm a very specific religious ideology just a bit self-centered.


And it has nothing to do with not liking your answers. You made a thread inviting anyone to ask you anything, I found that to be an interesting invitation and took it. So if anything, sorry if you don't like the questions.

[William769]

36. There is one true God.

People call him many different things & worship in different ways. I will not judge how they do it.

Bottom line is this, it's my faith, just as you have your faith (yes yours is a faith), I believe in God you Don't neither neither can be proven thats why it's faith.

Go in peace brother.

EDIT: Bottom line is this, I live my life through the teachings of Jesus Christ which fills my life with joy knowing there is a hereafter. After I die and I was wrong oh well I will be nothing but dust but I lived my life helping other people and thats worth more to me than any is there/ isn't here debate.

[no limit]

37. We can't prove that Barack Obama isn't the anti-christ

so I guess if I happen to believe that you should respect my belief and think that it is plausible. That is the point you are making, right?

[William769]

38. If you want to believe he's the anti christ, I won't stop you.

[no limit]

40. Maybe you should.

The world would be a better place with less insane ideas.

[qb]

44. I'm a gay atheist. From what I've read of your posts, you sound like a great guy.

That's the best I can do.
:hi:

[William769]

45. Thats all I ask.

:hi:

[Sentath]

48. meh

'they' have pretty well managed to chase me away

if you are still 'in' I wish you endurance

[mitchtv]

49. I am not a religious person

I was severely damaged as a youth by the RC church/education. I dislike most religions Including Islam,Scientology, Mormon, to top the list followed by RC's,Rus- Orthodox, Baptist, et al. MCC and u's and Quakers seem ok. I am not an atheist, and I like you and enjoy your posts

[Zorra]

51. I don't get it. What's your point?

Just kidding.

I'm sorry if some of my posts may seem anti-Christian to you. They really are not. These posts are directed only at RW fundamentalist pseudo-christians that use religion as a vehicle to justify evil actions. I fully understand the total difference between them, and y'all.

-And one of them, a doctor of the Law, putting him to the test,asked him, "Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?" Jesus said to him, "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind.' This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like it, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself'" On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:33-40)

-Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:8

There is a huge difference between Christians and RW Fundamentalist christianists. No quarter for the fundies.

I am one of the fundy slayer sisterhood.


But anyone that genuinely believes in and practices Love rocks. Jesus is way cool by me.
Peace, Friend

[Jamastiene]

52. Jesus does NOT hate gay people.

For those who don't want any religion. I see no problem with it. A person does not have to be religious to be a damn good person.

For those who do want religion, ever heard the saying, "God don't make no junk?" Well, I believe that. It was a gay MCC church preacher who explained it to me. He was a really nice guy and took a lot of my piss and venom out about Christians as a whole. At that time, I hated all Christians because I assumed all Christians hated me. There are still some who claim to be Christian, who preach hatred, but many many Christians do not preach hatred and are not hateful people. So, now, I tend to look at it differently. Live and let live.

My best shot is more power to you. It is your spirit and your decision to make what to do with it.

If being Christian is your belief, then go for it, but please remember, being gay is NOT a sin. Anyone who claims to be a Christian and tells you it is a sin is a total asshole who is spiritually abusing you. They should not be allowed to get away with that. Christ never even mentioned it. The Old Testament is history. Jesus said "love one another" was the most important thing to do. That's my basic thoughts on the issue anyhow. :shrug:

[William769]

54. I have been a member of MCC for 21 years, they literally saved my life.

I know being Gay is not a sin. What prompted this thread was the fact people were lumping all Christians together. Now theres your hate & bigotry.

Hopefully after this thread both sides can move on but I doubt that will happen.

I have been quiet for awhile on this subject but no more. If people want to hate Right wing Christian fundamentalists they can go right ahead & do it. But when people start associating all Christians into that group I will be silent no longer.

Your basic thoughts on the issue should be every bodies. Thanks for your input.

[Jamastiene]

55. They are coming from a place of hurt.

I used to be there. I know the feeling. I try to always remember that.

I now understand that not all Christians are right wing jerks who hate. There are many who are about love and acceptance and healing. The hurt is much less for me now, BECAUSE I understand that.

[w8liftinglady]

56. If you lived near Dallas,I'd invite you to Cathedral of Hope

They are a HUGE supporter of the LGBT community in Dallas

http://www2.cathedralofhope.com/new

(p.s.- I make religious and secular beads for my patients- there's room for all faiths).

[Rowdyboy]

57. Just starting this thread proves you have more guts than I my friend....

I came back to the church a dozen years ago in my mid-40's and became an Episcopalian. My small parish church is filled with the most tolerant, liberal people I've met in Mississippi. Our priest is one of the few people I know in this godforsaken state who is more liberal than I am.

The church fills needs I have at this stage of my life but I've never felt the need to push it on anyone else. Glad you've found the same peace.

[William769]

58. I was raised in my younger years as a Southern Baptist (Kentucky)

We moved to Florida since my mother was Lutheran & we had a Lutheran Church we could attend the 21 years ago I started going to Metropolitan Community Church & have been there ever since.

[Rowdyboy]

59. I had one date with a MCC minister when I first arrived in Jackson 22 years ago....very sweet guy

who loved pork chops more than any man I've ever known. I cooked for him and I thought he was going to suck the marrow out of the bones. Very cool guy who gave me a book called "Your God is too Small" that was very influential to me.