This is one of the harder blogs I've written. Usually I simply write about my experiences. I guess its a slow news night. Last time I wrote about hypocrites and Republicans. Today I talk about Religion. I don't feel qualified writing this, I'm not a biblical scholar or a historian. I'm just writing my observations.
I get upset at right-wing Christians that quote the Old Testament while conveniently ignoring the lessons learned from the New Testament. The current argument they are expousing is that marriage is a holy union between one man and one woman. Well if one reads the Old Testament, marriage is actually a union between one man and several, even hundreds of women. Like I said I'm not a biblical scholar, so I guess I missed the part where the Red Seas parted and someone came forward and actually changed the definition of marriage.
They quote Leviticus as proof that homosexuality is a sin. People should try reading the entire book of Leviticus and discover that homosexuality is the same degree of a sin as eating shrimp. Think about that the next time you visit the Red Lobster.
There is a minister from Kansas that protests at the funerals of soldiers that have died in Iraq and Afghanastan. He and his followers claim the soldiers deserved to die because of the liberal policies of the US toward gay rights. I can't imagine what it would be like being a parent or a brother of one of these soldiers. Shame on anyone who does or thinks this.
Whether you are Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist, Hindu, Pagen or an atheist, we should all live by the words and wisdom of Jesus, Budda, Ghandi, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Gay bashing has been in the news lately. Seven gay men have been beaten on Capital Hill since this June. Those that claim and preach that being gay is a sin are adding fuel to the fire and are as guilty as the people doing the beating.
I highly recommend the movie "For The Bible Tells Me So".
If we live the words, the world would be a better place. Now go and live your life and be kind to each other.
Let It Be So
Amen
Shalom
Until Next Time - Wise OUT
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8 comments:
Great subject Rick! I went through a phase reading books on the Bible AND homosexuality. The common theme was that the translations from the original text have been so populated and muddled with the scribes (and others) beliefs, that the true definitions are lost.
As Jimmy Carter, a relatively well versed person on the Bible, recently commented, "Christ never said anything negative about homosexuality". It's all been a religious right movement with a sprinkling of fear. Fear of someone different than yourself. What do you really think Christ would say about someone different than yourself?
At this point I turn off mainstream religion and listen to my own personal "Jesus" (OK, yes a little Depeche mode there... but it works, right?).
My Mom said once "What would be the one word that you would translate, or boil down the Bible to?... Love" Certainly not what is in the heart of Phelps and his hate mongers.
Peace be with you...
Hey, Ricky! Yes, good subject. I watched a history of the Ku Klux Klan on the History Channel recently, and what they wound up evolving into as a means of gaining more leverage in this country is strangely just like what a good portion of the Religious Right (or as my buddy Craig calls them, the Religious Wrong) also is.
Things that make you go "Hmmmmm".
Hey Rick; great topic to talk about. I've read the conclusions of several Scholars on the subject of religions and "Holy Books". These peple have studied the Bible, the Quoran, the Tora, The ancient Budhists and Hindu books. All the Holy books have Rules of conduct, commadments, etc, of which more 99% deal with everything except homosexuality. It's less than 1% that refer to homosexuality and in some cases in an inderect, unspecified way. The conclusion: God, or the divine is more concern with people living in balance and being good to one another and is least concerned with homosexuality. This is most true in the Bible; where Homosexuality is as much a transgression as wearing clothing from to different fabrics; eating pork or being near a woman that's having her period. (meaning the entire world would go to hell). The Sodom and Gomorrah tale is about people who were hostile, vengeful over indulgent and merciless; who were punished for their wickedness; not because there were all homosexual. I believe we're going through a second "Inquisicion" like the one during the middle ages where if you were a scientist(ie: you had different ideas, beliefs, lifestyle); you were a threat to the "status quo" a threat to the establishment, and were considered a witch to be burned at the stake. Now days Gays are "it" people want to demonise us, and make us a punch bag to take their frustration out on. All this because they are affraid of change.
While I really agree with Rick's comments, I must say that it is hard sometimes (living in Seattle) to see clearly on this subject. Living in a liberal town, where the majority of the people around you believe the same as you, does not give a person a clear perspective on our nation. There are an AWFUL lot of people in the midwest who feel completely differently on this subject. Again...I find myself alligned with Rick on the subject, but it is challenging to look at other people's belief systems and try to see where people can come to a common ground. The fact that we don't have common ground is part of the reason why the Christian Right gets the opportunity every election cycle to demonize us in the media. Sometimes, this 'reach out' has to come from both sides. Thanks for the topic Rick...there is a lot to think about.
Watch the movie Jesus Camp...its like having the opponants playbook (kinda like the Patriots. Its very disturbing to see children being told to speak in tongues, or holding tiny plastic fetus protesting abortion.
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