csteele - and you use that scripture (which the context in the original Greek is blatantly referring to two men sleeping, not men sleeping together) to prove what? that God sanctions homosexuality. Pleeeaaaasssseee. Read the rest of the Bible - it doesn't contradict itself - homosexuality is a sin and an abhorrence to God. His rules for the good of mankind - deal with it. Leave marriage alone & stop being so insecure about your homosexuality - marriage properly an correctly discriminates against homosexuality, bestiality, polygamy, paedophilia, etc. for the simple reason that it is a religious covenant between man and woman for the family.

jason84 - Bill Muehlenberg left his paid positions specifically for the purpose of not being labelled as such. He believes in what he does and says so much that he put his (money) life where his mouth his, so to speak, so I'd ask you to know what you're talking about before you accuse people of accepting money for paid bias.

gpenglase,

"marriage properly an (sic) correctly discriminates against homosexuality, bestiality, polygamy, paedophilia, etc. for the simple reason that it is a religious covenant between man and woman for the family."

Please, a religious covenant? Only to those who wish to make it so. Unless you're claiming that non-religious marriages shouldn't be recognised by law either.

The Catholic church doesn't recognise marriage outside the church anyway, so why does it care whether the law recognises it? They don't recognise ANY marriage not performed within the church. Technically, i can get married and divorced 5 times outside the church, and then still get married in the church, because I've never technically been married. Only marriages in the church are deemed valid.

When will you understand that the laws of the country are for EVERYONE, not just those members of your particular sect?

Trashcanman, who says that the Roman Catholic church is the defining word on scripture? It has many tenets that are extra-biblical and are *far* from scriptural. I have a number of friends in the Roman Catholic church - some are even Christians (ie followers of Christ)

Civil unions afford all of the same rights to homosexuals as marriage does, except it is not a religious ceremony and it is not between a man and a woman. So, you've got equality, leave marriage alone.

No, civil unions do not offer equal rights as marriage. Get your facts straight. For one, they are not even available to all Australians, nor are they recognized everywhere. Marriage existed before Christianity. It is not a religious covenant, it is an agreement between two individuals.

I suggest YOU leave marriage alone, as it appears it is the Christians who have "hijacked" it and claimed ownership of it.

Dear gpenglase,

You wrote. “csteele - and you use that scripture (which the context in the original Greek is blatantly referring to two men sleeping, not men sleeping together) to prove what? that God sanctions homosexuality. Pleeeaaaasssseee. Read the rest of the Bible - it doesn't contradict itself - homosexuality is a sin and an abhorrence to God. His rules for the good of mankind - deal with it.”

I'm afraid your knowledge of the bible and of the original Greek might be somewhat lacking. It is hardly your fault as deeper examination of one of my most favourite books is not something that seemingly occupies the minds of biblical literalists. But that is okay because I am quite familiar with those who have what has been described by one of my favourite authors as, 'a scriptural fetish'.

As Crasby extols there are those Christians who often appear more keen to use the bible and the faith to legitimise their prejudices than to live out the message of love, peace, and justice that I find in the book. It can only be the hope of the rest of us that the worst of your excesses might be tempered by the true gift to mankind found within its pages.

Now to the scriptures

Matthew:24 ;

 37But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Compare this to Luke:17;

26And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
Cont...

Cont...
 27They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
 28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
 29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
 30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
 31In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
 32Remember Lot's wife.
 33Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
 34I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
 35Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
 36Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

By introducing in this later gospel the references to Sodom and Lot then the two men in the one bed it is obvious where the writer of Luke was taking us. Just as Jesus failed to stone adulteresses and condemn working on the Sabbath, this is a fairly blatant message that sexual orientation is not a determinant of who 'be taken' into the Kingdom.

While Paul (of whom Spong's exploration of his probable sexuality is enlightening) froths at the mouth, even calling for those who can resist to turn from marriage, the writer of Luke gives a hint at the absolute grace on offer to those who believe.

I would kindly invite you to open your eyes to some of the more nuanced messages in the bible and perhaps you too can experience that grace.