Rhian,

That was a very succinct response to Philo. Well done!

I don't think I would accept that "Cherry Picking" argument if it were to be used against you by fundamentalists, as from my experience they tend to be equal at cherry picking or worse.

If they pull out the "God hates Gays' line they can't ignore Moses' other teachings. They can't ignore what Jesus taught about money...It is very precise.

Luke 18:22-25

http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Luke+18%3A22-25&version1=9

So because that doesn't suit them they wander off into Paul, (a man's teachings), disregarding the fact that Paul was a Pharisee and ignoring what Jesus taught about Pharisees calling them snakes etc..

Acts 23:6 http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Acts+23%3A6+&version1=9

Jesus on Pharisees Matthew 23 http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Matthew%2023&version1=9

But worse Paul continued on his Pharisee ways with

1 Corinthians 14:34-35

“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.

And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.”

Paul was simply wrong here! Why should any man be allowed to oppress 50% of God's creations like this?

Saltpetre,

All Abrahamic religions think Moses was something special, thus ignoring the evil traits purported to be given by him as laws.

Check out this one Deuteronomy 22:20-21...http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Deuteronomy+22%3A20-21&version1=9

By any measure this is not a reasonable test for virginity!

Are you quite happy to allow gay people to miss out on marriage and all that entails for world peace? WOW!

Philo,

You said "Both are sexual sins that despise the ordained order of a healthy society".

You have no right to declare what and what is not a sin. You had better go back to the ugly Moses' laws for a refresher course.

Furthermore do you pass the Jesus teachings of sexual sin to be throwing this stone?

Adultery http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Matthew+5%3A27-28&version1=9

Philo have you entered into this dangerous area with your posts here?

Matthew 7:20-23...http://bibleresources.bible.com/passagesearchresults.php?passage1=Matthew+7%3A20-23&version1=9

Are you running the risk that Jesus might disown you?

Thanks Opinionated

Many bible scholars believe that the most misogynist bits of the Pauline epistles were not written by Paul himself but by later people writing in his name (a common practice at the time), or amending his works.

1 Corinthians 14:33b-36 is almost certainly a later insert (see the reasoning here):

http://books.google.com.au/books?id=3LAfdtprc_QC&pg=PA55&dq=%22women+%22+silence+subject:%22religion%22+intitle:paul+pseudo&hl=en&ei=A5WSToeyKqOImQXhqcAm&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEYQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=silence&f=false

Philo,
I imagine if one observes proper hygeine and doesn't assault the anus with anything to large or assymetrical, the health consequences are probably insignificant. I'm more interested in the popular penchant for it than the act. As far as I know the sphincter is not an erogenous zone, so one wonders at the appetite.
Saltpetre, you appear to associate anal intercourse with homosexuality--"Could it be that "latent" homosexuality may in fact be a common facet of the human animal"--yet I think I'm right in saying that though many men experiment with homosexuality, most are straight most of the time.
No, it seems to me that the male fascination for anal intercourse is focused mainly on women, and that it's about power and dominance over her. Indeed I would speculate that those women who enjoy anal intercourse--and a great many who are in denial, or only fantasise about it--are getting off on the same thing, being the focus of and utterly subjected by all that bestial sexual energy.

Squeers,

Men probably feel that same sort of power and dominance in ordinary sex (?) - or could it have something to do with the sexual position in anal sex?
And perhaps women often experience the same sort of turn on in being utterly dominated in ordinary sex...perhaps anal sex heightens the carnal aspect for those who enjoy it.

Thanks for your bravery in considering this sensitive topic, Poirot--the ladies here seem rather bashful..
I can't speak for other men, but in most of my sexual experience it hasn't been about me dominating, but in postpong my pleasure in the efforts to gratify the partner. It seems to me that the utmost in sexual pleasure is reciprocation--I'm turned on by turning her on, a feat I've managed to pull off once or twice in my modest experience.
I think it's true about women wanting to be dominated too; missionary with one leg hitched up at an improbable angle, by the male, so as to maximise penetration, is always a hit. Anal sex would seem to be the next level of escalation..
It must be a real bummer for gays.. anal sex would be just... normal : (

Opinionated2
Obviously you have no sense of discernment of right and wrong about human behaviour.

How is the denial of registation by the Government of gay sex to be considered as marriage going to affect world peace? WOW!