Runner I believe in this thread we are discussing Christian attitudes toward non-Christians. This is the problem Kevin Rudd has taken upon himself. As we have witnessed in this thread is that the basis of Christianity is bigotry and prejudice and Kevin Rudds task is hopeless. God is gay is to demonstrate that when a Christian speaks for Gods preference he/she is only articulating his/her own prejudices because everything that is said about god comes from the imagination from the believer. For those subjugated by the fraternity of conmen or clergy as otherwise known the fictional work of the Bible is the guide. In the case of Homosexuality genesis defines God as homosexual. Christians worship a homosexual idol but also seek to persecute homosexuals.

"You are all right (in your own tiny little minds)"

"You are all wrong (taken from a larger all-encompassing viewpoint such as my own)"

"Now can we move along to the next thread? I think we are about done here"

Signed,

You know who ; )

Hi Snout.. wow.. you ploughed through Deuteronomy ? :) well done !

I just point out that the covenant and its included 'blessings and curses' was indeed for Israel.
For us ? well.. that will always be conjectural. I find myself attracted to the idea that there will be an occasional divine reminder of spiritual waywardness on a city or state level though.

I'm rejoicing about one thing especially in your post.. that you recognize the 'time and place' aspect of the document. "You are close to the kingdom".....

At the risk of totally annoying you :) why not read Genesis from Chapter 10 to the end of the book? The Table of nations (the part about where all the races came from in chapter 11) has astounded anthropologists and archeologists due to its 'lack' of emphasis on the specialness of Israel, this is most stark when compared with similiar tables of nations listed for say Egyptians or Assyrians etc.. who without exception use such things to underscore their national pre-eminence and the superiority of their gods.

See 10:4 and 5 its brilliant. No possible explaination other than simply informing of truth. Do a search on "Nimrod". Real person ? :)
Note the reference to a PROVERB "A mighty hunter like Nimrod" .. this blows my anthropologically trained mind ! turn on that thinking cap now...
I should recap here..that this all is so meaningful to me because of my time with the Indigenous people of Borneo who have similiar traditions for their own history.

Honest reflection on the Genesis record, will show that God/Yahweh was the prime mover...and there is no hint of 'invention of the people' because the people were always trying to run to Baal etc who was more morally convenient. There is no logical or humanly explainable reason for the emergence of Israel other than God being at work in Salvation history.
cheers and sorry to tease :)

“…he never angrily says that Christians are obsessed with homosexuals.”

"Probably because most christians aren’t."

Absolutely!

"The problem is that the one-third, and the other less tolerant christian denominations actively campaign against homosexuals..."

No. Not every Christian who considers homosexuality a sin "actively campaigns". Most Christians haven't developed the activist mentality of homosexuals. The society was Christian and there was no reason to do anything. Now they are vilified by homosexuals.

"Earlier this week the WA Christian Democratic Party put out a newsletter urging “that a massive campaign be launched by all Christians to fight on these three [gay rights] battle fields,” and Gordon Moyes issued a press release entitled “Gay Rights or Religious Rights?”

If those people accounted for one third of Christians Christian Democrats would have more seats.

I don't know the context but Peter Jensen is probably correct - for the Anglican church. Irrespective of ideological viewpoint it has been fading into secular society for some time. It seems close to death and more fading would be the death knell.

"It is quite typical for the christian religious right to portray their activism against gay rights as fight to the death, a zero-sum game where the possibility of living alongside each other peacefully is excluded."

Christians have been living alongside homosexuals for many centuries. I know for a group claiming minority status homosexuals are very well resourced and powerful. Apart from having above average earnings they enjoy representatives in Federal Parliament and the High Court bench. This would not have been possible in most non-Christian societies. Yet homosexuals still consider it necessary to crusade against the scourge of Christianity - even rainbow sashing in Churches. Are you sure the religious right aren't reacting defensively? When I see the hatred directed toward Christians in here I start to wonder.

"The term “christian bashers” is a rather extreme term to describe those who are critical of this kind of rhetoric..."

Although you already know I can make obvious responses I'll concede that I asked for that by using that term.

Lets face it - a good few of the posters here - and indeed else where when it come to anything religious - are a couple of phenothiazines short of a good conversation - lets end this one now shall we?

mjpb Christians have been persecuting many different types of people for centuries. Christians when in power only live along side somebody else if they are unaware of their existence. Many groups learned to hide themselves over the centuries because if they were discovered the Christians would have tortured and murdered them. Christians cannot break from their past, you cannot choose to be a Christian unless you fully agree with its crimes. The philosophy is far too integrated with its actions. This is why Kevin Rudd is falling on deaf ears. Christainity has always and is currently cruising to persecute somebody.