Fractelle,

I don’t know how you leapt from Ecclesiastes 7:20 to “that includes god as well as all Christians”. But spot on, re: Christians.

Non-believers instinctively know when a Christian is being hypocritical, and are quick to point out our failure to show love, or slowness to embrace the “unloved”.

We’re easy targets for such criticism, after all, claiming to model ourselves on the one man, the only one in the history of mankind, who stands apart from Ecclesiastes 7:20, the one who “doeth good, and sinneth not”. Try to imagine the joy of finding that one and abiding in Him, being confronted daily by failure, and watching others celebrate your weaknesses (!)

Note the gleeful clapping of hands when we fail to perfectly emulate Jesus Christ, and the crow of victory in the “discovery” of the huge gap between our claims and our reality.

It is hard to come to grips with our (unfortunate) lack of humility and our boast of knowing the “truth”, and the many contradictions of the Christian walk. Then, there are the few on the fringes, who are not just “run of the mill” sinners like you and I, but murderers, rapists, child-molesters, who dare make the same claims (and taint us all further).

Notice how runner lumps homosexuals in with adulterers and liars. Biblically, some sins have more gravity, but all is sin to a holy God. The cure that runner gives is simply this: “they need to turn from their sin”.

I don’t favour runner’s tendency to antagonize and agitate y’all through being so NON-PC, and a heavy reliance on the Pentecostal interpretation, however, I can’t accuse runner of biblical errancy.

Now, you don’t sit and discuss this with a lesbian and her partner over dinner . Nor do you rant and rave about the wrongness of their lifestyle, express joy over their new rights as parents under Australian laws or extend a welcome into the capitalist fold.

As a Christian, a woman, and a mother, I am genuinely happy to enjoy the privilige of their company and share their anxiety over a new pregnancy.

I agree with TRTL about the absence of a capitalist conspiracy, especially one backed by a religious element.

And Suebdootwo - bringing Penny Wong’s sexual preferences to our attention (changes nothing), except it does show that one can defend a party preference over a personal one, which, while I question her motivations, gives me a strange sense of hope that others might follow and put our needs as a nation, above that of the individual.

Runner

I don't believe in sin, least of all that normal human behaviour should be criminalised or stigmatised, or characterised in that way for the benefit of religious fanatics. I was trying to point out the hypocrisy of the Christian Taliban on this site.

And I certainly don't think there is a conspiracy of the bourgeoisie and religion, although at times given the fervent homophobia both the ruling class and religious fundamentalism dsiplay, you could make that argument.

People can (mis)read into my articles what they want.

I would be interested in your thoughts...

I was wondering why is homosexuality so reviled and hated in every culture (except ours in recent years)?

What motivates this hatred?

My best guess so far is that homosexuality is a rejection of male responsibility. For every homosexual, there is an un-wed, childless woman, or an abandoned one.

In these days where the "marriage Strike" is hitting women so hard, with so many willing women being unable to find a man willing to marry them, the question is espicially pertinent. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_strike)

It's just maths... equal numbers of men and woman are born (pretty much). Homosexuality dooms women to spinsterhood or abandonment.

Katie

I do not expect christians to behave all exactly like JC - what an absurdity. I expect christians to behave like the rest of us - human with all the frailties the come with being human.

Where I draw the line is being dictated to.

You appear to be apologising for Runner - he never contributes to a debate - instead he constantly maligns those with whom he disagrees.

That there is a trend for both right-wing conservatives and fundamentalist religious to discriminate against gays and lesbians is demonstrated by politicians, media and religious leaders all the time.

PartTimeParent

You claimed that "It's just maths... equal numbers of men and woman are born (pretty much). Homosexuality dooms women to spinsterhood or abandonment."

ROFL

NO. I think you have forgotten LESBIANS! Yup, some women prefer other women. See, it all works out in the end.

BTW, many straights choose to be single, so I really don't get what you mean by 'spinsterhood'.

katieO,

With all due respects calling sinners to turn from sin isn't Pentecostal doctrine it is bible doctrine. You might disagree with my method which you are entitled to do but don't marginalize one of the core teaching of Christ.