Gibo,

You comments confirm to me that you should read Anthony Venn-Brown's book. I know I'm going to see if I can get one today. I've seen it in Border's bookshop.

Anthony Venn-Brown struggled for years to try and break free from being gay. He has counselling, exorcisms, he was married and he still couldn't break free. He's not blaming the AOG for what you call his "Sin". (He still attends an AOG church) The fact is that many gay people cannot help being gay, and would like to change if they could. It's been scientifically proven that there is a gay gene, so we have to look at what the Bible was really saying. Some people say that the words used for homosexuality being a sin in the Bible actually translates to a promiscuous type of homosexuality rather than a monogamous relationship. Many Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders are now accepting of gays, including the very well respected Tony Campolo.

Even is homosexuality in a monogamous relationship is a sin, we have no right to judge them, and should take a good look at our own lives first.

"Theres some very poor understanding of homosexuality here. "

That was a very accurate summary of the content which followed.

R0bert

jpw2040

"Love is greater than pre-conceptions, more powerful than neighbours’ opinions, stronger than homophobia and prejudice."

Well said.

SPKOUT the comments by people like Poly, Gibo and Runner are all about intolerance and, as such, may burden you with sadness - if you let them (thanks examinator). The hate from bigots is nothing, as jpw2040 has very aptly made clear Love is far greater and I notice that love is the winner among the many responses to your original post.

Love.

Gibo,with all due respect my family are not cursed. They are blessed with the virtue that god says a human being will be given no more in life than they can cope with.We are very blessed due to the fact that every child born to my family in this generation are naturally straight A students with music sport and all other talents abounding. (hard work for all their parents who never ever push them but do support them) all have issues of one type or another. Being gay is my nephews issue! and all are either serving or potentially serving in God given voccations such as law, medicine,social work etc, including my nephew.When he stands in judgement along beside you Gibby, will you be able to say the same.How do you know that part of my God given journey at this very momment, is to educate ignorant people like yourself, who dispel the nature of God which is love.?Perhaps not a choice I would make, but nevertheless questionable!I wonder!

Gibo,

“I appreciate conflict within.”

I won’t argue. I can’t read your mind. However it just doesn’t sound like it sometimes. If there is a mismatch between what you appreciate and what you write you should be more careful.

CJ,

“I'm heartened to see that mjpb seems to have moderated his/her attitude to gay people lately. Excellent stuff!”

No way! I just haven’t triggered off any paranoia or had anything to add that wasn’t liked.

Ludwig,

“Homosexuality is not a choice for some…has proven to be unsuccessful.”

Thoughtful take on something normally caricatured by both sides. I won’t get pedantic about it because you deserve credit for that. It is a refreshing change in these types of discussions.

jpw2040,

Damnit when you start saying that I know I have a problem. More understanding/empathy perhaps but I believe the compassion has always been there and even Gibo’s apparently insensitive comments which appeared to lack appreciation for the plight of a gay teenager are spoken out of love as much as you want to pretend it is from hate. Further, I am a Christian so I’m naturally going to lean toward being tougher on those in my group than those who don’t have the same belief system (when I’m not under attack). Welcome back anyway. How did the bigger fish frying go?

Yabby et al,

So we know it is caused by a sex hormone imbalance, or defective brain chemistry due to stress, or definitely genetic.

Gibo et al.

So we definitely know that it is just a demonic temptation resulting from the sins of our ancestors.

Both of the above groups,

I admire your confidence. Good luck in persuading people who don’t accept things on faith of these ‘facts’.

Steel Mann,

The 60%?

“Even if homosexuality in a monogamous relationship is a sin, we have no right to judge them, and should take a good look at our own lives first.”

Does your “if” indicate that you backing off from the assumption it is a splinter?

I made a spelling mistake mjpb. The fact is we need to remove the log from our own eye first, before we try to remove splinters from other people's eyes.