XD ROFL @ HSW's pic
Blame the bi-guy, just cuz I'm stuck in the middle! *snort* ^^
And even if my sig IS hugenomolous, it only speaks the truth. Gwahahaha! 
"Do not lie with a male as you would a woman"
That's lie as in like liar liar, pants on fire. You got no need to lie to another man. Now with a woman, well think about it! "Yes I'm listening." "No I don't think you look fat in those pants." "Yes, I know what you mean." It's been going on for generation!
No need to pull that off with another man!
X3
SNAP! @ Jin!
That's more or less EXACTLY what I said in the chat when Ziggles posted it :3
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Now, I'm against homosexuality. According to the Bible, it is an abomination against God's design.
But despite that, there's free will.
And that's why that, despite my dislike for those who choose homosexuality, I'm not going to actively convert them against their will. God gave free will...and as such, mankind has the ability to choose to do good or evil.
I may not like homosexuality...but it's something I have to live with in today's world.
Saying you're against homosexuality is like saying you're against gravity. You can say whatever you want but in the end it's not going to achieve anything, cause gravity is here, has always been here, and will always be here. You may as well just accept it, if not embrace it.
I don't think I need to point out that being gay isn't a thing that anyone chooses; and you've got as much chance of "converting" someone to being straight as I do of being announced the next king of England.
And if your god is as all-powerful as your religion claims he is, then how is it possible that he made such a glaring mistake and made me attracted to other guys instead of girls? For someone who's omnipotent, it seems a bit weak for him to have screwed up so badly and have to rely on his creations to tell me what I'm allowed and not allowed to do.
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Marriage is a little more serious as the partners can (usually) bear children together.
People don't have to be married to have kids together. They don't even have to know each other.
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And if your god is as all-powerful as your religion claims he is, then how is it possible that he made such a glaring mistake and made me attracted to other guys instead of girls?
It's called free will.
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I don't think I need to point out that being gay isn't a thing that anyone chooses; and you've got as much chance of "converting" someone to being straight as I do of being announced the next king of England.
And for the record, it has happened before.
And if your god is as all-powerful as your religion claims he is, then how is it possible that he made such a glaring mistake and made me attracted to other guys instead of girls? For someone who's omnipotent, it seems a bit weak for him to have screwed up so badly and have to rely on his creations to tell me what I'm allowed and not allowed to do.
You're not giving full consideration to the rules, though, or whether God even cares. When I play The Sims, I tend to create the family, build the house, and then sit back and let the sims do their thing. If they mess up their house, don't do their homework, and leave food lying around, that's their personality manifesting itself. I might occasionally wield my divine influence to get them to do certain things they're incapable of doing on their own (for whatever reason) like finding a job, but other than that, I prefer to observe.
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It's called free will.
Yes, and as I already said, being gay isn't a choice. Free will and homosexuality have got nothing to do with each other.
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And for the record, it has happened before.
And to be honest, that's a load of crap. Confusion or repression, take your pick, but I'm yet to see any convincing evidence of people changing sexualities for whatever reason, let alone praying hard enough. And if we were to accept it as true, your argument is still flawed - even if it were possible for some people, it doesn't mean it's possible for all - and you're assuming that gays *want* to be changed.
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You're not giving full consideration to the rules, though, or whether God even cares. When I play The Sims, I tend to create the family, build the house, and then sit back and let the sims do their thing. If they mess up their house, don't do their homework, and leave food lying around, that's their personality manifesting itself. I might occasionally wield my divine influence to get them to do certain things they're incapable of doing on their own (for whatever reason) like finding a job, but other than that, I prefer to observe.
I completely get what you mean, but the analogy doesn't work. Omnipotence and omniscience - supposed attributes of the Christian god - don't leave a lot of wiggle room. You didn't create your Sim family knowing every single thing that they would do from birth to Grim Reaper; the difference is that god apparently does. If (a) god created me, he created me knowing full well that I'd be gay.
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And to be honest, that's a load of crap. Confusion or repression, take your pick, but I'm yet to see any convincing evidence of people changing sexualities for whatever reason, let alone praying hard enough. And if we were to accept it as true, your argument is still flawed - even if it were possible for some people, it doesn't mean it's possible for all - and you're assuming that gays *want* to be changed.
Your choice pal. Fact of the matter is, there ARE 'ex-homosexuals', and some homosexuals DO want to be changed.
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I completely get what you mean, but the analogy doesn't work. Omnipotence and omniscience - supposed attributes of the Christian god - don't leave a lot of wiggle room.
Dude. Free will. As in, freedom to love God as much as we have the freedom to disregard Him or even to curse Him. It's like creating automatons that do nothing except serve you without question and without a choice in the matter; what's the joy in that?
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If (a) god created me, he created me knowing full well that I'd be gay.
And despite your words, a 'gay' gene has yet to be discovered. Sorry, I don't buy it.
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and some homosexuals DO want to be changed.
I'm sure that someone constantly being harassed, insulted, told they're going to hell, called a pervert, attacked, disowned by family members, etc. for being themselves (in a manner that does not inherently hurt anyone else to boot) would fall into that category.
Of course, it's not the homosexuality itself that all that stems from - just the way people decide to react to it. If they choose to react hatefully, who's really in the wrong?
If you believe in God, it's not up to you to judge anyone to begin with.
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If you believe in God, it's not up to you to judge anyone to begin with.
Behavior that's sinful is sinful. Just because I happen to judge sinful behavior as sinful doesn't mean I'm going to punish them for it. That, ultimately, is reserved in the end for God.
If you're not doing the whole GAWD WARRIOR!!!! @___x; thing, tten stop fighting a battle that's already lost, sillypants :3 after they die what will be will be, doesn't stop UK = gay council approved union with documents and benefits which are fitting to anyone who is in a relationship.
It'd be so much easier if they just gave it a politically correct name so that marriage isn't a religious issue. Seriously, you'd think a couple having the right to maintain ownership (ie. be "next of kin") and have the various benefits of home ownership, insurance, tax and so forth would be something that didn't really concern god.
It'd just clear up the whole issue, wouldn't you think? People always associate the term "marriage" with "under the eyes of god", but that's clearly not what this is about, it's legal, not spiritual.
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And despite your words, a 'gay' gene has yet to be discovered.
Nor have 'straight' genes.
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Fact of the matter is, there ARE 'ex-homosexuals', and some homosexuals DO want to be changed.
The same thing ("wanting to be changed") happened with Blacks and there were documented attempts. All of it stemmed from the way Blacks were treated by the mainstream culture at the time. Oh, and another lovely example is the whole "left-handed people are evil" and forcing people who were born left-handed to become right-handed. One of my aunts went through a lot of stuff as a child due to those who at one time fervently believed that being born left-handed was an active choice that needed to be corrected. My father, who is also left-handed, was "lucky" in that he ended up having a teacher who rejected that stuff.
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It'd be so much easier if they just gave it a politically correct name so that marriage isn't a religious issue. Seriously, you'd think a couple having the right to maintain ownership (ie. be "next of kin") and have the various benefits of home ownership, insurance, tax and so forth would be something that didn't really concern god.
No it wouldn't as some people don't even want gays/lesbians to have civil unions--basically some don't want them to have the same legal rights as heterosexual couples. Oh, and many places that do allow gays/lesbians to "marry" do use "politically correct" terms. The uproar still exists for some people just the same.
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Your choice pal. Fact of the matter is, there ARE 'ex-homosexuals', and some homosexuals DO want to be changed.
I'm sorry if this sounds incredibly arrogant, but I'm never going to be able to accept a straight person's word that gays can become straight. No offense, but you know absolutely nothing about it, and you can read all your biased propaganda as much as you want, but it simply doesn't compare to experiencing it first hand. I'm not going to waste my time trying to convince you of something you're determined not to believe.
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Dude. Free will. As in, freedom to love God as much as we have the freedom to disregard Him or even to curse Him. It's like creating automatons that do nothing except serve you without question and without a choice in the matter; what's the joy in that?
That's very nice, but I don't really see how it's relevant. I could get into some long diatribe about the various philosophies behind whether we have the free will to worship an all-powerful being or not, but this isn't the place and I can't be bothered.
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And despite your words, a 'gay' gene has yet to be discovered. Sorry, I don't buy it.
Um, what? That's got nothing to do with what I said. Like TR said, there's no "straight" gene, but what you're saying is irrelevant. All I'm pointing out is that your god is apparently infallible, your god apparently created me, and therefore I must be exactly the way your god wanted me to be. Genetics have nothing to do with it, especially since we tend to have to disregard science whenever religion enters the issue.
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I'm sure that someone constantly being harassed, insulted, told they're going to hell, called a pervert, attacked, disowned by family members, etc. for being themselves (in a manner that does not inherently hurt anyone else to boot) would fall into that category.
Of course, it's not the homosexuality itself that all that stems from - just the way people decide to react to it. If they choose to react hatefully, who's really in the wrong?
Exactly. Have there been times I wish I was straight? Of course. But it's not because I feel sinful or whatever because of my supposed heathen ways, it's just because I'm tired of being accused of being sinful. I'm not the one with the problem.
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Behavior that's sinful is sinful. Just because I happen to judge sinful behavior as sinful doesn't mean I'm going to punish them for it. That, ultimately, is reserved in the end for God.
So is that a "they'll get theirs yet" sort of thing?
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as a Christian, I shouldn't judge these people. There's only One who can do that, so...
you see the same way as me on this, DDK. like rico said, i wish more of us felt this way about others.
OK, first off, from the article Ultra linked earlier:
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"Boston gay activists have decided that this is a message they don't want people to be able to hear," the organization said on its website.
Har har har. Repression of freedom of speech anyone?
Now, in reply to some of what MattManic said.
A few details about myself. I'm a guy. I'm straight. I'm a Christian. Thusly, I believe I was created by God.
I am, however, human. And therefore, I am not perfect. We are not created perfect. If you believe God creates us exactly as we are meant to be, I don't think you're entirely correct. If we were created EXACTLY as we're meant to be, we'd have no choice in the matter. We'd be designed to do EXACTLY as God wants.
I don't think I have to spell it out that I'm not absolutely perfect. I do bad things, and I know I'm doing them, but many times it doesn't stop me.
Now for a little more interesting stuff.
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...but I'm never going to be able to accept a straight person's word that gays can become straight.
In spite of the fact that it's well-documented that straight people can become gay? Sexuality and sexual preference is a two-way street. If you can't accept that, you're as hypocritical as you make others out to be.
I'll freely admit I've had the odd homosexual urge in my time. It's a matter of how I chose to act on that when it came up. In my case, I decided not to act on it. That said, I can still see why some members of the same sex are found attractive. I don't mind saying so though, because I'm aware it's fairly normal for such things to occur when a person is still growing into sexuality.
In the end, it's a matter of the choice someone makes. Some of us choose to be with members of the same gender, some of us choose the opposite. In the end, it's probably very much a psychological thing as to where you end up. If you're happy as you are, people should respect that. If any aspect of you is going to change, it'll be when you make the choice to change it. I do wish some other Christians would realise this and stop actively trying to change people against their will. What we're supposed to do is just let people know the pros and cons of what they're doing and the difference Christianity makes, unless I read the Great Commission (end of most of the Gospels) wrong. Christians would be a bit more popular if some of them would ease up off people's backs.
Anyway, I've prattled on long enough. For the record though, I'm of the opinion both Ultra and Matt are making more of a fuss in their argument with each other than is necessary.
As for the original subject line of the thread... well, I already gave comments earlier. I'm not especially surprised about it happening. I'm just interested to see how it affects the country as a whole.
~LightStrike, aka SilverShadow.
It wont... Supermarkets will start doing the "Mr and MR" or "Mrs and Mrs" wedding cards and so on and so forth, kids in the play ground will get teased but thats about it...
And wedding cards are already there, already pink and blue and nausiating so it's no change there, and kids already get teased at school for other things like "Having a blue rucksack" or "Being a bit of an idiot."
Come on, this isn't going to affect the number of gay couples. There are already loads of gay couples, just because their married it doesnt make a difference, they were already together just not married. For a few days, maybe weeks or even months, there'll be a media frenzy, then it'll die down and nothing much will of changed except a few people will be happier that they can finally call their life partners husbands/wives, (good for them) and a few righteous bastards who think they know best and hate change of any kind won't be (they're already unhappy though about the tax laws, the fact black people are allowed to become postmen and that women have the vote, so no change there 
)
If the net effect of this rule is a few people get happy? It's probably a good thing isn't it?
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I don't think I need to point out that being gay isn't a thing that anyone chooses; and you've got as much chance of "converting" someone to being straight as I do of being announced the next king of England.
There is Abolsutely 0 chance of you ever being the king of england, such a position does not exist...
There is a position called King/Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain (sometimes they add in AND NORTHERN IRELAND, but come on we all know it's an added optional bonus thingie... )...
There are princes of wales... Dukes of Ediburgh (in Scotland) but no King of Englands...
And it's all you Americans, you keep calling the UK ENGLAND, it's no wonder the Scotts are getting restless, stop stirring them, it's making them jealous. 
*Applauds Swifty* Nicely said, dude. It's done, it's a good thing, no need to piss and moan.
Is there really any need to be even debating over this?
I'm just asking.
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That's very nice, but I don't really see how it's relevant
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All I'm pointing out is that your god is apparently infallible, your god apparently created me, and therefore I must be exactly the way your god wanted me to be.
As LightStrike pointed out, we're not perfect. We have the choice to live a moral life, or to live a sinful life, a choice to make bad decisions, a choice to sleep more than usual, and so on and so forth ad nauseum.
Choices. God provides the template. The human (you, me, everyone) makes the decisions as to what he does with himself.
Moving.
No, its not kaze. One side is going to insist they know that all gays chose to be gay (even though they can be killed and will be hated for it until the world wakes up) and continually preach about the immoral sin it is (even though all sins are equal and the person preach is usually just a guilty as a very active gay guy). The other side will always have nutjobs dancing around in pink "i kiss boys" shirts in penn avenue proclaiming that they "Can be gay like a beast and everyone just needs to be nithe."
And the rest of us will be sitting here going, "Um... who the {Geogwe} cares? Lets just give the gay people the same rights as everyone else and move on to more important things... like poverty, illness, hunger, peace, and GW's next grammatical blunder."
~Rico (Yes, I am using Geo as a filter for my profanity. You know he loves the attention. :3)
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In spite of the fact that it's well-documented that straight people can become gay? Sexuality and sexual preference is a two-way street. If you can't accept that, you're as hypocritical as you make others out to be.
Well-documented, huh? As in there's actual proof that these people were straight, and then something about them changed, and they were all of a sudden gay? Are you sure you're not just misinterpreting people that have always been gay and just repressed themselves?
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I'll freely admit I've had the odd homosexual urge in my time. It's a matter of how I chose to act on that when it came up. In my case, I decided not to act on it. That said, I can still see why some members of the same sex are found attractive. I don't mind saying so though, because I'm aware it's fairly normal for such things to occur when a person is still growing into sexuality.
Kinsey scale. Every now and again, there's a girl I'm drawn to as well. Doesn't make me straight though.
As for the choice factor, yeah, we do *choose* the gender of whatever partner we decide to be with, but the choice is no greater than choosing between toast or cereal for breakfast. Sure, I have a choice about whether to be with a man or a woman - but so do you.
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As LightStrike pointed out, we're not perfect. We have the choice to live a moral life, or to live a sinful life, a choice to make bad decisions, a choice to sleep more than usual, and so on and so forth ad nauseum.
Choices. God provides the template. The human (you, me, everyone) makes the decisions as to what he does with himself.
If all god does is make us as a template, that'd seem to imply that he has no further investment in our lives after conception. Surely that can't be right.
Have you ever heard of the problem of evil argument? God loves us, he can do anything and knows everything, so why do we still suffer evil when a being that loves us has the power to protect us (and since he knows what will happen and indeed created it himself, is somewhat morally obligated to?) You can reply with free will, but that doesn't always hold up - take last year's tsunami, for example.
Anyway, my point is, the same logic applies here - when god created us, he must have known everything about our lives. I don't really see how you can have "created by omniscient being" and real free will in the same context.
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And it's all you Americans, you keep calling the UK ENGLAND, it's no wonder the Scotts are getting restless, stop stirring them, it's making them jealous.
Australian, actually. But sorry 
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Now, I'm against homosexuality. According to the Bible, it is an abomination against God's design.
And gets exactly as much space as eating prawns, in the same book of the bible. I don't see campaigns to ban that in either UK or US.
Amd for the record, the statute does not legalise gay marriage. The statute doesn't even mention marriage. it creates civil partnerships for a pair of people who wish to have the same tax rights etc as married couples, and is also being used by people who aren't in any kind of sexual relationship, such as brothers and sisters, as well as being an alternative to marriage for some straight couples.
It's not gay marriage. It's gay tax exemption. Just because the media interpret it otherwise doesn't make it so.
Now will people stop getting so overexcited?
On a completely different note, I also am unhappy about our age of consent being under 18. But that's just me.
Hmm. I've been reading through this topic, and it took me almost two hours to get through 
To be quite honest, I have to agree with Ultra in many cases. Now hold your horses before you go off and say I'm some kind of anti-homosexual bigot, because I'm not. I'm simply agreeing with the evidence he proposed, and Ultra isn't trying to be some kind of a bigot in any case. He isn't trying to bring down gays.
(Also keep in mind that I'm not showing any favoritism towards Ultra by agreeing with his arguement. )
My official stance on homosexuality is neutrality. I'm neither for nor against it. I don't support it because of the Bible, but there are other reasons I'm not for it either. You can discredit the Bible for creation all you like, I'm a creationist, most of us Christians are. That doesn't stop me from believing in it. However I disgress. Evolution itself can go against you in this case. The dominate sexuality is heterosexuality, and while TR pointed out there isn't a straight gene, as opposed to there being a gay gene, I don't really see how that's relevant. I guess that makes it a choice now doesn't it? Because I cannot see any other determining factors. I believe there are also very little to no difference in the brain waves between a gay male and a straight male, same with straight women and lesbien women. Homosexuality would go against evolution because evolution is supposed to be a progression of a species if I'm to be correct, to evolve into something far more improved than the previous generation, and if not it dies out. The problem is, homosexuals mate with the same sex, and are thus unable to produce offspring to carry on these traits. Therefore, it's something that could potentially die out anyway. Of course, the majority of people are straight anyway, the homosexual had to get this "trait" from straight parents, unless of course the homosexual had sex with the same sex. How likely is that unless they were bi?
But maybe I'm just confusing myself.
Looking at our biological and reproductive systems, either we were designed, or evolved for sexual reproduction, which would require both a male and a female. I of course believe we're designed, the male and female parts fit together like a puzzle. Two of the same parts do not fit together. Men and Women are two parts of the same whole. They both make up the human race and are essential for the survival of the race. If we were meant to have homosexual relations, we wouldn't need two sexes to begin with! We'd all be the same sex, quite possibly with both sets of organs if sexual reproduction was still a choice.
I of course, believe we were designed.
Now, I don't want to make this sound like an ignorant slanderous arguement either. Yes I realize that homosexuals can create homes for children who don't have them, and there's no reason at all why we should keep them from or take away their rights for being homosexuals. That doesn't mean we should grant them special privaledges for being gay either. I don't believe homosexuality will lead to other sins, it's a sin in itself, again this is my opinion, that really isn't as big a deal as any other sin. A sin is a sin, whether it's murdering someone or stealing a candy bar. Homosexuality shouldn't in my opinion be treated as any less or more of a sin than any other sin.
But that's just my opinion. It isn't my place to judge homosexuals, I have friends that are both gay and bi. I don't judge them, it's their own choice, as long as I don't have to be involved that's cool. I don't believe we should condemn them, or keep them from going to church, or label them any more of a sinner than us, we're all sinners after all. We'll tell them the truth, what we Christians believe to be the truth anyway, whether or not they accept it as such is their choice, no more or less than an athiest who rejects the Bible.
There. And I do appoligize if I offended anyone, that really wasn't my intention in the least bit, I was merely adding to the conversation.
And finally, I can probably agree with civil unions. I wouldn't call this marriage persay because, it's impossible for two men or two women to be spiritually united. Give them rights. I really don't care. I have nothing against them or they against me. The only thing I don't want to see happening is them getting special prevalages and suddenly it's a hate crime to hit or insult a homosexual for being gay. Especially since anyone can play that card when it comes right down to it.
Oh you hit me, you must hate me because you're gay! I'm gonna sue you waah!
Huh? But you're not gay..
Shut up I'm sueing you because I said so because I'm gay.
But dude, you're not
SHUT UP!
Though personally I'm against having hate crime laws myself, because I don't think it's fair to white men or women, though especially white straight men to not be able to beat a black man, but it's ok for a black man to hit/abuse them for being white. Or the same with a woman hitting a guy, or even as I addressed in my topic on men getting raped. Many times it doesn't even have to do with race, religion or gender. Sometimes you just don't like someone.
Ok. Case closed. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. *callaspe*
Ultra, you remind me of me when I was like, 11. Totally dogmatic and totally ignore all arguments against Christianity no matter how logical they were.
But anyway, why exact *is* being a homosexual sinful? Does it really harm anyone or do anything to hurt the world? And the whole "Because God doesn't think it's natural" or "Because they aren't being fruitful and multiplying" is total BS, because:
A) The world is over-populated enough as it is, and a lot of straight people aren't breeding.
B) Why would God even care?
You can't ask a religious person not to believe something God tells them, that would defeat the purpose of being a Christian.
Of course the fact remains that if its fine for them to tell us how immoral and sin-tastic gays are, its equally as fine for us to tell them that their arguement is about as logical as saying that since the bible doesn't mention gravity, we can fly if we believe it.
~Rico (There is no spoon.)
*shrug* Well I really hate to touch this subject to be honest because, I really don't want to hurt my "gay" friends. But this is also why I've chosen to be neutral on the subject. I figured it's the safest place to be since I really don't want to be against them...but...I can't really support them either. oo;
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Evolution itself can go against you in this case. The dominate sexuality is heterosexuality, and while TR pointed out there isn't a straight gene, as opposed to there being a gay gene, I don't really see how that's relevant. I guess that makes it a choice now doesn't it?
Just because something isn't genetic, it doesn't mean it's a choice. Phobias, anorexia, schizophrenia, anxiety - they're just a few examples, but I hope you realise that psychologists don't just make up behavioural conditions like that just for fun. I'm not claiming to know what causes homosexuality, but I do at least know it's out of our control.
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I believe there are also very little to no difference in the brain waves between a gay male and a straight male, same with straight women and lesbien women.
Straight men and lesbians have similar sized hypothalmuses; as do gay men and straight women.
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Homosexuality would go against evolution because evolution is supposed to be a progression of a species if I'm to be correct, to evolve into something far more improved than the previous generation, and if not it dies out. The problem is, homosexuals mate with the same sex, and are thus unable to produce offspring to carry on these traits. Therefore, it's something that could potentially die out anyway. Of course, the majority of people are straight anyway, the homosexual had to get this "trait" from straight parents, unless of course the homosexual had sex with the same sex. How likely is that unless they were bi?
Like I said before, no one knows the exact cause of people being gay, but it's obviously a lot more complicated than dominant and recessive genes. In other words, it's not something you'll be able to "breed out" of someone.
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Looking at our biological and reproductive systems, either we were designed, or evolved for sexual reproduction, which would require both a male and a female. I of course believe we're designed, the male and female parts fit together like a puzzle. Two of the same parts do not fit together. Men and Women are two parts of the same whole. They both make up the human race and are essential for the survival of the race. If we were meant to have homosexual relations, we wouldn't need two sexes to begin with! We'd all be the same sex, quite possibly with both sets of organs if sexual reproduction was still a choice.
Yeah, guys both have penises, and there's not a whole lot that can be done with just that - but you're ignoring the fact that "straight" vaginal sex is not the only way people can have sex together, gay or straight.
Millions of people are using their bodies in ways they obviously weren't designed for. Can you tell me that the sole purpose of earlobes is so that we can jab bits of metal through them?
And while I don't want to get into a huge theological debate, our bodies clearly don't always act in the way they were "designed" to. We have design flaws - people with sight or hearing disabilities, for starters.
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That doesn't mean we should grant them special privaledges for being gay either.
And if homosexuals were clamouring to be the ONLY people allowed to be married or adopt children, I'd agree. You can't be giving "special priveleges" to a minority group when you're just making them equal with the majority.
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A sin is a sin, whether it's murdering someone or stealing a candy bar.
And the award for Most Morally Flawed Judgement of 2005, goes to...
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it's impossible for two men or two women to be spiritually united.
Wrong again! Don't knock it till you've tried it.
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suddenly it's a hate crime to hit or insult a homosexual for being gay.
...I'm sorry, but how is absuing someone based on their sexuality anything BUT a hate crime? o_O
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*shrug* Well I really hate to touch this subject to be honest because, I really don't want to hurt my "gay" friends. But this is also why I've chosen to be neutral on the subject. I figured it's the safest place to be since I really don't want to be against them...but...I can't really support them either. oo;
If you were really their friend, you'd support them regardless. Don't bite your tongue if you want to say something, but don't expect you can ignore the problem by not saying anything.
Thats the second longest exercise in futility I've ever seen. The first was me trying to swap the snooze button with my eyes closed this morning.
Matt, can I call you matt or would you prefer sam, you won't change anyone's mind here. When people have decided to be hateful, thats what they'll be. Trying to reason with them does no good, as most people that hate are not reasonable people. I find it best to lightly mock and pity them, 2 seconds usually does it, then go on. I tried to argue and debate once, it didn't work, they just pull pages off dotcom sites and fling them around saying how immoral and evil people are.
Logical people know its bullcookie. Real Christians know that they can't judge or mistreat people based on this stuff. What are left are people you and I pity or don't want to talk to. In either case, there's no use arguing.
~Rico (Lets ask Mr. Owl)
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The dominate sexuality is heterosexuality, and while TR pointed out there isn't a straight gene, as opposed to there being a gay gene, I don't really see how that's relevant. I guess that makes it a choice now doesn't it?
Nope, though Matt already provided examples. My point was that not finding a gene for something doesn't mean something is a choice. As science develops, we're finding out a lot of reasons why people do things and it all ends up being based on how a bunch of things in our brain act. There are things people seemingly have in common in terms of how their brain functions which results in their behavior.
Of course, my actual fear is that one day we could discover a "sexuality gene" (I put it in quotes because I seriously doubt that we'd ever find just one thing factoring into sexuality--our brains & genetic code is much more complicated than that) and then due to the fact that people may be able to "design their own kid" that will be the doom to the diversity that exists naturally in the world.
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If we were meant to have homosexual relations, we wouldn't need two sexes to begin with!
Tell that to the animals that have homosexual relationships. ^_~ Remember, as humans we've "evolved" past the need for necessarily leaving offspring.
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Though personally I'm against having hate crime laws myself, because I don't think it's fair to white men or women, though especially white straight men to not be able to beat a black man, but it's ok for a black man to hit/abuse them for being white.
Then why does the FBI keep statistics on all the incidents of Blacks (or anyone that's not White) beating up on White people AND list them as hate crimes? Despite whatever stuff you're told, discrimination is a multi-way street and is treated as such by law enforcement. It's only people such as yourselves that only listen to what makes the news that don't realize what's going on. I bet you aren't even aware of the fact that one of the Supreme Court cases that made hate crime legislation legal was a case of Black men beating up a White man just because he was White. ;p
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You can't ask a religious person not to believe something God tells them, that would defeat the purpose of being a Christian.
That's a good point Rico. However I've never fully grasped the concept of someone blindly accepting a religious doctrine that makes no sense and was practically first written by people not far from cavemen evolution-wise. It never made much sense to me.
Rico - perhaps I'm just optimistic to the point of foolishness, but I'd like to believe that behind every bible-thumping hypocrite, there's a decent human being that that can be reasoned with. Then again, the key word in that sentence was probably "foolishness".
And you can most certainly call me sam.
Eh, faith isn't foolishness. Even if it is misguided. I really do hope there is a god. And that one day it appears to each person, sits down with them, and sorts all all the BS people have warped his teachings into.
Of course most people would think that either they were going nuts, or call the police because some looney is talking to them claiming to be God.
Maybe its a grim outlook but even when people accept gays like they have women, blacks, reds, *goes on listing colors and nationalities for 3 hours*, salmons, and whites. They'll just find something new to obsess on hating. Probably furries.
~Rico
Shannon Sickles and Grainne
Close say they are privileged
Henry Kane and Christopher
Flanagan exchanged vows
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The first set of civil partnership ceremonies for gay couples in the UK are being held in Northern Ireland.
Two women, Shannon Sickles and Grainne Close, exchanged vows at Belfast City Hall, followed by a gay couple and another lesbian couple.The new Civil Partnership Act provides same-sex couples with similar legal rights to married couples.
The first ceremonies in Scotland will take place on Tuesday, and in England and Wales on Wednesday.
It makes you proud to be British that gay couples now have the benefits and rights that hetrosexual couples have had for years, I just hope the rest of the world follow soon.
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And finally, I can probably agree with civil unions. I wouldn't call this marriage persay because, it's impossible for two men or two women to be spiritually united.
Or, perhpas, because it isn't actually marriage in the legal sense, either?
Read my post, for heaven's sake.
It's a step forward. And with the crap-ass narrow minded people in this world. ANY step forward is a BIG step.
~Rico
Personally, I've been cheering merrily at the whole thing. Best news for some time...
