BTW: I believe it was our local Hindu taxi drivers at the airport who were refusing to ‘transport alcohol’. Not even a sealed and wrapped gift bottle! Some didn’t have trouble transporting the alcohol if it was already INSIDE the person…just those damn bottles! Alas, differences of interpretation aren’t unique to Christians.

2. the gay ‘rights’ movement?

I would say in exactly the same way that you treat Hindus. Obviously Hindus are worshiping false idols, but we spend exactly zero time trying to legislate that. And we believe that Hindus have the same rights under the government that we have.

Surely you would have to agree that idol worshipers are more offensive to God than gay Christians?

Your question does not trip me in the least, I will answer it happily. If you’re interested in having a tiny bit more insight into me (surely you must be, I’m fascinating 🙂 ), I just wrote a too long entry to Stephen Black over on the “OneNewsNow” thread.

I do not have to “imagine” for a “minute” that I am in those shoes…I wore them for 35 years. I believed I had it “right” also all those years, so the idea isn’t new or foreign to me. I was asked to pastor a church 8 years ago and turned it down, just to give you a little idea of where I was. I haven’t been around this site very long, but I am beginning to think I may be the odd man out here. I deconverted a year and a half ago, but my unbelief is the new thing, not the belief. But to your questions:

your question:

How SHOULD we respond to:

1. individuals who practice homosexual acts?

2. the gay ‘rights’ movement?

My answer: (as a person imagining I’m a believer)

By the Spirit.

your question:

What WOULD walking with God look like under such circumstances?

my answer:

I don’t know. If one were truly, literally “walking with God” vs. say, some code carved in stone, that would remain to be discovered on a moment to moment basis.

Forgive me for butting in, but assuming that all the passages must be interpreted as we read them without taking their context, the problem with translations, and the history into account, then you should:

1) Respond to those who practice homosexual acts in the same way you would treat any other sin. This doesn’t mean however, you should try to legislate your beliefs. You don’t tell a group of people who have different beliefs than you that they shouldn’t have the right to get married, or have any of the benefits that you enjoy, right? That’s a big difference for me. You wouldn’t do it with Buddhists or Hindus or Jews, so don’t do it with homosexuals.

2) Treat the gay rights movement as people you don’t agree with, but, again, don’t prevent them from having the same rights as you. You don’t have a right, just because you believe differently, to force, through politics, your beliefs on others.

I hope you will answer this question for me. It’s not meant to trip you up or be an affront. I really want to know what you think.

For one minute I’m going to ask yourself to put yourself in our shoes. (This will probably be very hard for you but I hope you will bear with me.)

Imagine for a just a minute that we’ve actually got it right.

1. The god of the Bible actually exists.

2. The biblical passages regarding homosexuality ARE meant to be taken literally. Homosexual sex acts are sinful and an abomination to Him.

I know it’s probably difficult for you to even imagine this, but let’s say for a minute all of the above is actually true.

How SHOULD we respond to:

1. individuals who practice homosexual acts?

2. the gay ‘rights’ movement?

What WOULD walking with God look like under such circumstances?