NO. What two people do in private is none of our effin business.

"According to University of Oslo zoologist Petter Böckman, about 1,500 animal species are known to practice same-sex coupling, including bears, gorillas, flamingos, owls, salmon and many others."

In a rational society it is no longer enough to consider something a "Sin" because an antiquated book declares, under the guise of God's authority, for it to be one. Have a quick read through Genesis and you will find all sorts of "sins" we have discarded as backwards, ridiculous beliefs: masturbation, speaking to a menstruating woman, eating crustaceans, etc. Homosexuality does not hurt anyone. It does no a priori damage to society, as far as I can see. Furthermore, it is highly likely and accepted by the majority that homosexuality is inherent, not chosen. Lets move away from the tent dwelling, scared, superstitious mentality of our forefathers and accept our fellow humans without judging them based on where they enjoy putting their genitals, as long as they harm no one in doing so.

The only case in which the bible specifically indicates that homosexuality is bad (never actually calling it a sin) is in Leviticus. Unfortunately for most Christians, Leviticus condemns everything from sexual relations with women during their period to eating shrimp. If a Christian sect labels homosexuality a sin, it must also condemn a number of every-day things that noone considers evil at all.

Now, of course, not all Christians even believe homosexuality is a sin, so it all bears on what religious sect you adhere to (if any).

I, personally, am gay and a pagan. As far as my gods are concerned my behavior is absolutely acceptable.

It sure isn't considered a sin in MY Episcopal church in Tucson. Try reading the Bible. There's only 6 verses, 2 in Leviticus, 2 in Deuteronomy, 1 in Romans, and 1 in Genesis. So if you'd like to condemn me for being gay, be sure to condemn yourself under the exact same book for wearing garments with two kinds of fibers, eating shell fish, not helping immigrants (legal and not), and on and on and ON. Jesus never mentioned it once - funny, you would have thought He'd have brought it up since you seem to think it's THE worst sin of all. Hmm. No, come to think of it, it seems to be hypocrisy He was upset about. Imagine that. Plus, the one recorded time He did meet a real, live homo was that little deal with the Centurion and sick boy -- his LOVER -- and Jesus didn't bat an eye, he just praised him for having great faith! I didn't choose my sexuality and neither did you. Get a life. Start acting like the Christ you say you follow. His love was always unconditional and absolute. Try it. It works wonders. If homosexuality bothers you that much, then might I suggest DON'T ENGAGE IN IT. Sort of like heterosexuality, for me.

In addition to some great information and some powerful arguments on this page, I would like to take a minute and maybe move the argument in a different direction by addressing the Bible in a way most people don't look at. Whether this argument can be sustained or not, I hope it will at least provide enough insight to spark interest in researching more on the subject.

That said, I must ask was God considered holy during the time the Bible was written? If you answered yes, you would be wrong. The word holy literally translated to "getting on your hands and knees and praying to God." Priests were holy. The laity could be holy. Jesus was holy. But God was not. But as you can see, the meaning of the word shifted over time and the definition of holy changes from "one who prays" to "omnipotent"

With the knowledge that language changes over time, we must also note that the term homosexuality was not coined until the late 19th century, and sexuality was less clearly defined during that time. In many greek and roman cultures during that period, men had intercourse with both men and women. While men had sex with women for pleasure at times, it was mostly for the purpose of procreation. If they wanted to have sexual release without a child, they often turned to boys or other men.

By technicality, homosexuality cannot be considered a sin because no equivalent existed during that period. But that's not what I'm arguing.

I think the interpretations of the Bible can be looked at differently when one puts into perspective the terminology and the culture mentioned above.

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." The common interpretation is sex with other men is bad. My interpretation is that the writer of Leviticus was addressing the culture saying that it is morally wrong, an abomination, to sleep with men on the side when you are dating or married to a woman. In simpler terms, don't be promiscuous. Mistranslations can certainly be seen when the word homosexual is directly used in your copy of the Bible as with the Living Bible and New Living Translation.

If you look at the New Testament homosexual references in Timothy, Romans, and Corinthians you can also apply the argument of the culture of promiscuity versus the act.

I hope this helps clarify how I feel and can be added as a tool to others who find it useful.

Two examples of same-sex love in the Bible are David and Jonathan, and Ruth and Naomi. "Whither thou goest will I go" is a popular Bible quote used frequently at weddings. It is a promise to remain forever true and steadfast with the beloved. But it was said between Ruth and Naomi. They were clearly a devoted couple.

well, according to the bible homosexuality is considered a sin but I'm not a Christian so i don't care what the bible says. Scientist have also concluded that its a mental disorder. In my opinion all love is sickening and pointless, so if homosexuals want to wast there time on lust, then they have the same mental process as heterosexuals. I think that in manga yaoi is funny but yuri is weird so i probably feel the same way about homosexuality in real life.

Why on earth would it be? Leviticus? Can you find Leviticus in the Bible if your life depended on it? Christians, I talking to YOU. Do you even know which versus even remotely pertain to homosexuality? Do you bother to even look at the original languages they were written in? Do you realize that Bibles that use the word "homosexual" are not accurate, because the word wasn't even invented until the 1890's in Germany, and didn't become part of the English language until well into the 1950's? What, God sent a revision to the editor? Are you nuts? The original language in Leviticus, by the way, is "men who are soft." You are on VERY shaky ground when trying to make this entire argument, based on original language in the Bible.

Did you know that Jesus himself never said one word about homosexuality? Oh, wait, yes he did, too. Remember the story about the Centurian? No?

The one recorded instance in the entire Bible where Jesus ever encountered a gay person was the Centurian story. A Roman soldier - the Centurian - calls Jesus in a crowd and asks him to heal his ill slave - specifically referring to him as his male, sex slave, his lover. (Check the original language.) Jesus' response isn't one of revulsion, but utter praise! When the Centurian says that it is not necessary for Jesus to travel to the lover to heal him, that the lover was healed simply because Jesus said he was healed, caused Jesus to exclaim to the crowd, "I have not seen this kind of faith in all of Israel!" Yes, praise for a homosexual's faith, not condemnation of who he was. Explain that.

Are you telling me you are more holly than Jesus himself? If He did not judge us, why do you?

And speaking of which, how come you never condemn wealth? Jesus certainly did. A third of all the words in the New Testament, and 2/3 of the words of Jesus, specifically say that the wealthy have great problems getting into heaven because their wealth keeps them from God. Yet you never, ever hear evangelicals mention that? Why? Too busy raising money and driving Mercedes?

Why this fascination with homosexuality when Christ tells you take care of the poor, care for the widowed and defenseless, and stop judging? Look at the countless times he lambastes the pious religious peoples in Israel. Are you listening? He's speaking to you - I'd suggest you stop worrying about gay people and start worrying about your own plight. There are too many homeless, too many abused, too many isolated and defenseless people who go without one shred of help in this country. THOSE are the concerns of Jesus, not gay people.

I dare any of you to tell me that is not the "gospel truth."

As I know, the God always remind us to live happily and harmoniously with our spouses and the people around us. Therefore, it is not a sin if both homosexual couple can live harmoniously, parallel to what God has reminded us.

Why should we commit our lives to living by an ancient book? A man-made book for all we know could be fake? Yet we worship it like its what all life should go by

There is so much sin in the world that by tackling it is impossible, not only do people sin every day but they do it that much that it becomes normal to them

Does anyone eat shellfish? The bible says thats a sin (its somewhere in there, i should do research tbh)

Why do religious people set their eyes on this one sin and commit their lives to making homosexuals lives hell?

Don't give me some mumbo jumbo crap about it spreads aids cause guess what, heterosexual sex does that at the SAME RATE!

Don't give me any crap about destroying marriage! How is it? Marriage to me, and should be to everyone, two people who love each other a lot wanting to spend the rest of their life together. So why cant homosexuals do that?

So what if you think its disgusting, their not exactly coming round to your house and f*g on your dining table while you try to eat are they!?

People say gays should be killed YET IT IS A SIN TO KILL!!!!!!!!! So you intern would be committing an even worse sin than the homosexual you murder

Being gay IS NOT A CHOICE! Why would you if, by doing so, you just end up being killed and criminalized?

If everyone is made in Gods image then why hate gays? He must of 'created' them for a reason. To stop the population overflow perhaps?

I don't even believe in God or the Bible but i respect those who do but not those who do and yet continue to attack gays with homophobic comments and abuse

There is nothing wrong with homosexuality, in the roman times it was seen as normal, Christianity changed that, why?

Times are changing and so should you, sometime in the next few weeks the marriage equality law is being put forward in the United Kingdom.

After this I will be able to marry the man I love

Is it not a sin to judge a man?

And a sin to murder?

A sin to attack someone?

A Sin to eat shellfish? (sorry but I find this sin hilarious)

If all of these are sins and we do these everyday (well maybe not murder) then why should homosexuality be targeted out and attacked?

If you do what you really feel that you have to do, it should not be a problem. While you know what you do and you have consciousness to decide then you should be happy with your life. All that make you happy should not be sin.

People...I've been reading the links you sent me and I can definately say one thing...huh?

I knew there would be euphemisms and interpretations but homosexuality just doesn't seem to be a big deal in the Bible. Where's the long tirade against same sex union? Where's the parable of how Christian slept with a man and developed maggots in his dick. How come there are no stories, lectures, examples?

What little there is takes on the form of...Bill that thing with Ted maybe not a good idea. Hardly the blood searing evil everyone seems to think homosexuality is. But then again the Bible does condone incest and a few other nasty things.

Once again I'll say that if it was that big of a deal God would've mentioned it.

What is so bad about homosexuality? If two consenting people decide to do something in private, is that any of our business?

Given that the world economy is teetering on the edge of catastrophe, we aren't taking any significant steps to deal with human activity's contribution to ecological and weather disruption, we are way behind where we should be in developing alternate energy sources, and 40 smaller nations are now developing nuclear weapons programs...how can any sane or rational human being think it is important to fuss over what two men or two women do in the privacy of their own home?!

To those who think it's a sin? So what? Don't do it. End of problem. Demanding that others are obligated to listen to the voices in YOUR head is twice as insane. (The rest of us have our own voices, thankewverymuch.)

This is an argument that's a dead end. Homosexuality has been around ever since sexuality began. It's not going to go away. Declaring it a sin is a way for sexually insecure people to dominate and bully others and cause needless pain and hurt to those who want nothing more than to experience their own ability to love.

The advocacy of homosexuality as sin is merely a self-righteous justification for legal and illegal forms of discrimination; but the bigger sin is hypocrisy. Jesus told us to love one another, to forgive one another, and not to sit in judgment of one another. The bible has only six passages which have been interpreted as condemnations of homosexuality, but over 300 condemnations of adultery -- in fact, "thou shalt not commiit adultery" is one of the big ten no-nos. So why aren't the same folks who have their panties in a twist about homosexuality also worried about their own hypocrisy, judgmentalism, and self-righteousness?

Enough already. The real Christians in this world are focusing on feeding the poor, healing the sick, educating the children, helping the elderly, and making a real difference in their communities.

Homosexuals aren't harming anyone or anything by being gay, why can't we all just accept them?

According to the Bible, Homosexuality is a sin. However, I suppose it would have to depend on who you ask also. Most Homosexual people claim that they were born so, and that it isn't necessarily a choice. If this is the case, and there really is no choice, then I can't see why "God" would consider it to be wrong.

Now even if it were a choice, why should that matter either? I'm not a religious person, but I think that if there were a God, and he apparently gave people the ability to have free will and their own opinions about things, why shouldn't they be able to exercise said free will?

People have the right (at least in America) to make their own decisions, why should the view/opinion/moral belief of one person interfere with the opinion or personal preference of another.

Does anybody actually read philosophy? Does anyone study ANYTHING anymore? First of all, "sin" is far too subjective a word to be used in this case. It is easily confused with notions such as right and wrong, good and evil. Sin implies an act prohibited by a particular religion. There are lots of religions. What is considered a sin in one is not in another. What was considered a sin in antiquity is now considered acceptable. If you want to pick and choose your sins, which many people do, fine. Just know that you have done so and be capable of understanding that as well as applying as much meaning as is reasonable to any act. Or, to be clearer, call homosexuality a sin all you want, but remember that wearing clothes of two different kinds of fiber, interacting with women who are menstruating, eating shellfish, doing work on Saturday, and working for a credit card company are also pretty sinful. If you're going to disregard your own sins and focus on the ones you like, fine, just be aware of your choice to do so.

As for right and wrong, the major moral systems, like deontology, founded by Immanual Kant, a staunch Christian, really forms no valid argument against homosexuality other than, "I don't really like it, it's gross." Well, you know what, I think eating beef is gross, but I'd hardly call it a sin. Let alone Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, founders of Utilitarianism, who have nothing much at all to say about homosexuality.

So, is homosexuality a sin? It depends strongly on who you ask and their biases, which they aren't likely trying to control. Is homosexuality wrong? Well, try taking ethics 101.

NO!!!! Homosexuality shouldn't be a sin! Its basically being a sinner for being born :P

It shouldn't be considered a sin because if it is then we would have to punish them (like give them a good spanking or something) and they would enjoy that way too much ;)

http://godmademegay.com/Letter.htm

This is Letter to Louise, one of the best studies of the actual words in the Bible - not the English version, the real Bible, in it's actual languages it was written in - as it pertains to homosexuality.

Read this. THEN tell me how you think homosexuality is a sin. Very, VERY, thin argument your side is making.

Then let me throw a few verses at you about love, your obligation to help the disadvantaged, and your fundamental need to abandon your wealth if you truly seek God.

That will make a very interesting session.

From Letter to Louise:

Genesis 18:20 to 19:29--The Sodom Story

Some consider the sin of Sodom to be same-gender sex, although we are not told in Genesis what Sodom's sins were, only that they were so great that God determined to destroy the city. On the evening before its destruction he sent two angels, in disguise as men, to the city to lead Lot and his family out early the next day. Hospitable Lot invited them to spend the night at his house. During the evening the men of the city surrounded the house and demanded of Lot that he bring the two men out so that they could [19:5]

King James Version: "know them."

Revised Standard Version: "know them."

New International Version: "have sex with them."

When Lot refused to bring his guests out, the men of the city were about to break his door down when the angels struck them all blind and the mob dispersed. The next day Lot and his family were led out of Sodom, and the city was destroyed by fire and brimstone from heaven.

The Hebrew verb used here, "yadha," "to know," is used 943 times in the OT and only ten times clearly to mean "have sex," then it always means heterosexual sex. The word normally used for homosexual sex is "shakhabh." Many scholars believe that in Gen. 19:5 yadha means "know" in the sense of "get acquainted with" (the city's men may have wondered if these were enemy spies or they might have sensed the city's impending doom and been concerned with what these strangers were doing there) and have several arguments for this, including Sodom's being used as an example of great sin numerous times in the Old and New Testaments with nothing ever said about same-sex sex, and the context of Jesus' references to Sodom (Luke 10:10-13) which seems to imply lack of hospitality as the sin.

Other scholars think it was the common practice of showing dominance over and humiliating outsiders by forcing them to take the part of a (an inferior) woman in a same-gender rape.

Others think it means "have sex," and point to Lot's offering his two virgin daughters to the crowd if sex is what they want, if they will just leave his guests alone. If this is the right interpretation, it is clearly about violent, criminal, gang rape, something always condemnable.

Another thought is expressed by Religion Professor David L. Bartlett: "This story is certainly an unlikely starting point for a `biblical' understanding of sexual ethics. While the attempted homosexual rape by the men of Sodom is explicitly condemned, the offer by Lot to hand his two virgin daughters over to the violent and lecherous inhabitants of Sodom is related without a word of judgment."B-2

Conservative theologian Richard Hays says, "The notorious story of Sodom and Gomorrah--often cited in connection with homosexuality--is actually irrelevant to the topic."B-3

There is nothing in this story applicable to our consideration of homosexuality.

Again from Letter to Louise:

Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13

Revised Standard Version:

22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman, it is an abomination.

13 If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death...

The King James and New International versions say virtually the same thing.

Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 are the only direct references to same-gender sex in the Old Testament. They are both part of the Old Testament Holiness Code, a religious, not a moral code; it later became the Jewish Purity Laws. ["Abomination" is used throughout the Old Testament to designate sins that involve ethnic contamination or idolatry. The word relates to the failure to worship God or to worshiping a false god; it does not relate to morality.] Professor Soards tell us, "Old Testament experts view the regulations of Leviticus as standards of holiness, directives for the formation of community life, aimed at establishing and maintaining a people's identity in relation to God."B-4 This is because God was so determined that his people would not adopt the practices of the Baal worshipers in Canaan, and same-gender sex was part of Baal worship. (The laws say nothing about women engaging in same-gender sex; probably this had to do with man's dominance, and such acts by the subservient had nothing to do with religious impurity.)

God required purity for his worship. Anything pure was unadulterated, unmixed with anything else These Purity Laws prohibited mixing different threads in one garment, sowing a field with two kinds of seed, crossbreeding animals. A few years ago in Israel when an orthodox government came into power, McDonalds had to stop selling cheeseburgers. Hamburgers, OK. Cheese sandwiches, OK. But mixing milk and meat in one sandwich violated the Purity Laws--it had nothing to do with morality. These were laws about worshipping God, not ethics, and so have no bearing on our discussion of morality. Helmut Thielicke remarks on these passages: "It would never occur to anyone to wrench these laws of cultic purification from their concrete situation and give them the kind of normative authority that the Decalogue, for example, has."B-5

Another reason they are not pertinent to our discussion is that these laws were for the particular time and circumstances existing when they were given. If you planted a fruit tree, you could not eat its fruit until its fifth year, and all fruit the fourth year must be offered to the Lord. A worker must be paid his wage on the day of his labor. You must not harvest a field to its edge. We readily dismiss most of them as not applicable to our day and culture, and if we dismiss some of them for any reason, we have to dismiss all of them, including the sexual regulations, for that same reason.

When we add the fact that these laws were talking about heterosexuals, it makes three reasons, any one of which would be sufficient, why they have no bearing on questions about homosexuals or homosexuality or on the morality of same-gender sex by homosexuals today.

In the New Testament there are three passages to consider.

Romans 1:21, 26, 27

Revised Standard Version

21 for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him...

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men...

The King James and New International versions say virtually the same thing.

Romans 1:26 and 27 clearly speak of same-gender sex by both men and women, the only passage in the New Testament that does so. Rom. 1:18-32 speaks of Gentiles (heterosexuals) who could and should have known and served and given thanks to God but would not, so God gave them up and let them do whatever they wanted to do, and that resulted in degrading and shameful acts, including same-gender sex. It is almost a moot point, but Paul is not listing sins for which God will condemn anyone, he is listing sins that occur because people have forsaken Him. These are acts committed by those who have turned away from God and so become "consumed with passion." All of us recognize that those who forsake God and give themselves over to lustful living--homosexual or heterosexual--stand condemned by the Bible. This passage is talking about people who chose to forsake God.

Conservative theologian Richard Hays says, "No direct appeal to Romans 1 as a source of rules about sexual conduct is possible."B-6

I Corinthians 6:9

King James Version:

9...Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate [malakoi], nor abusers of themselves with mankind [arsenokoitai], 10 Nor thieves..., shall inherit the kingdom of God.

New International Version

9...Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes [malakoi] nor homosexual offenders [arsenokoitai] 10 nor thieves...will inherit the kingdom of God.

Revised Standard Version--1952 edition:

9...Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals [malakoi and arsenokoitai], 10 nor thieves..., will inherit the kingdom of God.

Revised Standard Version--1971 edition:

9...Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts [malakoi and arsenokoitai], 10 nor thieves..., will inherit the kingdom of God.

A comparison of how the two Greek words are translated in the different versions shows that translations often, unfortunately, become the interpretations of the translators. In I Cor. 6:9 Paul lists the types of persons who will be excluded from the kingdom of God and for some he uses the Greek words malakoi and arsenokoitai. KJ translates the first "effeminate," a word that has no necessary connection with homosexuals. The NIV translates the first "male prostitutes" and the second, "homosexual offenders". The RSV in its first edition of 1952 translated both words by the single term, "homosexuals". In the revised RSV of 1971, the translation "homosexuals" is discarded and the two Greek words are translated as "sexual perverts"; obviously the translators had concluded the earlier translation was not supportable.

Malakoi literally means "soft" and is translated that way by both KJ and RSV in Matt. 11:8 and Luke 7:25. When it is used in moral contexts in Greek writings it has the meaning of morally weak; a related word, malakia, when used in moral contexts, means dissolute and occasionally refers to sexual activity but never to homosexual acts. There are at least five Greek words that specifically mean people who practice same-gender sex. Unquestionably, if Paul had meant such people, he would not have used a word that is never used to mean that in Greek writings when he had other words that were clear in that meaning. He must have meant what the word commonly means in moral contexts, "morally weak." There is no justification, most scholars agree, for translating it "homosexuals."

Arsenokoitai, is not found in any extant Greek writings until the second century when it apparently means "pederast", a corrupter of boys, and the sixth century when it is used for husbands practicing anal intercourse with their wives. Again, if Paul meant people practicing same-gender sex, why didn't he use one of the common words? Some scholars think probably the second century use might come closest to Paul's intention. If so, there is no justification for translating the word as "homosexuals." Other scholars see a connection with Greek words used to refer to same-gender sex in Leviticus. If so, it is speaking of heterosexuals given to such lust they turn to such acts.

Richard Hays tells us, "I Corinthians 6:9-11 states no rule to govern the conduct of Christians."B-7

One commentator has another reason for rejecting the NIV and original RSV translations, "homosexuals." Today it could mean that a person who is homosexual in orientation even though "of irreproachable morals, is automatically branded as unrighteous and excluded from the kingdom of God, just as if he were the most depraved of sexual perverts."B-8

So I Cor. 6:9 says nothing about homosexuality with the possible exception of condemnable pederasty.

I Tim. 1:10

King James Version:

9...the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners,...10...for them that defile themselves with mankind (arsenokoitai)...

Revised Standard Version - both 1952 and 1971 editions:

9...the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for 10 immoral persons, sodomites (arsenokoitai),...

New International Version:

9...the law is not made for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful...10 for adulterers and perverts (arsenokoitai)

Here only the RSV specifically refers to same-gender sex, using the term "sodomites," which is the translation given in both the Old Testament and New Testament to Hebrew and Greek words for male temple prostitutes. The KJV probably has the same thought. The NIV does not necessarily refer to same-gender sex. Again Paul has used the Greek word arsenokoitai, the word in I Cor. 6:9.

As discussed above, this word would have no reference to homosexuality or homosexual sex in our discussion.

So like the other two New Testament passages, I Tim. 1:10 says nothing about homosexuality or homosexuals and nothing about same-gender sex unless that of temple prostitutes or possibly the molestation of young boys by heterosexuals.

In view of the facts set forth above, we realize there is no moral teaching in the Bible about homosexuality as we know it, including homosexual sex (except possibly pederasty). The Bible cannot be used to condemn as immoral all same-gender sex. It clearly condemns lust, whether homosexual or heterosexual. There is certainly nothing in the Bible about anyone going to hell because he or she is homosexual. All who go to hell will go for the same, one reason: failure to commit their lives in faith to Jesus Christ as their lord and savior.

From a slightly different approach to interpretation, Dr. Robin Scroggs states, "The basic model in today's Christian homosexual community is so different from the model attacked by the New Testament that the criterion of reasonable similarity of context is not met. The conclusion I have to draw seems inevitable: Biblical judgments against homosexuality are not relevant to today's debate."B-9 [Italics his]

Dr. Gomes concludes his discussion of homosexuality and the Bible with these words:

The Biblical writers never contemplated a form of homosexuality in which loving, monogamous, and faithful persons sought to live out the implications of the gospel with as much fidelity to it as any heterosexual believer. All they knew of homosexuality was prostitution, pederasty, lasciviousness, and exploitation. These vices, as we know, are not unknown among heterosexuals, and to define contemporary homosexuals only in these terms is a cultural slander of the highest order, reflecting not so much prejudice, which it surely does, but what the Roman Catholic Church calls "invincible ignorance," which all of the Christian piety and charity in the world can do little to conceal. The "problem," of course, is not the Bible, it is the Christians who read it.B-10

Let me state here and now why I even bother posting any of this.

I couldn't care one rat's ass about what any Baptist or Evangelical thinks about anything. I wouldn't darken the door to your home or your church for all of Bill Gates' money. It is my view that the least likely place on Earth I will ever find a person of God is in those two places. End of discussion. The hate and abuse those two camps spew forth is enough to turn my stomach, let alone the hypocrisy and love of power and money their leaders clearly exhibit.

I don't care if I ever change your view of anything. Who cares? Stew in your own hatred for all I care. History is against you. We will have our freedom, our rights, and the respect we deserve as gay people. There is no force on earth that will stop that. The younger a person is, the less hate there is. This is a battle you have already lost.

What I care passionately about is getting out the word to other lgbt people that there is nothing to fear from the hate mongers that dare call themselves followers of Christ. They are not. They have no more the word of God on their lips than the local village idiot.

What I want to say to my lgbt family is simply this: if you would like a church life, if you would like to express your spirituality, there ARE churches out there that love you, embrace you, and desperately want you to be a part of the faith, as you, not one change needed from you.

Our hearts and minds are open, and we want you to know that, to be heard above the bigots that have kept you isolated for so very long. Don't assume that the right wing idiots are by any means "religion" and that you are excluded. You are not. In many churches - mine most certainly - lgbt people are the life and soul of our congregation and we simply would not exist without their love, compassion, hard work, and devotion.

If this is what you yearn for, let no man keep you from it. There is nothing about your sexuality that keeps you from God. Learn it, love it, live it.

It may be said to be a sin in the bible but if there is anything I have to disagree with that is in the bible it is that homosexuality is wrong. Has it not been proven that gay people are gay from the get go? Should you have to confess and beg for forgiveness to get into heaven just because you like the same sex?

Homosexuality has been proven to be a result of nature. It is not a choice to be attracted to members of the same sex.

For you theists, explain it to yourself how you want, but if there really is a God, he's clearly testing you to see if you've learned the Bible, and he wants you to understand how important it is to accept all his creations in all the shapes, sizes, and forms he sends them.

A question more suitable for tents and caves in a darker age. Luckily we now have more than one book to give us guidance. Time to move on.

Is it one of the seven deadlies? Nope. Ten commandments? Nope. Our business what consenting adults do in the privacy of their own homes? Also a no.

I consider a sin to be somthing that harms others and being homosexual does not harm anyone so why should it be considered a sin.

Just let people be who they are and how the were meant to be. Grow up seriously people, learn that people are DIFFERENT then you. Love is love no matter the gender. It is not a freaking sin. What people do in there spare time is their business not yours, society these days need to learn to stay out of other people's business.

Absolutely not i am honestly a religious person and i say absolutely not i think that gay marriage is the same as regular marriage while the bible says marriage should be between a man and a women. It also says treat people the way you would want to be treated and they deserve a right to be married!!!!

Assuming it is a sin as in a transgression of church dogma, it isn't called a sin. Something sinful requires consciously selecting to transgress that church's dogma and I'm unaware of anyone in their lifetime being asked by some "Holy Spirit" if they would like to be born a homosexual. It's a political construct by certain political groups that wish to impose their political dogma on the entire nation. Let it be.

I think homosexuality is fine because i am a moral person!!!!!

If two people love eachother nothing should be able to keep them apart, and not to mention that homosexual acts have been recorded in hundreds of animals! so not only is it natural but there is absolutely nothing wrong with it in the first place, the world is very overpopulated as it is we dont exactly want more kids.

also a sin isnt morally right or wrong, a sin is an act that goes against a divine power or law. So some religions say that its a sin, but if you look at almost all the 'is god real' arguments on this website you will see that the atheists are winning :P

Only God can say what is sin and what isn't, so until he breathes the information into our brain through the use of some type of telepathy, then who can really say for sure if it's sin or isn't a sin.

Hate should be considered a sin; not homosexuality. Love is not a sin.

Of course it's a sin. Which is a completely arbitrary judgment, making this debate a complete farce. But is it wrong, in any objective, philosophic, or pragmatic sense? No.

Assuming the Western religious context of 'sin', the restated question is: 'should we accept the the Bible's instruction on homosexuality?'. Yes, homosexuality is unequivocally a sin in accordance with biblical understanding but of course it isn't wrong, so long as it doesn't endanger anyone's lives.

I really don't think the Bible is for real, but I know Christians that are Gay, so here is my 2 cents.

I did a quick search and found this interesting web page that says Christ took away the "Law" of the Old Testament and now "Grace" is in effect, nullifying Leviticus 18:22. Bam.

Are we debating guy 'n' guy love, or girl 'n' girl love too? I only see references to guy sex/love. Got another debate about that....

I take the Buddhist stance on sin: the only sin lies in harming others unnecessarily. All other sins are invented nonsense.

How does one man loving another man unnecessarily harm anyone?

NO. The Argument field must be at least 14 characters in length.

Doesn't that depend on if one believes in 'sin'? If one does not believe in sin, as I do not, then the only correct answer is 'no'.

We have moved on to a post-victorian era. Old concepts, especially something everyone with the freedom to move, to talk should be granted.

I have no concern what people are doing in private as long as it causes no greater harm. And I am pretty sure the Bible was written a few hundred years ago when views on homosexuality are unfair, it needs a someone new to update it. Jesus Jnr?

Homosexuality doesn't hurt anyone, so why call it a sin?

I'm gay, and my trait of being attracted to members of the same gender is no more a sin than me having the trait of being 5 foot, 9 inches tall. Grow up, people. Grow up. I chose neither trait. They just ARE traits that I have. Of course, sin implies a belief in a supernatural being, which is absolutely ridiculous to begin with.

No one is harmed by homosexual behavior. Love is more important than antiquated social ideals.

so what if a person is homosexual, it does not effect you in any way at all. its their life and their choice, so stop butting into other peoples life and being all emotional about what they do when their are other problems needed to be attended to....u fags

There's no such thing as sin.

If judged using the standards of the bible homosexuality should be considered a sin. But the bible should not be used as a code of moral ethics period.

Lamb chops, it you want to follow the writings of 2000 - 5000 year old writings by old men that is your business. These writings were edited by the church and they picked and chose which books to include in "The Holy Bible". If this is what you follow, then follow ALL the laws: sacrifice a goat each week, throw dung on dishonorable children and put menstruating women outside the city walls. You can't just pick and choose. Besides, how do you know the church didn't throw out books applauding gay life? You don't. What gays do in no way effects the marriage you are going to eventually suffer divorce from anyway. So chill.

As a non-religious, I disagree with the idea of sin, but regardless, I do not find homosexuality to be socially deviant behavior.

I hold the belief that there are biological reasons for homosexuality, and there are many studies and examples to back this up, from studies that have discovered discrepancies in the brain between homosexuals and their heterosexual counterparts, to studies observing animals engaging homosexual behavior.

With all this support for the idea that homosexuality has biological causes, coupled with how, by way of observing it in animals, I find it ludicrous to condemn it as "a sin," or "unnatural."

One needs to think back to who actually wrote the bible. Christians are taught that it was written by men who were inspired by God, BUT they were only men, who were also subject to sin. It is a possibility that they wrote in their own views as well as what God supposedly inspired them to write. In my own interpretation, the bible does not specifically say that being gay is a sin. It's more saying that homosexual actions are a sin; however, this would also be a sign man's sin. Man has been homophobic since the beginning of time because supposedly homosexuality is "weird". I'm straight but just because I want to be with a woman doesn't mean another guy should go to hell because he wants to be with a man. Besides, research shows that homosexuality could be a chemical imbalance. That's part of God's doing, no?

First of all, sin is the act of deliberately turning from the will of God. It requires an act of will on the part of the sinner and, as such, an act can only be defined as sin by the actor and God. There can be no such thing as objective sin. At worst an act might be deemed objectively amoral. Second, how can love, being acted out by two people in the way God made them, be a sin if, as St. John tells us, "God is Love, and he who resides in Love, resides in God."?

I have been dating a boy for nine months now, and it isn't about sex or a lifestyle, its about love, and I hope to spend this life and the next life, in his arms.

The entire basis of this argument is subjective not as to whether you personally think that homosexuality is right or wrong but as to your interpretation of the major religions' teachings.

If it should be considered a sin by what the Church teaches i would say yes. If on my personal moral code it should be considered a sin i would say no. However when you take into account the Church condemns it it also condems infanticide which the benevolent God (of Catholic scripture) commits.

The act of sex other than in the missionary position is against the law but we do it and no one complains. So if the bible says it is a sin at least it isn't against the law. Further more why do we care let people live their lives the way the want to and makes them happy. If it is a sin then are you the one to save them or put them down or crucify them? In fact you asking this question makes me wonder if you are free of sin yourself.

Christianity is a nosey religion in the first place. Always worried about what others are doing they can never just leave well enough alone. Who cares what people do in their own homes. If you are a christian, then yes it is a sin, then again so is murder and christian groups are some of the biggest supporters of the war in iraq. Christianity needs to end, the negativity of that close minded religion has brought more harm than good over the past 2000 years. So think on this, Jesus was 33 year old man who was never married and hung out with about twelve guys, and they kissed each other alot. So i think that Jesus was gay, and yes, I am asking Christians to prove to me that he was not. Nothing is worse than a preachy christian in your office or work place. Stay out of people's bedrooms and focus more on yourselves.

Religion is a load of a rubbish.

No chance, and more importantly there is only one that can pass judgment and so unless you are Jesus, you are sinning by claiming to know what is a sin is in his eyes.

Sin is not determined by organized religion, but by one's personal beliefs. It is not a sin to eat shellfish, and it is not a sin to be homosexual.