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Author Topic:   On the verge of a break-through
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 57 of 112 (322686)
06-17-2006 6:42 PM
Reply to: Message 53 by mike the wiz
06-17-2006 1:06 PM


I've only told the truth, that I personally, will not say "I find gaydom to be fine by God".
You've said more than that. You've pushed that definition to everyone, even those that do not believe in God.
I agree that it is not ok by the standards set forth by the bible. But it was not my motivation for being against it. I knew from an early age, from studying grade school history, that religious morals exclusively, do not belong in our governement. Because religion is subjective and varies too much. I might get forced into believing something I don't, or pretending I do.
If smoking is legal, why can't being gay?
I wouldn't choose to do either. Does that mean I support smoking?
You still haven't given a secular reason to be against it. So I am now assuming you don't have one. That could only mean one thing, and that is that you wish there was no separation between church and state.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 53 by mike the wiz, posted 06-17-2006 1:06 PM mike the wiz has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 61 by mike the wiz, posted 06-18-2006 11:58 AM riVeRraT has replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 59 of 112 (322837)
06-18-2006 7:29 AM
Reply to: Message 58 by Jaderis
06-18-2006 4:54 AM


Welcome Jaderis !
I respect religious views regarding marriage and I hold that each religion has the right to dictate how they will operate and what they believe, of course as long as they do not harm others.
Yes, I have always agreed with that. That is why I needed a secular reason why I should be against it.
But my secular reasoning could be taken as being a bigot, and a hypocrite, even though I don't feel like one, and have no desire to be one, so I am stuck between principals. If anything my Christianinty has pushed me to allow it, in the secular world.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 58 by Jaderis, posted 06-18-2006 4:54 AM Jaderis has not replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 62 of 112 (322960)
06-18-2006 5:21 PM
Reply to: Message 61 by mike the wiz
06-18-2006 11:58 AM


My only position is that I am not obliged/will not condone gay activity.
You've done that because you feel you are giving into men, or the world if you do. But this is not the case. You are not giving into men if you allow this to happen.
You can be against it, and yet allow it to happen. It only matters what is in your heart.
Jesus tells us to run from sexual imorality, not pour out God's wrath on people who don't. It's our choice, a free choice.
If you are against it, and voice an opinion to that effect, then you are pushing your religious morals on the rest of us, and not just with your mouth, with the law.
Many sins are perfectly legal, so there is no justification in making same-sex marriage illegal solely because it is a sin. If your going to be against it, because it is sin, then you must be against many other things as well, and then force that opinion/judgement on others.
I am not debating with you here if it is a sin or not. There is no doubt in my mind that it is a sin. But that's my opinion, and how I choose to look at it. Not only do I think it is a sin, but I think it is wrong from a secular stand-point. Maybe that's from ignorance, but it is how I feel. Even still, there is a conflict if I go against it. I sacrifice my own freedom to dis-allow it.
You haven't provided two things for me yet.
1 Secular reasoning why it should not be allowed. (and if you can't think of one, then let us know)
2 Where in the bible (NT) that it shows that we should push our religious views on the government. Where does Jesus teach us to be some kind of religious police? Did Jesus punish anyone for their sins while He was here?
A man wants to follow God, but God says to give up his riches. The man doesn't want to follow because he won't give them up. Would God then turn around and say, "okay, keep the riches". Why ofcourse he wouldn't.
That depends. God may very well turn around and say keep the riches. If the man admits that he cannot give them up by his own will, and asks for forgiveness. However, he will hinder his relationship with God, and store up less treasures in heaven.
It's all relative. To be a fair and impartial judge of a situation like that, we would have to know all the variables, and see into the rich man's heart. Only God could do that, so it is foolish to speculate on it.
Let me ask you, would God forgive a murderer if he asks for forgiveness? Isn't the murderers secular punishment, and Godly punishment going to be 2 different things? The murderer may pay more for his sins here on earth, than he would in the spiritual world. Or he may not, it depends on his heart.
Why do people murder?
Why are people gay?
Why do people drink too much?
Why do men look at porno?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 61 by mike the wiz, posted 06-18-2006 11:58 AM mike the wiz has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 73 by mike the wiz, posted 06-19-2006 8:44 AM riVeRraT has replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 67 of 112 (323140)
06-19-2006 7:41 AM
Reply to: Message 63 by ramoss
06-18-2006 8:47 PM


Does two gay/lesbians in a commited relationship harm you in any manner (other than making you feel uncomforatable)?
No.
How does calling their commited relationship a 'marriage' harm your marriage?
I don't know if it does or doesn't, I don't care.
I would think such things as serial marriages, 55 hour marriages (a la Britany Spears), and people who have many divorces are a much bigger threat to 'marriage'.
They always have been. Seems like marriage is a joke these days.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 63 by ramoss, posted 06-18-2006 8:47 PM ramoss has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 70 by nator, posted 06-19-2006 8:13 AM riVeRraT has replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 81 of 112 (323352)
06-19-2006 3:46 PM
Reply to: Message 68 by nator
06-19-2006 7:43 AM


I think it is entirely a cultural thing, rat. It's what you're used to and what our culture has taught you about what you should and shouldn't "like" or "mind".
But I have stated this several times, and even in the OP. I was raised in NYC by mostly liberal parents. I was always taught it was ok. I was even ok with it for some time. I had quite a few gay friends growing up. My neighbors were lesbians, and we all got along great. I can see nothing from my upbringing that would have taught me to dislike it. I guess I was born this way.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 68 by nator, posted 06-19-2006 7:43 AM nator has not replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 82 of 112 (323353)
06-19-2006 3:48 PM
Reply to: Message 70 by nator
06-19-2006 8:13 AM


There is a small group of people who get married and divorced in a "serial" manner (i.e. over and over) who are skewing the statistic up to the "over 50%".
Ok, that makes sense, but just today I was talking to my son, and he said people just aren't getting married these days. I wonder what the ratio of single people to married people is now compared to 25 years ago.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 70 by nator, posted 06-19-2006 8:13 AM nator has not replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 83 of 112 (323363)
06-19-2006 3:59 PM
Reply to: Message 73 by mike the wiz
06-19-2006 8:44 AM


They're just furious because I have found a reasonable way to not condone gays on personal terms. haha.
I have yet to figure out this reason.
I am only working from the possibility that it is sinful, therefore witholding judgement. To condone/condemn, would be to judge. I have done neither.
You are for it or against it?
If you do have the spirit of truth, tell me what I am honestly feeling about gays.
That is hard to say, since I do not think I fully understand your position yet.
The gut feeling I get, is one of admirability. I actually admire your faith, in that you don't want to give into the world. It seems like you are striving to put God first in your life.
How do you feel about people who get married and choose not to have children?
And people who get married and can't have children?
Are we to determine what is right for the world because of our belief in God?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 73 by mike the wiz, posted 06-19-2006 8:44 AM mike the wiz has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 86 by mike the wiz, posted 06-21-2006 9:29 AM riVeRraT has replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 84 of 112 (323436)
06-19-2006 6:02 PM
Reply to: Message 79 by berberry
06-19-2006 1:39 PM


Re: howdi, rat!
The only thing you must understand is that the attraction is real. We're not lying about it. What possible motive could we have for misleading you into thinking that we guys like other guys when we really like girls?
Like we used to say a few years ago: we're here! we're queer! and we're not going shopping! The point is that you belittle us when you talk about how you don't understand us, especially if you would use that as a reason to treat us as unequals. Just understand that we're sincere and that we're human.
I never aid it wasn't real, so I don't know where that came from. It seems you are a bit on the defensive, just because I don't understand it.
Relax, I can't understand why some guys like the girls they do either.
I don't understand why people like to go fishing. It's boring and the fish you catch around here are usually about as good as what you get at Capt. D's. But people like to do it and I don't have to understand it.
Yes, I pointed out that analogy already with my plane flying. It's tough shit on me.
But ultimately the only sensible comparison to your inability to understand gay attraction is my own inability to understand straight attraction. Sure, Jessica Simpson is cute. So's Britney. Hell, even the Coultergeist can look decent with the right make-up and lighting - adam's apple notwithstanding - but a sexual attraction to any of them? Are you kidding me? Yuk!
Sure. I can even look at a guy, like Richard Gere, or whatever and say, man that guy is good looking, and attractive. But then I would probably follow it up by saying, he must get all the girls. I don't look at him and say, boy, I'd really like to suck his cock. I never said all guys are ugly.
Usually, an attraction to a woman is also coupled with the desire to make a baby with that woman, not just have sex with her. I am talking about a life partner here, not some hot bitch off the streets. I might see a girl like that, and be sexually attracted to her, but to have just sex with her enters into another arena. There is a part of me that thinks that just having sex is not a good idea, based on life lessons. So, all I could do is look.
Let me ask you. Do you have any desire to make a child in this life?
but it should not be regarded as a negative when evaluating a gay couple.
There is way too many needy children in this world, and they come first. I wouldn't want to hinder any chances a needy child might have.
That's a fact that can't be disputed, but it's totally unrelated to the issue at hand. Legalizing gay marriage is not going to make straight men any more attractive to other straight men than they already are, so this is not a legitimate concern. Why don't we agree to drop it?
It's too hard for me to ignore that fact. It represents something, and is part of the equation. As far as there being more gay people, I just don't know either. It's like video games being responsible for columbine shooting. The more we see, the less sensitive we become to it. The more it becomes ok, the more likely people are going to do it. This is a seprate issue from whether it is right or wrong.
That sounds misleading. There are sins that affect other people and sins that don't. You would say that I sin when I have consensual, loving sex with another man behind closed doors, but you can't say that I've affected anyone else. Somehow that sin deprives me of the right to marry. But a straight man can get married, have three children, meet a woman younger than his wife, commit adultery and get divorced, but his sin doesn't result in a loss of his right to marry. In fact, he's now free to marry again and have more kids. Then he can repeat the cycle if he chooses, affecting even more people, while still retaining the right to marry yet again.
If he is living in sin, then he is just like the rest of us. I am sure the church would not recognize that second marriage either.
I have mentioned that at no point did I ever use the gay/sin thing as an arguement against same-sex marriage. I never have felt that was right. We are obviously beyond that as a society, and our religious views do not govern our nation, even if we are under God.
I can understand that your faith says that this straight man is a sinner too, but why is his sin less egregiuos than a private, personal sin that affects no one other than the sinners themselves?
To me all sins are equal. But a repentant man does his best to turn from sin, and not let it lead his life. He is lead by the spirit of God, and should be held accountable for his sins before God. Not our government
But how can that be? No one will be forced into a gay marriage and no one will be forced to recognize gay marriage. The government will be forced to recognize it, just as it is forced to recognize your marriage.
Yes, I am using my faith to define morals, and secular views. So there is no separation of church and state then,(in this instance) because if it wasn't for God, and the grace he has shown me, then I might not pass that grace on to you, and our nation. My faith is making me leave it up to God.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 79 by berberry, posted 06-19-2006 1:39 PM berberry has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 93 by berberry, posted 06-23-2006 3:19 PM riVeRraT has not replied
 Message 94 by rgb, posted 06-23-2006 6:51 PM riVeRraT has replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 85 of 112 (324244)
06-21-2006 8:34 AM
Reply to: Message 74 by nator
06-19-2006 8:54 AM


You seem to be saying that God disapproves of gays, and in fact considers being gay "shameful"
I don't know exactly what God thinks, but we now know what the pentagon thinks.
mental dosorder

This message is a reply to:
 Message 74 by nator, posted 06-19-2006 8:54 AM nator has not replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 88 of 112 (324805)
06-22-2006 9:11 AM
Reply to: Message 86 by mike the wiz
06-21-2006 9:29 AM


Maybe you're correct about this part, as the NT says to submitt to the worldly authority in place, even if it is not of God.
I just read it yesterday, it is in Romans, wround chaptor 13?
All authority is in place by God's hand.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 86 by mike the wiz, posted 06-21-2006 9:29 AM mike the wiz has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 89 by jar, posted 06-22-2006 12:43 PM riVeRraT has not replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 97 of 112 (325539)
06-24-2006 12:24 AM
Reply to: Message 94 by rgb
06-23-2006 6:51 PM


Re: howdi, rat!
For every child you want to produce, there are a million more waiting for you to adopt. Perhaps you'd like to consider adopting rather than using your "god-given" ability to pump out children?
You've dodged the question.
Yes, so perhaps you'd like to adopt at least one of them?
Yes, me and my wife talk about it, but for now I am vice president of Hope for the Nations U.S.
Hope for the Nations
Trying to help the children.
Which church are you referring to?
Many but not all.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 94 by rgb, posted 06-23-2006 6:51 PM rgb has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 98 by berberry, posted 06-24-2006 1:19 AM riVeRraT has replied
 Message 99 by rgb, posted 06-24-2006 2:03 AM riVeRraT has replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 101 of 112 (325809)
06-24-2006 7:52 PM
Reply to: Message 98 by berberry
06-24-2006 1:19 AM


Re: Hope For The Nations
From that and other information on the site I gather that you're a much better person than what I think of when I hear the phrase "conservative Christian". If there's anything at all a just God would stand for it would have to be these sorts of rights for children. The work you do must be very rewarding.
Thanks. Just to clear some things up though, is I am not conservative. I fall almost exactly in the middle of every test there is to find out what you are.
I haven't had the chance to work with the kids hands on yet, but the time is coming. Right now it has been a monetary endevour, and time on staff getting the US version of this great charity up and running. I am amazed at what it takes to get one going. You would think that helping children should be easier.
We went down to New Orleans to help out, and I think on the next trip, I will be going. I will post a message in here inviting all EVC members if they want to tag a long, and we can help our fellow country men together, regardless of beliefs.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 98 by berberry, posted 06-24-2006 1:19 AM berberry has not replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 102 of 112 (325811)
06-24-2006 7:55 PM
Reply to: Message 99 by rgb
06-24-2006 2:03 AM


Re: howdi, rat!
I'm ugly, unintelligent, short-tempered, etc.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and your not unintelligent, and temper can always be fixed. I have a temper also, doesn't make you a bad guy.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 99 by rgb, posted 06-24-2006 2:03 AM rgb has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 103 by rgb, posted 06-25-2006 8:13 PM riVeRraT has replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 104 of 112 (326209)
06-25-2006 10:09 PM
Reply to: Message 103 by rgb
06-25-2006 8:13 PM


Re: howdi, rat!
Well thanks for that subjective post.
Not really. Your temper depends mostly on your upbringing. Just like your brainwave patterns, it can never be changed except after some kind of a dramatic experience, like dying.
I am going to have to disagree. I can say with authority, that the God I believe in has changed my temper, in a big way. I have many witnesses who will agree.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 103 by rgb, posted 06-25-2006 8:13 PM rgb has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 105 by rgb, posted 06-26-2006 2:32 AM riVeRraT has replied

  
riVeRraT
Member (Idle past 443 days)
Posts: 5788
From: NY USA
Joined: 05-09-2004


Message 106 of 112 (326324)
06-26-2006 6:02 AM
Reply to: Message 105 by rgb
06-26-2006 2:32 AM


Re: howdi, rat!
You know, you can hide in your abstract humor all you want. The real issues will still exist, and I have no trouble seeing right through it all.
However, I still don't feel your being honest with us.
From what you've told us, you've done a lot of changing, so all of a sudden your into absolutes? Or are you just a liar? I am calling you on it.
What I suspect happened with your case is you developed more self-control. The temper is still there, but you have found a way to cage it.
Of course you would suspect that, since you can't possibly see a way for your own temper to change. Maybe your just too mad at the world. But by the same token, maybe your on your first step of being released from your temper, by admitting you can't change.
I said it changed, I didn't say it went away. It has dimished by 90% or better. It is not caged.
In the blink of an eye, God showed me some cool stuff. I have gone into it detail in this forum. When revelation hits you like that, then you are released from the very things that make you angry. You also realize that it's just not worth it. Having a temper is locking yourself in your own prison so to speak. I couldn't see that until God showed it to me. With each person I am angry at, I place another bar in my prison. By releasaing my anger to God, and allowing Him to deal with it, has led me to witness some miraculous things.
There are 9 gifts associated with the Holy Spirit. One of them is wisdom. In the blink of an eye you can become instantly wiser. Only fools let their temper control them, then sin in their anger. I am still guilty of it, but not to the extent I was before. I guess God still has a few more things to do to me, since I can't seem to do it myself.
Edited by riVeRraT, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 105 by rgb, posted 06-26-2006 2:32 AM rgb has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 107 by rgb, posted 06-26-2006 1:11 PM riVeRraT has replied

  
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