Christian Group has bank account removed due to "unacceptable views"

Right now in the US we have seen decades of persecution of native Americans, Afro Americans, gays, and the mentally ill. Do you think Christians will be as persecuted as these groups? The President of the United States is a Christian as are many legislators.We have already seen the Communists blocks persecutions of the Church but in Europe and Russia that is passing away. And historically how bad was it in Rome, vs the stories the Christians later told about it. I'm not saying it was good, but I think the Church exaggerated it and eventually they persecuted by burning and slaughter non Christians. Around the world persecutions occur for many reasons, tribal, religious, political some of it is really horrible. I don't think Christians except in specific countries like China, but China is persecuting all kinds of people, that is the definition of a totalitarian government.This bank thing has precedent in the complex civil right issues. It's not an opening shot in the persecution of Christians.lfenlfen

No stones are being thrown. You've not been hit by any stones at all from anyone here unless you've met them in person. SToning was a horrible actual punishment. What is happening here is debate and discussion. If you think this is the equivalent of physical violence I really think you should avoid this site.I recall once I had brought a friend home from college. My sister stoppped by the house and we got engaged in a political discussion. She was very conservative and I was very liberal. We were sitting on the edges of our chairs arguing in loud excited voices when she looked at her watch and said, "Oh, I've got to run I'm late picking up the kids." We gave each other a big hug and she dashed out. Later my friend said that he was a little concerned about our discussion being so heated until he saw us hug. We argued our positions passionately and never did agree but that had nothing to do with how we felt about one another. At one point you claimed I hated your guts. I've no hatred for you personally at all. I've passionate disagreement with many of your positions and great irritation with some of your attitudes. You are not being stoned! You are not being hated! You are being disagreed with. Is it your position that to love you one must agree entirely with your opinions and accept all of your attitudes?lfen

So Christians who claim that they dont't hate homosexuals but only the sin are they lying then? They really do hate homosexuals? Specifically, do you hate homosexuals?lfen

I wasn't accusing you. I was asking a question. My point is that if Christians can criticize homosexuality as a sin and no be considered to hate the homosexual, why can't you take a criticism as a criticism without claiming it's made because I hate you?I sit around reading EvC. I mostly dream of dancing. My posts to you are generally the result of reading something you've written. In this thread I'm addressing you as an individual. I think I've mostly done that. I don't know what the matter is with "you people". I've never met any of you in person and I'm not a member of any group here. I consider myself the only person posting to EvC offering a non dual viewpoint at this time.lfenlfen

Marriage legitimizes heterosexuality? Period? Meaning that it's sole function is to legitimize a sexual orientation? What are you smoking? If I weren't a total non smoker for 15 years now I probably ask you for a hit Marriage legitimizes kinship relationships. Humans and all animals can breed heterosexually with or without legitimizing heterosexuality. But the families and kinship systems of human societies have formal requirements. The primitive institution of marriage recognizes a relationship between families and the man and woman and then their offspring are the medium through which that relationship is realized, with responsibilities and duties.I know you will deny any archeology, anthropology, and history that isn't in the Bible so their is no point even talking to you about what we have evidence for.lfen

Okay, now you are recognizing some of the functions of marriage but I'll hold it's Paul's mistaken belief that his saviour would return so imminently that social institutions weren't that important that has led to the devaluation of the family to the nuclear family which compared to the extended family is a fragile unit. Marriage is between families. It establishes a kinship relationship "by marriage" between the members of two families that may not otherwise be related. That relationship is for production of offspring which is a heterosexual function and the marriage defines the relationship of the offspring to the families.However there could be a homosexual union that though in itself doesn't produce children does join families and could, as I have personally witnessed, nurture and raise children. I've known several children being raised by two mothers who have done a better job than some heterosexual couples I've known.lfen

I don't agree with you on this. What would you replace it with? Remembering the needs for bonding that children have and how very much attending it takes to rear a healthy human being.I think the kibbutz in Isreal was one of the most radical experiments. It worked but from what I've read the children of the kibuttz are a bit different in the way they relate socially and that more traditional Israelies are uncomfortable with the difference.lfen