Pope sends direct message to Ben

[Ben Kenobi]

The findings suggested that overall a man's sexuality depends about 30 to 40 per cent on genetic factors, while the rest depends on environmental factors, such as the hormones a baby is exposed to in the womb.

IOW, it's not genetically based.

[Bereta_Eder]

Besides the 30% to 40%, a baby AFAIK has no way of controlling hormones inside the womb, so make that 100%.

[Ben Kenobi]

Besides the 30% to 40%, a baby AFAIK has no way of controlling hormones inside the womb, so make that 100%.

The problem is that it's all conjecture.

[Bereta_Eder]

There are people trying to defy the evolution theory ffs in some parts of murica.
I'd say it's 110% genetic and two spoons of sugar.

[Sava]

The thing is, plenty of denominations in the US have done what you described. They're all hemorrhaging membership,

[Kidlicious]

If people have been taught when young that sin is not sin - then it's unlikely they will understand it.



False teachings is a sin in it's own right.

If you believe a lie then you want to believe it. Do you actually think people just believe what they are taught. No! Instead they seek out others who believe the same thing. But no one ever actually believes that a lie is the truth
They merely crowd together in the hopes that they will not be held responsible for their actions.

[ricketyclik]

The problem is that it's all conjecture.

As opposed to the ramblings of delusional mystics from a fringe resistance group well over 1500 years before the discovery of DNA.

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[Sava]

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[Berzerker]

Jesus argues that marriage is defined by conjugality between a man and a woman.

MT 19:2-8

so whats the sin in that verse?

[Ben Kenobi]

I'd say it's 110% genetic and two spoons of sugar.

When you state, "X suggests", it means you're making **** up.

As opposed to the ramblings of delusional mystics

Apparently whenever someone says, "it's science" you must obey.

[Ben Kenobi]

so whats the sin in that verse?

Sex outside of one man and one woman in marriage. Also - not having sex at all in marriage. Conjugality is very important.

[Elok]

Okay, longer version: I could definitely see being less hostile to gays as a good thing. Because they're basically perfect for use as cultural (and political) whipping-boys, we tend to focus obsessively on them to the exclusion of everything else. Including heterosexual fornication, which does far, far more harm. But since going after them would be really hard, we've settled for the easy targets, and now we can't stop. It'd be swell if we could unclench our collective anus about them and focus on more important matters. Not to say "gay marriage for everyone"--sorry, but there's no patristic or scriptural grounds for such a thing--but toning down the hysteria, which is grossly unproductive in any case. I don't think it was going to happen here because conservatives suspected, perhaps rightly, that Francis was trying to get the camel's nose under the tent so the rest could follow later.

Re: engaging the culture, it would be good if we were able to encourage positive trends in society, but we still need to have the backbone to resist the negative. If we accommodate to the point where we are basically a religious-branded mouthpiece for the dominant secular culture, we surrender our autonomy--and become genuinely parasitic and superfluous. I'm not terribly concerned about homosexuality for its own sake, but if we can't stick to our guns on something as minor as that, how can we hope to stand up to the morbid consumerism, militarism, and addiction to the ephemeral that pervades modern society? All of those have powerful vested interests backing them up, to the point where they've basically co-opted large chunks of American Christianity.

I guess you could argue that, since we've gone totally belly-up on the big stuff, it doesn't much matter if we shrug and let two grooms have a wedding. But if we intend to recover our relevance, or even acquire the potential to be relevant in the future, we need to learn how to hold our ground against the culture. Preferably without being gigantic asshats about it. Otherwise people will continue to express distant approval for our tolerant, genial services right up to the moment where we have to sell the jumbotron and the drum set to settle our last debts before we close the doors.

[Elok]

Jesus didn't say homosexuality was a sin - and he could have if thats what he believed, but he did compare hatred to murder

IIRC, Jesus also said nothing about sacrificing to idols--because he was preaching almost exclusively to Jews, who were in little danger of doing either.

EDIT: He did, however, modify the Mosaic law on sexual conduct, and punishment for infractions of same, in a couple of ways. Just not for homosexuality.

[Ben Kenobi]

It'd be swell if we could unclench our collective anus about them and focus on more important matters.

Right now, we have a mayor in Houston, Annise Parker subpoenaing pastors for their speech requiring her consultation before they can be preached. Why? Because she's a lesbian and she can't have pastors preaching against her.

This HAS become the number 1 issue facing Christians today.

http://time.com/3514166/houston-pastors-sermons-subpoenaed/

[N35t0r]

Yeah, never mind that christians are being routinely massacred in the middle east, or that priests are abusing kids, that's clearly secondary.