The main reason some Bible literalists feel homosexuality is wrong is this quote by Paul in Corinthians:

"Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor boy prostitutes nor sodomites nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God."

As I mention in another thread, this speech given by Paul was given in a very specific situation. It was that Paul was upset by Christians going to a *pagan* court at Corinth to have their cases heard. He is telling them not to have pagans tell them what to do. He is just putting out a random list of things to make this clear to them. It's not like Paul was sitting down at a meeting and saying "these specific things, these are the things that we must tell all people to avoid". He was yelling at a crowd, and telling them to listen up.

So if you're going to use a single word from this random 'word pile' from Paul screaming angrily at people as a basis for a decision that affects 10% of the world's population, let's look at it more closely. The word is "sodomy". Sodomy means (from dictionary.com):

* Anal copulation of one male with another.
* Anal or oral copulation with a member of the opposite sex.
* Copulation with an animal.

OK we can toss out the copulation with an animal. That's bestiality and that can be a separate topic if anyone really wants to discuss it. That leaves anal sex with a man OR woman - or male-female oral sex.

So as Christians, are you really saying that no married couple can ever have anal or oral sex? I'm not sure if you are sexually active, but oral sex is about as plain vanilla as you can get in "things couples like to do". And many couples I know enjoy anal sex as well. I bet if we took a poll of married Christian couples and asked how many had never participated in oral or anal sex, you would get very few people saying that. Do you really feel that this one word in the Bible - which is hundreds of thousands of words long - was meant to say "no married couple can do these things together"? Is God going to send to Hell 99% of his believers who are good people - but who like oral sex?

Next, neither of these situations applies to lesbians! Lesbians do not have male sex organs to do sodomy with, and lesbians are both female so they do not fall into the "opposite sex" issue. Neither of them are animals. So there is *nothing* at all in the Bible about Lesbians living together or even having sexual activity together.

That just leaves us with gay men. But you would have to agree with everything else I've posted in order to even make it to then applying something to gay men.

Like many another, I have give this matter (homosexuality, "spilling of seed", eating of certain foods, or not) much thought, especially as referred to in the bible. I am of the opinion that 2000 years ago, the world as we know it now, was a very diferent place.

Societies were in the process of building themselve up. This meant that they had to ensure that their numbers increased sufficiently so as to ensure their ultimate survival.

To this end civic leaders were obliged to conserve all their resources, (people, semen to make people, etc.). To this end they devised "laws" to govern the people.

In the case of the Jews they informed the people that the "Laws" had come from God. This added a stamp of approval to their desires.

I am nor saying that this should not have been so, indeed if one conciders how dangerous milk and animal products can be, especially in the desert with no cooling, then these laws were very practicle.

As for the semen bit, it was concidered wastefull if any production of semen did not result in a child, to increse the population.

Practicle as the "laws" were. I doubt very much if there is a God somewhere really interested in what two concenting adults, and I stress this - CONSENTING ADULTS - do with their semen.

Both posts...well put to both of you!

No oral sex between married couples...egads! lol Of course my husband and I use birth control and we have sex just purely to enjoy one another..DOUBLE EGADS!

Sorry for the sarcasm but I think that the whole issue of homosexuality is sad. I think that homosexuals are getting a raw deal in society right now. They are not getting equal rights...many people feel it is ok to bash them (literally and otherwise). My best friend in the world is a lesbian and I want nothing more for her to be able to marry if she wants to (marry a woman) and she should be able to have as many rights as the rest of us.

I'm waiting for the Bible Literalists to say they'll never, ever have oral sex because the Bible tells them not to.

Well it is much easier to pick and choose what you want to believe from the Bible. What is really sad/amusing to me is that many right-winged Christian conservatives act just like the priests that Jesus admonished in the Bible for their attitude. See I never see/hear these folks adhere to the "Judge not lest ye be judged" part that Jesus taught.

Bible fundamentalists have found one comment in the Bible that appears to condemn homosexuality.

It wasn't spoken by God or Jesus, it was written in a letter by Paul or given by him in a speech. Paul was a missionary who was obviously against homosexuality - how do we know that he was promoting God's ideas and not his own?

If that particular book of the Bible had been omitted - as many other similar writings have - then there would be no problem, would there?

I would like to ask these fundamentalists, or literalists:

What is actually wrong with homosexuality? Why is it sinful?

I am not looking for a Biblical reply. We have already seen that Paul gave a whole list of things he wasn't happy about including getting drunk.

I'd like a logical, rational explanation for this attitude, please.

I'm not trying to be offensive, just trying to work out why some people think it is vile and disgusting and wrong to be homosexual.

If you are thinking of answering 'because God says so', then please could you answer this alternative, but similar, question instead:

Why do you think that God finds certain members of his flock - his own creations - vile, disgusting, abominable, sinful, ..... ?


May I also ask this to those who find homosexuality so dreadful:

Do you feel the same way about drunkards? Exactly the same way? Would you use the same negative terms to describe them?

That is a little offensive don't you think? There was no reason to say that. Also, it is wrong.. you should respect your body. Sex is for pro-creation. Sure your allowed to get pleasure out of it.. but you cannot be gluttoness nor should you do those things.. even inside of marriage. Marriage does not permit you to do whatever you want. There are laws within marriage also.

Actually, yes, I do think it is a bit offensive.

I'm sorry, I really didn't see that as offensive at all, is there some sort of a social stigma against oral sex that I'm unaware of? It's a pretty natural thing that every couple I know does. Ashley is probably the first woman I know that has said oral sex is wrong. Or are you a child, Ashley? If you're not sexually active, there are a lot of things that you might find "icky" Heck, many pre-teens find French kissing to be "icky" ...

So, Ashley, are you honestly saying that for married people, the only times they should have sex is when you are trying to create a child? And that they should abstain at all other times? Are you actually married right now, to say these things? I don't know of *any* married woman I have ever known, even older married woman, who have felt that way.

No, I am not married.. I am 15. I don't find that stuff "icky" I think it is wrong. Yes, I understand there are many things I don't understand but just because you do understand it does it make it right? I don't think so. Not having the need for that I suppose makes my arguement different than yours but it is still wrong in God's eyes. No, I am not saying that the only time that a married couple should have sex is when trying to create a child.. but one is not to be gluttoness in that act. Sex is a sacred thing.. and should be handled as so.