At the risk of getting some :mad:'s and more curses thrown at me, I feel that it’s important to point out that even if I do vote for SSM, that doesn’t mean that I support it. I still believe that homosexuality… well… giving into homosexual urges is a sin. And I still believe that same sex marriage would endanger the world that I want to see. But it would be wrong of me to keep you guys and gals from having it, especially if it oppresses you.
I stand by what I said in post #208. I love God, and in doing so, I love all of you. I cannot force my ideals on others. And I should not be afraid of letting those whose ideals don’t agree with mine have their way with the world, because the world doesn’t belong to me any more than it belongs to any one person. God has a plan, and I should just let Him see it through. If you are homosexual, that’s okay. I think that if you give into your desires you are sinning, but I won’t rebuke you for it. It’s none of my business. I still feel threatened by the idea of SSM, but there is nothing that I SHOULD do about it. In fact, it would be wrong of me to try to keep it from happening, especially if it makes your life harder. So while I know that I don’t support the lifestyle, I will vote for SSM, because of my love for my fellow man.
There’s a long tradition in these arguments of quoting Romans 14 in favor of our freedom in Christ – that you (generically, not Prisoner) should not presume to hold others to your own scruples, because a man who eats meat or observes a holiday is free to do so – and so is the man who abstains from meat or from celebrating the holiday, and neither should hold the other to his rules. But it does work the other way around, too – I am blessed with the ability to drink wine in moderation, and it has in the past been invaluable in relieving stress – when my ex-boss and I were striving to get six weeks of work done in two, and angry at each other about petty details in consequence, we would end work with a glass of wine apiece and relax, and re-establish our friendship and working relationship after the damage the stress had done it. “For our stomach’s sake,” if you will. But for someone who sees alcoholic beverages as sinful, to have done so would have been an active sin – a mortal sin by the Catholic definition, since it would be a grave offense committed in full knowledge of its sinfulness. Because for someone to feel something to be a sin, for him it is a sin. I would hope that someday you could come to know the love that exists between two gay people (not feel it yourself, but come to see it present between them, as I have been privileged to have done with a few couples sufficiently at ease with me to relax and be themselves in my presence). And to come to realize that what Paul condemned was in no wise what they experience, but the abuse of another by gay sexual practices (such as prostituting boys). However, if you are prepared to show love in Christ to them, esteeming them as sinners redeemed by Him just as you and I are, then I think it would be egregious on their part to demand you give up your scruples as applied to your own beliefs, so long as you do not feel it incumbent on you to demand they comply with your beliefs. Because, ultimately, for them to do so is for them to practice what they have condemned you for doing – holding another to abide by your own moral code.
You know what? I’m totally cool with that. I don’t demand that anyone think the way I do. I just want to be able to live how I want, and love who I want, and what you believe doesn’t interfere with that one way or the other.
Besides, you’re a good enough and kind enough person to figure out the stuff you said the rest of this post, well, there’s a good chance you’ll come around on the other stuff on your own.
You know what? I’m totally cool with that. I don’t demand that anyone think the way I do. I just want to be able to live how I want, and love who I want, and what you believe doesn’t interfere with that one way or the other.
Besides, you’re a good enough and kind enough person to figure out the stuff you said the rest of this post, well, there’s a good chance you’ll come around on the other stuff on your own.
But for someone who sees alcoholic beverages as sinful, to have done so would have been an active sin – a mortal sin by the Catholic definition, since it would be a grave offense committed in full knowledge of its sinfulness. Because for someone to feel something to be a sin, for him it is a sin. I would hope that someday you could come to know the love that exists between two gay people (not feel it yourself, but come to see it present between them, as I have been privileged to have done with a few couples sufficiently at ease with me to relax and be themselves in my presence). And to come to realize that what Paul condemned was in no wise what they experience, but the abuse of another by gay sexual practices (such as prostituting boys). However, if you are prepared to show love in Christ to them, esteeming them as sinners redeemed by Him just as you and I are, then I think it would be egregious on their part to demand you give up your scruples as applied to your own beliefs, so long as you do not feel it incumbent on you to demand they comply with your beliefs. Because, ultimately, for them to do so is for them to practice what they have condemned you for doing – holding another to abide by your own moral code.