# Why do Christians not take the sin of adultery seriously? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 11, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669 "2015-09-11T13:46:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/41 "2015-09-11T17:30:16Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Right - which is why ‘god’ does not exist in any meaningful sense of the word “exists”. > > If you want to claim that for -you- your god is created in your image and that because you’re confused by homosexuality, then so is your god - thats fine. > > But the thread is talking about ‘christians’ - and they get their ‘god’ from the ‘bible’ - so you should try and stick with that god and those verses instead of inserting your own dogma where it doesn’t belong. I quoted the bible 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/42 "2015-09-11T17:31:04Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > So no one is allowed to change their mind? Why do you think that no one should be allowed to change their mind? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/43 "2015-09-11T17:34:31Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Why do you think that no one should be allowed to change their mind? Because you were being critical of them changing their minds. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/44 "2015-09-11T17:41:29Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I quoted the bible 😕 Not when you said “we created god in our image” - ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/45 "2015-09-11T17:48:40Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Indeed. Since this thread began with the issue of marriage certificates for gay couples, it’s worth remembering that Democratic leaders had the same position as Kim Davis until about five minutes ago. [Here’s Barack Obama](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c47JlBJDBVo) opposing gay marriage. [Here’s Hillary Clinton](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I1-r1YgK9I) doing the same. And [here’s Bill Clinton](https://floridademocraticleague.wordpress.com/news/resources/the-defense-of-marriage-act/) signing DOMA. > > While Democrats are eager to punish bakers and florists who don’t serve gay weddings, they evidence no desire to punish themselves for preventing legal recognition of gay weddings. Taking a position on gay marriage is not illegal and does not warrant punishment. Being unwilling to issue marriage licenses that you are legally required to issue or discriminating against gay couples in your secular business are illegal and do warrant punishment. > [@](#): > > I would think that was obvious. Yeah, ditto. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/46 "2015-09-11T18:57:23Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > This is where I land and why I find the whole thing disturbing. I find Bill Clinton’s behavior reprehensible, but I view it as really none of my business. I voted for him because I thought his policies would be better than George Bush’s (something I am not so sure of now) and Bob Dole’s (something I am still reasonably sure of). Meanwhile, people like Newt Gingrich that run on a platform of family values and make political hay of Clinton’s peccadilloes while at the same time having probably just as many affairs as Bill drive me nuts. > > Similarly, Al Gore does not bother me for flying around in airlines though many conservatives view this as hypocritical. As far as I know, Al Gore has never condemned people for flying in airlines or driving cars like Newt Gingrich has condemned people for having affairs. Gore has a job to do and is using the tools available for the job. If I ever found out he was invested in Exxon or the exploitation of tar sands, I would feel very much differently. Bill Clinton was not impeached for having affairs but rather lying about it under oath. So he committed an actual crime to cover up his affairs whereas Gingrich was just having affairs. Both Gingrich and Clinton are bad people but a sitting president breaking the law is a public matter no matter whether the Speaker of the House has cheated on his wife or not. I find Al Gore’s hypocrisy much worse because he makes alot of money decrying global warming and then actively makes the problem worse. Gingrich hurt his family which is awful but Al Gore is knowingly making the world worse for everyone while asking poorer people to make bigger sacrifices than he makes himself. However, I think the focus on hypocrisy is an adolescent concern. If adultery is wrong it is just as wrong for Larry Flynt as it is for Billy Graham. If it is wrong then it is better to condemn it then celebrate it. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/47 "2015-09-11T19:16:11Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > First, the belief that remarriage after divorce constitutes adultery is more of a Catholic belief than a general Christian belief, and Ms. Davis is not a Catholic. Does she believe in Biblical inerrancy? I bet she does. And if so, [she believes this](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10): [QUOTE=Jesus (Mark 10:11-12, NIV)] Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/48 "2015-09-11T19:22:05Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > Reagan. > > No, really. He assembled the modern Republican party by adding the Christian right, but was divorced. To beat Carter, the Republicans needed Reagan. To accept Reagan, they had to drop their issue with Divorce. No, Reagan may have spurred things along, but the real problem was, too many Southern Baptists and Assemblies of God members and other conservative Christians were getting divorced and remarried. The conservative churches had a choice between turning a blind eye to what Jesus said about divorce and remarriage, or losing their congregations. So the Bible is inerrant, but we’re not gonna pay attention to the parts that are too inconvenient for People Like Us. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/49 "2015-09-11T19:26:42Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Not when you said “we created god in our image” - OK, that was not my intention but I used that as a takeoff as to how many religions seem to justify their actions, they actually believe God is behind them in that and they are doing God’s work. Such examples as the The 9-11 terrorist, to many of the famous christian sects that preach a message of hatred that they believe God is calling them to preach: > **[List of organizations designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_designated_by_the_Southern_Poverty_Law_Center_as_hate_groups#Christian_Identity)** > > The following is a list of U.S.-based organizations that are classified as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The SPLC is an American nonprofit legal advocacy organization specializing in civil rights and public interest litigation. The SPLC defines a hate group as "an organization that — based on its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders, or its activities — has beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically fo Si... Their hearts are full of hatred and that’s how they see their God, supporting them, and hating others. They have created god in their image. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/50 "2015-09-11T19:28:42Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > OK, that was not my intention but I used that as a takeoff as to how many religions seem to justify their actions, they actually believe God is behind them in that and they are doing God’s work. Such examples as the The 9-11 terrorist, to many of the famous christian sects that preach a message of hatred that they believe God is calling them to preach: > > [List of organizations designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as hate groups - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_designated_by_the_Southern_Poverty_Law_Center_as_hate_groups#Christian_Identity) > > Their hearts are full of hatred and that’s how they see their God, supporting them, and hating others. They have created god in their image. Well, that viewpoint is backed up in the bible as well - note all the destruction, murder and mayhem that ‘god’ appropriated on the ones that were not his chosen few? hell, he flooded the earth and promises to destroy it again with fire, leaving only his ‘chosen’ few. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/51 "2015-09-11T19:29:53Z")
I’m not sure it’s that adultery is uniquely not taken seriously so much it’s that homosexuality is specifically a major political issue. I don’t see fundamentalists making a big deal about theft or assault, either, but those are sins. It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of homosexuality to evangelical Christianity. Opposition to homosexuality is the second-most important identifying issue they have; only actual belief in Christ is first. If they didn’t oppose homosexuality it’s hard to say what they’d talk about on Christian radio stations. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/52 "2015-09-11T19:31:03Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > [QUOTE=Mark 10:11] > > He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. Does she believe in Biblical inerrancy? I bet she does. And if so, [she believes this](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10): [/QUOTE] Let’s compare Mark with Matthew: [QUOTE=Matthew 19:9] I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” [/QUOTE] And the standard for adultery is pretty low: [QUOTE=Matthew 5:28] But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/53 "2015-09-11T19:34:46Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’m not sure it’s that adultery is uniquely not taken seriously so much it’s that homosexuality is specifically a major political issue. I don’t see fundamentalists making a big deal about theft or assault, either, but those are sins. > > It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of homosexuality to evangelical Christianity. Opposition to homosexuality is the second-most important identifying issue they have; only actual belief in Christ is first. If they didn’t oppose homosexuality it’s hard to say what they’d talk about on Christian radio stations. Tithing I would say would be placed higher then homosexuality in many churches, some mention it at every service. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/54 "2015-09-11T20:49:48Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > **Why do Christians not take the sin of adultery seriously?** Same reason Dante gave [The Lustful](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferno_(Dante)#Second_Circle_.28Lust.29) the lightest punishment in Hell, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/55 "2015-09-11T20:52:31Z")
For the same reason Christians take part in an economy run on loans with interest and the same reason there hasn’t been a witch burning in hundreds of years: Christianity has been corrupted to the core by secular society and is scarcely recognizable. The same will be true when all the Christian churches give up the fight against gay people and offer them fellowship instead. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/56 "2015-09-11T21:04:35Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > And the standard for adultery is pretty low: > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by Matthew 5:28 > > But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Brilliant. A moment of temptation, successfully resisted, and you’re punished the same as if you went through with it. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/57 "2015-09-11T21:05:50Z")
\*\*Why do Christians not take the sin of adultery seriously? \*\* Because they _like_ it. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/58 "2015-09-11T22:11:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It’s **kanicbird’s** world-best to stay as far the everlasting F away from it as possible. Beyond its lack of coherence, this is little more than a personal attack. Knock it off. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2015, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/59 "2015-09-11T22:30:44Z")
> [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](#): > > So why do Christians, meaning the common folk who vote in elections and support people like Kim Davis, ignore this discrepancy? Is it because they don’t really care about Christian values and are just homophobic bigots? Or do they also take a stand against adultery and I am just not seeing it? So tell me- what Christian sects do hate homosexuals? Actually for most, it’s a “Hate the sin and not the sinner” and indeed, adultery and drunkenness, etc are all sins. Some sects dont even consider it a sin, as long as it’s entered into with love. Those few sects that are homophobic are a minority. > **[Homosexuality and religion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_homosexuality#Christianity)** > > The relationship between religion and homosexuality has varied greatly across time and place, within and between different religions and denominations, with regard to different forms of homosexuality and bisexuality. The present-day doctrines of the world's major religions and their denominations differ in their attitudes toward these sexual orientations. Adherence to anti-gay religious beliefs and communities is correlated with the prevalence of emotional distress and suicidality in sexual min... \*Liberal Christians are supportive of homosexuals. Some Christian denominations do not view monogamous same sex relationships as bad or evil. These include the United Church of Canada, the United Church of Christ,[32] the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Church of Sweden, the Lutheran, reformed and united churches in Evangelical Church of Germany, the Church of Denmark, the Icelandic Church, the Church of Norway or the Protestant Church of the Netherlands. In particular, the Metropolitan Community Church, a denomination of 40,000 members, was founded specifically to serve the Christian LGBT community, and is devoted to being open and affirming to LGBT people. The United Church of Christ and the Alliance of Baptists also condone gay marriage, and some parts of the Anglican and Lutheran churches allow for the blessing of gay unions. Within the Anglican communion there are openly gay clergy; for example, Gene Robinson and Mary Glasspool are openly homosexual bishops in the US Episcopal Church and Eva Brunne in Lutheran Church of Sweden. The Episcopal Church’s recent actions vis-a-vis homosexuality have brought about increased ethical debate and tension within the Church of England and worldwide Anglican churches. \* And, many of the worlds major religions treat homosexuality as _some_ sort of “sin”, some more, some less. Islam more, Hinduism & Buddhism less. And even there is confusing with different sects having different views. Try to learn something about a religion before attacking it, OK? ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669/60 "2015-09-12T00:41:11Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > Yeah, but that particular “sin” often goes totally ignored. I think I’ve only ever read about one divorced person remarrying, then divorcing and remarrying their first spouse because the second union was considered adultery. I’m sure there’s plenty more, but in my almost fifty years of life, that’s been the only one. And for the record, I think it was some minor country-ish female singer from the 60s - 70s. As an aside to the tangent that’s popped up, the above woman wasn’t a Catholic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-christians-not-take-the-sin-of-adultery-seriously/730669.md?page=4)