There has been lots of recent discussion of this topic in lots of threads, including ones where it constitutes a threadjack. I thought it made sense to start a new, dedicated thread for serious discussion of this issue from a Biblical perspective.

All arguments should be Biblically based and involve thoughtful study of the Word.

As a couple of possible starting questions (not making any arguments on them yet):

1. Does the Bible condemn homosexual activity?

2. Does the Bible condemn the state of being homosexually oriented?

3. If the Bible does condemn homosexual activity, can such condemnation be clearly separated from instances that involved (a) rape, (b) pederasty or pedophilia and (c) ritual prostitution or sex as part of pagan worship?

As another question:

4. Does the Bible condemn lesbian activity at all?

Good start.

The Bible is of course opposed to homosexuality. Next question please?

I'm with you on this one Olger. Not sure why SO much wasted cyber-space has been dedicated to this non-issue.

What some thought was a non-issue is not viewed that way by everyone, and in fact, if one studies the issue a while, one will find that many don't see it as a non-issue at all.

Personally I agree with you about the conclusion, that the Bible opposes the practice of homosexuality; but there are a lot of people who really haven't looked very deeply at what the Bible teaches on it. For them a discussion of this kind might be helpful.

Along with studying what the Bible says about it, it would also be good, I think, to look at how the Bible says we should deal with people who have these issues in their lives.

Your suggestions especially would be good to hear on the topic of how to relate to people who perhaps refuse to acknowledge their sin or who are struggling against what they already know to be sin.

I've never met anyone who refused to acknowledge their sins. That is just hard for me to imagine. Now I have met people who personally believe differently than you and I on the issue. Just because they believe differently does not mean that they 'refuse' to acknowledge their sins.

I sure hope you are not saying that.

There are wonderful resources that help us understand why many christians and christian churches are not opposed to homosexualty.

Maybe someone can name them?

'Is the Homosexual Thy Neighbor?'
is one such source I dont remeber who wrote that.


All sharing what they read in the Holy Word!

Pretty sad when we're willing to just state our opinion without backing it up with any Scripture at all. Come on - the standard is that any claim must be backed up with relevant Scripture.