Homosexuality Just Plain Wrong

Sorry, You can not have it both ways. Either the Bible is taken literally or it is used as a living document that can be interpreted.

I believe there is some interpretation going on by the author. That is great! "Don't be a bottom feeder" - great message. But that is not a literal reading of the Bible.

Literalism is a problem in my opinion - it keeps our spirits in a cage.

Homosexuals should have the right to love another adult legally. You and your God do not need to agree. Marriage recognized by government is civil not religious anyway.

My suggestion is to open up your heart and try not to judge and defend so much. With an open heart, miracles can happen.

Enjoy your shrimp.

Sorry, but your argument is flawed on multiple counts.

First, you make the claim that the Bible, as a whole, must be either taken literally or left open to interpretation, and that there is no middle ground ... but on what basis do you make this claim? Does the Bible itself anywhere say that it must be taken entirely as literal or symbolic? What is your "evidence" for such a statement? Because I see none.

Second, based on your claim, what do you make of the teachings of Jesus -- specifically, His parables? One of His preferred teaching methods was to tell stories that were "earthly" in nature yet heavenly in meaning; that is, the stories were symbolic of deep, divine truth. Jesus confirmed this fact on more than one occasion when, after telling a story that left his disciples a bit confused, he explained the meaning of the story. This is exactly what God the Father often did in the Old Testament ... including in the shellfish example.

Third, God gave us brains and common sense and expects us to use them, so it's only common sense that we compare the prohibitions on shellfish and homosexuality, and it's clearly (to me) an apples-and-oranges situation: Is there anything inherently wrong with shellfish, such that God would want us to forever abstain from them? Heck no. I dislike their taste, but the eating of shellfish raises no moral issue. On the other hand, is there anything inherently wrong with homosexuality? Of course there is. Science, which secularists are so enamored of, tells us that the male and female body are meant to go together, but that two male bodies or two female bodies aren't. And the Bible's overarching teaching concerning human sexuality is that God's will is for committed, lifelong one man / one woman relationships.

Concerning other matters you addressed: You say that "homosexuals should have the right to love another adult legally." But they already do. However you define love, everyone has the right to love anyone else. Even a 40-year-old has the right to romantically love a 15-year-old -- he or she just doesn't have the right to act on that love in certain ways, nor does he or she have the right to have that love sanctioned by the governement, the church and society. You're forgetting another right: the right of any individual or group to disapprove of someone else's so-called love.

As to your suggestion that I "open my heart and not judge and defend," my heart is open -- to God's truth. I'm not condemning anyone for their behavior -- they are free to choose their own course in life. That doesn't mean, however, that I have to like it, accept it, agree with it, or OK it. I will speak my mind, especially when they don't want to hear it.