It Gets Better: Bob Jones Edition

[mirandaluzdivina]

(12-12-2011 03:02 PM)pastors wife Wrote:  Song of Solomon 4:10-16...

Doesn't sound too boring to me.

OK, Song of Solomon is a good counterpoint. Pretty erotic when interpreted literally! I was pleasantly surprised when my boyfriend introduced me to the Sephardi tradition of reciting it every Friday night (as an allegory, of course!).

[bamabob1]

(12-12-2011 02:45 PM)lucrezaborgia Wrote:  

(12-12-2011 01:17 PM)Elijah Craig Wrote:  I'm still waiting to see an intellectually serious and honest case that demonstrates the Bible views homosexuality as acceptable.

The bible views slavery as acceptable yet we don't practice slavery. There are other things in the bible that we know to be false due to science and whatnot too. Just because the bible says so...do we practice it or do we view the bible as a document that, while possibly being inspired, was still written by men?

Besides...did Jesus ever say anything about homosexuality? Why should we take the words of the early church over him?

The Bible in many places condemns the practice of homosexuality. By the way Jesus did not condemn salary either.

[Discovering Life]

Aww, I'm kinda bummed out. When I saw the thread title I thought it was going to be about how life gets better after surviving BJU (or fundy colleges in general). Oh well.

Great questions Naomi, learning how to respectfully and lovingly interact with people you disagree with is not a skill emphasized in fundyland. I feel I've been learning mostly by trial and error and feel kind of sorry for those who innocently wandered into my path, I'm sure I've been a trial to a few :-)

[Naomi]

(12-12-2011 09:07 PM)Discovering Life Wrote:  When I saw the thread title I thought it was going to be about how life gets better after surviving BJU (or fundy colleges in general).

Start it! I will come! Sounds like a cool thread.

(12-12-2011 09:07 PM)Discovering Life Wrote:  Great questions Naomi, learning how to respectfully and lovingly interact with people you disagree with is not a skill emphasized in fundyland. I feel I've been learning mostly by trial and error and feel kind of sorry for those who innocently wandered into my path, I'm sure I've been a trial to a few :-)

Ditto. That's the thing I liked about Dan's article: it's about loving any person or category of people you find unlovable. Practically, that's really hard. Have you found anything particularly useful in your journey?

[Discovering Life]

(12-12-2011 09:30 PM)Naomi Wrote:  Practically, that's really hard. Have you found anything particularly useful in your journey?

In general casual conversation I start by not saying anything, just listening (to be honest this wasn't hard, I'm not the confrontational type). Things get a little awkward when the conversational ball lands back in my court because I'm often not sure what to say, "I disagree" or something along those lines seems a little to strong a response for general chit-chat but I can't honestly answer in the affirmative either. I generally try to pick out something from the conversation that I can comfortably respond to and go with that. Social talk is just that, talk, and I try to keep my response on the same level whatever my personal feelings on the subject.

If over time the social chit chat turns into something more serious I still focus on listening and not talking. I try to acknowledge the emotions behind the conversation, even if I disagree with the person that doesn't invalidate their feelings. When I strongly disagree and feel I do need to say something, I try to look for points of commonality and work from there "I agree about "x" but see "y" differently". If the topic is something I disagree with due to my religious beliefs AND I feel the person is open to discussing it, I will occasionally simply state that I grew up in a very strict religious group and would they be willing to share more about how they arrived at their current beliefs. I really do want to know and understand how people, especially Christians, arrive at very different conclusions about, well, all sorts of things. Finally, realizing that people cannot fit into just one category-gay or atheist, or whatever, is not the entirety of that person, I may disagree with that one piece but it's just that-one piece, now I try to look at and respond to the whole person.

Oh, and I started a new "It gets better" thread over in Inane Chat.

[GraceThruFaith]

(12-12-2011 09:05 PM)bamabob1 Wrote:  

(12-12-2011 02:45 PM)lucrezaborgia Wrote:  The bible views slavery as acceptable yet we don't practice slavery. There are other things in the bible that we know to be false due to science and whatnot too. Just because the bible says so...do we practice it or do we view the bible as a document that, while possibly being inspired, was still written by men?

Besides...did Jesus ever say anything about homosexuality? Why should we take the words of the early church over him?

The Bible in many places condemns the practice of homosexuality. By the way Jesus did not condemn slavery either.

Jesus has a lot to say about liberty and freedom, so it kind of trumps the idea that if Jesus did not say anything about owning slaves, then it is okay to own them. God sent Jesus to save His children from all slavery.

[myotch]

And never mind the notion that, if one is free or one is enslaved, one is still answerable for one's sins and one's faith. The "good news" is that our status and station here on earth does not gain us an edge for God's favor.

[JordanMaria]

As someone who was in a relationship with a girl for 3 years, I can tell you we don't give a crap if you agree or not. We just want to be seen as human and be treated with respect like everyone else.

If you DO think it's a sin, why go around labeling people with it? If that's the way you want it you better start labeling EVERYONE with something.

I don't like homosexuality arguments. They make me sad.

[myotch]

If someone "comes out of the closet", aren't they labeling themselves? I don't condemn anyone based on consensual sin, mostly because I'm the biggest sinner there ever was.

I don't personally go around saying I'm a proud heterosexual. If I were to do that, it brings into view the types of sexual activities I tend to enjoy. Heterosexuals (past a certain age) just don't tend to bring it up. (we may joke about it peripherally, like my "engine hoist" remark...)

When my bro-in-law came out, though, it brought into view what sexual activities he does enjoy.

I'm just as labeled as you are, Jordan, technically speaking. I don't have any pride in being a heterosexual, though. I just....am.

If you don't think anything is wrong with your proclivities, orientation, actions, why not just...be.

[Elijah Craig]

(12-13-2011 02:25 PM)myotch Wrote:  I don't personally go around saying I'm a proud heterosexual. If I were to do that, it brings into view the types of sexual activities I tend to enjoy. Heterosexuals (past a certain age) just don't tend to bring it up. (we may joke about it peripherally, like my "engine hoist" remark...)

I'd rather do it than talk about it. But since I'm hard up right now, talking is all I got.