I'm a born-again christian single parent - AMA

[midwifeinthemaking]

Just that really - would love to answer any questions, dispel myths etc.

I would draw the line at civil authorities forcing religious authorities, whether Muslim, Christian or Jewish (all 3 have the same strictures against homosexual behavior) to perform gay marriages.

FWIW, I do actually agree with this. I think priests/imams/rabbis should be allowed to officiate at gay weddings if they choose to do so, but I would not support someone being forced to perform a religious ritual that went against their conscience.

@LifeExperience - I am pleased faith gives you peace, I truly believe you should love your life however you see fit. I don’t think you get to push those rules on others and brand them sinners because your book says so.

Babies are not responsible for their actions until they reach the age of discernment, which for most is 7 or 8. Those with developmental issues may never reach the point of discernment.

It's ok, you don't need to explain it. Personally, I don't believe that you have truth or logic, but I'm genuinely glad that it gives you peace.

@AlexaShutUp - I also agree, but I think the flip side of that is that the church shouldn’t have any power over civil society. Schools, government, healthcare should be free from religious interference.

@TitusPullo

To me this thread shows evangelical Christianity to a tee. A veneer of #bekind and faithful and Jesus will save you, covering over layer after layer of judgement, sin, homophobia, sexism. Be nice but don’t be gay, dress modestly otherwise your rapist can’t be held accountable for their actions, believe or you are going to hell. ‘‘Twas ever thus.

Exactly this.

From the New Testament : "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men."

Babies are not responsible for their actions until they reach the age of discernment, which for most is 7 or 8. Those with developmental issues may never reach the point of discernment.

OK, so very young children and people with, say, severe learning difficulties are not sinners then? Because they aren't responsible for their actions? At what point do you determine when someone has become responsible? Surely, an understanding of right/wrong is a gradual development, rather than a switch that just flicks on one day.

I also agree, but I think the flip side of that is that the church shouldn’t have any power over civil society. Schools, government, healthcare should be free from religious interference.

Yes, I agree. Religion should be a matter for private citizens.

@LifeExperience, does that mean that gay women are ok?

@LifeExperience - which English translation of Corinthians are you relying on there? The translation of the original Greek is much disputed and relies on interpretation of passages from the Old Testament. But you cling to it and judge all those sinful gays, as long as if brings you peace eh.

@AlexaShutUp - they never seem to worry about lesbians funnily enough. A book written by men for men, I don’t think they could quite comprehend any relationship set up that didn’t include a man.

A book written by men for men, I don’t think they could quite comprehend any relationship set up that didn’t include a man.

No surprises there, really!

Let me clarify Old v. New. The post I was responding to was referring to Mosaic Law. Mosaic Law was given by God to Moses for the Jewish people to follow. Mosaic Law does not apply to Christians. There are many other books in the Old Testament (46 altogether) that deal with history, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, even smart rules for living, etc. that Christians are to use with discernment.
Genesis was written in prehistory. The story of Adam and Eve losing their place in the garden is an allegory that represents humankind's assertion of free will and choice to separate from God.

Midwifeinthe making, I find it very troubling that you say your friend has sinned because she got divorced. I know nothing of her personal circumstances, obvs, but some marriages are best ended.

My own parents should never have married. My father was abusive towards my mother, my siblings and to me. She stood by him. Partly at least because of their Catholicism.

Growing up in that family has left my siblings and I with major problems, severe depression, chronic anxiety, lack of confidence in the world. I see the greater "sin" (I don't use that word myself) to be them staying together acrimoniously (sniping, gaslighting, belittling, bullying), thus harming their children. Sometimes divorce is the best choice. And I suspect that without the pressure coming from religion (what would the priest think?what would the congregation think?) my mother might have chosen it.

I'm glad you feel happy rather than sad but I find your assumption that non-Christians don't feel as free or as happy as you both simplistic and arrogant: how can you possibly know? Personally, I feel much happier since I moved AWAY from religion. (And yes, I have tried several kinds.)

The Bible was written over thousands of years, but almost all of it was written by male members of strict patriarchal societies. That is why the Bible must be studied in light of the cultures and history of the time. God may be perfect, but humans are flawed, and the Bible reflects that.

Studying the Bible is the work of a lifetime for me.

@TitusPullo

The New International

@TurquoiseLemur

I can't know how others feel. I'm telling you how I feel.

[quote LifeExperience]@AlexaShutUp

Corinthians in the New Testament makes it clear that homosexual BEHAVIOR is a sin, one among many. It is no worse a sin than gluttony, adultery, prostitution, fornication, or any other sin. We are ALL sinners and unworthy of God. Every single one of us, without exception. It is faith in Jesus that makes us worthy to be with God.

As far as civil marriage goes, sinners of all kinds get married every day. I have no problem with what the civil authorities choose to do in that regard.

I would draw the line at civil authorities forcing religious authorities, whether Muslim, Christian or Jewish (all 3 have the same strictures against homosexual behavior) to perform gay marriages.[/quote]
But why is it a sin? Who does it harm?

@LifeExperience - so picking and choosing using a bible specifically translated to conform and emphasise the evangelical denominations of Christianity. Got it. Enjoy.

The story of Adam and Eve losing their place in the garden is an allegory that represents humankind's assertion of free will and choice to separate from God.

OK, so you don't actually believe that Eve ate an apple - it's a metaphor. That makes sense.

So tell us more about humankind's choice to separate from God. If we are not talking about Eve eating the apple, are we talking about each and every human being making that choice? When do they make that choice? In what way is it an informed choice? And how does that choice link to human suffering? Is it a punishment sent by God, or just a natural consequence of the choice to move away from him? And if it's a natural consequence, why can't a loving and omnipotent God do anything to alleviate our suffering?

And how does it all work in the case of a two-year old with cancer,, for example. Is that child's suffering the result of a choice that the child has made? Or a choice that his parents have made? Grandparents?

Or are these not individual choices but actually some sort of collective choice that can't be identified or attributed to any one individual? That seems a bit harsh, and suggests that it's more a fundamental flaw in human nature rather than a choice that anyone has actively made...which again points to a bit of a design fault rather than anything that humans have actually done to deserve their misery?

But surely your feeling that divorce is a sin conveys itself directly or indirectly to your friend and maybe to others? It's not just your own personal emotion, from what you say it is a part of your religious POV which is something you share with others.

I feel you're being evasive. Again: why is divorce always sinful?

Please also understand that I am not talking about religion per se. I make a distinction--religions are human constructs and as such are flawed, faith comes from God and is perfect.

The early Christians called their faith "the Way," and it was a lifestyle, not just a religion. Time passed, the faith grew and came out of hiding, bureaucracy took over, splits and schisms took place and here we are. My faith is in Jesus Christ. I express that faith by attending church, but church attendance is not necessary to follow Jesus.

There are plenty of very good people who live the gospel every day but never darken the door of a church, and plenty of unrepentant sinners who are in the front row every Sunday.

Also, if all of us are sinners, is that because we are somehow made sinners because of some kind of collective guilt (e.g. Eve eating the apple) or is it because we are all predestined to sin because of some innate flaw in our design?

And in either of those two scenarios, what is the role of free will? Surely, true free will would mean that we each make our own choices, so some people would be sinners and some wouldn't...unless we were all designed to sin and had no free choice in the matter after all?

@midwifeinthemaking
One of my great friends from church recently divorced and has a young child - she has sinned through divorcing, as I have sinned for having a child out of wedlock, as has joe bloggs over there for gossiping. We all sin, and I am not to judge. I wouldn't stop loving her as my friend for her decision, but I wouldn't look up to her in that aspect of her life. But her strength, resilience, etc. I most certainly admire.

Sorry OP you sound totally the opposite from that post and you do have a really judgy attitude