What's your opinion on religions that don't think you, if single, should have a 'love life' even with yourself?

[porridgeisbae]

Just that really.

I converted to Catholicism but I think that bit's a bit harsh.

An awful lot of Christians disagree with you. You have chosen to be homophobic, don't try to shift the blame.

OP will probably argue that you can't accept homosexuality and be a 'real' Christian.

Yeah, having converted a few months ago for a bloke she's clearly the expert here.

the Bible was, as I have said, written by people

@pointythings That's your opinion as (presumably) a secularist. It shouldn't be a Christian/Catholic's opinion. The Bible is the inspired Word of God.

for people, in order to control people.

That's kind of a conspiracy theory. Most people who were conduits for the Bible likely believed in what they were saying, they didn't have an ulterior motive.

Choosing that path for a man, nice buildings and pretty prayers lacks something, probably spirituality. I know people who have converted to some form of Christianity and they have thought it over so much more deeply.

Obviously I thought it over, as I had nine months of instruction, and over a year or attending Mass, before I was baptised.

As a Priest said to me when I mentioned it, the Holy Spirit can use all sorts of reasons to get people into the faith.

That doesn't mean that I didn't get more into it after that.

And beauty does help convert some people, not just me. It is well known that it helps. If someone's in a building that looks evocative, it can move the soul. Other people might just go 'oh that's pretty' but for other people it has a more intense effect. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2015/10/catholic-worship-beauty-imagination.html

*of attending mass

I'm not Christian, but I appreciate that a Cathedral is pretty and enjoy walking around them. It's also nice to feel part of something bigger than we are. However, I can have those feelings without deciding that I need to be religious or obeying 'rules' written 1000s of years ago.
The bible only approves of sex for the purposes of making babies in wedlock. Back in the day, those families would have been paying tithes to the church, the church would have grown bigger and richer. The more children, the more future generations in the church. Sex outside of marriage, whether gay or straight wouldn't have increased the 'flock' and masturbating (wasting sperm - as females don't count in this context in the bible) would also potentially stop the baby making.

@porridgeisbae

But the bible also contains rules about pork, wearing different fibres and a variety of other defunct rules that Jews still practice and we don't.

My theory is that if Jesus was alive today he would be leading the pride parade! That's my personal opinion anyway. Yes I'm a practicing Christian though not Catholic, I don't do popes

@gogomoto precisely. If you're going to take the Bible as the guide for your life, you can't cherry pick. Which is what all organised religions do. Which is why they deserve no respect. Polycotton sheets? Sin!

On the other hand, the Bible condones slavery. It is not condemned even in the New Testament. Me, I have better morals than that.

OP, do you have children? Do you teach them that sexuality is a choice and that being gay or bi is the wrong one?

My opinion is that it's all a load of bullshit, that you have no reason to believe that the Bible is the inspired word of god, except that it says so in the Bible, which is a stupid circular argument and no good reason to believe anything.

If you don't want to ring your doorbell then that's your buisiness, but the homophobia affects other people.

I appreciate that a Cathedral is pretty and enjoy walking around them. It's also nice to feel part of something bigger than we are. However, I can have those feelings without deciding that I need to be religious

@Purpleavocado Yes, we all probably can, but for some people, it's not unknown for it to inspire them to get into that religion, at least at some point in their lives. I've been round other places and they didn't have that effect, but my local Church is really beautiful, along with the other stuff that made me get into it.

My theory is that if Jesus was alive today he would be leading the pride parade! That's my personal opinion anyway. Yes I'm a practicing Christian

He wouldn't though.

On the other hand, the Bible condones slavery. It is not condemned even in the New Testament. Me, I have better morals than that.

The New Testament gave people better rules for how to keep their slaves, which were an improvement on the previous rules (not that that makes it ok.) Of course that is part of the Bible that would definitely be seen as just cultural for that time. No normal Church is going to say that is ok. Christians were (eventually!) instrumental in abolishing slavery.

OP, do you have children? Do you teach them that sexuality is a choice and that being gay or bi is the wrong one?

I don't have children but of course I'd have to bring them up according to the teachings of the Bible and Church, or I would be committing a sin. I was bi myself, so I know people don't have to act on that.

you have no reason to believe that the Bible is the inspired word of god, except that it says so in the Bible,

Jesus used a lot of scripture to back up his ideas, althought of course the Bible in its current form didn't exist yet. St Peter and Paul apparently said the Bible is inspired by God. And the Church affirms this.

Having seen your resounding endorsement of 30p Lee's statement about asylum serkrrs, I would say you have a lot yet to learn about following Bible and being a Christian.

So the Bible is true because two of its characters and the Church say it is? That's flimsy at best.

*you have no reason to believe that the Bible is the inspired word of god, except that it says so in the Bible,

Jesus used a lot of scripture to back up his ideas, althought of course the Bible in its current form didn't exist yet. St Peter and Paul apparently said the Bible is inspired by God. And the Church affirms this.*

Hmm. And how do you "know" that Jesus, Peter and Paul said this stuff..?

Because it says so in the Bible.

Entirely circular argument.

What a strange reason to sign up to a religion and follow it so strictly.

Convert. That explains it. Catholics usually don't take the rules so seriously.

He wouldn't though.

Well if the convert of few months says it's true it must be.

I don't have children but of course I'd have to bring them up according to the teachings of the Bible and Church, or I would be committing a sin. I was bi myself, so I know people don't have to act on that.

Thank god for that. If you plan on telling your kids that it's wrong for them to be gay and that sexual orientation can be changed at will you probably shouldn't have children.

And you are still bisexual.

Hmm. And how do you "know" that Jesus, Peter and Paul said this stuff.. Because it says so in the Bible.

You either believe it or you don't.

Having seen your resounding endorsement of 30p Lee's statement about asylum serkrrs, I would say you have a lot yet to learn about following Bible and being a Christian.

I'm usually all for asylum seekers (and in theory, migrants, which most of these are; the problem is we are a small country.) I shouldn'tve written that, but a lot of people agree with his view- he is just voicing what a lot of people think (including most of his constituents, who he's supposed to represent.)

the homophobia affects other people.

It's not homophobia, it's solely saying what the Bible and Church say about an activity. People carrying on with it will effect them a lot more.

You either believe it or you don't.

Sure, but why should anyone believe what's written in an old book. There are lots of old books. Why do you believe this one?

Bizarre isn’t it? If I was going to pick some restrictive, man made structure of belief, I’d at least go for the Gods of Ancient Egypt, bit more fun in it and far more creative!

People carrying on with it will effect them a lot more.

That's what you and the church choose to believe. There's zero evidence that it's true.

Why do you think God made people AND MANY OTHER ANIMAL SPECIES gay and bi if it’s such a sin? Did he have an off day during their creation?!

If you’ve been sexually active outside marriage, or bi or used contraception, you’ve got a lot of ground to make up anyway.

@NorthStarRising I know this is an older post, just working through, but it doesn't work like that. You just have to confess all your past sins once (I had a lot to confess .) Then it's all forgivin, if you're sincere about trying not to do any of it again.

I am not affected because I am as religious as a cat doing wheelies on a push bike.

However, I have sympathy for those who wish they were no longer restricted and want to break free but can't.

I am also sympathetic to those who are religious only so long as they don't attemp to convert me.