That marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

[OneHumanFamily]

The House Of Bishops Report proposes no change to ecclesiastical law or to the Church of England’s existing doctrinal position on marriage and sexual relationships. The Report also says that the Church needs to repent for homophobic attitudes. Anglicanism has always been a contested faith: Will homosexuality eventually be accepted?

www.churchofengland.org/media/3863472/gs-2055-marriage-and-same-sex-relationships-after-the-shared-conversations-report-from-the-house-of-bishops.pdf

I wonder how this would look on the relationship thread, "I have a relationship with a partner, who is very judgmental ...about all my career choices, despite the fact I am a top professional and she knows nothing about my line of work - even though she professes to be more of an expert than me.

I have shown her nothing but kindness, even when she doesn't deserve it, but she throws it back at me and viciously attacks my character. She turns everything I say around to mean something I absolutely did not say, and although I can see that this is because she refuses to see whom I really am.

I protect her, I support her, I comfort her; I give her so much she doesn't deserve to have because of the way she treats me.

She always blames me for everything that goes wrong but she never thanks me for the good that I bring to his life. I keep asking her to talk with me but she turns her back on me each time. Whenever she can she rips me apart in public but she won't look at the evidence I show her about the truth of who I am."

I think the sane response would be "walk away. She's a no-gooder" but God doesn't walk away, he loves us even in our sin. He had mercy on those who killed and rejected him, and mocked and crucified him. And it's the same for us today.

Sooooooo, we are skirting over the whole psycho New Testament kill, kill, kill god are we?

Maybe it's because "he works in mysterious ways"

So you think we shouldn't let the LGBT marry then?

I really can't see if it's any of your business, what would you say if your children came out to you?

Would you be supportive, (after you have stoned them to death obviously)......

*I wonder how this would look on the relationship thread, "I have a relationship with a partner, who is very judgmental ...about all my career choices, despite the fact I am a top professional and she knows nothing about my line of work - even though she professes to be more of an expert than me.

I have shown her nothing but kindness, even when she doesn't deserve it, but she throws it back at me and viciously attacks my character. She turns everything I say around to mean something I absolutely did not say, and although I can see that this is because she refuses to see whom I really am.

I protect her, I support her, I comfort her; I give her so much she doesn't deserve to have because of the way she treats me.

She always blames me for everything that goes wrong but she never thanks me for the good that I bring to his life. I keep asking her to talk with me but she turns her back on me each time. Whenever she can she rips me apart in public but she won't look at the evidence I show her about the truth of who I am."*

fresh- I would say you sound a misogynistic control freak

First you are suggesting they would even meet in heaven. No one know how it works in the afterlife, you can have ideas about it or gain insight from texts such as the bible or from personal revelation. But I personally assume that only those joined in HOLY matrimony will be together in the hereafter. As the marriage between the same genders is not something that is recognised by our heavenly father they probably would not meet. I assume that as there would no longer be sexuality once there anyway.

First you are suggesting they would even meet in heaven. No one know how it works in the afterlife, you can have ideas about it or gain insight from texts such as the bible or from personal revelation. But I personally assume that only those joined in HOLY matrimony will be together in the hereafter. As the marriage between the same genders is not something that is recognised by our heavenly father they probably would not meet. I assume that as there would no longer be sexuality once there anyway.

I'm confused. So traditional marriage partners will meet but not gay marriages. But no one will have sexuality. What about if a widow remarries. Who are they with in heaven? So God would keep two people apart that had loved each other. Two people that wanted to see each other.

fresh- I would say you sound a misogynistic control freak

Really? How so? Nothing hostile or women-hating there. Or controlling actually. It's all about one-way love.

Misogyny (/mɪˈsɒdʒɪni/) is the hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women or girls. Misogyny can be manifested in numerous ways, including social exclusion, sex discrimination, hostility, androcentrism, patriarchy, male privilege, belittling of women, violence against women, and sexual objectification.[1][2] Misogyny can occasionally be found within sacred texts of religions and mythologies, and various influential Western philosophers and thinkers have been described as misogynistic.[1][3]

No one know how it works in the afterlife, you can have ideas about it or gain insight from texts such as the bible or from personal revelation.

Matthew 22:30 tells us that in heaven, "people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven."

Jesus said this when people tried to trap him with a relationships-board scenario of a woman widowed seven times - asking who is the married to in the afterlife?

I have shown her nothing but kindness,

Yeah but she knows you ordered the rape and slaughter of entire nations. You also drowned the whole earth. No amount of flowers and chocolates will make up for her knowing you're a homicidal manic.

Yeah but she knows you ordered the rape

What verse are you talking about?

jesusinlove.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/saints-sergius-and-bacchus-male-couple.html?m=1u

The OT ones where God orders the slaughter of a nation but to take the virgins as spoils of war. That sort of behaviour would put me of a a potential date. It's definitely a red flag.

That sort of behaviour would put me of a a potential date. It's definitely a red flag.

But what is worrying is people actually worship this crazed maniac.

I would not want to live in the same street as this guy, yet people "love" him. ??

It's all very odd- I mean how can you love a fictional character, and a homocidal one at that.

Speaking as a bloke, if I worship him will he get the wrong idea and I'll end up getting stoned to death!!

This god character is a not very well thought out fictional character, I don't think it would be published today to be honest.

If you want to worship fictional characters, Harry Potter or Star Wars would have made so much more sense....

Can you give me the actual verse reference?

Which one of us is the Christian fresh. Just google 'OT God violence virgins' or some such. It will bring up many biblical verses.

The bit before Genesis that reads:-

•	This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Boolifooli you made an accusation referring to a verse that you can't reference, so you now want to me to scour websites to find it for you? Why is this - because you don't actually know? Is this always how you conduct your reasoning?

TheMuselicamel you evidently haven't read the book you're arguing against either.

Fresh start, I have read it, as this is what made me reject it and discover atheism.

Can I suggest you read the blind watchmaker by Richard Dawkins while we are in the subject of good books

I'm Christian and pro gay marriage. In my opinion everyone picks and chooses the bits of any belief system to suit themselves.
As far as i'm aware Jesus never touched on the subject. The Bible is a politically biased historical book. Propaganda for those in charge at the time.

Sweets - you're a Christian who thinks the Bible is a politically biased book. Just exactly what is your faith based on?

Apologies if this question comes across as rude - I'm actually genuinely interested (and appreciate that numerous Christian people share your beliefs about gay marriage, just as numerous Christians share mine).

From the day I was born to today I have not seen one single piece of evidence that would even hint at a supernatural being existing.

During my 18 years of school and university I have learnt how to factually explain 99.9% of Life the Universe & Everything.

Why does any sane rational adult believe in supernatural deities. If you only think marriage should be between a man and a woman then the only explanation I can conclude is plain and simple.

Homophobia.

'Homophobia' is as simplistic an explanation as 'racist' or 'bigot' or 'uneducated' or 'ignorant' (no doubt, some would use them interchangeably.)

I think when opinions vary and conflict so drastically, it is more useful to try to understand and examine the content / reasoning of conflicting opinions and deal with that, rather then dismiss one or the other on the basis of a loaded word which does nothing to address any particular perceived misconception.

For example, there used to be many (and unfortunately, some still are) who dismiss certain opinions because they come from a woman or young adult ('what do they know - they're only a _') .

What it all boils down to is that, if the opinions are different they are dismissed, not usually due to the reasoning, but merely because they are different than the other -and it's too tricky to come up with an alternative view based on dealing with compiling evidence against the basis of the opinion-

There are plenty of people who, with 18 years (or more) of school and university have come to the opposite conclusion as you about the supernatural world, Anon -mostly because school and university are only a fraction of the actual life learning anyone should actually do-
Saying 'I don't believe in it so if you do you're wrong and therefore [insert label here]' isn't really a valid or persuasive argument.

What would be interesting to know is on what basis your faith that there is no supernatural deity is based. This is, after all the essentially most important issue and is only one basic premiss of any argument (on religious grounds) against same-sex marriage - that of belief in a deity. However, there are others that follow - if you accept that a deity COULD be real, then not every person agrees what said deity says about it, so you then have to unpack how you determine what that is etc..etc... The reason we're still debating it today (and will no doubt continue to do so) is because it is complex, and therefore cannot be understood or dismissed in simplistic terms.

There are others who opposed same sex marriage on non-religious grounds (and even same-sex couples who oppose same-sex marriage - are they also homophobic??) , but they are not really the opinions OP was interested in when the thread was started. S/he was talking about the theology of the CoE and whether it could ever reconcile same-sex marriage within it.

If anyone considers that theology 'homophobic' sobeit, but I hope it is because they have come to that conclusion after developing a deep and detailed understanding about the belief system itself in order to be able to thoroughly explain why it is erroneous (or have compelling reasons and evidence why their own world view is the correct one).
Hard to do with such an emotive issue!

I think when opinions vary and conflict so drastically Most of the country have the same opinion, its just a small minority that are homophobic.
it is more useful to try to understand and examine the content / reasoning of conflicting opinions Religious doctrine should not be an excuse for homophobia.
if the opinions are different they are dismissed, not usually due to the reasoning, but merely because they are different than the other Its my experience that different opinions are accepted and debated, and over time the beneficial ones are kept and the harmful ones pushed out. Homophobia is being pushed out because over time society has accepted it is harmful.

There are plenty of people who, with 18 years (or more) of school and university have come to the opposite conclusion as you about the supernatural world But not for any logical, demonstrable, testable reasons.
I don't believe in it so if you do you're wrong and therefore [insert label here]' isn't really a valid or persuasive argument I am not trying to make a persuasive argument, just giving my opinion that over 40 years or so of life experience I haven't seen or heard of one thing that would evidence a 'supernatural' never mind a 'supernatural entity'. I live in a society that is based on laws founded in the natural world, I just find it incredulous that educated people believe faerie stories to the extent that they will actually discriminate against homosexuals.

on what basis your faith that there is no supernatural deity is based
I have confidence in my knowledge based on the fact that over recent history out of all the billions of people on Earth a sum total of zero have come forward with verifiable evidence that anything supernatural exists.
if you accept that a deity COULD be real Anything could be real but their is no logical reason to believe any supernatural deities are real.

There are others who opposed same sex marriage on non-religious grounds Discrimination on the basics of somebodies sexuality is homophobic regardless of reasons or religion for doing so. Either homosexuals are equal to heterosexuals or they are not.

So yes I do conclude that the C of E is homophobic, it is that simple, they are just trying to justify it using their religion to obfuscate.