If you really want to hear the crickets chirp, ask the county executive her thoughts on same-sex marriage and if county resources will continue to be spent on defending Monroe County’s discriminatory policies.
Plenty of money for bigotry, but for school children, not so much.

There are far better arguments to use to advocate homosexuality than what Jesus did or didn’t say. If you study the Gospels you will find he did discuss marriage, and specifically cited it as a union between a man and a woman. He also talks on several occasions about God’s wrath in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which are written about throughout the Old Testament. In each instance, homosexuality is viewed as immoral.

Using the argument that since Christ never said anything about homosexuality being wrong must have meant he believed it was acceptable opens the door for a host of other ideas most find deploable. He never condemns domestic abuse, incest, or rape either therefore those practices must be all right as well?

The argument that Christ and/or the bible condemn homosexuality is full of all sorts of holes. When one looks at the context of those passages that are used to beat homosexuals over the head with, you will see that they are delivered in the context of male-on-male RAPE, which was a common practice back in Biblical days — one used to humiliate and and bring shame on an entire family. Biblical scholars (not the loudmouths like Falwell and Roberts — they’re not scholars, they’re just greedy men who lined their pockets with money they got from real Christians) have been pointing this out for a long time.

But, it’s amazing what people choose to believe. Why do you think it’s called “Cafeteria Christianity?” Because the likes of Phelps, Dobson, Falwell, and even whtwtrdood pick and choose what Biblical teachings they’ll live by and which ones “aren’t applicable any more because they’re in the Old Testament.”

If whtwtrdood can convince me that s/he has never worked on the Sabbath, never shopped (thereby requiring someone ELSE to work) on the Sabbath, never touched shrimp or lobster, and gives more to charity than s/he spends on her/his own personal wants/needs/desires, then I’ll say s/he has a valid argument.

It’s not a plank they need to remove from their own eye, it’s an entire tree.

I’m thinking that’s not going to come though because if s/he is online condemning homosexuality, using internet access and a computer, then clearly s/he doesn’t live a life as close to Christ’s as possible.

It’s that whole “living in poverty by choice” thing that these Cafeteria Christians just can’t wrap their brains around and try, as they do in condemning homosexuals and beating them up with their “Christianity” to rationalize their own reasons as to why they drive nice cars, living in nice houses, wear nice clothes, etc.

And the old testament also says that you shouldn’t shave your sideburns, but should keep a slave. This isn’t about religious beliefs. This is about allowing two consenting adults to have the rights and protections granted to all citizens. No one is telling churches that they have to marry couples they don’t want to marry. This is about CIVIL rights.

You don’t have to approve of anyone’s choice in a spouse, you just need to understand that we are all Americans.

“If you study the Gospels you will find he did discuss marriage, and specifically cited it as a union between a man and a woman”

Can you cite this? I’d rather not have to read the entire New Testament again. Thanks.

“…on several occasions about God’s wrath in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah,…”

This too please.

It’ll be a big help.

Thanks.

Jesus discussing marriage and divorce: Matthew 19: 1 - 6, Mark 10: 6 - 12

Ah yes — the Bible, as re-written by King James…NOT as written by any disciple of Christ.

Congratulations Ms. Martinez!!! One small step for you, one giant step for New York. Do you think the county will appeal?

Thank you.

As for the county’s future plans? I haven’t the foggiest notion.

This decision will have far-ranging ramifications throughout the region. While it might seem, on the surface, to be cost-effective to not pursue an appeal, the fact remains that all kinds of county employees may now come forward, looking for spousal benefits. This will cost the county a lot more money than what they pay their attorney to pursue this appeal.

The fact remains, however, that this unanimous decision was made based on the law. I’m not sure how the county could proceed on an appeal with such a strong ruling coming out of the appellate court unless they hope to draw a panel of judges in the Court of Appeals that will not interpret law but may, instead, rule based on a particular left/right slant.

For today and, until (and if) that appeal is heard in the state Court of Appeals, my marriage has legitimacy beyond my own personal view of it. As does every other same-sex couple’s.

[...] light of the NYS appellate court ruling that says gay marriages recognizes elsewhere must be recognized in New York recall that in September - ladkiddo and I attended a Monroe County Leg [...]

Pat - You already know how I feel!

I find it interesting, in a sad, pitiful sort of way, that the bible citer up there failed to follow through on his argument. Cafeteria Christianity is what has me turned off on organized religion - Man has twisted what were probably some pretty good ideas at one point (Koran, Bible, Talmud, etc.) and warped them to their own needs and ends - King James being a prime example.

Hopfully, DeLaus heard from plenty of people there in your lovely county, who will discourage him from mounting any further appeal. I look forward to hearing how he decides.

using the bible in law is about as relevant as using ‘everybody poops’ in med school.

I specifically did not state a position regarding homosexuality to prove a point (which many of you did by the way, thanks for all the projection). I was merely responding to the original post regarding Jesus’ thoughts on the matter and was pointing out using the Bible to support an argument, almost any argument, is flawed.

Regarding my own faith as it relates to my personal life, it really is no one else’s concern. For the record however, my business is closed on Sundays specifically so I, and my employees may go to worship services and spend time with our families. For those employees who don’t practice a faith, whatever they do with the day is their business. I have no desire to address all the posts with various partial verses taken from the Bible, as they simply support my original post. The comment regarding shellfish is a great example. For most Evangelicals, all of the rules regarding worship and sacrifice in the Old Testament were moot because of Christ’s death on the Cross.

[...] know about the lawsuit - the one where two people were legally married in Ontario, Canada and had their marriage [...]