'Love the sinner, hate the sin' - such weasel words, Hope. I don't find it hard to stomach, I just find it yet another card Christians play in order to excuse their own shameful behaviour.
So, are you someone who believes that people who commit crimes should never again be treated as human beings? That is the logical extension of your distaste of the 'love the sinner, hate the sin' principle. If so, as a human being, I find that attitude distasteful; it isn't even my Christian faith that leads me to that feeling.
I always have, even when I was a Christian. Because what you are saying here is that you hate Trent's relationship in the same way that you hate paedophillia and thievery. And if you would just engage your brain for half a second you might see why that is so wrong - forget offensive, it's just bloody stupid. But no, because you have closed down your tolerance and compassion and are driven by unthinking prejudice and fear.
I notice that is people like you who love to dish the 'hate' word out with gay abandon. I accept that the maxim uses the term, but have I ever said that I hate anything? Yes, in a previous post in reply to Shakes' quote from Anne Lamott I said that "Humanly speaking, there are a variety of people who I would naturally hate ...", but I then went on to state that as a Christian I don't 'hate' them at all.
Yes, I believe that they are wrong in their beliefs and/or actions, and I can think of various actions that might be seen to be good when in reality they aren't. For instance, someone buys up a failing company and asset strips it to the value of several £million; a week later, they give half a million to charity. Is that donation 'clean' or 'tarnished'? Has that person done a 'good deed'?
Let's take another example, this time more relational. Over a period of time of becoming friends, 3 heterosexual couples (and it could just as equally be gay couples) decide to live in a polyamorial arrangement. There has been no attempt to enforce the arrangement by any of the individuals, and it has all been mutually agreed. From comments I've read here and elsewhere - from both straight and gay posters - there seems to be a general feeling that this is wrong. The 6 people involved don't see it as wrong, but society does. How does that fit with your "And if you would just engage your brain for half a second you might see why that is so wrong - forget offensive, it's just bloody stupid. But no, because you have closed down your tolerance and compassion and are driven by unthinking prejudice and fear." Is your thinking controlled only by what is acceptable in law?
You've made a small, petty God, Hope. One who hates what you hate.
See my previous post on the thread.
Don't you know that it's hateful to try to deny to others the right to love?
So, what's your take on polyamory? Are in favour of its being legitimised?
Of course you do. But you don't like it so you cling onto a couple of Bible verses in order to shore up your position whilst ignoring the hypocrisy of doing so.
As I've said in the past, my understanding of homosexual relationships is educated as much by scientific research results as it is by the Bibkle. I realise that, by acknowledging that, your argument drops out from underneath your feet, but then does that bother byou?
And you say things that are hurtful and cruel and you really don't care and *that* I find inexcusable.
I express principles, Rhi. Yes, sometimes principles can be hurtful. What I try not to do, unless hugely provoked, is make attacks on individuals.