Did [God institute marriage]? Do you have any proof that story is true? Do you have any proof that a god even exists?
I have evidence that God exists, but not proof. God’s very nature precludes Him from providing proof, and there are good reasons for that. If He provided proof, all those on Earth who comprehended it would be bound to do His will or stand condemned to suffer perdition. This would also negate our free agency to a great extent. How? Many today, even if they knew for certain without any shadow, or doubt, of the verity of God, His justice, wisdom and love, they still would refuse to follow Him for whatever reason. Perhaps it would be a misunderstanding such as the ones you guys are making. Or maybe a person just might not want to live a religious life. At any rate, He keeps enough doubt in the mix so that all men do not condemn themselves to the extent that there is no way back into His good graces.
It's not part of marriage according to the definition you've chosen. Homosexuality among many animal species — including humans — is obviously ‘natural.’
Not based on human physiology. None of the parts fit where they’re supposed to. As far as animal species, they suffer some of the same mental and emotional disorders of man. Pedophilia and homosexuality are both unnatural mental disorders, and both very difficult to control, granted.
Nowhere in scripture is slavery condemned, either. Do you eat shellfish? Do you wear poly-cotton? Do you observe the Sabbath? Despite the typical cherry-picking for the odd 'nice' thing in the Bible, overall the Bible is a terrible source for human morality.
I couldn’t agree more. In some cases, human bondage can be an incredibly fair and equitable way of paying off debts without going to a debtor’s prison. What’s not fair is to let people out of their financial obligations while leaving the one holding the debt holding nothing. The Mosaic Law maintained a very fair form of indentured servitude in lieu of payment of debt, either to the one you owed money to or to another person, as the details were worked out before a judge. Debt owers also had their debts forgiven every seventh year, and it was against God’s Law to deny money to someone just because a debt forgiveness holiday was coming up. Crop owners had to leave some of their crops in the field so they could be gleaned by the poor, and even people with date trees were forbidden to cover them to protect them from birds. The entire Law was a masterpiece of Justice.
You're clearly a bigot, so why would the discreet homosexuals reveal anything about their sexuality to you? So of course your experience with homosexuals is going to be largely restricted to the ‘flamboyant’ ones.
I’m no bigot, I’m biased. A bigot greatly prefers his own kind of political, social, religious and financial peers, and this is certainly not the case with me. I’ve had good friends who are homosexual and, like I said, it’s not my place to judge them. And based on my personal beliefs, gleaned not only from the scriptures but in reading numerous near death experiences, everyone has issues they have to work through in this life. I also believe we all had premortal lives in the spirit, and that we came into mortality with these issues. (As difficult as it may seem; as difficult as it may be to believe, I, too, have issues I struggle with each day.) I have no desire to interfere with anyone’s lifestyle or sexual proclivities, but the scriptures mean what they say, and endless rationalizations change nothing. The Hebrew scriptures and traditions are steeped in history, and historians and theologians know beyond a doubt what the views of the scriptures were, and that homosexuality was not condoned in any way, shape or form. Jesus not only didn’t change these views, but His apostles iterated the ancient commandments against homosexuality.
The Lord has promised that despite our challenges in this life, “all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good.” So whether homosexuality, pedophilia and other predilections are genetic or something more remains a mystery. From a social sense, it may be acceptable. You decide. But the scriptures are clear on the matter, and that it’s now suddenly ambiguous is just another reason we need men who can speak authoritatively for God.
