Obama/Biden versus Romney/Ryan?

[blue]

Does one have to be religious to be anti abortion? Do I have to be religious to be against .gov sponsored marriage, straight or homosexual?
Im against both and I may be a believer but I am not religious.
Romney is going to win AK so I still feel comfortable voting third party.

I believe Romney will be more friendly to make energy cheaper instead of more expensive. High cost of energy hinders progress.

[Puckstop31]

RBARK - I want to start by, again, thanking you for this challenge. Its been very good for me.

Anyway, if it is the basis for homosexuality being a sin, then you must first explain all the other sins you are committing without remorse. See the picture Fran posted earlier in the thread.

The Old Testament is not the only reason for my beliefs on the subject. The Mosaic law was given to the Jews. As I understand it, to show them how to live among pagans, atone for their sins and how to live in ways pleasing to God. Then came Christ, His resurrection and a New Covenant. As such, we are no longer bound to the Mosaic Law. (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:15) This does not mean that the OT law is not good advice.

So, yes... Yes my first 'marriage' was a HUGE sin and mistake. We could analyze Gods definition of marriage and come to the conclusion that my first marriage was not real because it had nothing to do with what God commands marriage to be. Somehow I don't think that would do much good here. LOL

But to answer your question here... Thank God for His grace. I'm not sure what else I can say. Because of my real marriage, (and a ton of other reasons) one that we do our best to live the way He shows us is a big reason why my faith was renewed. If you knew the story about how we met and can not see Gods hand in it, you do not want to.


God's Grace and a heart willing to accept it. The End.

And this quote here, is an even more strange thing to say from where you are standing. You are speaking here, condemning a large group of people (possibly myself included, depending on how my relationship with my SO fits in) to eternal suffering in Hell, in the name of God... and you're concerned whether I am talking down to you?

I mean, that's kind of really backwards logic. Every single post you've made here is the very definition of talking down to people. It is difficult for me to understand how you would not see that, if you're so concerned with treating people respectably while pondering their eternal suffering.

Now this is quite a stretch and one that you are purposely using to put me on the defensive. (I took debate in school too, I just was not very good at it. LOL) I am NOT damning you to hell. I have no such power. That is a matter for you and God. I have nothing to do with it.

I am simply sharing what I believe. I've got no power (or desire) to force anything on you. All I have is my vote, just like you.

[RBark]

I never said you were personally damning anyone to hell.

It is simply a consideration of what you are saying. For instance, the main theme of the Bible is to love your neighbor and be a decent person, regardless of who the other is. To lead by example, not through fear and control.

So here in this thread you were presented a highly educated and thorough, convincing argument that being in a loving homosexual relationship is not a sin. At this point there is a choice someone can make, many of them. One of which is conceding that the Bible is not as simple as you thought, and take the opportunity to do more research to revise your opinion.

Instead, here, you dug in your heels, called my post a "challenge," and decided to research more to give my post a fitting response. But what is the challenge I presented? I did not challenge the Bible because it is what it is. The only thing I challenged, if one could call it that, is your belief that homosexuality is a sin. The key words here being *your belief* not the Bible's belief.

So your basic response to evidence that homosexuality is not a sin, and therefore a happy thing that means millions of gay people who are christian can breathe easier in their lives and their belief in their relationship with God... is to start digging for evidence to the contrary that would **** them to hell, again not by you personally, but in the name of God.

You say I am putting you on the defensive. I am not. I am presenting the possibility that you need to revise how you are approaching this subject. You are putting what you believe, and the desire for it to be the correct belief, above the truth.

I am not particularly Christian. I only say that in the sense that I do not worship any one thing in particular. I am spiritual, however. I am more concerned with the whole aspect of being a good and honest person than I am in trying to use my vote to control other people's choices. The choice / nonchoice I made to be with my SO is between myself and whatever higher being is out there. It is not between you and I. Just as I, and others do not infringe on your marriage, I expect the same respect back.

I think my question got missed, so I'm going to ask again. And again, I'm not trying to be snarky or put you on the defensive here. I'm genuinely trying to understand.

In regards to homosexuality, you think that they should seek God's forgiveness and do their best not to continue sinning. So what are you saying they should do? Leave the person they love and try to form a heterosexual relationship? Abstain from sex altogether?

And if that's the case, what about your own marriage? According to the bible, you're both committing adultery because you were married previously. And by staying together, you would continue to commit adultery. I obviously don't think you should leave your wife... lol I'm just trying to understand your reasoning.

[blue]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/louiswoo...kruptcy-again/

I GM to big to fail, twice?

[Fran101]

Originally Posted by RBark

I never said you were personally damning anyone to hell.

It is simply a consideration of what you are saying. For instance, the main theme of the Bible is to love your neighbor and be a decent person, regardless of who the other is. To lead by example, not through fear and control.

So here in this thread you were presented a highly educated and thorough, convincing argument that being in a loving homosexual relationship is not a sin. At this point there is a choice someone can make, many of them. One of which is conceding that the Bible is not as simple as you thought, and take the opportunity to do more research to revise your opinion.

Instead, here, you dug in your heels, called my post a "challenge," and decided to research more to give my post a fitting response. But what is the challenge I presented? I did not challenge the Bible because it is what it is. The only thing I challenged, if one could call it that, is your belief that homosexuality is a sin. The key words here being *your belief* not the Bible's belief.

So your basic response to evidence that homosexuality is not a sin, and therefore a happy thing that means millions of gay people who are christian can breathe easier in their lives and their belief in their relationship with God... is to start digging for evidence to the contrary that would **** them to hell, again not by you personally, but in the name of God.

You say I am putting you on the defensive. I am not. I am presenting the possibility that you need to revise how you are approaching this subject. You are putting what you believe, and the desire for it to be the correct belief, above the truth.

I am not particularly Christian. I only say that in the sense that I do not worship any one thing in particular. I am spiritual, however. I am more concerned with the whole aspect of being a good and honest person than I am in trying to use my vote to control other people's choices. The choice / nonchoice I made to be with my SO is between myself and whatever higher being is out there. It is not between you and I. Just as I, and others do not infringe on your marriage, I expect the same respect back.

I just really agree with all of this. Actually, with all your posts on this topic in general.

I had this long post written out but at this point, what's the point. People will believe what they would like to believe and cherry pick what suits them. I just wish, to quote this, that people would use their votes and lead by example and kindess, not fear and control.
Not to agree with something or believe in it is one thing.. I don't care what people believe, your religion can believe that the world is controlled by elves and that nobody should chew gum on tuesdays and that people shouldn't marry before age 35 for all I care.. but to try vote to stop gay people from getting married is not religious freedom, it's religious oppression.

separation of church and state.

As for the tradition of marriage.

Things change. People fight it. Freak out. Religion gets tossed in where it doesn't belong.. but it usually changes for the better.

[JacksonsMom]

I haven't totally caught up in this thread but read over the past few pages and found it very interesting. I'm learning a lot, so plan to read more.

I consider myself mostly conservative. However I'm not religious at all. I'm pretty much opposite. I do believe in a God, but I really have no special belief "system" nor do I consider myself to belong to any sector of Christianity. I guess I'm more spiritual than anything.

I do not believe in abortion, but do think certain circumstances should be allowed. However if I had to choose a yes or no answer I would choose no I don't like or support abortion. I don't judge people who have had them, and it's... whatever. But I personally am against it mostly.

However I do support gay marriage. I do not think religious-based reasons for being against it validate anything to me. Separation of church and state and all. I just don't think it's a valid reason/excuse to not allow them to get married. For many of the reasons already listed... I don't personally take the Bible literally. I don't think/believe we should base our entire life choices off of a book that was written in a very very very different time. And to be honest... I've personally seen sooo many marriages crumble around me in my short 22 years that I've lost a lot of hope and faith in traditional marriage anyways, why not the gay people be miserable too? Just kidding. But seriously, just don't see the big issue.

While I think it's important, I don't think it should be a MAIN issue in regards to who you're voting for. I think there are so many other important factors to take in and I think often a lot of people just look at social issues, which is great and all... but there is sooo much more to running this country than deciding on gay marriage! I'm not taking away the importance from it, and obviously it's important to those directly involved, but I'm just saying... we need to get this country out of debt, and just... so many other things!

And these debates have done nothing but show me that the people running our country seemingly have no idea what they're doing. Sorry, but it's how I feel. I went in pretty much completely unbiased -- I didn't like either candidates, and to be honest, they're both still not MY personal picks. But I cannot see how Obama and Biden have been running this country for the last 4 years. And I'm pretty sure I now know who my vote is going to, and it's actually shocking me! It's sooo not even Democrat vs. Republican for me. It's who I think can better run this country, and I'm now sure Obama is not it.

And I don't particularly like extremists on either side. I think a lot of people often sound (not in this thread that I've seen) very closed-minded on both sides and it drives me nuts. The people who "can't even watch Obama" or "he's not MY president..." and things of the sort. I had a conversation with a women a bit older at my workplace the other day who is a democrat and all she could come up with is "well I already know I won't vote for Romney because he's Mormon." And gave me all this stuff about how Mormons are all close minded and shun all other people/religions/etc. Woah, way to stereotype much. Yet if I would have said to her "Well I'm not voting for Obama because he's part black"... I'm sure THAT wouldn't have gone over well. I could honestly care less about the president's religion or whatever. As long as they are doing a good job at running this country.

[blue]

Dropping this off here as well.

During this evening***8217;s vice presidential debate, Vice President Joe Biden stated that Ryan, as a member of Congress, had voted for a blank check for two wars.

But, of course, Joe Biden, as a member of Senate, voted for both the war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan. Biden has been lying fluently throughout this debate; that was merely the most obvious example.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Governm...+Government%29

[Fran101]

Oh and speaking of I just got my voter registration thing today.

This will be my first time voting pretty exciting!

[Laurelin]

This will be my third election to vote. I feel old.