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Political Gibberish . . .
by: James Brooks
In this section of our magazine, we will discuss what you and I think about different political situations. We will try and keep most of it simple.
Because of the 2008 Presidential Election, we thought we would focus this first issue on giving you a little information on the remaining candidates and how they feel about the issues. Who are Barack Obama and John McCain? Find out! I have decided to go a little further with a few of the issues to see if you think they are morally in line. I'm just giving another point of view.
I've found that there are different interpetations and views on these issues from the many denominations. I also feel that many religions are not going by the scriptures and religion has gotten too tolerant.
I'll give you some of what I found, but there is plenty more out there. You read and make your own choices.
After you have read the interpetations, click here on the ABC News link and "take a test" to see how you stack up with the candidates. It may take about 5 minutes, but it is worth it and you may be surprised by the results.
Abortion and Religion:
Source
The United Methodist Church writes in its official statement that the denomination "believes in the sanctity of unborn human life and are reluctant to approve abortion. But they are equally bound to respect the sacredness of the life and well-being of the mother, for whom devastating damage may result from an unacceptable pregnancy."
Abortion and The Bible
Bible Source
Academically, the issue of abortion involves the balance of rights and freedoms between the mother and the baby.
Theologically, there are really only two questions:
At what point does life (ie: do not kill) begin between conception and birth?
Is it sin to abort a fetus?
Death Penalty and Religion
Source
The Episcopal Church in the United States of America has long opposed capital punishment, and at the most recent General Convention (2000) reaffirmed the Church’s opposition to the death penalty. In our baptismal covenant, we respect the dignity of every human being, and commit ourselves to strive for justice and peace among all people. The Church will continue to decry the revenge of state-sanctioned homicides. We abhor the racism and economic injustices evident in our criminal justice system.
Death Penalty and The Bible
Bible Source
The first mention of the appropriate punishment for a murder is in Genesis 4:11-15. "And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;...a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him." (KJV)
Adam and Eve's sons were Cain, a farmer, and Abel, a shepherd. Each brought the best that they had had produced as a sacrifice to God. God accepted Abel's sacrifice of meat but rejected Cain's grain offering. Cain's resultant disappointment turned to anger; he killed his brother.
God cursed Cain for the murder and sent him to wander the earth. God also put a mark on Cain's body so that nobody who saw him would be motivated to kill him. If anyone killed Cain for the murder of his brother, that person would be very severely punished.
Here, banishment and exile is the penalty for murder; capital punishment is specifically prohibited.
The first mention of capital punishment as a penalty for murder is in Genesis 9:6:
"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man." (KJV)
This passage regards the killing of a human as an offense against God because humans were made in the image of God, both male and female. Unlike the previous passage which required that the murderer be merely exiled, this verse required the murderer to be killed.
Gay Marriage and Religion
Source
On March 13th, 2008, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) released their draft statement on human sexuality in which they support blessing gay unions in the church, leave the door open for the ordination of practicing gay clergy, and urge the denomination to continue indefinitely their 6 year old conversation about sex.
Source
U.S. Bishops Urge Constitutional
Amendment to Protect Marriage
The Catholic Church opposes gay marriage and the social acceptance of homosexuality and same-sex relationships, but teaches that homosexual persons deserve respect, justice and pastoral care. The Vatican and Pope John Paul II are speaking out against the growing number of places that recognize same-sex marriages.
Gay Marriage and The Bible
Bible Source
Bible passages describing same-sex marriage:
There are none! You can scan from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, and not see even a single same-sex marriage mentioned.
The Bible does contain:
Three stories of loving, same-sex relationships in the Bible involving David, Ruth and Daniel. But there is no indication that any of the three involved sexual activity.
A dozen or so oft-quoted passages about homosexual behavior in the Bible. Because conservative and liberal Christians interpreted the Bible very differently, they reach totally different conclusions about their meaning:
Bible Source
Before we look at gay marriage / same sex marriage, first we have to remember what the Bible says about homosexuality. The Bible clearly and consistently tells us that homosexual activity is a sin (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9).
God does not create a person with homosexual desires. A person becomes a homosexual because of sin (Romans 1:24-27), and ultimately because of his or her own choice. A person may be born with a greater susceptibility to homosexuality, just as people are born with a tendency to violence and other sins. That does not excuse the person choosing to sin by giving into their sinful desires.
If a person is born with a greater susceptibility to anger / rage, does that make it right for them to give into those desires?
Of course not! The same is true for homosexuality.
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