bring it onnn!!!

:)

I hope people don't associate those of us who do consider homosexuality as sin to be anti-homosexuals, moreso anti-homosexuality. Having lived with freshmen since I was a freshman, I also have a low opinion of drunkeness (ouch, I know.) I'm not more of a human nor am I a better person for being sober all the time, than I am being heterosexual.

The very topic of homosexuality was a catalyst in my questioning of what I truly believed in high school, and forced me to reevaluate my faith. I've given this much thought for years, so I assure you that my beliefs are not founded soley b/c I'm "Christian" and that's what I was conditioned to believe. I was not raised in a traditional Christian home; infact, I was raised Buddhist.

To assume that b/c my views are "oppressive," I am not close with any *real* homosexuals is incorrect. I've been to Haven meetings, was fairly good friends with one of the past presidents, and very good friends with one of her ex-girlfriends. My best friend in high school was a homosexual male, and continued to be my close friend in spite of his sexual orientation. I can't even remember all those times that I've inquired about their lifestyles, or the number of times I've thought to myself: "how can I tell this person that they are wrong, when they've fought so hard to be who they are now?"

I'm a person who clearly has major identity issues-- social, cultural, religious, AND GENDER. I can confidently say that I am a heterosexual woman, but I have no concept of what it means to live as these labels in American society (and you wonder why I'm so confused all the time.) My point being that although you've probably read 700000 of my words, you have no concept of who I am, until you know where I'm coming from.

Most people have struggled with homosexuality at some point in their lives, very few adopt the lifestyle, and even fewer speak of those struggles. I struggle with it just like I would struggle with pride, or lust, or materialism. It doesn't mean that I'm suppressing my true (in-the-closet) self, b/c I'm perpetually questioning whether or not I'm being Fo'ReaL. The very statement that I've had a homosexual thought before assumes that maybe I'm gay. My response to that is: I could care less if people think I'm gay, b/c who I am is independent of what other people think. The majority of Christians can't handle that; it's easier for them to seem perfect that to appear sinful.

I've concluded that homosexuality is sin, in collaboration with what I've read in books, talking to scholars who've devoted much of their careers to this topic, talking to pastors, reading articles, and, most importantly, reading the Bible. I also believe that we are free to chose to live how we like, and we can only be held responsible, as people, for actions against other people. As Christians, however, we are accountable for each other's actions against God.

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8

...and in the end, I am a sinner, no better than any other.

^_^

(a bit too personal? probably...LOL, it's not like I have anything to hide, AND this is a good attempt at self reflection and a core-dump of thoughts)