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 Don Lemon with his grandmother on his third birthday.
May 22nd, 2011
01:00 AM ET
My Faith: How I learned to stop 'praying away the gay'Editor's Note: Don Lemon is a CNN anchor and author of Transparent, a memoir . By Don Lemon, CNN "School day, time to get up, sleepy head. School day." Although she's been gone since 1998, my grandmother's words ring in my head just about every morning of my life. That's how MaMe, as I called her, got me out of bed and off to my Catholic school when I was growing up and in her care. But before I shuffled my way to the bathroom to begin my morning routine, I had to hit the floor on my knees to pray, just as I had the night before. It was usually The Lord's Prayer ("Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name...") followed by asking God to watch and guide me through my day until I returned to the safety of my home that evening. But MaMe (pronounced MAH-me) didn't know that at a very early age her favorite grandson had begun to pray, silently, that God would change him from being different, from having crushes on boys, from being more curious about boys than girls. By age four or five, I was too young to sexualize my infatuations but I knew that everyone else, including my family and friends, would think it was wrong. Perhaps it was the conversations I overheard from adults around my hometown of Port Allen, Louisiana, who'd mimic gay people, calling them "funny" or "sissy" or "fagots." Perhaps it was Sunday mornings at our Baptist church, where preachers taught that liking someone of the same sex was a direct and swift path to hell. And that if that person would just turn to the Lord and confess his sin, then God would change him back into the person He wanted him to be - a person who only had crushes on the opposite sex. All of which meant that, from a very early age, I began to think I was dirty and that I was going to hell. Can you imagine what that feels like for a kid who was just learning to read and perform basic arithmetic? It was awful. And talk about guilt - I was a Baptist attending Catholic school! I prayed the silent prayer for God to change me every chance I got until I started attending college in New York. That's when common sense began to take hold and I realized that no amount of prayer would change me into something that wasn't natural to me. With my religious upbringing, I'd had the opportunity to study religious doctrine. But I learned from different perspectives, from Catholic Mass on Fridays to Baptist services on Sundays to vacation Bible school in the summer to Bible study with a Jehovah's Witness as a teenager. As I got older I began to realize that all these people and institutions interpreted the Bible somewhat differently. I had a sort of epiphany: the Bible was about the lessons you learned, not about the events or words. When I became old enough, intelligent enough and logical enough to discern the difference between metaphor and reality, everything changed. I realized that Jonah living in the belly of a whale was a parable written in the same vein as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. saying that he had "been to the mountaintop." Neither Jonah nor King had actually been to those places. They were metaphors for lessons for those of us who cared to absorb them. So many of us, especially in the black community and in churches, tend to think that religious teachings happened word for word as they were written in Scripture. I think that's naïve, even dangerous. That type of thinking - or non-thinking - keeps many religious people enslaved to beliefs that they haven't truly stepped back from and examined. That type of thinking causes people who are otherwise good to shun and ostracize young gay people. It causes people to want to control and change people who aren't like them. And who wants to be like someone else? Imagine if we had allowed Christian doctrines and teachings that supported slavery, segregation and the subjugation of women to pervade our society all the way up until the current moment. What kind of world would that be? Instead, we got on our knees, just as I did as a little boy, and prayed that slavery, segregation and the subjugation of women would end. In the United States, at least, those prayers have largely been realized. I'm no longer the member of any church but I do believe in a higher power. It's time for us, especially black people, to stop trying to pray the gay away and to get on our knees and start praying that the discrimination of gay people ends. What we're doing to our young gay people now is child abuse. It's plain old bigotry and hatred. And if African-Americans don't know what that feels like in America, I don't know who does. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Don Lemon. soundoff (4,733 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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by finding life in him, we discover who he created us to be. I believe the Bible is true, all of it. And Jesus himself said that he came for the sick not the healthy, and that it is through him that we have eternal life. Don, I would challenge you to go back to your Bible and find out who Jesus really is, not based on your grandparents, churches, or christian schools.
Amen.
1. Jesus taught that simply thinking about sinner was the same as sining
2. Jesus was tempted during his lifetime, most noticibly by the "devil"
3. Temption entails thinking about sinning
According to his own teaching, Jesus was a sinner too. I eagerly await the rationalizations...
@JesusWasASinner
You are reading into scripture what does not exist. Christ was tempted by Satan. Satan attempted to perform the act of temptation while Christ was fasting. Christ rebuked him repeatedly, it never mentions he even hesitated for a second or gave it a single thought.
First of all your supposition that Temptation = Sin is false. Jesus said that if you Lust after a man's wife in your mind that you have already sinned with her in your mind. However, Its one thing for a thought to manifest in your mind because you see a beautiful woman or because the suggestion is put there by the devil or some other stimulants, that is not "lusting", rather, a temptation/invitation to lust. It is another to ruminate on that stimulant, to actually accept that invitation to lust. This requires more than just a manifested, momentary thought, but rather a conscious decision to cotinue along that line of tempation in order to gratify oneself. Jesus dealt with the manifested, momentary thoughts, by quoting the Words of God "It is written". He resisted temptation by changing his thought pattern and meditating on the Word of God instead of on the stimulus. Therefore, Jesus did not sin.
Actually, Jesus was a bit "touched". After all he thought he spoke to Satan, thought he changed water into wine, thought he raised Lazarus from the dead etc. In today's world, said Jesus would be declared legally insane.
Or did P, M, M, L and J simply make him into a first century magic-man via their epistles and gospels of semi-fiction? Most contemporary NT experts after thorough analyses of all the scriptures go with the latter magic-man conclusion with J's gospels being mostly fiction.
Obviously, today's followers of Paul et al's "magic-man" are also a bit on the odd side believing in all the Christian mumbo jumbo about rapture and bodies resurrecting, and exorcisms, and miracles, and "magic-man atonement, and infallible, old, European, white men, and 24/7 body/blood sacrifices followed by consumption of said sacrifices.
So we should go to a book written by a bunch of guys in a foreign language which has been translated to English to take a literal interpretation of who Jesus was?
This article addresses a central theme that has become apparent in our society that needs to be addressed. Christianity is not about rules and regulations, b/c the old testament is proof that no man can live according to God's laws. There are over 600! Jesus came to "fulfill" the law, and we as believers find life in him, not "religion." W
All "Abrahamics" believe that their god created all of us and of course that includes the g-ay members of the human race. Also, those who have studied ho-mo-se-xuality have determined that there is no choice involved therefore ga-ys are ga-y because god made them that way.
To wit:
o The Royal College of Psy-chiatrists stated in 2007:
“ Despite almost a century of psy-choanalytic and psy-chological speculation, there is no substantive evidence to support the suggestion that the nature of parenting or early childhood experiences play any role in the formation of a person’s fundamental heteros-exual or hom-ose-xual orientation. It would appear that s-exual orientation is biological in nature, determined by a complex interplay of ge-netic factors and the early ut-erine environment. Se-xual orientation is therefore not a choice.[60] "
"Garcia-Falgueras and Swaab state in the abstract of their 2010 study, "The fe-tal brain develops during the intraut-erine period in the male direction through a direct action of tes-tosterone on the developing nerve cells, or in the female direction through the absence of this hor-mone surge. In this way, our gender identi-ty (the conviction of belonging to the male or female gender) and s-exual orientation are programmed or organized into our brain structures when we are still in the womb. There is no indication that social environment after birth has an effect on gender ident–ity or s-exual orientation."[8
Of course, those g-ays who belong to Abrahamic religions abide by the rules of no adu-ltery or for-nication allowed.
And because of basic biology differences and Abrahamic and other religious traditions said mon-ogamous ventures should always be called same-s-ex unions not same-s-ex marriages.--------–
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Isaiah 30:9-13 – That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel (God) to cease from before us. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon, therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. (God via the Prophet Isaiah)
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (JESUS)
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves..."(JESUS).
Deuteronomy 13:1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. (GOD via Moses)
2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them–bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up..." (PETER)
1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. (PAUL)
2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (Paul to Timothy)
There are more, but I think it is clear that God, Jesus and his disciples (inspired by God) warn that just because preachers, pastors, propehts come along and say that something that the Bible said was wrong, is in fact not-wrong we shouldn't just follow what they have to say. They should be scrutinized and compared with what the Bible actually says. And this is not just for things related to hom-ose-xuality, but any other sin/issue.
Genesis 1:1 thru Revelations 22:21 Ancient Human Lies
The Timothy epistle, as per most contemporary NT scholars, was not written by Paul.
Did P, M, M, L and J simply make Jesus into a first century magic-man via their epistles and gospels of semi-fiction? Most contemporary NT experts after thorough analyses of all the scriptures go with the magic-man conclusion with John's gospel being mostly fiction.
Matt 7: 15 is a single attestation found no where else in scripture and therefore historically unreliable. See also Professor Gerd Ludemann's conclusions in his book, Jesus Afte 2000 Years, p. 153.
The problem, of course, is that the bible can be interpreted to say contradictory things about the same subjects. It is filled with allegory and metaphor, and that is before the language issues.
Reality: Which "Timothy Epistle"? How can anyone look back and determine that they know what was written by whom? It's like the Jesus Seminar and its penchant for voting on whether or not Jesus really said this or that. How could they know, unless they knew him personally?
@ Reality: To which contemporary NT scholars are you referring? Christian scholars? Jewish? Atheistic/scientific scholars? ... I actually have a Bible that indicates to me whether a passage is in the original manuscripts, latin vulgate, etc., whether it was omitted in a certain version, added later, etc. and I find that there is not much to suggest that the Bible is so corrupted that I shouldn't heed the words therein, or that it wasn't inspired by GOD himself. The changes, omissions, translation deviations are for the most part minute and I find that most people who try to discredit the Bible in this manner to be motivated by personal, negative feelings and opinions and not by a desire to further scholarly research and or philosophical discourse.
The translation into english leaves something to be desired. It's more likely that the original said that you should examine the intent of the message, rather than try the spirit.
If all you puritan breeders got your wish, and every gay person on earth immediately vanished, you could all sing kumbaya tonight, but tomorrow morning you'd just give birth to 600 million new ones. You idiots would have better luck trying to outlaw sneezing.
600 million? That's laughable. World-wide, it is no more than 2-3% of any population.
"600 million? That's laughable. World-wide, it is no more than 2-3% of any population."
So you will have to deal with around 100,000,000 new ones.
Doe anyone else find it fascinating that those whose screen names suggest piety "!word, Peace2All, and HeavenSent" among them, are the ones who spew hatred, call anyone who disagrees distasteful names, consider themselves the super-righteous who have the right to judge, condemn, and execute anyone who calls them on their ill-informed bigotry and ignorance – including ignorance of the Bible.
oh, I didn't know that quoting Jesuss truth is spewing hatred. Seems to me that non- believers are the ones who hate.
As far as comprehending the Bible blf83, first you need to read and comprehend it, then apply His truth to your life.
As far as your phony handle that you hide behind. You sure think you know me, yet you just began to post under this handle.
Amen.
I haven't seen Peace2All calling anyone names or spewing hatred. She has been using logic and reason to argue with people.
Hate the stupidity, not the idiot.
@Diane
The secular world typically casts Believers as closed-minded, hateful, bigots, hypocrites, etc... Just the typical rhetoric rather than actually posting an intelligible response. Truthfully, it's easier to lash out than have your own beliefs be shattered by Truth... It's a subconscious reaction that sets the framework:
1) If I state my beliefs, I'll have to "back up" my reasoning
2) If my reasoning or beliefs are questions, it could result in me being wrong.
3) If I am wrong, I am forced to either a) recognize that I was wrong, or b) ignore that I'm wrong. Either can result in an immediate backlash of anger and insults.
When people hear the Truth, initially it resonates within them. Many choose to ignore it because it is easier for us to keep living our lives the way we want to. Repeated rejection creates a hardened heart that is no longer willing to accept Salvation.
Large groups based on faith inevitably lead to a certain bias in their membership. The assumption is always made that those outside the faith have not seen the light. Having a priest as an intermediary between Jesus and his flock also smacks of inequity.
XWngLady
Nope. Everything that I said is from the Bible, God's own words
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Nope. Not even close. God never wrote a single word in the bible. Not one.
To 1WORD: That you want Don Lemmon to be fired for this, you rant with contemptible condemnations while claiming your "rightness", methinks thou dost protest thyself too much. Accept yourself, already!
Hey, 1turd, why don't write a letter to CNN telling someone to fire Don Lemon for being gay? I'm sure once the executives pick themselves up after laughing at your mangled grammar, they'll get right on that.
Mangled grammar? LOL, that's funny to me a gay person making fun of me? My God?
You should listen, 1turd. You aren't all there, honey. I know because I'm not all here, either. I'm mentally ill and so are you.
Well said, Angel. Thank you.
To all the Gay folks here, I suggest ya'll try seeking God and give your life to Christ and I guarantee you, he will change you. NO IF AND BUTS ABOUT IT, YOU CAN SAY GOD ISN'T REAL AND THE BIBLE IS A STORY BOOK BUT I've experienced the Supernatural. I have the Holy Ghost working in me right now, Jesus said himself, if you come to him and give your life to him he will SEND THE COMFORTER TO YOU. The Comforter is the Holy Spirit, once you've come in contact with the Holy Spirit you will never be the same.
Who'd want to be the same as you? I'd rather not be anything like you, Jeff, Xwingnut, HS or CW. You're ugly, hateful, and dumb.
Tom Tom Pee Pee Son. You're hateful and dumb. LOL
@Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son
Oh come on now... "ugly, hateful, and dumb"....??? That very comment alone throws you in the same muck with us...doesn't it?
Nope. Any dumbazz who thinks the world is 6000 years old and that evolution doesn't occur is dumber than a box of hair. That would be you. Oh, and your pal, 1turd.
1word,
Do you commit the abomination of eating shellfish? What about your Christian friends?
"I have the Holy Ghost working in me right now"
Are you bent over?
@ 1word.
You stated: "To all the Gay folks here, I suggest ya'll try seeking God and give your life to Christ and I guarantee you, he will change you."
Are you saying Jesus can "cure" gay people? I know he cured leprosy, made the blind see. He is a true healer..... Why doesn't he cure amputees then? That should be an easy miracle for the "all powerful" Jesus, right?
Your "truth" comes from the bible? It's time to ask yourself about the possibility that the bible was simply a book written by hateful, ignorant men to control other men. There are just too any contradictions and errors in the bible for it to be from an "all-knowing" god in the sky.
Observer, you need to continue to read the bible. Jesus said anything that any food that you bless in his name is good to be eaten. Start reading at Mark 7.
@Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son
Not sure that explains "why" you don't belong in your self-created category...but oh well.
Besides, I don't believe the Earth is only 6000 years old... I think it's closer to 6,500 years old. Can you explain the following:
1) Why you believe that the Earth is significantly older than Creationists
2) What system of beliefs you adhere to and why
Just curious.
I suggest you stop kidding yourself that gay people can or even need to change. How nice for you that you were born straight. Don't assume you can know anyone else's life experience but your own. If you aren't gay, you cannot tell those of us that are that it's a choice.
JJ, are you serious? With God all things are possible, especially anything that deal with the mind. Being gay is all in your head, this is easy for God to change.
Observer, eating scavengers that clean the earth and the oceans are a sin against your body, not a sin against God.
Boy, I can tell you don't read the Bible with comprehension. God made scavengers for a purpose and God made us. Therefore, God knows what's good for us and what will make us ill.
Amen.
Tb, there are a lot of people that have Gay thoughts but they didn't act on em. You believe all straight people never had a Gay thought?
Nope. Nor do I believe that being gay is all in one's head.
"Tb, there are a lot of people that have Gay thoughts but they didn't act on em. You believe all straight people never had a Gay thought?"
Well, I never had one. Maybe you have. That would explain a lot.
I have gay thoughts all the time.
I just suppress them because I know that god frowns upon bumping uglies with people who have the same underwear plumbing.
Yeah, suppressing your natural orientation is a happy and healthy way to spend your only shot at life.
FAIL!
(REPOST – Since this never showed up before) I still do not believe that someone is born ga-y. I also don't believe that anyone is exempt from temptation. Indeed Jesus and Paul (who incidently prayed 3 times that God would take away what many biblical scholars believe was a fierce temptation that God did NOT take away) were subject to temptation. I love Don Lemon. I enjoy his news anchoring and listening to his insights. I respect his right to his own experiences and opinions. But aside from any concrete proof that people are or aren't born ga-y, I am going to go with what I believe God has said about it (in addition to what I think our anatomical bodies tell us about what the nature of human se-x-uality and reproduction should be)....that hom-ose-xuality at best is a lifestyle choice, at its worst is morally wrong.
"I still do not believe that someone is born ga-y. I also don't believe that anyone is exempt from temptation"
That's why there was a panel of experts consisting of 154,000 scientists and psychologists that disagree with you! LOL!
YaThink you also forgot to mention there are over 1500 species that have been shown to have gay relationships! LOL!
I still don't believe a loving god hates something he created.
Conversely, there are just as many experts who disagree with those experts you trot out....BOTTOM LINE: There is no undisputed evidence that hom-o-se-xuality is something that you are born with. If there were, we wouldn't be having the civic conversation. It would be a closed case (no doubt the religious conversation would continue). Any one can commission "studies" and "experts" to agree with their point of view. But indisputable proof, is just that, indisputable, and we just don't have that at this point as much as you'd like to think so.
Yes, there is. You just choose not to believe it. You'd rather believe in a vengeful god who hates what he created.
@ Duh!: I am not concerned with what animals do. We are talking about human beings. Until two men or two women can procreate by themselves, you are not going to convince me that hom-o-se-xuality is not alternative.
There are plenty of straight men and women who can't procreate, you moron.
If straight men and/or women can't procreate its because there is some type of pathology or abnormality. There is something wrong. If there weren't something wrong, then they would be able to procreate. We are talking about what is normal and natural, not what is abnormal and/or alternative.
WE aren't talking about anything of the sort, you fraud. You stated that g ays can't procreate as your evidence that it's a sin and a choice and more of your usual nonsense. Now you're making a lovely breeze backpedaliing because your point is refuted. Furthermore, g=ays can and do procreate. They're not sterile, you numbnuts.
"We are talking about what is normal and natural, not what is abnormal and/or alternative."
Duh provide that it is part of nature even though you dismiss it. LOL!
@XWngLady
Hey there -XLady...
IMHO, you can argue until you are blue in the face about whether the studies show it's genetic or a choice. The studies (to date) side that it is some kind of genetic situation along with other factors.
And... it really doesn't matter here, as until someone can prove in tightly controlled peer reviewed research studies that... there is some kind of absolute 'harm' from being gay to you or me, then I suggest leave it be.
As in you seem to be making a straw-man argument out of an alleged problem, where, in fact... there is none.
Respectfully,
Peace...
"Conversely, there are just as many experts who disagree with those experts you trot out."
Prove it.
It is worth noting that many medical and scientific organizations do believe it is impossible to change a person's se-xual orientation and this is displayed in a statement by American Academy of Pediatrics, American Counseling As-sociation, American As-sociation of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychiatric As-sociation, American Psychological As-sociation, American School Health As-sociation, Interfaith Alliance Foundation, National As-sociation of School Psychologists, National As-sociation of Social Workers, and National Education As-sociation.
So XWngLady let's see all these experts you are saying disagree with all these organizations. LOL!
If being gay is a choice, then so must being straight. So, if you chose at this moment to be gay, you would be, right? Just like that? Since there is no genetic involvement.
In truth, anyone who can legitimately chose is probably neither gay nor straight, but bi.
@Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son
Quote: "I still don't believe a loving god hates something he created."
Neither do I.
@Tom:
"Furthermore, g=ays can and do procreate"
Not naturally with their same-gender significant other... I'm pretty certain of that.
Since: 1. Jesus taught that just thinking about a sin is as bad as committing one, 2. Jesus was tempted during his life time, and 3. Being tempted entails thinking about committing a sin, wasn't Jesus a sinner? So, how can he have died for our sins?
Do we really need to be concerned about procreating at this point? The global population is pretty big. Just sayin'.
@YoHo!
"Since: 1. Jesus taught that just thinking about a sin is as bad as committing one, 2. Jesus was tempted during his life time, and 3. Being tempted entails thinking about committing a sin, wasn't Jesus a sinner? So, how can he have died for our sins?"
There are 2 meanings behind the word "tempted".
1. Entice or attempt to entice (someone) to do or acquire something that they find attractive but know to be wrong or not beneficial: "it could tempt you into crime"; "tempted by the money".
2. Have an urge or inclination to do something.
The latter is what you are implying, while it is the former that actually occurred. The former is not a sin, the latter is. Right now I'm tempting you to believe what I say, but that doesn't mean that you will actually be tempted to believe it...right?
Tom, Tom,: Your critical thinking skills are sorely lacking....When I made the inferrence that straight indivicuals have the ability to procreate, it should have been a given, that we weren't talking about those who are disabled or have some type of pathology. That would be like if I made the statement, "Women have breasts" and you answered "Well what about the women that don't have breasts? You moron!"...Well of course there are women who don't have breasts for some abnormal reason, but that doesn't make my original statement untrue. And when I try to explain it to you, you say I'm backbeddling??!! Anyway, I've expended enough of my keystrokes on this subject for the day. Have a great day!
How does God speak to you? Is it through a man in vestments? God is everything. When you can accept everything the way it is, you'll know God. Start by accepting the fact that we're all equal parts of God, co-creators, and deserving of respect. No one, no matter what they do or what label you put on them has to prove their worth. It's a given. You don't need to compare yourself to anyone else. You are equally human and deserving of respect. If you can accept that you're everyone else's equal then conversely you will be able to accept that everyone is your equal, and let them be.
While your notion of "God is everything...just accept that everything as a part of God" sounds good, and if everyone believed that, then there would likely be less religious contention in the world, its just not true. God is not everything. We make the mistake of trying to describe God in ways that he did not describe himself. God is love, kindness, goodness, temperence, holiness, justice, peace, etc. What he is not is hate, selfishness, disobedience, lasciviousness, perversion, injustice, violence, lustfulness, etc. God exists outside of us. He exists outside of time. And though he has given us in the Bible a description of SOME of what he is and isn't, WE CAN"T POSSIBLEY KNOW GOD FULLY. Its like if you never heard of the ocean and you didn't know anything about it or all that it encompasses, but you were trying to understand it by examining a thimble full of ocean water that someone gave you. That's about how much we know about God (not the greatest analogy since God is infinite and the ocean is not, but you get the point).
Still waiting for a single one of you bozos to provide proof that s3xual orientation is a choice. Oh, Jeeeeffffy?
I'm waiting for proof that it isn't a choice...Not conjecture, not maybe or mights, or couldn-be's. Not studies commissioned by pro ga-y-rights groups, but actual, unbiased, incontrovertable proof (as in the gene, the chromosome, the anatomical anything) that actually makes someone ga-y.
Can't prove a negative, you stupid git. Prove that one can change one's preference. Change yours, right now. Go ahead.
XWngLady wow are you lazy. Scientists today agree that se*xual orientation is most likely the result of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors. In most people, se*xual orientation is shaped at an early age. There is also considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's se*xuality. Yes, that is from the A.P.A.which is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. With more than 154,000 members, APA is the largest as*sociation of psychologists worldwide.
Has anyone even touched on the idea that Mr. Lemon's s3xuality may be psychologically related to the s3xual abuse that he talks about in his book? You ask for proof, I ask for you to provide it as well. People are complicated, fact is nobody knows, and we all think we're right. This whole conversation is a testament to that. Mr. Lemon does not deserve to be fired for his opinion, nor does anyone have the right to judge him or any other. Those of you claiming to be Christians, and making such hateful remarks, I fear for. Perhaps your salvation is not as definite as your self-righteousness, if you are Christian you should conduct yourself worthy of his righteous call. Self-righteousness does not escape you that support Mr. Lemon's opinion either. Funny how we are all so much the same.
@Karen: No. I"m not lazy. I just know better. First, "Scientists suggest" is a term people use for "Its not really known or scientists aren't really sure". I worked for four medical doctors/Ph.D. So I know what type of manuscripts/articles go into medical/scientific journals and what levels of scientific expeirmentation, study and scrutiny are involved. I know the difference between correlation and causation....As present there is nothing to show causation. There is no across the board agreement among scientists, specifically medical doctors as it pertains to the biological factors, that people are born ga-y.
Tommie, Tom. Existing in flesh is a sin. We have the sin of pride, the sin of lust to contend with. Jesus regrets making us in flesh bodies after 1/3 of his angels rebelled along with Lucifer against Him. He destroyed the first earth age and then created the world again allowing all to be born of women to love and follow Him.
The flesh is what overcomes some/most folks. That's why Jesus told us not to pay attention to the ways of the world, to focus on Him so that we can dwell with Him for eternity.
Amen.
“No. I"m not lazy. I just know better.”
What arrogance.
A 2010 study showed that the fetal brain develops during the intrauterine period in the male direction through a direct action of testosterone on the developing nerve cells, or in the female direction through the absence of this hormone surge. In this way, our gender ident-ity (the conviction of belonging to the male or female gender) and s-exual orientation are programmed or organized into our brain structures when we are still in the womb. There is no indication that social environment after birth has an effect on gender ident-ity or s-exual orientation.
My comment is being moderated...lol. Here it is, word-filter checked:
Oh come on...you know that I said the overwhelming majority of h0m0s3xuals do not *choose* it. I believe that some choose it because they like to get attention...but that's not the core of this discussion. I agree that they are created that way. I think God loves them the same as he loves me. The sin that they have the potential of committing is the same as mine. The only problem for them is that, if they claim Christianity to be their faith, the must abide by the fact that Christianity supports marriage between one man and one woman. S3xual relationships are only permissible in a marriage relationship (per Christianity, so no, I'm not that strange looking guy out on the street telling h0m0s3xuals they are not going to Heaven – I don't buy that garbage and I don't sell it either)
“Christianity supports marriage between one man and one woman.”
The last part of the discussion always tries to end on the one woman, one man argument. Adam and Eve were created for mutual companionship and pro-creation. The creation story is about the love and wisdom of God, who made all things good and wills us no evil. Because the text says that God created a man and woman and “blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number..." some people think this means gay or lesbian couples are not blessed by God or, worse, are “unnatural” and go against “God’s law.” They read this interpretation into the text, even though the text is silent about all kinds of relationships that don't lead to having children: couples who are unable to have children; couples who are too old to have children; couples who choose not to have children; people who are single. As Christians and as a society, we do not view childlessness as an immoral failure to fulfill God’s will. Such childlessness may be regarded as unfortunate, but the childless couple is not viewed as sinful or wrong for not having kept God’s commandment. Nothing suggests the biblical authors intended a lesson on s-exual orientation.
Then look at other examples that do go against the one man one woman argument in the bible.
There are many references to polygynous marriages in the Bible:
Lamech, in Genesis 4:19, became the first known polygynist. He had two wives.
Subsequent men in polygynous relationships included:
Esau – 3 wives;
Jacob: 2;
Ashur: 2;
Gideon: many;
Elkanah: 2;
David: many;
Solomon had 700 wives of royal birth;
Rehaboam: 3;
Abijah: 14.
Jehoram, Joash, Ahab, Jeholachin and Belshazzar also had multiple wives.
Or how about these types of marriages that we do not agree with today:
Levirate Marriage: The name of this type of marriage is derived from the Latin word “le-vir,” which means “brother-in-law.” This involved a woman who was widowed without having borne a son. She would be required to leave her home, marry her brother-in-law, live with him, and engage in s-exual relations.
A male ra-pist and his victim: Deuteronomy 22:28-29 requires that a female vir-gin who is not engaged to be married and who has been ra-ped must marry her att-acker, no matter what her feelings were towards the ra-pist.
The point I am trying to make in having this discussion with you is that it is not our place to say whether ho-mos-exuality is a sin or not. There are many loving Christian ho-mos-exual who are part of our society and it’s between them and God. Not us.
What will be interesting is when intelligent life is found in other parts of the universe what will happen to the limited interpretations of God’s ultimate power. You have to find it interesting the Vatican is finally acknowledging that possibility now because in the past they would put people to death for saying such a thing.
@hmmmm
"The point I am trying to make in having this discussion with you is that it is not our place to say whether ho-mos-exuality is a sin or not. There are many loving Christian ho-mos-exual who are part of our society and it’s between them and God. Not us."
---------
I agree that the proclivity of an individual towards the same gender is *not* a sin. The *act* of ho-mose-xuality *is* a sin. The primary purpose for marriage, per Christianity, is procreation. Natural procreation requires intercourse. Intercourse, again – per Christianity, is only permissible inside the bounds of the Christian marriage covenant. The Bible sets the precedent that the Christian covenant of marriage exists solely between one man and one woman, with God. Because of this Biblical order, it makes painstakingly clear that same-gender marriage is not Biblical, and the consummation of a relationship between two individuals of the same gender is sinful.
Read 1 Corinthians 7... it sets the framework entirely for 1 man and 1 woman. Even reading it in the original Greek reveals that this translation maintains the overwhelming majority of it's accuracy. Quite frankly, the Bible applauds those who have the strength to resist the desire to marry for the sake of devoting oneself to ministry, rather than "view childlessness as an immoral failure to fulfill God’s will", as your purport.
Supporters of gay marriage seek societal ratification of their monogamous s-exual relationships, including the ability to adopt and obtain parental rights for the non-related partner for children brought into the relationship. Procreation is not just about s-ex, it is about creating families for the rearing of children. Gay couples need the same kinds of protection as straight couples in this regard. Marriage and monogamy are also essential for gay and straight couples to prevent the spread of s-exually transmitted disease. Society has a role in public health, part of which is the establishment of marriage. The alternative to sanctioning marriage is the promotion of promiscuity. Denying marriage sends the message that gay promiscuity is acceptable. Neither the state nor the church should send this message. The Church no longer takes the position that being ho-mos-exual is disordered, as it cannot as the evidence mounts that ho-mos-exuals are created that way, just as light skinned people are created with a lack of melanin. It also teaches that s-exuality is a gift of God. It is a short logical step to conclude that ho-mos-exuals do not sin when they use this gift in the way that God meant them to. Only by accepting gay s-exual ident-ity and s-exuality can we then give them the benefits of the Church’s wisdom on monogamy and so many other things. If the Church does not trust ho-mos-exuals when they inform it on the conditions of their s-exuality, how can it insist that they trust the Church in matters of salvation?
Since so many people here seem to know God's mind, why did He create gay people?
Why did He create Black people, people of colour, people of "white" skin?
Why did He create death?
Why did He create pain, hardship, love, joy?
And WHY did He create such judgmental, hateful bigots to be His "followers"?
Oh, but maybe these judgmental, hateful bigots are not really HIS followers. Maybe they just use Him in order to express their judgment, hate, and bigotry.
Too bad they don't learn about the joy, forgiveness, compassion, and Love.... and about the notion that maybe none of us is superior to others... Maybe this would be a very different, kinder, gentler place...where peace and humanity were the norm...
Well said, Charles.
Two more lazies that don't read nor comprehend Jesus' truth in the Bible.
Amen.
HeavenSent bearing false witness got love it!
God created people with free will. With their free-will, people choose to be big-oted, hateful, judgemental, and I believe people choose their se-xu-al preference. As for why people are white, black, asian, who knows? But what does that have to do with anything? We don't have a choice about what our race is, nor is there any controversy or need to confirm or deny whether I'm black, white or whatever. I don't have to "prove" my race. But if for some reason I did, the biology is undeniable. The fact that we are having a discussion about proving whether one is born ga-y or not, makes it not in the same category as race.
"and I believe people choose their se-xu-al preference."
Well you are wrong and choose to hold prejudice in your heart. You are NOT a christian!
@Well: So because I believe what the Bible says, I'm not a Christian? Ok.
"@Well: So because I believe what the Bible says, I'm not a Christian? Ok."
I wish I could be there when your God looks at you and says – I gave you science to show gays are born this way, that it was my creation but yet you continued to show hatred and bigotry towards them, now off to he-ll. LOL!
@ Stew: Well the good thing for me is that He won't being say "off to hell" to me, because I have accepted him as my lord and savior, and being wrong about the nature of hom-o-s-ex-uality is not going to keep me out of heaven. God knows that I have not hated gays or lesbians in my heart, nor have I said that they shouldn't be just as welcomed in his kingdom like everyone else, nor have I ostricized them in my personal life etc. I have merely highlighted what the Bible says about the subject. I would be remiss if I just sat back and watched people twist/dismiss what the Bible has to say about it, in order to live the lifestyle that they want to live. If in the end I am wrong on that issue, then so be it, but no one and no issue can deny me eternal life for which Christ died for me and which I have accepted.....And by the way, you will be there. What he says to you, however, will be up to you.
"@ Stew: Well the good thing for me is that He won't being say "off to hell" to me, because I have accepted him as my lord and savior, and being wrong about the nature of hom-o-s-ex-uality is not going to keep me out of heaven. God knows that I have not hated gays or lesbians in my heart, nor have I said that they shouldn't be just as welcomed in his kingdom like everyone else, nor have I ostricized them in my personal life etc. I have merely highlighted what the Bible says about the subject.
It's going to funny when god tries to explain to you that he did not write the bible, that he did not create christianity, and that merely accepting jesus will not seal the dea. I wish I could be there when he explaisn that those arrogant self righteous beliefs are the work of satan.
Hope you like warm beer.
Wow. I have watched Don Lemon on CNN for a while now and admire his career achievements. However, I think Mr. Lemon needs to stick to journalism and stay away from theological matters. While I understand this is an opinion blog, the statements he has made come from a deceived perspective. Mr. Lemon has the right to choose and the live the lifestyle of his choice, as long as it is not infringing upon others. Mr. Lemon has the right to expect to be treated without discrimination. There is no need to call the Bible a storybook to justify these rights. They are God-given rights that do no contradict the Word (Bible) in its present form. I pray that others are not led down the path of deception by Mr. Lemon's opinion.
That's why there are churches and pastors that have gone on record stating that being gay as we understand and know the truth about it is NOT a sin. Time to educate yourself.
I agree I want him fired for this!
Yathink, what Bible are they reading in this church you speak of? I have the King James Version and it clearly states that being Gay is an Abomination to the Lord.
okay i'll say it for him them. the bible is a story book, as is any religious text. It's old soap opera entertainment and people believe in it hysterically. Christianity is just as crazy as scientology, as is Judaism, Islam, or any organized religion. They've killed and stolen just as much as they have "saved" AKA 0 people.
"Yathink, what Bible are they reading in this church you speak of? I have the King James Version and it clearly states that being Gay is an Abomination to the Lord."
The word ho-mo-s-ex-ual was added later and the the other scriptures are talking about pagan rituals and prosti-tution. It has nothing to do with the truth about gays as we now know and understand it.
@Ya Think: The problem with that is that The Bible is clear that if someone comes along trying to change what God/Jesus has said about a certain issue, then they're wrong and not to be followed. This is something that has been going on since the early church during Paul's time. But God warns against those who try to usurp, manipulate, or in any way alter God's word to fit their own opinions, lifestyles, etc. The "Hey man, this is a new day and age" argument is a red flag. Believers should check what their Pastors, preachers, etc. are saying against what the Bible says.
1word,
The Bible says that eating shellfish is an abomination. How many times have you trashed people for doing that? Have you committed such an abomination?
“The problem with that is that The Bible is clear that if someone comes along trying to change what God/Jesus has said about a certain issue, then they're wrong and not to be followed.”
God/Jesus never said anything it was Paul talking, viewing the world through ignorant eyes. Eyes that was looking at the s-exual rituals worshiping a pagan God. It has nothing to do with the truth about gays we know and understand today.
It’s ignorant and hate filled Christians like you that are twisting things to justify your prejudice hearts! Time to look in the mirror!
Hey, 1turd, do scan the page in the bible where you find the word gay.
If Mr. Lemon should not comment on theological matters, why should you? Why is your viewpoint that he is heading down a "path of deception" more valid than his opinion?
@Shannon
You Said: "While I understand this is an (opinion) blog, the statements he has made come from a (deceived perspective)."
You are suggesting by your statement, that on the one hand this (is) an 'opinion' blog, and then on the other hand, by *inference* suggest that he has been deceived. You don't say..."in my -opinion-" you state this second part as if it is = to fact. (being somehow 'deceived').
Realize that it is just ...'your opinion' which you are certainly enti-tled to, however please be careful at your unquestioned assumptions that you consider fact, as you did in Mr. Lemon's case.
Respectfully,
Peace...
@ Karen: "God/Jesus never said anything it was Paul talking"
Isaiah 30:9-13 – That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel (God) to cease from before us. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon, therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. (God via the Prophet Isaiah)
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (JESUS)
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves..."(JESUS).
Deuteronomy 13:1 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. (GOD via Moses)
2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them–bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up..." (PETER)
1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. (PAUL)
2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (Paul to Timothy)
There are more, but I think it is clear that God, Jesus and his disciples (inspired by God) warn that just because preachers, pastors, propehts come along and say that something that the Bible said was wrong, is in fact not-wrong we shouldn't just follow what they have to say. They should be scrutinized and compared with what the Bible actually says. And this is not just for things related to hom-ose-xuality, but any other sin/issue.
"There are more, but I think it is clear that God, Jesus and his disciples (inspired by God) warn that just because preachers, pastors, propehts come along and say that something that the Bible said was wrong,"
Of course they would write that in their con – hey don't question what is written just blindly follow it because we can't afford you to think logically or the con goes bust! LOL! There is not god, only the imagination of some creative people that they stole the whole thing from other pagan religions at that time.
@Silliness: "Of course they would write that in their con"....Or it was the truth and we are seeing the manifestation of it now, thousands of years later, with everyone wanting to hear and do what they want to hear and do instead of what God has said....Also, I find it hard to believe that someone/people with a deviant/manipulative nature would be inclined to make or create a religion for the sole purpose of conning people into loving their neighbor, loving their enemies, giving people the shirt off of their back, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and the imprisoned, praying, forgiving, loving, being patient, being selfless, being humble, thinking positively, etc....That's counterintuitive to what I think the human nautre-apart from God, would choose as a con.
Don, I do not agree with you. I think you need to approach God personally, forget about your up-bringing and seek & love God with all your heart, HE would speak to you about HIS purpose for you. The Bible do not condemn any man, but condemnation comes from within you. There is a way that seems right unto man but the end of it is destruction. I would not be troubled about how African-Americans treat or view gay youth, but I am getting worried about the way God view human behavior and the so call "freedom / Right" that this generation hanged on to. We are far away from the ALMIGHTY GOD to the extend that we failed to listen to HIS instructions; we hate each other, we hurt ourselves, we destroy people, we murderer each other because of things that do not matter, we condemn one another and set legacy of confusion for the next generation. We all (Human being) have a BIG lawsuit awaiting us in the court of the Supreme GOD.
Matthew 7:12 “Treat others as you want them to treat you. This is what the Law and the Prophets are all about.”
Has anyone ever seen that quoted by Christians trashing gays?
If I'm practicing something as harmful as being Gay I would want someone to do the same thing to me to knock some sense into my head. Make the right choice and stay away from it! We all have the RIGH TO CHOOSE TO DO RIGHT OR WRONG.
1word,
Pitiful response.
There are FAR FAR more Christians guilty of adultery for divorcing and remarrying. Have you made an effort to "knock some sense" into them or just HYPOCRITICALLY pick on gays?
No one could knock any sense into your concrete skull; you're a troll. You don't even believe the crap you post here.
Observer, do you read what you want instead of reading what is posted? I haven't seen hatred coming from Christians. Actually, I see love coming from Christians telling their brothers and sisters Jesus' truth. I've seen folks on both sides of this debate coming to arguments over His truth.
Amen.
Cute picture of Don and MaMe. Don hasn't changed much over the years. Still good looking. 🙂
Do they not travel in the land, and see what was the end of those before them? (Quran 30:9) "Your Faith" is questionable Don Lemon if you don't believe the stories of the Bible were literal. I suggest you continue to "pray away gay" if you fall into sin by sleeping with the same gender. God accepts sincere repentance.
"God accepts sincere repentance"
Repentance for what? Do you have any evidence to support your claim?
Your god does not hate gays. You hate gays and hide behind your god to justify your hatred. You are a coward.
How do you know your god is man made? Because he hates all the same people you do.
@Jamila Kaleem-Gassama
First, I wholeheartedly 'agree' with my fellow poster...-Eric G. here.
And... I would add, in addition that of course his faith is questionable to you, as you don't agree with his beliefs. And one of the main problems with this, is that most, if not virtually all people of 'faith' have different interpretations of their holy books. And whoever doesn't interpret it like 'you'... is going to be 'wrong.'
Something else to consider, when being self-righteous about your version of beliefs somehow being = to facts.
Peace...
I do hate it when the plight of colored people is compared to the plight of gay people. People of color represent different races with originating continents. Gay is not a race or ethnic group so discriminating against gays is not the same as discriminating against a race of people because they have color.
It's about civil rights idiot!
Discriminating against African-Americans is wrong, but discriminating against LGBT Americans (some of which are African-American) is okay? That flies in the face of MLK's own teachings! Injustice anywhere, is injustice everywhere.
@coolaa
Well, i believe the posters above me have said it best. I believe you to be way off here on your posting.
Respectfully,
Peace...
Discrimination is discrimination. Period.
It doesn't matter if it's because of race or religion or eye color or being left handed or being gay. Treating anyone as less than anyone else is wrong. Period. Full stop.