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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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If you were a true Christian you wouldn't be gay. You can't pick and chose which sin you want to do and still serve God.
Being gay isn't a sin. There is nothing in the New Testament that would indicate being gay is a sin if the Bible is properly translated. Sadly, the uneducated and undereducated continue to believe that it is. Thank God some Christian religions such as the Episcopal Church have become more enlightened.
You also can't pick and chose who you are born as. But apparently God does. So how many gays does God have to make before you start to think, "hmm, maybe he's ok with them"?
It's not a sin to be true to your spirit. As a matter of fact since the bible is full of not only wisdom but horrific lies, one must follow his heart with faith and focus on the spirit of truth and light. Never let your faith be hijacked by anyone, religious or otherwise for that would be unwise indeed and lead to a lifeless spirit.
JMM...so God makes more gays everyday just to make us understand that its normal? u mean just as He makes more rapists, murderers,dictators,thieves,etc ? Oh pls. I am one person that believes that no body is born gay. More people become gay because of the publicity arround it now. it was not like that before. now when a kid likes making friends with gay people everybody starts preparing him of her to be gay in the future. I remember when i was a kid, i liked making friends with girls than boys. But here i am very straight.
@dorothy i guess you ignore the scripture like Jude 1:7 romans 1:27-32 1 corinth 1 timothy and the many other scriptures.. gay is sinful. also, jesus says a woman and a man shall make one flesh in matthew. not man and man.. they are not even designed that way for procreating.. it is you that are confused..and the episcipal church has comprimised their faith..truth is they fought against it for years but as the episcipals compromised more the people who actually read their bible left because of compromise then the narrow pass of the vote of who was left passed. it was not that they were enlightened somehow..they just gave up the fight.
The Story Behind Religion
Part 1 of 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNf-P_5u_Hw&feature=related
Zeitgeist is a cult and that movie is full of errors, stop spamming the internet with your cult recruiting tools. A lot of people have written a lot of stuff about Zeitgeist being a cult, I've talked several former members out of it myself, it's hard to see until you get an outside perspective. Easy answers to big problems? Time to get skeptical....
The Story Behind Religion
Part 2 of 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISkle1d45B0&feature=related
People who actually know what they are talking about have written and make debunkings about this movie go look them up instead of waste your time. I'm an atheist/naturalist and critic of religion myself, but if we let low-quality work like this pass for criticism of religion that's a sad state of affairs.
The Story Behind Religion
Part 3 of 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGMsxl7FEDg&feature=related
So Why did Gerald post all three parts here when any idiot knows how to use youtube and get the other two parts? Just more space for him to spam. It's not about anything other than the cult with zeitgeist. "Join us! We have the perfect answer for the world's problems!" lol Peter doesn't even know what a cult is go watch him defend himself against the cult label, it's hilarious.
Perhaps it's possible that even with all this Christian education, YOU MISSED THE WHOLE POINT OF THE GOSPEL!
If you think you are a Christian, maybe you missed the point of Christ's words.
Be careful in telling people that they have misinterpreted the Gospel. I would just worry about my own interpreting of it. That's enough. Shalom.
The Bible is clear on its stance on gay, it is stated in Romans, 1 Timothy, Jude 1:7, I Corith., many times in Old testiment and if you include se.-xu-al Immoral many more scrip-tures apply even from Jesus in Matthew. gay is forbiden by the torah, Qu-ran , and the Bible...If you are a beliver in the God from any of these religions than gay is inc.ompat.ible with that belief and therefore a denial of that belief. A gay is controlled by the flesh to make flesh decisions..that are a abo.mina.tion to God. It is about choosing God over your te.mp.ta.tion, not making your tem.pta.tion comp.atib.le to God..God makes the rules, if you truly Love God than you should follow them, if you don't you simply do not love God.
Really. You really believe that CRAP. Religion is nothing more than a bunch of made up stories and myts used for social order and control and to put fear in people so that they can live for some afterlife. there is no afterlife. what make humans feel that they are so superior that they have to live after they die. Give me a break
@crucified
The Bible is clear on how we should kill those who work on the sabbeth, stone to death are disobedient children, kill those who divorce(adultry) sell our daughters to slavery. If your upholding the scriptures that condemn being gay surely your upholding these scriptures too? As you stated "God makes the rules, if you truly Love God than you should follow them, if you don't you simply do not love God."
or are you just picking and choosing what to follow as the word of god to justify your bigotry?
Excuse you but God did not write the bible, men did. Know your facts "christian". Oh and the bible also states that pork is a sin to eat ever notice that? Or that wearing clothing of more than one material is a sin, how many cotton-poly blends do you wear everyday?? Until you are fully versed on the bible and live by EVERY word you shouldn't go preaching to others about there "sin". Savey? In fact there are a couple of sayings for this exact situation, one from your own bible: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." and the other a real favorite of mine : People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
You wanna throw down using the bible as a weapon for your bigotry, I'll throw it right back ten times harder. Oh and you just got schooled by a reformed Catholic.
So have you anything else to say you Cafeteria-Christian?
Wow. It's really sad there's so much vehemence and hate in some of these posts. The Bible was God-inspired; it was not written my mere man. And as far as the legalism of the do-this-don't-do-that mentality – Jesus came into the world and legalism became a thing of the past to believers. The law was replaced by grace. However, sin was and is still sin. If you understood The Bible, you'd know that sin doesn't fit who God is, or His nature, & that's why Jesus came – We don't measure up and never will unless we allow Him to pay the penalty for our sin and believe on Him. It's as simple as that.
Did God tell you the Bible was His idea?
Sort of – It's a combination of faith and indwelling of The Holy Spirit. Why do you think it's called "The Word of God"?! The whole book is about God! Were it not God-inspired, do you honestly think it would focus on Him? OMGosh, no! Men are such egotistical creatures that if man was writing it in his own strength – It would be all about him!! It's really just a faith issue, though. You either believe or you don't. I do; you don't.
dbp
"Sort of – It's a combination of faith and indwelling of The Holy Spirit. Why do you think it's called "The Word of God"?! The whole book is about God! Were it not God-inspired, do you honestly think it would focus on Him? OMGosh, no! Men are such egotistical creatures that if man was writing it in his own strength – It would be all about him!! It's really just a faith issue, though. You either believe or you don't. I do; you don't."
problem with this line of thinking is if men are so such egotistical creatures and on God could of written the bible through the holy spirit then that would mean the Egyptian Gods wrote their holy books before the Christian God did, what about the Greek Gods? They must of wrote their holy books too! Men are so egotistical creatures we couldn't of possibly wrote all those books only the Gods could of, right?
Only your faith in this particular God tells you it's real but it doesn't disclose all the others there just as equally real acording to that logic.
@Info yes I enjoy how people through the old testament laws into the equation to justify new testament sin. Yes there was a mass extermination of people in canaan..they were idol worshipers who practiced child sacrifice. It kinda shows how God feels when a people do something they are not suppose to and do it anyway in open rebellion.. maybe we should learn from these lessons...instead of the open rebellion.. of gay!
crucified
@Info yes I enjoy how people through the old testament laws into the equation to justify new testament sin. Yes there was a mass extermination of people in canaan..they were idol worshipers who practiced child sacrifice. It kinda shows how God feels when a people do something they are not suppose to and do it anyway in open rebellion.. maybe we should learn from these lessons...instead of the open rebellion.. of gay!
As we only have a literary record of this genocide, liberal theologians uncomfortable with a genocidal God have argued that this Canaanite genocide was only fiction, they attributed genocidal intentions and injunctions to their God? If He was non-genocidal and good in reality, why turn him into a genocidal and prima facie evil Being? This does not make God omnibenevolent if he is genocidal, be careful what you claim.
See you forgot Jesus said the Old testament is as valid as the new testament and it is to be upheld, it is all the infallible word of God right? it was never to be replaced but upheld so on those grounds you already are flawed.
you didn't answer the question, The Bible is clear on how we should kill those who work on the sabbeth is a sin, stone to death are disobedient children, kill those who divorce (adultry), states that pork is a sin to eat, wearing clothing of more than one material is a sin, If your upholding the scriptures that condemn being gay surely your upholding these scriptures too? every sin in the bible is just are dire as being gay. Or are you just picking and choosing what to follow as the word of god to justify your hatred and bigotry? also Jesus never spoke about how it's wrong to be gay, none of his scriptures ever supported that.
being gay isn't a choice. just like being straight isn't. is that it's natural and a normal aspect of human se-xu-ality. the American Psychological As-sociation in 1975 removed it from it's list of mental diseases. s-ex is a more greater subject with not just reproductive characteristics, but psychological and social too. When your in love the se-xual organs don't matter. Ho-mose-xual behavior occurs very frequently in nature, so it is by definition natural. Humans ARE animals.
Scientific researchers specializing in human se-xuality have repeatedly shown that ho-mose-xuality is genetic, and have shown genetic research using family and twin methodologies has produced consistent evidence that genes influence se-xual orientation and The survival of a human predisposition for ho-mose-xuality can be explained by se-xual orientation being a polygenetic trait that is influenced by a number of genes.
It's easy to hate, bash, and be ignorant to the people you know nothing about.
Why is it okay to pick and choose what to follow and what to ignore as the word in God? The Old Testament Book of Leviticus, we're told it is wrong for a man to be with another man, In the very next chapter we are told to stone to death are disobedient children. Why is okay to condemn people for who they are but ignore other words of God that affect you and your family? Refuse to acknowledge it? Picking and choose what you agree and what you don't is inconsistent or fair
Why would anyone openly choose to be gay knowing full well our society only has hate, bigotry, isolation, loneliness, and injustice? you logic is seriously flawed and so is your hatred.
@info you are confused..there are Man laws and God laws..the Jewish people were upholding mans Laws..Jesus corrected this thing... also, as far as the Sabath and keeping it Holy.. in a true study of the Bible you would understand that the Sabbath is Jesus Christ.. and keeping him Holy. that is another example of why the unpardonable sin is Dening Jesus.
@crucified
"@info you are confused..there are Man laws and God laws..the Jewish people were upholding mans Laws..Jesus corrected this thing... also, as far as the Sabath and keeping it Holy.. in a true study of the Bible you would understand that the Sabbath is Jesus Christ.. and keeping him Holy. that is another example of why the unpardonable sin is Dening Jesus."
The bible is the infallible word of god or written by men guided by the infallible holy spirit (God) it is the word of God and the laws are by God not man, kill those who work on the sabbath or not accepting Jesus as you put it is to be put to death, that is the law there are over 9billion in our world only 2.1 billion believe what you do, what about the other 7 billion who don't keep the sabbath holy? Denying Jesus? who don't but into this religion? why did you ignore all the other facts i brought up and focused on the sabbath?
Jesus never said a word about condemning gays. A pretty big omission ain't it? Everything about it in the New Testament is post-Jesus and from Paul. Do you believe in Jesus or do you believe Paul? you did say "unpardonable sin is denying Jesus" if you choosing paul's words on anti-gay scriptures over Jesus words of love one another, to forgive the sins of your fellow sinners as he forgives the sins in you. What does that make you?
If you don't follow Jesus words, what does that make you?
@Info Wrong again. Jesus did say being Gay was wrong..in Mark 7:21-23 Se.xual Immoriality to a jew included Gayness. and refers to the law of Moses lev 18:2, 20:13 also, Matthew 18:4-6 defining the designed marraige. or you could look at creation itself. woman and woman cannot procreate..therefore against creation..man and man cannot procreate therefore against creations design. In fact just about every book in the New testament talks against it.. but since you do not approve of Paul's teachings how about Jesus' half brother Jude..Jude 1:7 says gays will go to Hell for there rebellion.
Loving your neighbor means loving them enough to correct them..because you care enough that you want them to have a relationship with God..Romans 1:26-27
@Info Wrong again. Jesus did say being Gay was wrong..in Mark 7:21-23 Se.xual Immoriality to a jew included Gayness. and refers to the law of Moses lev 18:2, 20:13 also, Matthew 18:4-6 defining the designed marraige. or you could look at creation itself. woman and woman cannot procreate..therefore against creation..man and man cannot procreate therefore against creations design. In fact just about every book in the New testament talks against it.. but since you do not approve of Paul's teachings how about Jesus' half brother Jude..Jude 1:7 says gays will go to Hell for there rebellion.
wait wait wait you quoted others and said Jesus said it? Are you kidding me?
You have no proof that Jesus wrote Mark 7:21-23 or Matthew 18:4-6 and your saying Paul and Jude both said gay is wrong so that means Jesus says it too? Seriously? What is wrong with you?
As for creation goes this is also flawed since same se-x couples have been having kids for years through fertilization the whole creation design has been debunked in court and not everybody believes it in all your doing is pushing your ideals onto other people and telling them what they can or cannot do according to your morals, who are you to tell anyone what they can or cannot do?
we're not told to "hate the sin." We're told to forgive the sin. In Matthew 18:23-35 Christ tells of a slave who was forgiven his debts (just as Christians are forgiven their sins). This slave, however, refused to forgive the debt of a fellow slave (just as Christ asks us to forgive our fellow sinners). Christ called that slave "Evil." All who call themselves "Christian" absolutely must forgive the sins of any other sinner – even gay. The moment you don't, you are condemned by the very God you serve.
@Info You do not accept words of Paul 60% of New Testament, You do not accept the words of Jesus in Matthew, You do not accept the words of Jude and Peter who where diciples of Jesus, You do not follow old Testament Scripture. you do not accept the scripture of Mark who was taught by Peter and the other diciples. apparently you do not follow 90% of bible.. you obviously do not worship God of the bible, but some other God..
@info actually, you are told to correct the sin.. if the sinner does not accept you bring a witness to correct, if they still do not accept you bring before the church, if they still do not accept you put them out of church so the sin does not infect the church.
@ info, 1 corinth 5:9-12
you forget we don't know if they were or not because his disciples never wrote a thing while Jesus was alive in fact there are no writings of Jesus when he was a alive those are assumptions, everything written was 20+ years after his crucifixion, it's on your faith you believe it but there is no evidence to support it,
@Info and jewish scribes like josephus who give us accounts of his messages also, the disciples motivations to go all the way till death, the Roman writings of the Christians. and many more things.
@Crucified
"@Info and jewish scribes like josephus who give us accounts of his messages also, the disciples motivations to go all the way till death, the Roman writings of the Christians. and many more things."
I think you misunderstood i didn't say there were no writings, i said there were no writings of Jesus while he was alive, no body wrote about him while he was out preaching and working even the bible has many years of his life missing, the writings didn't start till many many years after he was crucified. Josephus wrote about Jesus many many many years after his crucifixion and the mentions of Jesus are just the words "christos" 'chrestus' which means anointed,so it could have applied to anyone. Plus Josephus is hardly a reliable source. He turned on his fellow Jews and defected to the Romans.
No body knows who the disciples were because the disciples didn't write anything till after he was crucified. Many many years after everything is 2nd hand accounts or word of mouth passed down by generation to generations.
The Jefferson Bible, or The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth, is a collection of Jesus scriptures that were supposedly written by Jesus. Jefferson removed all the magic man mumbo jumbo and kept just the teachings,there is no fire and brimstone or hate , nothing against gays, Jesus taught about love, forgiveness, acceptance, how to be a good person and to live a better life. Paul's writings many many many years after Jesus, spoke out against being gay, you have your sources mixed up.
Christianity isn't about logic and common sense. God doesn't make us robots. He gives us strength to endure our trials and overcome sin. Christianity is all about Him and not about us. A "higher power" is all about what we choose to make our god, & it doesn't provide salvation and eternal life. I'll be praying for you, Don - Praying that you return to your Christian roots.
Nobody needs your stupid prayers. Keep them to yourself
I'll be praying for you, too.
@crucified
"@info, you should read about James Bartley the sailor from the star of the East that survived being digested by a whale..actually there are a few accounts of this happening."
Did you know that the pH levels in the stomach are 0/1? Did you know this is the equivalence of concentrated hydrochloric acid? Did you know that this pH level is actually CAUSED by high levels of hydrochloric acid? Did you know that there is no oxygen in the stomach? Anyone inside a big fish or whale would either be burned to death by acid or suffocate from lack of oxygen. James Bartley is a perfect example of this, the legend goes that he was swallowed by a sperm whale, He survived the ordeal and was carved out of the stomach by his peers when they, not knowing he was inside, caught and began skinning the whale. It was said that his skin had been bleached by the gastric juices, and that he was blind the rest of his life. If the whale was not caught as soon as it was he would be been killed in mater of hours he could not of survived 3 days inside the whale. Also The truth of the story is challenged on the grounds that the throats of most whales are too small to swallow a human whole. It is also considered doubtful that he would have had enough oxygen to breathe, as a whale's mouth is usually underwater, and it is not connected to its respiratory system. To take Jonah and the whale literary is missing the point of the story. it's a parable, on disobedience.
"also, as far as the ark, the translation says Kinds of animals.. that can be group into much smaller sizes...in fact in sizes that where not meant to come out of the floor.. for instance we have lizards but no, giant dinosaur to deal with. again the average dinosaur was the size of a dog.. the ark had three levels and could hold 1.5 million sq feet. plenty of room for the Kind of species God retained after the flood.. reread the scripture."
Wood is not the best material for shipbuilding. It is not enough that a ship be built to hold together; it must also be sturdy enough that the changing stresses don't open gaps in its hull. Wood is simply not strong enough to prevent separation between the joints, especially in the heavy seas that the Ark would have encountered. The longest wooden ships in modern seas are about 300 feet, and these require reinforcing with iron straps and leak so badly they must be constantly pumped. The ark was 450 feet long [ Gen. 6:15]. Could an ark that size be made seaworthy?
Bringing all kinds of animals together in the vicinity of the ark presents significant problems, some can't travel overland very well, special diets, humidity, locations, temperate climate, not to mention how was the ark loaded, caring for the animals, Special diets, Fresh foods, Food preservation/Pest control, Ventilation, Sanitation, Exercise/Animal handling, Manpower for feeding, watering. Not to mention Noah was 500 years old. On the grounds of the flood, Where did the Flood water come from, and where did it go?
Once again to take Noah's ark literal is to miss the point of the story, it's about redemption and starting over.
If its all about Him then why are we all here apparently wasting our time?
You can't pray away anything God has created for His own purpose.
Although I can appreciate the pain you must have went throuh as a child, an you have my deepest prayer for continued healing- but you are wrong and deceiving. The bible is NOT a book of metaphors. Martin Luther King is not God- that's comparing apples to oranges. The bible shows the awesome, supernatural pwer of our God. It defies human explanation to point the way to an omipotemt, omnipresent, omniscient very unconditional loving Father. And He that is in Christ is a new creature, old things are passed away, and you do desire to abstain from worldly lusts and desires. I am a witness- and millions of others are.
well the muslims would say the same about the Qaran. What makes what you believe in more authoratative?
How are you so certain?
@yalie absolutely certain! are you?
'The bible is NOT a book of metaphors'
Is that the stupid.ity they teach you in Sunday school? You think Jonah was really swallowed by a whale or than all those animals crammed onto Noah's ark?
@Margoret707 a whale is certainly large enough to swallow a human whole..and the average dinosaur size in that period was the size of raccon or a small dog..so yes it is posssible.. on the other had every majoe culture around the world in its ancient traditions and writings reports a major flood over the whole planet.
@crucified
It is true a whale is big enough to swallow a human no one can doubt that, it's the three day survial that raises questions. Insufficient to no oxygen, stomach acids, bacteria that would cause infections in a time period that had no way to treat infections. There is no way anyone could survive inside a whale for 3 days and not suffocate, digested or died of an ifection. This is story is also in other religions even predates the bible in prior religions. The bible just changes the names.
There is no possible way that a 500 year old man could build an ark large enough to fit atleast the known billion of animals in our world without them eating each other for 40 days and nights then place all the animals in their proper places such as the marsupials only in Austraila.
Actually cultures have stories on global floodings based on actual floodings in their regions, Noah's Ark is a mixture of stories based on an actual flood at the Euphrates River. A 6 day storm over flooded the levees and a lot of people were killed, one of the survivors was a Sumerian King Zeal Astruta, he commandeered a barge loaded with merchandise and rode the flood stream into the Persian Gulf till he ran a ground, thankful to be alive he made a sacrifice at hilltop temple. Big flood, boat full of goods, happy landing on a hill top, and we have archeological and geological to support this actually happend. When word comes around of a big flood no surprise other cultrues adopted similar flood stories.
You state your beliefs as if they are facts. Please point to some factual sources to prove these beliefs of yours....
Margot 707, I have a different story. I thought like you and all the other responders. With my degrees, pride and intelligence- there is no way any of this is possible, I was leaning to my own understanding. Until one day, in sincerity and tears I got on my knees and said Lord, come into my heart- I want to know you. I was then able to hear and grow, and understand. I was ignorant of many bible stories, and I did not go to Sunday School. I was just like you in my understanding and relationship. But once your heart is really humbled and open to His Spirit, His teaching, His guidance, His powerful love- you get it.
@info, you should read about James Bartley the sailor from the star of the East that survived being digested by a whale..actually there are a few accounts of this happening. also, as far as the ark, the translation says Kinds of animals.. that can be group into much smaller sizes...in fact in sizes that where not meant to come out of the floor.. for instance we have lizards but no, giant dinosaur to deal with. again the average dinosaur was the size of a dog.. the ark had three levels and could hold 1.5 million sq feet. plenty of room for the Kind of species God retained after the flood.. reread the scripture.
"the ark had three levels and could hold 1.5 million sq feet. plenty of room for the Kind of species God retained after the flood.. reread the scripture."
Where in the scriptures does it say that?
@crucified
"@info, you should read about James Bartley the sailor from the star of the East that survived being digested by a whale..actually there are a few accounts of this happening."
Did you know that the pH levels in the stomach are 0/1? Did you know this is the equivalence of concentrated hydrochloric acid? Did you know that this pH level is actually CAUSED by high levels of hydrochloric acid? Did you know that there is no oxygen in the stomach? Anyone inside a big fish or whale would either be burned to death by acid or suffocate from lack of oxygen. James Bartley is a perfect example of this, the legend goes that he was swallowed by a sperm whale, He survived the ordeal and was carved out of the stomach by his peers when they, not knowing he was inside, caught and began skinning the whale. It was said that his skin had been bleached by the gastric juices, and that he was blind the rest of his life. If the whale was not caught as soon as it was he would be been killed in mater of hours he could not of survived 3 days inside the whale. Also The truth of the story is challenged on the grounds that the throats of most whales are too small to swallow a human whole. It is also considered doubtful that he would have had enough oxygen to breathe, as a whale's mouth is usually underwater, and it is not connected to its respiratory system. To take Jonah and the whale literary is missing the point of the story. it's a parable, on disobedience.
"also, as far as the ark, the translation says Kinds of animals.. that can be group into much smaller sizes...in fact in sizes that where not meant to come out of the floor.. for instance we have lizards but no, giant dinosaur to deal with. again the average dinosaur was the size of a dog.. the ark had three levels and could hold 1.5 million sq feet. plenty of room for the Kind of species God retained after the flood.. reread the scripture."
Wood is not the best material for shipbuilding. It is not enough that a ship be built to hold together; it must also be sturdy enough that the changing stresses don't open gaps in its hull. Wood is simply not strong enough to prevent separation between the joints, especially in the heavy seas that the Ark would have encountered. The longest wooden ships in modern seas are about 300 feet, and these require reinforcing with iron straps and leak so badly they must be constantly pumped. The ark was 450 feet long [ Gen. 6:15]. Could an ark that size be made seaworthy?
Bringing all kinds of animals together in the vicinity of the ark presents significant problems, some can't travel overland very well, special diets, humidity, locations, temperate climate, not to mention how was the ark loaded, caring for the animals, Special diets, Fresh foods, Food preservation/Pest control, Ventilation, Sanitation, Exercise/Animal handling, Manpower for feeding, watering. Not to mention Noah was 500 years old. On the grounds of the flood, Where did the Flood water come from, and where did it go?
Once again to take Noah's ark literal is to miss the point of the story, it's about redemption and starting over.
@Info, did you read the actual accounts of people surviving being digested by a whale? It has happened more than once in history.
@crucified
"@Info, did you read the actual accounts of people surviving being digested by a whale? It has happened more than once in history."
have you read that A blue whale cannot swallow anything larger than a gra-pefruit so it couldn't swallow a person? The other baleen whales are not much better at it. It would be possible for a blue or another baleen whale to take a person into their mouths but they would spit them out as they couldn't swallow them.
The larger toothed whales, killer whales and sperm whales, could eat someone but even if the person survived the teeth and the crushing of the muscles in the oesophagus and stomach they would be killed by the stomach acids if they didn't drown first.
Anyone who has survived has been found half alive and half digested if recovered from the whale quickly. it is possible to survive a few hours but three days is impossible . this is not a literal story it is a parable on disobedience
@Info, again you ignore the fact of eye witness and actual accounts of people being digested by whales and surviving! read James bartlets account of his digestion experience.
the same eye witness accounts for seeing a man swallowed by a whale are in the same era they saw mermaids and sea monsters too, none are supportive and eye wittiness accounts are often not creatable unless there is actual evidence to back it up
I'm so glad I'm not gay.....
Don Lemon: This is one of the best sermons I ever heard. It should be shouted from every pu;pit instead of burined on a back page.
This is sermon summon Satan.
Charles, did not your parents impose their beliefs onto you? Amazing how you lack any introspection on this. Where did you get your sense of right and wrong? Where did your parents get theirs? You think life is about paying taxes and always getting your way?
Religion does not "belong" to anyone; it belongs to God, and He gives it to us but it is not ours to own. You can choose to accept what he offers or not but I see you have accepted His offer of life. You enjoy that life at His expense.
What did Charles do to God?
The gays make up less than ten percent of our population. We need tolerance of gays not education that preaches gay is mainstream. Government, beware of lawsuits in about 20 years from children adopted by gay couples. The children might not think 'The kids are alright'.
But we are mainstream. It is bigots that are not mainstream. You don't chose to be gay, but you sure choose to be a bigot.
I disagree, you do choose to be gay, but if you cannot agree with that.. You choose to engage in the act of being gay. To say that because you have thoughts of gayness gives you the right to be gay despite what the Creator says is foolish. It would be the same as saying because you have thought of murdering someone, it is ok because God made me that way...very foolish if you were to present that to a judge..and all the gay people are going to present that to an eternal Judge..silly arguement really..
There are generations of kids raised by gay parents who would disagree with you. The only trouble kids of gay parents or gays in general have, have is dealing with big.ots like you.
I am not a bigot.. I believe what the bible teaches therefore you are calling God/Jesus a bigot, you are also calling allah a bigot, you are also calling the Jewish God a bigot.. It is more bigotous to have a small minority of 3% try to change the freedom of religion view by forcing the religion to adapt to the warped view of gayness (lusting of the flesh).
@ crucified: What does it mean to "choose a gay act?" I don't understand that. You're either gay or you're not: End of story. Now, no one is changing or trying to force anything on you. If you don't want to "be gay," then don't. What we are trying to get is equal rights. Moreover, the tired old stories about buring in firey hell for not repenting of my awful gayness are getting old. You think you're the first to shell that out? I think not. So, try something new. Besides, you're not going to change me or the other 1/6 of the American population that is gay. It's NOT going to happen. Furthermore, the "Jewish G*d" is YHVH or Jehovah. If you actuallly READ your bible you'd know that by now, it's in there about 10,000 times.
@last comment.... that is silly,,, you are saying if you have a thought of killing someone..but do not act...then you are a murderer with that logic...
There are a lot of things as humans that we desire, but not all desires should be fulfilled. Human nature desires things contrary to what is right. The Spirit of God in you, gives you life and desire for good.
Jonah was in the belly of a whale, and Jesus died for our sins and rose again. You may have found religion but it was a relationship with Jesus Christ that is truly the key. I pray that you will encounter Jesus Christ and His love for you, and your sinful desires He will set you free from. You don't have to justify your sin, just repent and believe that the blood of Christ is sufficient for you just as it is for me.
Some people don't believe the same things you do, Kim. You could be wrong.
Reality is like a house with many rooms, and just because you stick in one room and close the door on all the others doesn't mean that no-one else should check out those rooms.
Not all desires should be fullfilled, like your desire to impose your religious beliefs on me. I do not care for nor wish to live by your religion or it's dogma. I know right from wrong with out being instructed, I had good parents that taught me life lessons and showed me that ultimately, regardless of what others say or how I may feel, that if my actions are impacting someone negatively, they are wrong. I do not wish to impose anything on you, you are free to continue to feel as you do. However, our shared government, to which we both pay taxes, must treat me as a human with rights, and one of those rights is self determination. My partner and I have been together for 12 years now, married for two thanks to being fortunate enough to live in Iowa, and we both are active in our community (and by that I do not mean the "gay" community, I mean our shared community through neighborhood groups and working to clean up our neighborhood/city). We own a home together, pay our taxes together, mutually love and support one another. If you and your religion can not accept that, that is fine, its a free country. However, as an American first, an American who just happens to be gay, I do feel that our government has an obligation to afford us the same rights and responsibilities that are afforded all. That includes marriage. Your church is free to continue to refuse to accept us, that is fine, I have no desire to be a part of it. However, as an American, if our government was infringing up your rights, I would stand and call out for it to stop, regardless if I like it or not. I just honestly wish that evangical's would show me and others like me the same consideration.
@charles the point is that the article is talking about religion and gay...it is incompatible. being a believer in 3 world religions jewish, muslim, or Christian is that you believe and love God more than you desire to be Gay..since you do not love God more. you are controlled by you flesh to have a gay partner.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGSvqMBj-ig
If anyone is interested here on my thoughts on prayer. I have written to blob entries on them, feel free to take a look at them!
http://curtispoor.blogspot.com/2011/01/discipline-of-prayer.html
WHY IS IT THAT EVERYONE CLAIMING TO BE CHRISTIAN AND QUOTING BIBLE VERSES DON'T WANT TO ABIDE BY THE RULES OF NATURAL LAW AND VICE VERSA.JUDGING ONE PERSON HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RIGHT AND WRONG , IT IS OR IT ISN'T, OF COURSE THAT IS THE PROBLEM IN TODAYS WORLD, JUSTIFY DOING WHATEVER I WANT TO DO WITHOUT ANY CONSEQUENCES TO ONES OWN ETERNAL SOUL...
Go DON, and GOD made U 2 Perfect in HIS Image....not someone's else's. But HIS. Love you Don!
Truth requires no proof or defense, only acceptance.
allfaith said:"Truth requires no proof or defense, only acceptance."
Let me correct that for you: Ignorant faith requires no proof or defense, only acceptance. Faith actually requires acceptance without proof. Truth, on the other hand can only be found through evidence.
@ LinCA "E\psi(r)=-\frac{\hbar}{2m}\nabla^2\psi+V(r)\psi(r)" There is your proof for God through Quantum Physics.
@crucified
"E\psi(r)=-\frac{\hbar}{2m}\nabla^2\psi+V(r)\psi(r)" There is your proof for God through Quantum Physics"
Quantum physics uses an uncertainty principle, there is room for God so then God exist right?
E\psi(u)=-\frac{\hbar}{2m}\nabla^2\psi+V(r)\psi(a) There is your proof that Zues is actually the true God through Quantum physics. There is room for Zues so Zues exist right?
Thank you for pointing out that Quantum Physics already proves God... as far as Zeus..I was not using the uncertainty principle.. the equation I gave is a quatum equation that proves a singular God. Zeus being of a group of Gods, therefore cannot be that God.. being that the Jewish God is the monotheistic God or Origin.. it would be that God! the Christian God would be that God manifested physically through Jesus Christ.
"E\psi(r)=-\frac{\hbar}{2m}\nabla^2\psi+V(r)\psi(r)"
That could be used to show that evil exists. LOL!
@Karen,, actually, No, Evil would be absense of Order or Chaotic.. the mathmatical model shows by its very nature Order and a sigular GOD!
Crucified you need to get serious help that shows no such thing.
@Peter You obviously know nothing of quantum physics.. the mathmatical model shows that the reality we live in is subordinate to a greater reality, ie Heaven, if the subordinate reality was creeated which it was for a model to prove it then it was designed. if it was designed it was designed by a designer, a singular GOD.
Prove God wrote and not a man. DUH! LMAO! People will come up with so much nonsense to prove themselves right. No wonder you're a Christian you'll believe anything.
@Crucifed
"I was not using the uncertainty principle.."
The your not using Quantum physics
nobody really fully understands quantum mechanics. So, people who know just a little about quantum theory use it to justify their beliefs. As your doing, the probabilistic nature of quantum theory makes it very hard to use it to justify a belief in god.
Probabilistic nature of matter: if nothing really exists, then everything is negotiable, Your God, Zeus, Odin, whatever or none at all, it's all on the table.
I don’t know how you go from “everything is uncertain” to “God certainly exists”. Sounds like another “god of the gaps” argument, Like i said before Quantum physics uses an uncertainty principle (everything is uncertain), there is room for God so then God exist right? That's what your "equation" is all about. Sorry this just “god of the gaps”
@Lorenzozero Please look up and read schoeder Mathmatical model before making unqualified responses
you should look more into quantum physics your God of Gaps argument is unqualified
quantum physics uncertainty principle (everything is uncertain), but there is room for God so then God exist That's what your "equation" is all about there is room for god but there is no proof for god
God does not exist because he never left detectable traces of his presence which would be expected if he did intervene daily in our lives, or because, if God acts within the confines of natural law, then there is no need to introduce him into an explanatory system (like your equation). If God created natural laws, and the entire Universe is ruled by those laws and nothing else, then there is no room for him to interfere. But this goes against your teachings in the bible and makes your equation meaningless.
probabilistic nature of quantum theory makes it very hard to use it to justify a belief in god. there's more complex quantum calculations then your dinky equation that have led many to the conclusion that a deist god, as in a being that created the Universe but then plays no further role in it, is improbable, but not impossible to exist.
All your doing is a God of the Gaps argument and it's going no where
@info silly goose, a mathmatical model is not uncertain but has a workable solution. It is why Math can be proven. You really make yourself look silly when you qoute off someone else's writting that did not know what they were talking about. Quantum proves we live in a sub reality or the greater. therefore this one was organized by a creator. Therefore God.
@info silly goose, a mathmatical model is not uncertain but has a workable solution. It is why Math can be proven. You really make yourself look silly when you qoute off someone else's writting that did not know what they were talking about. Quantum proves we live in a sub reality or the greater. therefore this one was organized by a creator. Therefore God.
a mathmatical model is not uncertain but has a workable solution
you ignored the fact that are other mathematical models with workable solutions that show another can deity exist over yours through quantum physics uncertainty principle and the probabilistic nature of matter.
"therefore this one was organized by a creator. Therefore God"
you inserted God you said there has to be a designer so god exist that it's, this is called God of the gaps doesn't prove a thing, you can replace with any other god and will have the same meaning
Quantum proves we live in a sub reality or the greater. therefore this one was organized by a creator. Therefore Odin.
Quantum proves we live in a sub reality or the greater. therefore this one was organized by a creator. Therefore Ra.
Quantum proves we live in a sub reality or the greater. therefore this one was organized by a creator. Therefore Allah.
Quantum proves we live in a sub reality or the greater. therefore this one was organized by a creator. Therefore Gaia.
This is where God of the gaps fail. There is no proof that you added the correct God, there as equally as real as yours. Anyone else can come up with a similar equation to prove the existence of their God but it still does prove a thing.
@info, it proves to all atheist that there is a singular God... it was not my point to provide which..but only that there was.
crucified
@info, it proves to all atheist that there is a singular God... it was not my point to provide which..but only that there was.
haha it didn't prove anything it was just a long circle of what if.
quantum physics uncertainty principle either can be a deity as a deist believes who created the universe then no longer interacts with us, your god who designed everything, or neither and something else.
it's uncertain and probabilistic , sure we can add what we think that uncertainly is but we can't prove it yet but we will one day and if God does exist surely will find some actual evidence for one. Remember atheists aren't seeking to prove there isn't a God, they're saying there isn't any evidence that God exists. The moment there is actual evidence it settles everything
your equation was just the God of the Gaps argument "i don't know what that uncertainty is so God did it, I added him as that unknown certainty so that is him" it does work on those who are not familiar with the basic ideas of quantum physics
@Info, wrong again... the formula schodingers model proves we live in a sub reality of a true one.. meaning this one is designed by "GOD" in the true one. the tangable sciences have a real problem with the fact of a workable model because it makes our tangable existance unmeasurable therefore tangable sciences useless. google "the measurement problem" and the "observer effect" it may explain things where you understand them.. this not about a God of gaps. but an ordered enviroment created for us.
"the formula schodingers model proves we live in a sub reality of a true one.. meaning this one is designed by "GOD" in the true one"
He applies the usual creationist deception of calculating chance probabilities as if chance is the only operative mechanism, and then saying this "proves" that God intervenes. This is called God of the gaps, He assumed it was by created god therefore god exist. it's assumption not a fact
many of Schrodinger mathematical models are based on his assumptions not facts, his assumptions are added into the equation then he says this "proves God Exists", many of his mathematical models have been debunked by scientist (Schrodinger has even admitted that there were Cro-Magnon and Neanderthals living for 40 000 years prior to Adam) and his equations haven't held up in courts when creationism was trying to force its way into our local schools
Assumptions aren't facts his equation is God of the Gaps
@crucified.
You said: "@ LinCA "E\psi(r)=-\frac{\hbar}{2m}\nabla^2\psi+V(r)\psi(r)" There is your proof for God through Quantum Physics.
If you lie you go to hell, correct? That then must mean that you've just condemned yourself to hell.
Shit! That means that we'll meet again.
Cnn will probably moderate my comment but I will say it once more.
The bible was written with stories, legends and myths to help us to live a better life. Please stop parroting the verses out of the bible because I don't think half of you who do have any understanding about them. My opinion is most people use the bible as a crutch to promote their own agenda and that is not what anyone had in mind when putting it together or interpreting it.
Now for me the most important thing that "Jesus" is trying to teach us is "To love one another as I have loved you". You all need to stop the nonsense of judging and really think about how you make life better for you and those around you.
No one should be judging anyone as that is to be left up to God and not each other. Many say they know the bible. Well I don't see it here. I believe that is why the earth is in the mess that we are in. Instead of loving one another we point that finger at everyone else and use the bible as the brick.
Here, Here!!
This article is a lot about him and hardly anything about God.
Luke 9:23 "Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."
Don't forget to love yourself as you would love your neighbor. No-one needs to earn their worth. It's a given. Sometiimes we forget that life isn't a competion, it's a co-creation.
YUP.
That's the right way to look at it. Only God will judge what is the greater sin. Not loving your Gay neighbor, or the Gay neighbor lying with another man. For all I know it won't end well for either. I'll do my best to try and love my Gay neighbor as myself and try to do what Jesus would want.
What the Gay neighbor does is between him and God.
That Love that Jesus was talking about tells me that I must do all I can for my neighbor to make sure that they join me in Heaven! I will not act harshly but with Love. I will not persecute but Love. I will not be rude but Love. It would be selfish of me to only want Heaven for myself and not for others. Jesus didn't take that road and neither will I! I love you Don, no matter if you were a missionary or murderer. I will continue to pray for you that this spiritual warfare you are fighting will not hinder the true life that God has for you!
The gist of your comment seems to be that the Bible is misused for people's own agendas but that Christ and God are still real although you admit the Bible is myth and legend. This really doesn't stand up to serious thought if you spend some time on it, and both fundamental Christians and atheists have a more logically sound position than you do.
The bible is a collection of rediculous stories told by primitive, ignorant people over an extremely long period of time. For every claim, directive, or suggestion in the bible, there exists an OBVIOUS CONTRADICTION! What this means is that the people practicing this "religion" (fancy word for "GIANT CULT") can INTERPRET the words ANY WAY THEY WANT! If you (everybody who is religious) can't see that, then you are truly pathetic. You are followers. You don't use reason, you instead just do what you've been told by your ancestors. Pathetic. People that wrote the bible had a good excuse for believing this crap: we as a species had not yet gained any true understanding of our surroundings. But in the 2 thousand years since, we have learned A LOT. So what's your excuse? Fear? Pathetic. The fact is, no human being has ever known, knows now, or will EVER know the answers to the big questions. It's only FEAR AND ARROGANCE that makes you think you do. You don't have answers. There aren't any. Accept this FACT OF LIFE and move on, you pathetic, antiquated, arrogant, frightened, humans.
"My opinion is most people use the bible as a crutch to promote their own agenda and that is not what anyone had in mind when putting it together or interpreting it."
My opinion is that you are right on the first part, it is a crutch; but on the second part I disagree, I believe that's exactly what they had in mind when they wrote it.
If you would not hang out with someone who openly blasphamies God or curses at God, or hates your God, why would you hang out with someone who openly rebels against your God..Truly loving your neighbor means correcting them when they are wrong not being a coward.. I recommend reading rev. 21:8 about what happens to the cowardly in the end.. also, If someone claims to be a Christian and therefore a brother. the scripture say to rebuke wrong doing..and if they do not accept bring a witness if they still do not accept..toss them out of the church so they do not infect the church.
I thought Don was hot before I knew he was gay. That just makes him hotter.
Thought the same too, i just found out. So yeah, interesting story to say the least.
Gay -ism is a distorted minded person
He is talk jhazz ...how can you be attracked to any one at 3-4 years when you hardly understand whats going around u
At 3 or 4 you can have a crush. I liked a boy in my kindergarten class and I remember another girl having a crush on me. As a kid, you may not be aware of what those feelings are because of your age, but in retrospect you can understand that they are crushes.
I'm very confused and disappointed . God loves you all.
God loves the person, Not the Sin! Lev. 18:22, jude 1:7, Romans1:27-32, 1 corith, 1 timothy
"It's time for us, especially black people"....
Why black people? i don't get that.
yep, and GOD made HIM TOO......perfect in HIS IMAGE.
It's a well-known, albeit often unspoken of, phenomenon in the black community – that a group of people who have been through as much as they have in regards to history can and do, due to their firm religious entrenchment, discriminate against another group of people moreso than most other groups.
It's the epitome of contradiction and hypocrisy – as hard as that group of people fought to be recognized as equals...even fighting against the same religious arguments that are now being used against gay people...they still vehemently stand against the gay community because it goes against their religious beliefs.