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My Take: Will there be gays in heaven? Will there be fat people?
Anderson Cooper's coming out provoked the author to send a tweet that triggered some strong reaction.
July 5th, 2012
01:11 PM ET

My Take: Will there be gays in heaven? Will there be fat people?

Editor's Note: Craig Gross is the pastor and founder of XXXchurch.com and is the author of seven books. He just turned 36 and is no longer a hip 20-something pastor from California.

By Craig Gross, Special to CNN

After Anderson Cooper came out this week, I posted a link on Twitter to a story that included this quote from Cooper: “I love and am loved.” As I said in my tweet, Cooper is one of my favorite journalists. I was honored to once be on his show.

After I tweeted I got e-mails and a direct message asking the same question: "You still like him now?"

I was saddened by that reaction and started thinking: What would happen if we read the Bible and, instead of highlighting certain passages, we took it all for what it is - truth.

In 1 Corinthians, the Bible says don't indulge your body with food or sex: “‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food,’ and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.”

My Take: The Christian case for gay marriage

I deal with people who indulge their bodies with sex. I’ve  done it for 10 years with XXXchurch.com, helping people caught up in porn addiction.

If you indulge your body with sex via pornography, affairs, strippers or hookers, and your secrets are exposed, you will not be preaching on Sunday. Sexual sin is not tolerated in our churches. If clergy are caught in these things, they’re disqualified.

What if you indulge your body with food? Well, then you can pastor some of the largest churches on the planet and have the most successful broadcasts on the religious channels and sell a lot of books.

CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories

Same biblical passage, same sin. Why is one accepted and one rejected? Why is it that religious folks want to camp out on a few things rather then all things?

Why do they believe that the gay guy goes to hell but the fat preacher who builds some of the largest churches in the world makes it to heaven?

I have no problem bringing my fat friends to church; they fit right in. Our Los Angeles church has doughnuts to eat during worship service, which makes the hymns we sing sound so much better.

My Take: Why many Christians focus on homosexuality

I coached my son's soccer team last year. My assistant coach is a lesbian. My son became great friends with her son, and my wife and I have become good friends with his mom and her partner. We played on three teams this year with them and have spent time in each others’ homes.

Could I bring them to church? Absolutely not.

Most evangelical Christians don't have gay friends. We just have gay stereotypes and we base our beliefs on a few biblical passages, ignoring passages about things that people in the church really struggle with, like food and other addictions.

The problem is that the church has only one answer for homosexuality: Don't be gay. Come as you are, but you'd better not be gay. But you can be fat.

Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter

Most Christians believe you should just help your friends to not be gay when, in all honesty, only Christ can do that.

I love my lesbian friends. Let’s say I share Christ with them and they accept Jesus - or maybe they already have. Where do they go to church?

There is no way I would send them to an evangelical church, because not everyone would treat them the way they should be treated. But if they attend a gay church many Christians look at them as crazy.

People will push you to take a stand one way or the other on homosexuality, but no one has ever asked me to take a stand when it comes to fat people.

The goal shouldn’t be to change anyone's sexuality. Ultimately, I believe homosexuality gets blown way out of proportion in our churches. If we would all see gays as fellow sinners instead of “others,” there wouldn't be a need for gay outreach, because they would already be incorporated into our community based on a shared need for Christ.

God loves gays and Jesus is for them. God loves the fat preacher. Homosexual activity and overeating are both sins - just like speeding, gossip, lying and cheating. I think I did all of those just today.

All are forgivable in Christ and, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, can be changed. Just remember that change does not happen overnight.

Have you ever seen someone lose 100 pounds overnight? The process takes time. When it comes to the Lord, it’s nothing less than a journey of sanctification.

And wherever you are at on that journey, I think there should be a place for you at church. Because there’s probably one in heaven.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Craig Gross.

- CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor

Filed under: Uncategorized

soundoff (2,508 Responses)
  1. John

    Decent video.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAvDtPz33w0

    July 7, 2012 at 4:08 pm |
    • Keith

      Jud 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

      Jud 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

      July 8, 2012 at 8:09 am |
  2. Helene

    LOve you.

    July 7, 2012 at 2:56 pm |
  3. Helene

    Love you Anderson. You are all heart and soul. XO

    July 7, 2012 at 2:56 pm |
    • perversion is a crime

      Heart soulless and filth. Gotta wonder where that vomit inducing,smirking mouth has been. Jail the qu eer and save innocents from their perversion.

      July 7, 2012 at 3:00 pm |
    • jamest297

      Hello Perversion is a Crime.

      Anderson Cooper's mouth has probably been to the same kind of places as your girlfriend's mouth. That is, if he and she are doing it right!

      July 7, 2012 at 3:21 pm |
    • perversion is a crime

      You may talk normal or qu eer it is an abomination to consider both equal. No need to mix genders you are talking about a filthy qu eer. Qu eers the folks who gave the world AIDS.

      July 7, 2012 at 3:26 pm |
    • jamest297

      Where did you get the idea that AIDS was originated by gays? It originated in Africa from handling/eating monkey meat and took off from there.

      July 7, 2012 at 3:37 pm |
    • Rational Libertarian

      James

      Don't tell me you believe that crap about the monkey meat. The Evil Prince created AIDS as a way of ridding the world of highly rhythmic individuals and sissy boys.

      July 7, 2012 at 3:59 pm |
    • jamest297

      Hey Rational Libertarian:

      You forgot the drug users, accident victims and hemophiliacs!

      July 7, 2012 at 4:43 pm |
    • perversion is a crime

      I did not know San Francisco was in Africa. Do they "eat" a lot of "monkey meat" in San Francisco?

      July 7, 2012 at 4:44 pm |
    • perversion is a crime

      As soon as the qu eers realized they were dying they decided to take as many innocents as possible with them, so they knowingly tainted the blood supply,shared infected needles with addicts and introduced their unnatural acts into the normal populace. Now they want rights????? One more tea party election and a couple decent appointments to the supreme court and the qu eer agenda goes away.

      July 7, 2012 at 4:48 pm |
    • jamest297

      Well PROFESSOR PERVERSION:

      If you believe AIDS originated in San Francisco, that should be all that the folks on this blog need to know about you and your education. I have an IQ between 72 and 73 and even I know baloney when I see it, read it or hear it. You are full of baloney. If I live to be 13 years old, I will never understand how you and your fellow travelers gobble up this nonsense about heesus over 1600 years after you should know better.

      July 7, 2012 at 4:55 pm |
    • ishmaeljones79

      @ PROFESSOR PERVERSION –

      I was there near the beginning and Jamest297 has it right!

      July 7, 2012 at 5:06 pm |
    • perversion is a crime

      Corn hole cowboys of San Francisco unleashed AIDS on the world. Ground zero = one sicko qu eer from Montreal Canada who had multiple contacts with man and beasts.

      July 8, 2012 at 12:57 pm |
    • Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son

      Oh, stick it, Captain Ass hole/Bob/herbie/Doddering Fool.

      July 8, 2012 at 1:01 pm |
  4. jodyB

    Thank you for writing this. There are many people I love that need to hear this.
    What about Alcoholics, or adulterers, or suicidal people.

    Im not perfect. If I were I wouldn't need a SAVIOUR...
    "for it is by GRACE (GODS RICHES at CHRIST's expense!) I have been saved through Faith. Not of works lest any man boast " Eph 2:8-9

    July 7, 2012 at 2:09 pm |
    • perversion is a crime

      Practicing Ho mo se xuals will not inhabit heaven. They are twice dead.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:49 pm |
    • Keith

      Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

      KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD

      July 7, 2012 at 3:49 pm |
    • Keith

      Mat 19:16 ¶ And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

      Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
      Whoa! There it is again, right from the mouth of Jesus himself....KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS

      July 7, 2012 at 3:52 pm |
  5. Keith

    2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
    That is for all of you who think that the particular man who penned the portion of the Bible assigned to him by God added his own "opinion" as he wrote. It DIDN'T happen that way. Every single jot and ti.ttle are there by design of the Holy Spirit. Are we clear on this?

    July 7, 2012 at 1:58 pm |
    • TruthPrevails :-)

      No evidence to support the existence of a holy spirit or to support that those scripture were dictated by anything-are we clear on that? It doesn't matter what the buybull says on the matter. The buybull can't be used in this world outside of your belief and therefore it does not have pertinence in saying whether or not this issue is right or wrong. If all you have to argue the basic human rights of another person is your buybull then you really have nothing. SCIENCE and numerous other peer reviewed studies have stated that being gay in natural, the fact that you deny this is your issue. Your opinion and your buybull do not change the facts!

      July 7, 2012 at 2:10 pm |
    • Dodney Rangerfield

      Did you ever hear the one about a Canadian that minded its own business?

      July 7, 2012 at 2:42 pm |
    • Dodney Rangerfield

      You won't the ass hole can't help itself from butting into the middle of someone else business, as if it was needed or wanted. Hey liar prevails thanks but we got our own idiots.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:44 pm |
    • tallulah13

      Aw, Truth, it looks like your little stalker is back, but with a new name. Poor Cap'n Dodney America. He loves all things Canada so much, yet he lacks the maturity to admit it. He has to call names instead, because that's the only way you pay attention to him.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:51 pm |
    • what is asserted without proof

      Can be dismissed without proof
      You are dismissed tallulah take a hike.

      July 7, 2012 at 3:01 pm |
    • Dodney Rangerfield

      Talk idiot and one pops right up , tallulah right on cue.

      July 7, 2012 at 3:09 pm |
  6. Keith

    1Cr 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

    1Cr 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

    1Cr 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
    Unrepentant sinners will NOT be in heaven. Case closed. H0m0s^xuality is not only a sin, but an abomination. What part of this don't you understand? God's Word makes it quite simple.

    July 7, 2012 at 1:17 pm |
    • just sayin

      Thank you for additional clarification . Those who practice sin want to have the sin accepted as "normal" rather than the diseased perversion it is. God bless

      July 7, 2012 at 1:27 pm |
    • tallulah13

      Keith, do you think that people who eat shellfish will be in heaven? After all, that too is an abomination according to your bible. Perhaps the problems facing this country aren't the fault of the relatively small number of hom.os.exuals in this country, but rather the large number of people who continue to enjoy lobster, shrimp, oysters, clams and other shellfish. Maybe you should start burning seafood restaurants.

      July 7, 2012 at 1:37 pm |
    • Keith

      Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
      Why are people so incredibly dense that they don't understand this?

      July 7, 2012 at 1:51 pm |
    • tallulah13

      Keith, you're right. By the rules of your bible, there will be no gays in heaven. There will also be no people who eat shellfish or pork, or people who wear blended fabrics. There will be no men who shave or cut their hair the wrong way, nor will be there be women who wear pants. No people who cheat on in their business dealings will be in heaven, and I think the catholics are a lost cause, what with the graven image thing. There are far too many abominations in the bible to make such a big deal about gays.

      It's a darned good thing that there's no proof to support the existence of your god or your heaven. It makes the whole afterlife thing moot so we can concentrate instead on making this one life we do get the best one possible.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:09 pm |
    • Chris Dodds

      If America thinks the Bible is worthless, if we think it doesn't matter today, maybe we HAVE lost touch with our beginnings here. Our country was founded on the gospel of Jesus Christ. How sad that American's search for answers in all the wrong places. If the truth be know, history is clear in the Word of God, "A nation that forgets God" is in for trouble. Are we? God gave us protection through our faith in Him. But ask Him to leave and He backs out like a gentelman. That protection leaves when Pride enters. We say we no longer need Him in School, Government and so on, so guess what? The only, ONLY way this nation will recover is to come back to Him in Faith. Not better enconomics, money or any of that!

      July 7, 2012 at 2:11 pm |
    • tallulah13

      No, Chris, the government of the United States was founded on the principles of freedom, by men more influenced by the Enlightenment movement - which embraced reason and science - than by the bible.

      While the majority of the population of the United States has historically been christian, the Founding Fathers were wise enough to separate church from state for protection of EVERYONE. Every citizen of the United States if free to worship (or not worship) as they choose, without fear of unjust persecution. It protects you as well. How many christian denominations are there? Would you be happy change your way of worship if a different denomination was in power?

      Freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of belief - these are the pillars on which the United States stands.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:24 pm |
    • America

      was founded by men of Christian principle. America ,created by Christians for Christians, get used to it.

      July 7, 2012 at 3:04 pm |
  7. jamest297

    I'm OK with gay people going to heaven because they can't help their gayness – they were made and born that way by god. But fat people should go to heII because they are in total control of their fatness and they smell and are all-around nuisances.

    July 7, 2012 at 12:58 pm |
    • perversion is a crime

      Qu eer is not a birth defect. We are all born with a sin nature. Converting that nature into any sin requires a choice. Qu eers choose to be qu eers.

      July 7, 2012 at 1:08 pm |
    • midwest rail

      ^ ^ ^ Delusional idiocy.

      July 7, 2012 at 1:10 pm |
    • TruthPrevails :-)

      midwest: perversion is too far gone in their delusion and bigotry to be convinced...it's like trying to talk to a rock.

      July 7, 2012 at 1:14 pm |
    • perversion is a crime

      First I am a citizen in my own country, one nation under God, not some foreign qu eer trying to undermine the fabric of America. Second, Truth is not bigotry or delusion. Get used to it.You may relish living a lie where you live but here it is Truth, Justice and the American way.

      July 7, 2012 at 1:19 pm |
    • Keith

      TP, you don't even even believe in God or heaven or hell, so why do you add your two-cents-worth? You are the one suffering from the delusion.
      2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

      July 7, 2012 at 1:21 pm |
    • tallulah13

      Perversion: you are a citizen of OUR country, not yours. The laws that protect the freedom of all (not just you) were set down in the Consti.tution, then amended to increase those freedoms. You may not be comfortable around gays, but there is more evidence to indicate that hom.os.exuality is a natural orientation than there is proof of any god, yours included. Your god has no legal standing in this secular nation.

      And by the way, the whole "under god" thing is a byproduct of McCarthyism. It was not the intent of the people who founded our nation.

      July 7, 2012 at 1:34 pm |
    • TruthPrevails :-)

      Keith: When you stop using your buybull to justify hate and to step on the basic rights of others I will stop voicing my opinion, until then I will enjoy my freedom of speech. You buybull is 2000 years old and has never been update, we have peer reviewed evidence to prove that what your book of delusions states is nothing but fallacies.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:14 pm |
    • The prophet

      Truth is never hate,hate is some vicious foreigner insulting the Bible with a misspelling. Someone without the class God gave a pig. Let that idiot atheist fairy be accursed.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:37 pm |
    • midwest rail

      @ the prophet – if indeed you are a typical modern Christian, and if you indeed are one of the " saved ", I 'll pass on any salvation that includes arrogant, judgmental, self-righteous hypocrites like you. God bless.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:52 pm |
    • perversion is a crime

      About one more tea party election and a couple more decent supreme court justices and you qu eer bait sobs will be singing a different tune. Back to a basic Christian America. No more worrying about the hard done by fairies and their sick twisted agenda. Time to care for the decent Americans.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:56 pm |
    • jamest297

      A Perversion Is A Crime

      That's like saying babies aren't born either male or female. We know that they are. We also know that they cannot change from the gender of their birth. Same with gayness. NOT the same with fatness.

      July 7, 2012 at 3:18 pm |
    • perversion is a crime

      You may be born male or female you are not born qu eer. No one is . One more tea party election and a couple more decent voices on the supreme court and the qu eer bull sh it goes away.

      July 7, 2012 at 3:23 pm |
    • midwest rail

      ^ ^ ^ ^ hopelessly deluded.

      July 7, 2012 at 3:25 pm |
    • Keith

      TP, Freedom of speech? You mean the 1st Amendment? I also like the 2nd Amendment. Oh, that's right, you cannucks don't have that one.

      July 7, 2012 at 3:45 pm |
    • Keith

      TP, By you flapping your gums and spreading your ignorance, all you've really managed to do is store up for yourself WRATH on the day of WRATH. As if going to hell won't be bad enough, you will get bonus points and more WRATH for each and every person you lead astray. Think about it.
      Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

      July 7, 2012 at 4:07 pm |
  8. Hope

    The bible illustrates that God hates sin but loves the sinner. While I completely agree that all sin bears the same weight and same consequence the truth is NO one who has not accepted Jesus are their personal savior they will not be with Him in eternity. After we do accept Him our desires change and in wanting to be more like Him we ask and accept His help to overcome our sins to become a wonderful example of Him to the world around us. The Truth is that God loves us so much that he orchestrated all of this to show us His love so that we could have the CHOICE to choose Him.

    July 7, 2012 at 11:25 am |
    • Cq

      Jesus never said that being gay was a sin, and Christians have dumped all of the Old Testament laws that also forbade it. So, it all comes down to whether you accept Paul's ruling over Jesus' silence on the matter, knowing full well that Paul admits to expressing his personal opinions, and not the Christian teaching that he received, at times in his letters. If you are wrong, and Jesus did not consider being gay a sin, and all you're basing your bias on is Paul's personal opinion, then you are being a Paulist, and not a Christian, right?

      July 7, 2012 at 1:07 pm |
    • just sayin

      There is no dispute between Jesus and Paul. Ho mo se xuality has always been a filthy sin. Jesus was without sin, He did not give immorality a pass. His instructions to the immoral woman could be extended to all moral failings... Go and SIN no more.

      July 7, 2012 at 1:13 pm |
    • midwest rail

      @ just sayin – Please cite the biblical passage where ANYTHING is described as a " filthy sin ". Or was that merely an editorial add-on by you ?

      July 7, 2012 at 1:18 pm |
    • just sayin

      abomination says it well. God bless

      July 7, 2012 at 1:20 pm |
    • just sayin

      All sin is filth, ho mo se xuality adds definition to dirt in sin. Unnatural, unholy acts committed by a lost and dying person, infecting not only themselves but all who are around them. Leviticus calls it a capital offense and Romans describes the godless nature of its adherents. God bless

      July 7, 2012 at 1:24 pm |
    • midwest rail

      So it was merely an editorial add-on. Thank you.

      July 7, 2012 at 1:28 pm |
    • The prophet

      @midwest rail
      No. You were shown where to find the references you are nothing but a filthy liar if you think you can put words in the mouth of others. Read the texts you sniveling coward. Read and weep for you fate is sealed in your own filth.

      July 7, 2012 at 1:34 pm |
    • midwest rail

      @ the prophet – thank you for your typically " Christian " reply. Next.

      July 7, 2012 at 1:36 pm |
    • The prophet

      Love demands discipline. Judgement awaits. You were told.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:45 pm |
    • Cq

      Most divorce is a sin, according to Jesus.

      Matthew 5:31-32

      31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for $exual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

      Yet, it's funny how many straight Christians choose to ignore this very clear teaching of Jesus, while opting to assume that he would condemn being gay even though he never said a word on the subject, according to the Gospels. Why would they care about the rights of gays? They're not one of them, but suggest taking away their right to have quick, multiple marriages to different people easily ended, and then they're all for as liberal a reading of the Bible as needed. Aren't they being hypocrites in doing this?

      July 7, 2012 at 8:16 pm |
    • fritz

      Sorry, I don't like the hebrew god and I'm half Jewish. He's a big. hairy mean guy. I seen his picture on the ceiling of that Sistene Chapel place in Vatican Square in Rome. He's really big and has that same gray beard that Zeus has. How the christians see him I guess. Hmm... I found the hebrew god to be a vain creature totally capricious and changeable with all human foibles intact. His ego knows no bounds and he shows His insecurity in railing against humans to not believe in any othr gods. If he's king of the hil in heaven then what's he squawking about? He's a literal parody of a vain, arrogant male human. Poor Lot couldn't catch a break! Find for God one honest man and You won't destroy my city? Whoa! The pressure! And poor Jobe! "Yes, I've slaughtered your family and given you boils and made you feel really lousy lately, but you still love Me, eh?" Then there's poor Jesus, "I'm sending you, my son, to go down and redeem those wayward rascals that turned on me! And don't come back empty handed! Even if they kill you!"....As to who or what created the Cosmos and everything in it, I wouldn't have a clue. But that particular god depicted in the bible is certainly not it.

      July 8, 2012 at 3:28 am |
  9. solowd

    List of things in this article that aren't real:

    Heaven
    the Lord
    Sin
    Christ
    Jesus
    God
    Holy Spirit

    July 7, 2012 at 11:24 am |
  10. Reality

    From p. 27:

    Of course, those gays who belong to Abrahamic religions supposedly abide by the rules of no adultery or fornication allowed.

    And because of basic biology differences said monogamous ventures should always be called same-s-ex unions not same-se-x marriages.

    To wit:

    From below, on top, backwards, forwards, from this side of the Moon and from the other side too, gay se-xual activity is still mutual masturbation caused by one or more complex se-xual differences. Some differences are visually obvious in for example the complex maleness of DeGeneres, Billy Jean King and Rosie O'Donnell.

    As noted, there are basic biological differences in gay unions vs. heterose-xual marriage. Government benefits are the same in both but making the distinction is important for census data and for social responses with respect to potential issues with disease, divorce and family interactions

    July 7, 2012 at 11:20 am |
    • fritz

      Wow! You got away with saying the 'M' word! CNN must be slipping!

      July 8, 2012 at 3:42 am |
  11. Craig Gross LIAR

    The author has terribly missed some facts about gays and overweights. That exposed his true nature and uncloacked his ulterior motives in writing this piece of crap.

    Look, I'm 33 yrs. old, stands 5'11" tall and weigh at 277 lbs. I've been having 1 cup or no rice with some veges, fruits and strictly no red meat on my plate since the age of 14, the time my tummy started to bulge. And I have a gay friend who is the executive secretary of their church.

    He miserably fail to do his homework to know the fact that gluttony isn't the lone culprit of obesity. He fails to identify the conspirators namely; genes, slow metabolism, et' al.

    AND

    Most of all...

    he wasn't able to grasp that God, the bible and the church does NOT condemns gay but the ACT thereof.

    The author's thoughtless attempt to implicate religious bigotry with regards to gays was an epic failure.

    July 7, 2012 at 11:09 am |
    • Craig Gross LIAR

      Does NOT *condemn *gays, rather and should be read; religious bigotry *towards gays.

      July 7, 2012 at 11:16 am |
    • jamest297

      Hello PROFESSOR! If you are fat, it's because you eat too much. If you recall, it's one of the natural laws that the body has to obey: You cannot make something from nothing! So, if you don't put the calories down the hatch, the body cannot turn them into fat. You need to grow up and quit making excuses. You are fat for a reason.

      July 7, 2012 at 12:51 pm |
    • Jim5n1

      James

      Try google "causes of obesity". It will help you refraining from advertising you stupity and UTTER IGNORANCE on this blog.

      July 8, 2012 at 11:42 am |
  12. Love All because it's what Jesus would do

    Someone being gay is something personally I choose to see as "their lives" "their happiness" and it does not effect mine.
    So why would I judge anyone who is gay? I read the bible and it is not my job to be anyones judge for anything on the face of the earth.
    So until I am PERFECT (that) could be when I would feel I could judge another human being , I am not nor is anyone else.
    I don't know anyone who is gay , but if my own son walked up to me and told me , I am gay... I could love him all the same , not just because he is my son , but because it's not a judgement call nad it would be his life !

    July 7, 2012 at 10:55 am |
  13. Kathy

    Adultry is a sin as well and people cheat on their spouses everyday, even preachers cheat, but they are never judged and looked down upon like gay people are.

    July 7, 2012 at 9:38 am |
  14. bryansutton

    I have to find over my personal love to your goodness assisting people that require help with this area of interest. Your actual resolve for moving the answer close to has been ideal and still have usually encouraged employees as i am to succeed in their set goals. Your personal beneficial beneficial details signifies close to this much somebody much like me but still more to my personal friends. Thank you coming from all folks. bryansutton

    July 7, 2012 at 9:36 am |
  15. ed ricard - Canada

    Thank God for Grace. Great article.

    July 7, 2012 at 9:33 am |
  16. explaining the gap

    @Robin T

    The point of my post is that the whole silly jesus story is more fiction and fairy tale than real, the book you mention is just as fictious as my silly/stupid post written to provoke you religious types to make some sort of attempt at proving your hypothesis. Shroud of Turin, water at Lourdes, Dead Sea Scrolls, mad peoples epiphanies, etc. don't count as like all your claims cannot be rationaly proven.

    July 7, 2012 at 9:14 am |
  17. spoddney

    I think that the atheists, Catholics, Muslims, the straights and the gays should all learn to accept and love each other.

    Then we can all gang up and kill the Scientologists.

    I think we ALL agree that they should be exterminated

    July 7, 2012 at 9:07 am |
    • tallulah13

      Can't we just point and laugh at the scientologists? I think that would bug them even more than the death thing.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:11 pm |
  18. Atheism is not healthy for children and other living things

    Prayer changes things ,

    July 7, 2012 at 9:03 am |
    • Hawk

      Prayer does just as much to change things as finding a 4-leaf clover.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:26 pm |
    • The prophet

      Great idea try taking your 4 leaf clover before the judge on judgement day.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:48 pm |
  19. just me

    hello,i read some comments made on this particuler subject,and i see that most are made out hate,non gays towers gays ,cristian towers non cristians and the other way around.nothing positive can come out of such discution if those involve have no real understanding of the issue.this is a gossip and stone throwing contest,both side should read the bible,and dont start picking out those verse that are convinent.GOD love s sinners but not sin. please excuse my righting

    July 7, 2012 at 8:57 am |
    • truth be told

      There is no excuse for your "righting"

      July 7, 2012 at 9:03 am |
    • jwt

      and no good reason to read the bible.

      July 7, 2012 at 9:34 am |
    • just sayin

      Salvation is an excellent reason to read the Bible. God bless

      July 7, 2012 at 9:42 am |
    • tallulah13

      What "just sayin" fails to mention is that the entire basis for his belief - gods, demons, miracles, damnation and salvation - exist only in the bible. In the real world, there isn't a single shred of evidence to support the existence of any of those things. The bible has as much credibility as the Iliad, and frankly the Iliad is a much better read.

      The bible also has less morality than "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure". The simple message of "be excellent to each other" is a better rule by which to live than the biblical "condemn people who are different than you"

      July 7, 2012 at 1:52 pm |
    • just sayin

      The hate of a tallulah is a badge of honor to a Christian. Blessed are we when they say all manner of things against us falsely. It is not the Bible it is tallulah and its ilk that are filled with hate. God bless

      July 7, 2012 at 2:40 pm |
    • tallulah13

      I know that you hate me, "just sayin". That's fine. I don't hate you, however. My father taught me to consider hate before bestowing it on anyone. As a consequence, I hate lies, I hate bigotry, I hate ignorance. But you? All I feel towards you personally is indifference.

      July 7, 2012 at 2:49 pm |
    • just sayin

      What are you on about tallulah you are one of the most bigoted hate filled people on these blogs. God bless

      July 7, 2012 at 3:07 pm |
  20. exlpaining the gap

    There is a gap from when jesus was born in a manger untill he was out and about doing miracles and preaching and collecting sheckels from the crowd. JC at sixteen,,,
    joeseph- Hey son, going out, got a date?
    jesus- No dad, just going down to the temple and hang out with the guys, we may go fishing.
    joeseph- Good luck, bring a few home your mom loves fresh caught fish.
    jesus- Ya sure dad.
    joeseph- Those guys you hang out with are they all good guys?
    jesus- Ya sure dad, they worship me, I can control them.
    joeseph- You know your mom and me were hoping you would find a nice je*wish gir*lfriend.
    jesus- (sarcastically) Ya sure, I'll look around.
    joeseph- I know you probably heard the stories going around that your mother is a vir*gin, well it isn't easy for me either
    people making fun of me, saying i'm impotent, having a devine son is hard.
    jesus- Sorry dad, I'll try.
    joeseph- Have a good time, don't be too late.
    jesus- Ok, thanks dad. (heard under his breath. What a wan*ker).

    Got to wonder if jesus ever got to sit at the right hand of his supposedly real daddy. There is no record of his having any luck or even intrest in the girls and spent most of his time with his twelve good buddies that he was very fond of, in particular the pleasent looking red headed guy.
    My fariry tale is just as valid as yours and of course it cannot be proven, just like every other fairy tale.

    July 7, 2012 at 8:28 am |
    • Robin T

      you have to understand the time and place. you cant compare that time and place to what you know now. I suggest you read the book a Day in the Life of Jesus. It will blow your mind and help you understand things in the context of the geography, the culture and the people during the time Jesus was alive.

      July 7, 2012 at 8:36 am |
    • perversion is a crime

      you being a fairy probably helps your bull sh it story along. Qu eers... the folks that gave the world AIDS

      July 7, 2012 at 8:43 am |
    • TruthPrevails :-)

      perversion: You only speak your opinion, your opinion does not eliminate the facts. AIDS is not primarily a disease associated with people who are gay. Try reading the following article and educate yourself before letting your bigotry and hate ruin your life...http://www.avert.org/aids-history-86.htm...being so hateful towards people that do no harm to you is very unhealthy and only stands to cause you to live a miserable existence. People who think the way you do are the ones who are likely to harm or cause problems for these people.

      July 7, 2012 at 10:33 am |
    • perversion is a crime

      Do not rewrite history qu eers gave AIDS to the world. AIDS was developed by qu eers through qu eers and as soon as they started dying from it they couldn't wait to take as many as possible with them.

      July 7, 2012 at 11:07 am |
    • TruthPrevails :-)

      perversion: Seems to me that you are the one trying to re-write history....that website is full of actual evidence contrary to your opinion. I understand that you have chosen willfully to remain ignorant but you do not get to attempt to change facts. Your opinion has no overall effect on this issue. You are living a hateful, bigoted life with no true basis for your dislike. Attempt to educate yourself before sounding stupid.

      July 7, 2012 at 11:15 am |
    • Philippines has the largest percentage of Christian all over Asia but has the lowest number of AIDS cases

      @perversion is a crime

      Nope, it wasn't ho.mose.xuality but atheism.

      July 7, 2012 at 11:25 am |
    • @the longest moniker ever

      Most (if not all) atheists are gays.

      July 7, 2012 at 11:28 am |
    • atheist < gays

      Perhaps, but the fact is...not all gays are atheist.

      July 7, 2012 at 11:31 am |
    • perversion is a crime

      To an extent we can understand a Canadian being a qu eer atheist as their self righteous in your face at itude is obvious to everyone. What cannot be understood is those few Americans that side with them. Fudge packing must be a greater draw than patriotism to qu eers.

      July 7, 2012 at 11:42 am |
    • TruthPrevails :-)

      perversion: Considering I'm the Mother of an 18 year old Atheist, it is safe to say that once again you are wrong. Your opinion can't be trusted...now run a long, the sand box is filling quickly little one!

      July 7, 2012 at 1:11 pm |
    • perversion is a crime

      You denied your child eternal life and call yourself a mother? You are one qu eer sicko.

      July 7, 2012 at 1:15 pm |
    • TruthPrevails :-)

      perversion: Does your buybull not tell you not to judge? So you have committed a sin...enjoy the eternal hell fire you seem to like thinking we will live. As for my child, I raised her to think for herself...she had full access to a buybull, she had full access to all sorts of religious materials...most of her formative years were spent with me being christian but her Dad is pagan and we decided that we wanted the decision to be her's. She took a Comparative Religions course, is dating a Mormon and made the decision for herself. Had she decided that she wanted to go to church, I would have taken her. The decision in the end is not mine to make.
      Your use of the word qu.eer is out of line and very inaccurate but I expect that from someone who uses their belief to judge other people and deny them basic human rights, so it really isn't shocking.
      You might wish to look in the mirror before judging other people though..you're really not that good of a person yourself!

      July 7, 2012 at 5:39 pm |
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About this blog

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.