Friday, September 14, 2007

The Bible and the Real Sin of Sodom and Gomorrah

Its a fact that I am not a believer. For now, I assert my right not to believe in anything.

I did not read the original article from Rev Kasibante, but I was struck by the answer that he gave to someone who attacked him. The letter is headlined 'I have no agenda to defend gays'

No, I did not know that the real sin of Sodom and Gomorah was not homosexuality!

Monitor Online | Letters to the Editor Date 13/09/2007
I wish your readers to note that it’s not I who would want them to believe this. It is the very Bible that Aligawesa claims he understands that says it in Ezekiel 16: 49. I quote: “This was the iniquity of your sister, Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, over-abundance of bread, and leisure, but they did not extend their hand to the poor”. People reading the Bible should also use their intellect. According to Genesis 18, God would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah if ten righteous persons were found there.

Now, I will have to hide this from my mate, because he is a christian and one of the reason I keep giving him (why I do not believe in his god) is that the bible has incontrovertible proof to the fact that god hates me. Well, at least Ssempa and Nsaba Buturo would have me so to believe.

Now, another thing here.

I saw this joke on a yahoo group, lgbtanglicans. Apparently it is old. And maybe out moded. For a Ugandan audience, I decided to adapt it a little bit, and I first posted it here. But I thought I should also bring it here.

Dont mistake me. I am not Christian. (Dont know why I keep saying that. Maybe because Christians keep trying to convert me, or condemn me.) I have not checked the scriptures mentioned. I assume they are correct since I picked it from a Christian discussion group!

Dear Pastor Ssempa:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's
Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to
share that knowledge with as many people as I can. For
example, when someone tries to defend the homosexual
lifestyle, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly
states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

However, I do need some advice from you regarding some of the
other specific laws and how to follow them.

1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it
creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev.1:9). The problem
is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them.
Should I smite them?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as
sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you
think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she
is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15:19-24.
The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most
women take offense.

4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both
male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring
nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Rwandese,
but not Kenyans. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Kenyans?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath.
Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I
morally obligated to kill him myself?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish
is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than
homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God
if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear
reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there
some wiggle room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including
the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly
forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead
pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear
gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting
two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by
wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread
(cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme
a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble
of getting the whole town together to stone them
(Lev.24:10-16) ? Couldn't we just burn them to death at a
private family affair like we do with people who sleep with
their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I know you have studied these
things extensively, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that the Bible is eternal and unchanging.

Do I need to add a comment to that? No?

Well, that is my post for today.

Gug

10 comments:

lulu said...

hey, the real sin was ... you know... okay did you read romans 1 like i asked you to, and... you dint tell me how you got to be gay

The 27th Comrade said...

I think it is a bit unfair to say `Christians' when you mean `Some Christians'. Most-importantly, don't judge God basing on a few misguided Pharisees. :o)

gayuganda said...

Hi Lulu,
welcome again. No, I confess I did not read Romans. I told you I am not bored by the Kama Sutra, while Romans, you know...

27th, point taken. Yes, not all Christians. Like my lover over my shoulder now, who is impatient about something... Yeah, I was saying, I should not judge all by the likes of Buturo and Ssempa.
Aren't comrades supposed to believe their is no god? Bit different from me, I dont realy know whether there is a god.

Gay Nairobi Man said...

I have just linked to your blog and I like the work you are doing.

I will be back to read through it and make my comments.

gayuganda said...

Hi Neighbour,

you are welcome!

Of course you go into the links as a good neighbour.

Sasha said...

Hi,

Its amazing how you claim you are not a believer yet you are trying to disclaim a christians beliefs on homosexuality, and using the bible itself. To me that does not give credance to any of the arguements that you are putting forth! It is similar to a strait person trying to give arguemts against homosexuality!

I am gay, and i am Christian. And unless you are a bible believer, then i do not think you can comment on what the bible does or does not say about homosexuality. Please take some time, read the entire bible, learn a thing or two about the christian culture. Then will you be able to fight the bigotry that we belivers face with the wisdom it reqires.

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Sasha, no. You are not right! You are confusing two things: Faith and Knowledge. What one needs to disclaim a belief is knowledge. In fact, if you used faith as opposed to knowledge in support of a thesis, I can assure you, you will earn a failing grade! And bible knowledge is what Gug is using here and there is nothing wrong with that. He doesn’t need to be a believer. And please, it is quite different from a [straight] person trying to give arguments against homosexuality because they do so without knowledge. Most of their arguments are faith-based not knowledge-based. Theirs are what you should be calling, to use your own words, arguments without credence.

Sasha said...

tetue,

My point is there is a myriad of view points about homosexuality out there! For example, right now i cannot dare comment on what the hindu faith has to say about homosexuality or seek to refute what they believe simply because i do not believe in hinduism or their religous texts. I have not read them fully either!

Faith and knowledge in christianity/the bible are intertwined. You simply cannot use knowledge of the bible alone because you need to have faith in order for that knowledge to have worth. If you do not believe in the bible, then you are putting forth arguments that you do not believe in to counter other arguments! A total fallacy if i do say so! And as a mater of fact, if you are not a bible believer, its view point should not be of concern, unless it is directly infringing on your rights.

Religous leaders clearly overstep their boundaries in trying to dictate what society should accept! This is what everyone should fight!

gayuganda said...

Gosh!

I knew I would get into problems with this faith and knowledge thing.

Sasha, welcome. Great that you are gay and Christian. So is my lover (for lack of a better word). I am not, and I tried to show that I cannot claim any 'expertise' on that. But so many people use faith to bash us that I thought I should borrow some of the counter arguments that some Christians give. And of course I did acknowledge that the counters were not my work. Though, I must say that they amused me.

Now, your issue about knowledge and faith. I must confess that is why I am not a believer. Where does faith stop and knowledge start?

No, I am also not an atheist, because those 'believe' that there is no god, and their component of belief also beats me.

Anyway, you have the right to believe. So do I, the right not to believe.

Yesterday I was passing by Christ the King in Kampala and I heard a priest condemning cross dressing using a verse from Deuterenomy or other. I just remembered the post above. Which verses should be applied, and which should not be applied? Or is that a matter for the discernment of faith? So because I do not have faith, I cannot discern it?

Yeah, of course I am confused! Sorry.

gug

gayuganda said...

Now, here is something that I was sent. By someone obviously concerned about my lack of faith.

Of course I cannot pretend to say that some 'Christian''x attitude to my sexuality has not deeply impressed my current faith, or lack thereof. But there are gay people who are Christians, and here is something that would help. Sasha may love it.

The URL is Religious Tolerance Org.
Its a great assesment. Hope you like it.

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