Note to those on the RW (re: Gay Marriage, and a lot of other things)

[The Straight Story]

I have been a Christian most of my life. I have spent years studying theology. Everything from the works of Moses Maimonides to Hannah More. I had a collection of books in the thousands - most were religious works from some really intelligent writers who 'got it'.

For all your posturing you forget some really basic lessons of the scriptures.

Be in the world, not of it. If you want to know what that means, think about the Amish for a minute. I will get back to them.

Jesus sent his followers out to tell the good news. He did not send them out to change the laws of the Romans.

God gave people a choice to follow. Or Not. Jesus did the same.

If you think legislating your morality is what God had in mind for this country, you are deluded. We founded this country in part because people wanted what God gave them - a freedom to choose a religion, or none at all.

If you want a personal relationship with the Lord - have at it. If you want to live by his ideals, go for it. I made a choice to do so - you can too.

But when you start limiting that choice, you violate the very ideals faith is based on. You go against the very nature of this country - freedom and choice.

When you start telling others they are wrong and you are right, you forget about the mote in your own eye - and about humility.

If you don't like the freedom to choose and be yourself, you don't like what God gave all of humankind - the ability to freely choose their own course in life.

Back to the Amish - they live their beliefs, and don't try to legislate how I or others do. They don't lobby congress to outlaw something - if they don't think it should be done, they don't do it.

And I am happy that they have the freedom to choose to be that way and live their lives as they see fit.

Freedom. It's a real bitch when people who have it do something you don't like.

But freedom is what we have been given - it is what so many have fought and died for.

The freedom to choose.

The freedom to be who they are and want to be.

And when you use your religious beliefs that you hold near and dear to try and force others to be like you - well you have lost any sense of what the word freedom means.

Live your life your way. And I will mine. How hard is that to understand?

[MadMaddie]

1. This is one of the best I have read on the subject

Thank you for pointing out the truth.

[checks-n-balances]

2. You've said this better than anyone else I've read about this

and I too have done a lot of reading on the subject of religion and theology.

Thanks for sharing this and the gift you have of expressing yourself so well through writing. It really needs an audience wider than DU.