On another note, in the NT and OT, whenever homosexuality is condemned, it is often followed up with the order or suggestion that men who engage in it should be killed by the rest of the community.
Well, now you're not talking about picking and choosing obscure passages, you're talking about a pretty major part of Christianity. That is, that the theocracy of ancient Israel had outlived its usefulness. Recall when Christ was presented with the adulterous woman and he failed to stone her as the law demanded. Notice that Peter was explicitly told that laws about uncleanness (of food and of Gentiles) were no longer to be observed by faithful Jewish Christians. And that Gentile Christians are not bound by every detail of the Mosaic Law. Any "serious amateur" student of Christianity would understand that.
Even most "orthodox" Christians who hate the sin and/or the sinner dont follow up by saying we should kill gays. So even they are cafeteria Christians to some extent.
No, they just have a better understanding of the Bible than you do. You won't find Christians calling for the stoning of any other sinners, either. So if we're picking and choosing, we're doing it rather consistently. For that matter, you won't even find that many who want to outlaw things like adultery or lying.
I would point out that the only unforgiveable sin is to doubt the Holy Spirit (cooincidentaly the wierdest and most counter-intuitive part of the trinity).
Doubting and blaspheming are not the same thing. Are you going to show me these passages of the Bible that tell me I can't ever doubt or be skeptical or use reason?
What do you find so wierd about the Holy Spirit?
Also, Christianity in practice is almost inherently anti-intelectual.
I'm practicing Christianity right now. Been doing so for years. Please explain how it affects my intellect.
Reason has always flown in the face of Christianity, and only in the last century or two has the religion been able to water itself down enough to survive. Just ask Galileo and untold thousands more like him.
Could you perhaps restate that? It sounds like you're saying that Christianity was struggling to survive until it started to water down two hundred years ago. Yet, it was strong enough to make Galileo recant. Yes, the Church officials of that time opposed Galileo's scientific views. Yes, Christianity went through another anti-intellectual phase in the recent past. But that does not mean that Christianity is itself anti-intellectual or irrational. I could easily counter with the fact that the church was responsible for the modern university. That the church was, for centuries, the only institution in Europe that offered education and learning. But really, since you have made the charge, you should tell me specifically what it is about Christianity that keeps people from thinking.
Before I continue on this note, may I ask what denomination you call your own?
I don't.
The reason its difficult for you to believe I have read the Bible is because I have read it primarily objectively, and walk away from it with a far different impression than you. Read the Bible again, with an open mind. When somthing doesnt make sense, is obviously untrue, or flies in the face of your consience, make a note of it. The list you have when you are done will likely be impressive. Then we can talk about who has a long way to go.
I am reading it again, thanks. How is it that you have been able to read the Bible so "objectively," when greater minds than ours have read it and found nothing that was untrue, nonsensical or unconscionable? Or if the Bible offends your conscience, maybe your conscience is the one in the wrong. But I really don't need to make a list, thanks. I've already seen the lists of "contradictions" or "errors" and so far I haven't found anything that would invalidate the inerrancy of scripture.
You get annoyed when your fellow Christians talk bad about Islam? Have YOU read the Qur'ān? You may be suprised by just how right your fellow Christians are about that one. If only they cound turn that mirror on themselves.
Haven't read it all yet, only some of the violent or offensive parts that get all the press. Actually, I suspect that my fellow Christians are correct in what they say about Islam. I'm only bothered by those who seem to be parotting others, when they don't really know. I've seen a lot of non-Christians make really outrageous and ignorant comments about my religion. I'd rather not do the same when it comes to Islam. So, I'm reserving judgement until I can study it more. So far, I think it's safe to say that the Quran is quite a bit different from the Bible. Unlike most other scriptures, the Bible abounds in truth claims that can be proven or disproven. It tells stories that are set in real history, sometimes involving characters from secular history. By contrast, the quran seems mainly to be the opinions of one man, so it's much harder to prove it one way or another. Also, the Bible contains no open-ended commands to slay unbelievers. I don't know yet if I can say that about the quran.
