What does a liberal college exactly mean?

College Confidential Community
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<p>This really gets into the nuances of truth, bc it builds upon relativism, where two ppl can both be correct bc they are functioning under different perspectives of the world and under their own perspective they are correct.</p>

<p>Exactly. All I ask of you is that next time you wish to express your view that homosexuality is a sin in Christianity, to speak only for yourself and not for Christianity as a whole, because as I've shown, that's simply not the case.
When you go to college, you'll probably wind up debating this very same thing with someone else. Try to listen to the other person's interpretation and reflect on it. Who knows, maybe you'll realize that what they have to say makes sense. Reconsidering your views on homosexuality won't make you any less of a Christian, trust me on this. Give other interpretations of the bible a chance. After all, the other side has had to listen to conservative Christianity much more often then you've had to listen to somewhat less orthodox (but still legitimate) interpretations. </p>

<p>Interpretations of the bible change with the times. Up until a 150 or so years ago, people used versus from the bible to condone slavery, which if read with a certain mind set, they certainly seem to do so. But people have been enlightened since then and as a result have reinterpreted those versus that would have damned Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglas to hell and took them with a grain of salt, considering the time period and context in which they were written and tried to find their <em>true</em> meaning.
One day, hopefully, the same will happen with the versus that people quote to condemn homosexuality (out of context and without inspecting for a deeper meaning). </p>

<p>The Bible itself instructs Christians to reflect and analyze the scripture and their own beliefs: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- II Tim. 3:16</p>

<p>So, in all seriousness, read some of the arguments put forth by pro-gay Christians and really <em>read</em> it, don't just pass it off as liberal dribble. As I've stated before, it won't make you any less of a Christian or any less devout to give differing view points a chance.</p>

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<p>I will be honest and say I am not going to consider the other position. I place my faith directly on the Word of GOD, and not interpetation, that being said I will still respect that others disagree. But honestly you have to interpet alot to get from Leviticus 18:22 "If a man lies with a man as a man lies with a woman it is an abomanation and both shall be put to death."
Also before anyone gets offended when The Bible says put to death it was under the old convenant that did not have the grace of The Blood of CHRIST and alot of things got you put to death: blasphemy, adultery, dishonor of parents, really homosexuality is so minor in Chrisitainty that not until more recent times was it even mentioned in Churches.
The slavey thing though was another intepetation, which is why I don't look to interpetation, direct from GOD.
But i do wish you well and hope THE LORD blesses you. You have definitely presented the pro-gay side admirably.</p>

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<p>Contrary to the definition, many "liberal" schools have environments decidedly hostile to opposing viewpoints.</p>

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<p>I will be honest and say I am not going to consider the other position. I place my faith directly on the Word of GOD, and not interpetation</p>

<p>Well yes, of course. But the only way to find out the true meaning of the word of God is through interpreting scripture, right? I mean, all Christians read the same word of God, but each comes to a different conclusion. I still urge you to give other interpretations a chance; only by dialogue do we grow as people. You never know, you may find out one day that certain views you thought were so obviously supported by the Bible turn out to be erroneous. This wouldn't be the first time this has happened to people, liberal or conservative and it isn't a sign of weakness in faith. </p>

<p>But honestly you have to interpet alot to get from Leviticus 18:22 "If a man lies with a man as a man lies with a woman it is an abomanation and both shall be put to death."</p>

<p>It's actually really not as hard as you may think. Study</a> Of Leviticus 18-20 "Abomination"
At least skim this article. You may find the information in it to be interesting. </p>

<p>that being said I will still respect that others disagree.</p>

<p>Thank you. That's really all I can hope for. Just remember though that Christians who disagree and hold (legitimate) pro-gay viewpoints are no less Christian than you are. </p>

<p>But i do wish you well and hope THE LORD blesses you. You have definitely presented the pro-gay side admirably.</p>

<p>Thanks. I can say the same for you. I can't tell you how many times anti-gay people I have debated with let their own hatred for homosexuals get the better of them which resulted in very insulting and disrespectful remarks towards homosexuals.</p>

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<p>I blame redknight for turning a potentially meaningful and helpful thread into a fundamentalist ****storm. Your skills at interpretation are nothing short of masterful.</p>

<p>There is nothing wrong or unnatural with homosexuality, homosexual sex, or homosexual people. Misguided Sola scriptura is a tragedy and perversion of human thinking.</p>

<p>CCC88' voices my opinion well:</p>

<p>"many "liberal" schools have environments decidedly hostile to opposing viewpoints."</p>

<p>"Opposing viewpoints" being whatever they may be.</p>

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<p>^Kwu, what on Earth are you talking about? Redknight didn't say anything bad about homosexuals. In fact, his only post on this thread was blatantly liberal.</p>

<p>EDIT: Perhaps your post had some hidden sarcasm that I missed, but it's 2 am and I'm having a strange bout of insomnia right now, so...yeah...</p>

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<p>Dbate: I'm not sure if you're still following this thread, but there's been something that I've been meaning to ask you. </p>

<p>You say you would treat gay friends no differently than you would your straight friends. If this is true, then:</p>

<p>Would you be willing to help a gay friend with his relationship if he hit a rough patch with his boyfriend?</p>

<p>Would you feel comfortable letting a gay friend babysit your (future) children? </p>

<p>Would you double date with a gay friend? (you with your girlfriend and he with his boyfriend)</p>

<p>Would you attend a gay friend's wedding/commitment ceremony? And if asked, would you be his best man? </p>

<p>If you answered no to any of these questions, then you would be treating your gay friends differently, as these are all things that friends do. I'm sure you'd answer yes to all of these questions if the person in question was heterosexual, and if you don't answer yes to these questions when the person in question is gay, then you do in fact treat gay people differently. Why then? </p>

<p>It's impossible to be so against something that is such an integral part of so many people's lives, and claim that you would treat them exactly the same as everyone else.
And the fact that you most likely would treat them differently shows a lack of respect for those individuals.</p>

<p>EDIT: I'm not trying to personally attack you or come to a premature assumption that you wouldn't do all these things for a gay friend, but my questions still stand.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
"Would you be willing to help a gay friend with his relationship if he hit a rough patch with his boyfriend?"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No, bc I hate hearing about other ppls problems and I have never given relationship advice to anyone, bc i have never been in a serious relationship.</p>

<p>
[quote]
"Would you feel comfortable letting a gay friend babysit your (future) children?"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I will admit that i would have reservations about it, but not bc of what you might think. I think that children should not be exposed to homosexuality or heterosexuality, these are things that i would like to explain to my children and guide thier thinking about what is or is not acceptable. And I feel that children should not be exposed to any type of sexuality at an early age.</p>

<p>
[quote]
"Would you double date with a gay friend? (you with your girlfriend and he with his boyfriend)"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This really depends it is wierd to double date, and also it depends on the amount of interaction, with my beliefs, though I would think that gay friends would respect that i do not want to see a whole lot of interaction. Now before you find this to be hate or disrespect, I would not want to be around my straight friends when they are all kiss and touch, again uncomfortable.</p>

<p>
[quote]
"Would you attend a gay friend's wedding/commitment ceremony? And if asked, would you be his best man?"

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This is something that i would not do, marriage is based in religion, not in legality, that is there are hindu marriages, and muslim weddings, and Christian weddings. To wed is to stand before GOD and say you are commiting you life to this person in a holy union. GOD did not create men for men, so i could not with good conscience stand before GOD and give countenance to a homosexual union. If it is a civil union then yes, I would go. Bc friends come before ideologies in the legal sphere, and as a future lawyer, civil unions are both legal and not in violation to religion, but marriage is different.</p>

<p>I will admit that it would be different, but different does not mean bad. Like with my atheist friends I do not talk about what a blessing GOD is daily, or constantly make biblical quotes or refernces. Am i treating them differently, yes. But bad no.</p>

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<p>This is something that i would not do, marriage is based in religion, not in legality, that is there are hindu marriages, and muslim weddings, and Christian weddings. To wed is to stand before GOD and say you are commiting you life to this person in a holy union.</p>

<p>Well technically there are civil marriages (not civil unions). Plenty of heterosexual couples get married and have extravagant weddings, but may choose to get married by a judge rather than a priest/rabbi/etc. Just something I'd point out. </p>

<p>All in all, I'm rather impressed Dbate. A lot of other conservatives would find the idea of attending a gay civil union to be utterly revolting and would absolutely forbid a gay man/woman from babysitting their children (although I should point out that even though a gay person would be babysitting your child, that doesn't mean that that person will be exposing that child to sexuality. It's not like the subject would likely come up and most gay people are indistinguishable from straights). </p>

<p>So yeah, you acknowledge my point that belief in Christianity is diverse and that that there are legitimate interpretations that don't believe being gay is sinful, and then you impress me with your answers to my questions. There may be some hope for you yet ;)</p>

<p>I will admit that it would be different, but different does not mean bad. Like with my atheist friends I do not talk about what a blessing GOD is daily, or constantly make biblical quotes or refernces. Am i treating them differently, yes. But bad no.</p>

<p>Point taken.</p>

<p>EDIT: So taking into account your answer to my civil union question, would you vote for a bill that is in favor of allowing gays to have civil unions that afford them all the rights that married couples have-including being able to raise children? I'm just curious.</p>

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<p>See you should ask those other conservatives and you might get the same answers. I mean JESUS ate at the home of thieves and forgave prostitutes it is CHRIST manifest in ppl to treat ppl like we would want to be treated.</p>

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<p>^The sad thing is Dbate, is that I have asked other conservatives (both on anonymous forums and in real life) and you'd be surprised by how hateful a lot of them can be.</p>

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<p>Well, please, please, please listen to this. We are not Christian bc of Christians we are Christian bc of CHRIST, and CHRIST would never treat a person bad. So many ppl stop being Christian bc of the actions of ppl who call themselves Christians, CHRIST HIMSELF said that not all those who call themselves HIS servants are, and that we can know HIS true servants by their actions. Early on when I became Christian I was determined that I would not set the standard of my faith on ppl, bc ppl falter but if we look to CHRIST we see what we should be and on that basis we can keep believing. Even if the pope somehow fell, it should not shake or shape ppl's beliefs in GOD, bc CHRIST is the metric of righteous that will never fail or falter.</p>

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<p>^I'm glad you've found a religion that suits you so well and has brought you hope. However, just remember that another's religion is just as correct in its views (and just as incorrect) as yours.
So while you believe in Christianity, just remember that Christ really isn't the only way and that other religions are just as spiritual and holy as Christianity. That's something I don't want you to figure out the hard way. Christianity is merely what you believe in. No matter how strongly you believe in it, remember that it will never be fact. </p>

<p>Oh and you probably didn't see it, but I edited the end of my post #29 to ask you a question I was curious to see how you would answer.</p>

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<p>The funny thing is that I was at the barber thinking about that same thing today. Civil Unions would be okay, bc it is a right. If you look at the marriage thing though that is not a right in fact in Cali, the justices that dissented said they agreed with gay marriage, but said there was no right to it. Civil Unions would be a legal matter of a nation, and by law would not be illegal and also would not violate religious beliefs, so I would vote for it.
But something that I fear is that ppl will use civil unions as a gateway for the promulgation of gay things to eventually become marriage, and if the organization or politician who wrote the bill intended this I would vote it down in a minute.</p>

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<p>Note I was thinking it, bc I love politics so often in my mind I think of political controversies. I may one day be a politician you know. I am sure i can count on your vote. Nvm I would never be a politician I cannot lie ;)!</p>

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<p>Hippo, even though you have different views, I would ask that you consider Christianity. I truly 100% believe that at some point in our lives GOD gives us the opportunity to know HIM, and to believe. So when that day comes, remember that CHRIST IS LOVE and HE would love ALL of us, regardless of what we have ever done. That is why HE died bc HE loved us all.</p>

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<p>Bear in mind I said ask. I know how angry ppl get at "religion down their throats" ;)!</p>

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<p>The funny thing is that I was at the barber thinking about that same thing today. Civil Unions would be okay, bc it is a right.</p>

<p>My respect for you has shot up tremendously. Although I still want to point out that civil marriages do exist. There are heterosexuals who get married, but have a judge do it instead of a priest/rabbi, etc. So it's still a marriage/wedding, but it's not religious. I feel that a similar arrangement could work for homosexuals.</p>

<p>I am sure i can count on your vote.
Actually, knowing now how much you keep your religious views seperate from your political ones, I might actually vote for you one day. I mean, it takes a lot of maturity and understanding of the basic rights of all American citizens to realize that even though something like a same-sex commitment might go against your religious beliefs that you still recognize the fact that it is gay people's rights to have one and that you would vote in favor of it. And I'm sure you'd act similarly with other issues. </p>

<p>I actually have considered Christianity and I know the most about it about all the world religions (although I'm reading up on Islam and Hinduism at the moment). I like to remain agnostic because I do believe there is some form of God out there, but I don't believe that anyone can know without a doubt in their mind that there is one correct religion (if such a thing really exists). I'm just really skeptical of people who claim that they (and only they) know the right path, as there are many "right paths." </p>

<p>I ask you to give agnosticism a chance lol ;)
(Of course, I'm still going to try to get you to consider various Christian interpretations of the Bible in regards to specific issues like homosexuality or at the very least read up on an inform yourself about them)</p>

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<p>Well I am a decision kinda person. I did not become Christian bc I wanted to go to heaven or anything like that. I prayed to GOD and asked HIM to forgive me for my sins (yep we all sin, lying, stealing, blasphemy or looking with lust ;)) and accepted HIM as my personal LORD and SAVIOR, bc when I heard of CHRIST and the concept that HE would love a person who has done alot of bad things in thier life like me, I KNEW that it was right in my spirit. That was about 7 years ago and I am still Christian today and will be so for the rest of my life. Bc everyday I can sit and just KNOW that GOD loves me so much that HE would die for me, and that is worth more than a thousands houses in Heaven.</p>

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<p>Also Christianity is not KNOWING that GOD is real, but rather believing that HE is, I cannot go through how many times I have been at a point where it felt like GOD was nowhere near, but HE always in HIS own special ways shown me that HE is there, and in fact I am certain HE does it for us all.</p>