Hi Aineo Hi LindaBee2
This is a complex area really, From what I am reading the argument is twofold.
1: Those things which can be described as biologicaly rooted and
2: What the bible says of given situations.
It is very difficult because we are getting into areas where there may be a fatalistic interperetation in the case of biologically rooted issues and the extreme opposite of that would be judging solely on cultural or social grounds.
Lets take homosexuality for a moment (And correct me if I make any comments that are put badly)
There are two genes, both can be seen in a polygenic context, and thus are not "single gene" effects (Despite Haymer's claims) that are sometimes attributed to being "Gay genes".
Xq 12, or the AR gene has one mutation in the Lady Davis Database where under "phenotype" the word "homosexual male" is entered. This is along with many other mutations that give rise to a diverse number of conditions ranging from Prostate cancer to Androgen insensitivity syndrome. Quite what is meant by that specific entry is unclear but the media did pick up on that one some time ago.
Then there is Dean Haymer's "Gay Gene" (Region Xq 28 ) on the X chromosome again which from what I understand is implicated by virtue of Haymer's reading inheritance charts of families where someone is gay, and correlating the appearence of this gene expressing and those people known to be gay in a family tree.
Finding a biological basis using genetics is stillunclear, but not unproven.
I digress off topic slightly, but for a reason...
In the context of this discussion I find it difficult to place. I think this whole debate is rooted in something more profound, and that is the whole debate about Creation V Evolution. For some inexplicable reason a lot of people of the faith have taken to reading the Biblical account to such a literalised extent, the process of evolution is actually regarded as herecy As such the only way DNA can work in such a context would be that Gd personally knits each base together for each of the many genes to create a human being. (Gd must have a lot of patience I find one 8 kilobase strand of DNA tiring to analyse base by base)
The opposite view is that Gd has written the foundation for life in some abstract fashion and that Evolution as described in the text books is true and any variation or mutation that happens is as a consequence of random processes or even sin. This view holds that the bible is completely metaphorical. this over emphasised metaphor bit is where I differ.
This does impact on notions of accountability when it comes to situations that involve observed, suspected or known genetic influences. And as you can imagine this has been something I myself have wrestled with quite considerably.
But here is a question How do you explain to someone living so long ago the process of evolution?
In the book of Genesis (Genesis 1 that is) Gd made the earth, then animals then man. In the Book of Job Gd
keeps harping on about "setting measurements" and "Boundaries" Almost as if he is tending some big garden. Which gives the impression of Gd writing the rules and letting them play out. There are technical contradictions though, One I often notice the the Eve from Adam's Rib, line. Odd when the default is a female phenotype. (Yet to suss that out) But this is not so much symbolic as trying to explain some pretty abstract stuff to someone who is living in an age that is 3 or four thousand years pre industrial. Job is interesting too, often creationalists talk of leviathan being a dinasaur (True) and living with man (As a bipedal hairless primate false as a primate, or even proto primate true).
DNA did form from the "dust". But billions of years ago. The biblical account in genesis just compacts it all into a limited timescale. so people can comprehend it. not strictly metaphore or allegory though, just a different timescale.
"But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day..."
(2Peter 3:8,10).
I do not see a contradition between creationalism and evolution, they are two different views of the same thing. As are Genesis Ch 1 and Genesis Ch 2 or even the book of Job for that matter.
Evolution is one of Gd's methods, the Genesis account is not "symbolic" but "simplified" which brings me back to the arena of biology and accountability, the fact is that "sin" came along as an evolutionary pressure and screwed it all up. What is missing is an understanding of Gd's actual handwriting. DNA. What is really being asked is did Gd or the Adversary (Shaitan) tweak with the text after it was slowly and laboriously written. did Gd Creat me a "eunuch" and Shaitan create someone else a "homosexual"?
Well who are we to judge, do we know? Gd talks in the Book of Job about the foolish ostritch being created foolish. I personally think it unwise to apportion who did what in terms of the tweaking. It is how we live with the tweaking that matters, how we walk with Gd.
My anger at Gd for being born the way I was is part of my relationship with Gd, that part of it, Good or bad, is part of my walk with Gd. My Praising Gd that I am free from desires, from the day I was born is again part of that walk with Gd. the inherent nature of my condition, the origins of it, the root cause, well that is for me to ask about, not judge. And in studying the handwriting directly (The knowlage) as well as the scriptures which were the wisdom rather than knowlege of Gd handed to man, has enabled me to understand the little I do.
It is not my place to judge on the origins of homosexuality, or judge anyone who is gay. To do this would make me walk from Gd. (The dire consequences being described in Matthew 7). All Jshua wants is people to come to him and seek forgiveness and wisdom. He died for this. He paid a heavy price for this to happen.
And to the original poster of this thread I say. "No you do not scare me, why should you? Your spiritual needs are between your and Jshua. If you walk with Jshua thats cool, if not, hey read about Jshua? well cool stuff.
Jshua is Gd's forgiveness embodied as his son. Read the powerful almighty Gd in the book of Job and then the son of Gd taking all the pain of humanity upon himself. pain which Gd also felt. (Read about Abraham in Genesis, a pain which Gd spared Abraham)
How the almighty has fallen, and humbled hmself. A big thing for Gd to do for us.
And we argue about our lives in this manner?
All the best
Sophie.