"Jesus said nothing about stoning anybody, so conflating Old Testament law with Christianity is obviously (even to you I am sure) intellectually dishonest; if indeed you are the scholar you profess."

Nostatic wasn't the first and won't be the last to intentionally miss this "detail". But it sure makes for good conversation, and that's what's truely important:)

I do have to wonder how the jews reconcile this stuff, but it is not applicable to Christians. But you knew that. Not starting a fight here, but it really was an unfair jab, though not an underused one.

Len, my only point is that often "xtians" will quote certain OT passages as excuses for their behaviors, then conveniently ignore others. And as far as I know, xtians have not removed the OT from their belief system. Or have they?

As for the rest of the nonsense, it never ceases to amaze me how those who are "saved" assume that others around them aren't (like there is only one way...*their* way), and feel compelled to proselytize. I'll invoke Feynman again: what do you care what other people think?

yes they have. none of the old "law" is applicable any longer. it is only used for quasi-historical reference now

hmm...what sects say that? I know that some Catholic scholars freely admit that both OT and NT are allegorical, but my memories of Lutheranism was that the OT was trotted out when it was "needed." And I recall Baptists doing the same.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, but rather would be interested to see where/who has codified this.

that's basically what I meant. I haven't seen it codified either (neither by word of mouth or writ) however, it probably is out there somewhere

Personally, I reckon I rate my own position as no better than "a fair idea", as in, I have a fair idea of what is "required" to be saved (and a lotta hope).

I might answer this thread tomorrow morning, 'cause I help organise a youth group which is having a talk from a (trained) speaker on homosexuality and how (Catholic) Church teaching applies to us (if we are gay, or in how we and the Church relates to people who are).

The starting point - is homosexuality something which is innate or which can be "cured"? This is pretty important because it shapes the whole argument.