In Reply to a Response

On Friday, February 20, I put up a post about a letter I wrote to the editors of the News-Gazette in Champaign, IL. Scroll down a bit to find that letter. On March 2, the paper printed a response to that letter, in which the author, a Christian minister, accused me of twisting my interpretation to match my own misguided views. Basically, he said I didn't know my head from the hat I wear.

Of course I had to reply. My original reply as sent to the paper was far too long to fit within their guidelines, so working with the editors, I trimmed it down to this:

One law protects many religious views

Rev 's reply to my Feb. 20 letter demonstrates the truth of my statement: there are disagreements among Christian denominations concerning biblical interpretations. Sometimes they are small, sometimes quite large. In fact, many churches welcome homosexuals into their congregations, even into their clergy. I think it's wonderful we live in a country that makes room for us all.

Please forgive me if my earlier letter made it appear as if I wished to change the personal beliefs of others; that is not the case. Certainly if a denomination chooses to not bless homosexual union within its own organization, that is their right, and I support it even though I disagree.

But to deny homosexuals the right to union based on religious beliefs is contrary to our constitution.

Our country was founded in part on the concept of freedom to choose one's religion without coercion or force. To force upon our society a single mindset based on religion is to create a theocracy. One need only look at today's world to see how dangerous a theocracy can be.

There are indeed many different views on the Bible, and varying translations. Who would deny that King James cause the Bible to be edited?

Or that there are dozens of Protestant versions of the Bible? That the Catholic Bible is different from the King James and subsequent versions?

Personally, I am thankful our country allows us all to choose for ourselves. I believe that all should be treated equally under the law, including homosexuals. I also believe Jesus would approve.

In peace,

Lane