Since you wish to continue these discussions, that is fine. You said:
"And really, this is nothing to do with Biblical grounds. It has to do with people being intolerant, and justifying intolerance."
It has plenty to do with biblical grounds in the opinions of millions of Christians. How do you propose to convince those Christians that they have misinterpreted the Bible?
Actually, what happened is that while I was typing my post, you had posted something yourself. I see it as somewhat of a poor tactic; as in, you say everything you want, and then try to stop the discussion.
As for millions of Christians believing something; well, they are wrong. Guess what, Christians are wrong on many many things. It is part of being human. Really, appealing to numbers though, is a fallacy. Especially when one can find millions of Christians who believe the opposite.
As for how I would propose to convince others that they have misinterpreted the Bible? It isn't by making things up. It is by studying the Bible myself. In order to get a better understanding, I would learn the language it was written in, as well as see what other scholars and experts have had to say about it. And then using this proper education, try to educate others in a respectful manner. And that is actually what I do.
Making things up, relying of logical fallacies, and repeating oneself over and over will not convince anyone of anything. It will just put them off, and most likely, make them dig deeper into their own beliefs.
Are you suggesting that no conservative Christians who oppose same-sex behavior have been influenced by what the Bible says about same-sex behavior? If so, the SBC would definitely disagree with you.
I don't care if you say that the SBC would disagree with me. I don't think you even really understand what the SBC believes.
The problem here is that you are completely separating conservative and liberal Christians. There are a number of conservative Christians who support homosexuality. There are a number of liberal Christians who oppose homosexuality. There isn't a complete split here.
The opposition of homosexuality has little to do with the Bible, and everything to do with ignorant prejudices that are justified in one way or another. We can find an opposition of homosexuality in a multitude of various religions, as well as non-religions. We can find an opposition of homosexuality throughout history, regardless of religious affiliation. This suggests to me that the prejudice, and opposition to homosexuality runs deeper then just an idea in Christianity.
Now, as A_E pointed out, there are only a handful of verses in the Bible that can be used to speak out against homosexuality. Looking at the few from Paul, we see something interesting. One, homosexuality (we'll just use the term homosexuality for the sake of this discussion. Paul doesn't use it, but does refer to the general idea) is not an unforgivable sin. It simply is a sin, along with a number of other vices that he lists (he mentions greedy, and who of us can say we have never been greedy?).
Paul never focuses on homosexuality, or even really makes it a big deal. It is just one more sin. And it is just one more sin that Paul states that members of this movement were, and that people can be forgiven.
If people take the time to read the Bibles, and the verses in question, they could not logically justify their blatant intolerance with the Bible. The fact that they still try to justify such ideas shows that it isn't a matter regarding the Bible, but a matter regarding a prejudice that is trying to be justified, and taught to others. Especially considering that a good amount of the Bible deals more with loving one's neighbor, not judging others, and the like. That in fact was one of Jesus' main teachings.
But I assume that even in the most gay friendly city in the world, in the most gay friendly country in the world, in homes where parents approve of homosexuality, some Christians will become convinced that the Bible opposes same-sex behavior. In Iran, homosexuals are imprisoned, or put to death, and are usually rejected by their families if their sexual preference becomes known. In spite of that, some Iranian Muslims are practicing homosexuals because of their liberal interpretations of Muslim writings about same-sex behavior. There is little doubt that some Muslim writings strongly oppose homosexuality, but some Muslims do not interpret those writings that way.
Because people have a desire to justify intolerant acts. Homosexuality isn't the first time that such justification has been used. It is used quite often, for many unBiblical ideas. In pretty much every city, people believe intolerant ideas, and justify them in illogical manners. It is easy to keep an intolerance, if one can seemingly justify it. And that is all that is happening with this anti-homosexual rhetoric among Christians. It is a justification of intolerance. And it is a false justification, because if they would spend just a little bit of time reading the Bible, they would see that homosexuality is not that big of an issue, and that one of the main teachings, something that Paul and Jesus both agree on, is that one should love your neighbor. Loving your neighbor certainly does not include condemning them to hell, or hating them in any manner.
Among celibate Christian homosexuals, surely the only reason that many of them are celibate is because they believe that the Bible opposes same-sex behavior. Perhaps Exodus International would be willing to verify that for you, or NARTH (National Association for Research and Therapy for Homosexuals).
And I explained that. They have been taught an illogical justification of intolerance. And it isn't that they necessarily think the Bible opposes same-sex behaviors, as that they are told that God hates homosexuals or the like. They are taught, and hammered with the idea, that homosexuality is a sin. It isn't a Biblical belief though.
As for Exodus International, you should do a little more research. The former leaders of that movement (and really many of the ex-gay organizations), have come out and spoke against such ideas.
Really though, they once again are working not with a Biblical idea. They are working with an intolerance that is simply justified by bastardizing the Bible. You can justify nearly anything with the Bible if you are willing to tear it apart, cherry pick your ideas, and spit on the rest. Because really, what it comes down to is a disrespect of the Bible.
