Ruth Gledhill
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Canterbury
Most Christians believe gay sex is a sin and that practising gays should not be ordained. A survey by ComRes of 517 Protestant Christians in Britain found that only 3 per cent of nonCatholic Christians believe homosexuality is not a sin, while 81 per cent say it is and 15 per cent say “it is more complicated than this”. Taking into account all Protestant denominations, 81 per cent believe that gay sex is sinful.
The survey also found that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, lacks majority support. Only one in three Anglicans said Dr Williams represented their views.
The Archbishop, preaching at St Dunstan’s, Canterbury, yesterday, had some criticism of his own for the Church. He said: “Our Anglican family badly needs to find some ways of resolving its internal tensions that will set it free to be more confidently what God wants it to be.”
The survey was published as the Government granted asylum to a leading Nigerian gay Christian activist, Davis MacIyalla.
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You know what else is an abhorrent sin? Eating shrimp. Shaving facial/body hair. Among other things. If one is truly to follow the bible, you really can't pick and choose which parts you believe.
Don't cite the bible for saying homosexuality is wrong when cutting your hair is too. Hypocracy.
Alex, Glasgow,
The Bible is clear about homosexuality.
Clara, Stoke,
I am surprised at the 20% who dismiss the plainest possible declarations in the Bible, both in the New and the Old Testaments!
Sodomy is sin.
charles soper, London, UK
A true Christian believes the Bible to be the infallible Word of God revealing the Eternal, Sovereign, Holy Triune God. The Lord Jesus Christ is God The Son- the Creator of man and woman. God has instituted marriage for man and woman only. Homosexuality is an abhorrent sin.
David South, ReadingUK
David South, Reading, UK
How cares want these out of date dinosaurs think!! they are a bunch of RELIGIOUS fanatics who's grip on reality is slim to say the least. It is part of nature that 'homosexual' tendencies occur within the human and animal populations. After all it takes two sets of GEN'S to help create life.
darren, somersham, uk
It is terribly sad that what is wrong is called good and good, bad. I fear for our children and the generations to come. The perversion in the world is scary and I cannot even begin to imagine how decadent the world will get until we rise up and speak the truth according to God's word!
Utang, Jo'burg,
Does anyone truly believe that this generation is the wisest that has ever lived? Do you?
As a Christian I have vowed to live by the tenants of the Bible. I might not fully understand what God has ordained but that is why I have faith. So, my only question to you is do you trust God?
Colaine, Louisville, USA
Thank God I'm not religious in any form whatsoever.
Stuart Murray, Amsterdam, Netherlands
In this thread: people who don't realise the pervasiveness of homosexuality in the animal kingdom, or the oceanic difference between the homosexual perversions condemned in the Bible and consensual, loving homosexuality as it exists to-day.
Nathan, Bordentown, US
So Christianity is outdated, prejudiced and based in archaic views. No point reading the bible then - its clearly irrelevant to my life and steeped in the biases of the 2000 year old cultures it was written in. Next time a Christian tries to talk to me about God I'll tell them that.
Alice, Glasgow,
It is sad that gay activists have people so bluffed that people with a same sex attraction believe:
1. They were "born that way".
2. Change is impossible.
3. Compatible with Christian values to act out that attraction.
Strugglers should contact http://www.exodus-international.org & persist.
Josh, Gympie, Australia
I didn't need to read past this bit "A survey by ComRes of 517 Protestant Christians in Britain" to know that this is arrant nonsense. How can the views of 517 (for all we know carefully selected) people represent the views of the entire protestant Christian community in Britain?
nickie, London,
God no more makes a person a homosexual, a murderer, a thief, or any other type of sinner. But He does remove His protection and allow us to become what our sinful nature dictates. When Jesus walked among us, He welcomed the sinner but told them to go and sin no more before something worse happens.
Mark, Eagan, United States
As a gay man who considers himself a Christian, it saddens me to see such negativity brought about. I know one thing and that is, God loves me! I for many years tried to deny my "gay" nature to no success to only find the relief of acceptance of who I am. How could a loving God call this a sin?
Bruce, Victoria, TX, USA
Blacks and gays do not have anything in common I am so tired of gays trying to say it is the same. Newflash I can't pretend to be white I can't be a down low black person. Me sleeping with another black person is not mentioned in the bible as a sin or an abomination. Compare it to something else
shanika, killeen, usa
This is a moot debate. God has called it an abomination and unnatural and shameful. Our opinion on it is meaningless. God says He gives us over to a depraved mind because we reject Him. This is a societal rebuke. We all need to be repenting.
Mark, Eagan, United States
The Bible states in 7 places that Homosexuality is a sin (1 Cor 6:9 & Romans 1:24-28 being just two of those) Therefore to say it is NOT a sin contradicts the Bible.
Don't insult Christians! Jews, Muslims etc..call it a sin TOO!
Jesus DID say we should love the sinner whilst hating the sin.
H Russell, Birmingham,
Does anyone even care what antiquated religions say anymore anyhow? Don't they always have to point at someone as being evil or deviant...or their so-called religion loses steam? As they say in Hollywood, a movie is only as good as its bad guy. And for most religions, the bad guy is - us.
Edward, California , USA
Was a survey really need to find that out? It seems like a waste of money to me. Christians (and other religions) view gay sex as a condemnable "sin", along with gambling and preying on the weak, but is still in reality practised in the same groups. My own atheist view is that hypocrisy is a sin.
Craig, South Shields , Tyne & Wear
Ty,
I'm certain it is nothing like the same percentage,
thanks for choosing a metric that disproves your argument likening anti-gay marriage policy to racial discrimination.
John McD, San Francisco, ca, USA
Jess Sandidge,
There is murder and rape in the animal kingdom...do you suggest that this means humans should condone it in their own behaviour?
JMcD SF, San Francisco, ca, USA
I wonder how many Christians think interracial sex is a sin??
probably the same percentage!!
ty, London, England
Humans are mammals...there is homosexual activity in all mammals...Humans are the only ones whom act like it is wrong....
Jess Sandidge, columbia,
The dwindling church attendance, the increasing irrelevance of it to our lives, the disinterest in it by our youth and our politicians (except in campaign years) says it all. In ten years it will be as shameful to discriminate gays as it was twenty years ago to discriminate against blacks.
Lars, Copenhagen, Denmark
Clearly, the religious right can only approved of the missionary position -- man on top!
Dan, Virginia, USA
How can such strange behaviour be right? Sexuality for all of us needs training and curbing by the grace of God.
Father Bryan Storey, Tintagel, UK
As religion is a personal thing between oneself and God and we all have free will, perhaps folk should only be concerned about their own conduct. Before you scoff and poor scorn on God and religion you ought to "find out the truth". One day we will all know categorically who is right over this issue
Daz, Basingstoke, England
Take political correctness out of the equation and yes it's a sin. I don't mind gay people myself but I certainly don't agree with what they do!.
John, Salford, England
Ross, What you say is true, but, that is dodging the issue. Without reference to anybody possibly committing a sin, so just as a "policy", is it a sin? Of course it is.
frindon, Hunstanton,
"Adam and Eve", not "Adam and Steve" said my pastor one day - a "humorous" comment, but out of interest do any practising homosexuals 100% believe in creation? Perhaps they think that we are just evolved plankton - animals... BIG mistake. These people need our compassion and not us to condone sin.
Philip, Nr. Haywards Heath, England
It only goes to show that ignorance is rife . Men do not become homosexuals , they are as such from birth. It's about time these people took their heads out of the bible and did a bit of proper research.
Mairi T, Glasgow, UK
Oh, puh-leeze! Get a life!
Donald, Naples, Florida, US
Article: "Our Anglican family badly needs to find some ways of resolving its internal tensions"
Surely their god can do this inside their heads if they're reborn in the spirit and take their spiritual life from its source? Why is there any debate at all if their god is what they say it is?
David Jones, Loughborough, UK
More proof that the Christian church is out of date, out of touch and irrelevant to most people's lives. Its misguided obsession with this issue is another reason for its continuing decline.
Dave, Cardiff,
Dont you just love these religious views. Gay sex is a sin, but apparently hundreds of years of murder, corruption, fraud and extortion is ok.......
Grant, London,
Councils might give you a fine for smoking in your van but only God will send you to hell for all eternity if you have a bit of fun with someone of the same sex.
Dan Wright, Portsmouth, England
And just who exactly are "ComRes"? I am always suspicious of these polls, because so many of them are paid for with 'bias money', just to make a point (or try to).
If certain Anglican groups could raise their sights above their collective navel, they might actually find something worth pursuing.
Richard Flynn, Huntingdon, UK
Writing with your left hand is also a sin, so is having blue eyes, a white skin, red hair and any and any other 'deformaty' pre-ordained from birth.
Jack, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
81% of what? The people asked were 517 people with a particular view, probably a particular sect. Big deal! What did they think about divorce? Did anyone ask?
Chris, Cambridge,
May God bless them they are right.
Brian P O Cinneide, eThekwini, Afrika Borwa