Ron Paul recently was interviewed by the fundamentalist, constitution-party-flag-waving The American View to discuss his personal faith, homosexuality and how it would translate into his actions as president.
(You can read the write-up here by the interviewer)
If you’ve been following the Ron Paul campaign, you probably have noticed that he has never really talked about his religious beliefs. Here is his response on that.
I have never been one who is comfortable talking about my faith in the political arena. In fact, the pandering that typically occurs in the election season I find to be distasteful. But for those who have asked, I freely confess that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior, and that I seek His guidance in all that I do.
Dr. Paul went on to say:
I’d rather my views and my convictions and my faith be shown by my actions rather than [by] what I say… also, the part in the bible about not showing off… we’re instructed to pray quietly …[and] not to play big fanfare. I’m trying to strike something in between there; where I’m not bashful and ashamed of it, at the same time I don’t want to look like others who …look to get votes because they were willing to say and do something in public.
As expected, he was asked a variety of questions regarding homosexuality (because, of course, this is so important 
).
Q: Do you believe homosexuality is a sin?
Dr. Paul: I’m not as judgmental about that probably because of my medical background. I don’t see it in [such] simplistic terms. I think it’s a complex issue to think it’s a sin or other problems with the way people are born. It’s too complex to give an answer as simple as that [that homosexuality is a sin.]”
Q: Do you believe God says homosexuality is a sin?
Dr. Paul: Well, I believe a lot of people understand it that way but I think everybody is God’s child, too, so, you know, I have trouble with that.
Dr. Paul wouldn’t give an answer they interviewer wanted. He gave the answers that he believed in. This is truly a great test of character. While other GOP candidates would have taken this opportunity to win some votes by saying homosexuality is a sin, Dr. Paul stood his ground.
He also was asked some questions about gays in the military. One of the biggest arguments against gays in the military is that they are disruptive. Dr. Paul has stated in the past that for every homosexual problem we have in our military there are probably the same, if not more heterosexual problems.
Q: Why not try — as far as is humanly possible — to ban from our military all homosexuals, adulterers, fornicators?
Dr. Paul: Well, we’re all imperfect, we all sin. If the heterosexual or the homosexual sins, that to me is a category dealing with their own soul. Since we can’t have only perfect people go in the military, I want to separate the two because I don’t want to know the heterosexual flaws or the homosexual flaws .For the practicality of running a military, I’d just as soon not know every serious thing that any heterosexual did or any homosexual did. And those flaws have to do with all our flaws because each and every one of us have those imperfections and we all are sinners.
In the end, Dr. Paul came out of this interview on good terms with the host, yet he did not make himself sound like a Constitution Party acolyte. This is just more evidence of what a gifted politician he actually is. At the same time, it demonstrates his ability to communicate his views clearly, with an open-mind, and preserve peace in any interchange: even one with such volatile fundamental issues.
Vote Ron Paul 2008!
Some might view Dr. Paul’s statement as “dodging,” and not standing firm. But I have to say that my view on homosexuality is exactly as his is.
Thumbs up for RPaul.
Hi,
I read Ron Paul’s answers about homosexuality, and I still don’t know what he thinks.
If he is a Christian, then he knows what God says about homosexuality.
God is totally against it!
I would like for him to take a stand for what God says.
I wanted to vote for him, but I am not sure now.
Thanks,
Ruth
Ruth wrote:
Personally, Ron Paul is “against it” — he doesn’t support gay marriage and believes that marriage is between a man and a woman. He doesn’t believe that if a state has legalized same-sex marriage, that every state has to recognize it. He believes it is a sin since he is a Christian. He has voted for and pushed for acts to define marriage between a man and a woman. I don’t agree with that, but I believe there are more important issues than gay marriage.
That being said, he doesn’t believe that the law should treat gay people any different than anyone else. So regardless if you’re gay, black, etc, you should be treated equally under the law. Gay people are individuals, just as black people are individuals, and little people are individuals. What we need in this country, and this is what Paul advocates, is a government that respects and protects the rights of all individuals. According to the Constitution, powers that aren’t granted to the federal government are to be retained for the States or the people of the States. It is no business of the federal government what two consenting adults want to do with their lives, sadly though, the federal government assumes responsibility to make laws prohibiting various interactions between consenting adults.
I hope you look into Ron Paul some more. Not sure what you’d expect a president to do who opposes gay people? Ban them? To me, and hopefully to you, the issues in Iraq, our foreign policy, our domestic security, our failing economy, and lowering taxes are more important to you than what gay people are doing right now.
Ruth,
I read that Dr. Paul does NOT support passing a law making marriage between one man and one woman…..but anyway, in response to your post, I think he was dodging the question because it is not a black and white issue, as many Christians(and I am a Christian)have treated it. EVen if the Bible calls it a sin, it is such a personal and emotional subject. That perhaps is why Jesus never spoke of it once!! I think the Christian church has largely mishandled the issue, and hurt many people in the process, even in some cases hindering the Gospel message. We need to have more compassion and not be so quick to speak sometimes.
Thanks,
Gerri
Gerri wrote:
He doesn’t believe the federal government should be involved (and it shouldn’t).
If you want to see his position, here you go..
http://spaceramblings.blogsome.com/2007/06/05/ron-pauls-opposition-to-gay-marriage-clarified/
It should be evidently seen by any one who is aChristian that Ron Paul is not. A Christian would stand for the standard of God as revieled in the Bible, God’s Word. A true man of God would have replied with scripture, just as Christ, the only begotton Son of God, dis when Satan asked him such questions. But it is not PC to be a real Christian, rather than being labeled as a zelote, psudo-christians want to be exceptant and open.
But God only cares for HIS Truth not man’s.
We have a law, the law of God or the torah; we have a king, Christ the image of the invisable God; and we have a Kingdom, earth if we choose to bring God’s Law and Rule to it…”thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”
IS 33:22
Christ For President
Let’s have Christ our President
Let us have him for our king
Cast your vote for the Carpenter
That they call the Nazarene
The only way
We could ever beat
These crooked politician men
Is to cast the moneychangers
Out of the temple
Put the Carpenter in
Oh it’s Jesus Christ our President
God above our king
With a job and pension for young and old
We will make hallelujah ring
Every year we waste enough
To feed the ones who starve
We build our civilization up
And we shoot it down with wars
But with the Carpenter
On the seat
Way up in the capitol town
The USA
Be on the way
Prosperity bound
Gods only kingdom wrote:
In this day and age you might hope that people can think outside of what’s been spewed at them over and over. Consider this: What if a “male” in appearance is born with female hormones? If that “man” sleeps with another man, is it wrong?
There are situations today where the rules just don’t quite apply. As a Christian and a lover of God, I have to say that Ron Paul is quite an example for us all.
OK, it’s time to clear up one thing…
You can’t call yourself a Christian unless you follow - or try to follow to the best of your ability - the teachings of Christ; and we know of Christ’s teaching ONLY from the Gospels… not the Old Testament, not the Acts, nor the Epistles.
If you wish to follow the teachings of the Old Testament, the call yourself an Old Testamentatist or some such. If you wish to follow the teaching of Paul, call yourself a Paulist… etc, etc
The Gospels are very clear about the basics of what Christ and Christianity are all about, to wit: “Love God with your whole heart, you whole soul and your whole mind, and love your neighbor as yourself”; “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”; “Judge not, lest you be judged”; the Sermon on the Mount… This is the Essence of Christianity and any belief that one holds or any action that one would take in contravention of this Essence disqualifies that one from calling him or her self a Christian.
Believe what you will, hate whom you will, deny basic human rights to whosoever you deem to be unworthy, but don’t besmirch the name of Jesus Christ by insisting you’re doing it in his name.
We are not to hate the person no matter what sin they commit but we are to clearly hate the sin. Forget about the rare cases of possible genetic mix-ups. He was asked a clear question is Homosexuality a sin and he would not say it is. How can you say George Bush is not a Christian and say Ron Paul is. I don’t know either way about either one. God only knows. I understand what he is saying about the abuse of using ones religion to get votes but give me a break…to look as if you are ashamed of being one goes a little to fare. He is a very week Christian if he is one and he obviously does not know much about what the bible is very clear on. We are to hate sin. He apparently thinks it is a persons individual right to practice what ever life style they want. A libertarian…what? That settles my undecided position. I can not support someone that does not make a stand against one of the worst sins in mankind’s history. He has taken a good thing such as individual rights regarding the government and forgot about God. The constitution is a important document made up by man and I support it but it is not more important then the inspired word of God. Ron Paul needs to study the Bible as well as he does the constitution.
Genesis 19:24 & 25 Our God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah because he hates the practice of Homosexuality.
Lev 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.
I cannot imagine the first century Dr. Paul (Saul of Tarsus) admitting that he was “uncomfortable” talking about his faith in the public arena. Quite the opposite! In every place and under every circumstance, Paul spoke of the gift of faith and redemption given to him by God. If the current Dr. Paul thinks openly confessing Christ in the political arena is pandering, then he must also believe that the Apostle Paul was the greatest panderer of all time!
Regarding homosexuality, I believe Dr. Ron Paul is absolutely wrong when he says, “everybody is God’s child” (referring to the fact that homosexuals are as much a creation of God as non-homosexuals are). All humanity is a part of God’s creation but all individuals are not God’s children. Only by the gift of faith in Jesus Christ does one become God’s child. And if, by faith, we become God’s child, then we are commanded by God Himself to give up the old life and its conduct (adultery, lying, murder, theft, homosexuality, ad infinitum) and to put on a new life which is patterned after Christ Himself (fidelity, truth, life, honesty, purity, justice and love - to name a few).
It appears that Dr. Paul is hesitant to say homosexuality is sin because his opinions are based on “feeling” and “science” instead of faith and revelation
You cannot have it both ways!
Karl, Rob…
I ask you…. What does Christ have to say about homosexuality?
Feign wrote:
No comment, as far as I’m aware. However, one recorded comment is worth considering, even though it had to do with good ol’ hetero evil: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
Funny how many sinless Christians there are, eh?
We liked most of the writings and opinions of Ron Paul until his views on (or should we say, no real views on) homosexuality came into play. Our opinions are this: His writings have an awful lot to say about blacks. He very adamantly takes stands against the black community (and we’re caucasians mind you)in Washington, D.C., the black male/father roles, etc. (See Rense.com for all those views), but he most conveniently leaves out his opinion on homosexuality. If he’s such a Christian man who has been quoted as accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and savior, then he would agree with God’s opinion that homosexuality, in all its forms and disgusts, are an abomination to God, so much so that He destroyed 2 cities with fire and brimstone as a result of that sin. The terminology “sodomy” comes from Sodom and Gomorrah. So why does Ron Paul put more importance on knocking the black male than queers? That boggles the mind. Don’t blame it on your medical background as a doctor. There is no evidence, absolutely none, which guarantees homosexuals have inherent genes or are predisposed to this tendency. God does not make homosexuals Ron…you are pandering for the queer vote now, aren’t you?
Herbert & Susan
You should probably get your facts straight before you go around saying Ron Paul “knocks” black people or “takes a stand” against the black community. These claims show your lack of simple research, and you are simply posting some garbage you’ve been fed at some point pawning it off as truth.
I assume you’re referring to some obscure article from 15+ years ago that showed up in his newsletter that was written by a ghost writer. In the same article, it also “knocks” one of Ron Paul’s friends. He has responded to that several times. He has spoken out against racism, and has stated many times that he admires Martin Luther King. Ron Paul has been in the public spotlight for years. If he really had a problem with black people, they wouldn’t have to have gone back to the early 1990s to find “something.”
I want to respect your opinion on this matter, but it appears that you are only able to offer lies about someone while ignoring the important issues such as our domestic policies, foreign policies, our failing economy and monetary system. That is something I can never respect.
“Sure the economy is going into a recession, the dollar is losing value, our foreign policy is creating us more and more enemies, our civil liberties are being threatened.. but I think our biggest concern should be gay people!”
And the funny thing about the whole gay issue and Ron Paul is that he has said many times he believes that marriage is a religious ceremony between a man and a women and that states that have allowed gay marriage shouldn’t force other states to recognize it. Again, a simple Google search will tell you all this.
I’m not sure what you guys expect him to do about homosexuality. Make it illegal?
Re: Either scripture is true or it is false…
No, scripture is neither true nor false. It is a compilation of myth, legend, history and the religious teaching and beliefs of the Jewish People derived from their oral traditions (The Old Testament), and a compendium of certain writings of selected early followers of Christ (the New Testament). ANY Bible scholar will tell you that.
It is neither all true, nor is it all false… and is absolutely NOT literally true. The Old Testament especially, contradicts itself over and over. Just one example: Genesis provides two chronologies regarding the creation of living things (Chapters 1 and 2). This wouldn’t be a problem except that in chapter 1, God creates Man after all other life on earth. In chapter 2, He creates Man first and the plants and animals follow. A small point, but a contradiction… both cannot be literally true.
Not that it matters… No so called “Christian” religion takes the Bible seriously, they only SAY they do. If you consider yourself bound to “God’s Law” as revealed in the Bible, open it anywhere in Leviticus and compare your actions to what it says you’re to do. Now, you may say that this law or that law applies only to the Israelites (”The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and tell them…’”) and not to Christians, but yet you apply SOME of these laws - laws YOU chose to apply - to everyone. Are you setting yourself up as God? Has God spoken directly to you and said, “Well you know, that thing about putting adulterers and adulteresses to death… you can ignore that, But DAMN IT, I just can’t stand queers!!”
He dodged the question, because playing the homosexual card is like playing the race card. You can’t win.
He’s also dodged 9/11 truth for similar reasons.
RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008!!!
You know what “Mark”? Stand for something, or fall for anything….Can we ever, ever, ever, get a politician in there that calls a spade a spade, or that’s just impossible I guess. You can’t go to the election booth saying “ah, let’s vote for him or her because they’re the lesser of 2 evils.” Does God do that or expect us to do that? No! The whole problem with society is no one stands completely for the TRUTH which is what Christ preached. The TRUTH will set you free, that’s Christ’s statement, not mine. He says “I am the WAY, THE TRUTH & THE LIFE.” With the TRUTH, THE WAY AND THE LIFE WILL FOLLOW. So if you don’t always speak the TRUTH, Ron, how far will it really get you….and yes, in the election as well?? I guess the only people who did that were the martyrs of ancient times?? Beep, wrong answer! Ron’s a good talker, I’ll give him that. And I almost fell for all the good “stuff” he peddles. But if you can’t see the writing on the wall with the homosexual community these days and how it has destroyed the family unit as God created it, and what the homosexual agenda promotes IN ALL ITS FORMS, then one is deaf, blind and dumb with no apparent intellect (no pun intended–statement of fact). Prayer to the Holy Spirit to expound upon the gifts He gives us, including the gift of discernment in the election booth, is mandatory! The very nature of the label homosexuals give themselves (GAY) means nothing of the sort. I am sick to death of that phrase. The implication is “a happy life”. Webster’s defines “gay” as “happy”. So is the implication that heterosexuals are “unhappy”. The Bible (GOD) tells us that ‘woe be to the man who calls good, evil, and evil, good.’ Well, the queer (meaning odd) society has done just that.
So much for the GAY ’90’s of the 1800’s. That generation is rolling over in their graves looking at the 100 years later we are now defining the 1990’s and beyond at the GAY ’90’s, and then some.
And I guess God intended the world to propagate through osmosis and test tube invitro fertilization with male and female donors in a laboratory environment. Sounds like the Woody Allen movie “Sleeper”….Take a stand here buddy, the world as we know it is GONE!…..Here’s a thought to ponder for both you Mark and Ron:
St. Thomas Aquinas, a Doctor of the Catholic Church, once said, and I quote: “The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those, who, in times of moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.”
If Ron takes no stand on this imperative issue, he is fuel for that Hell fire himself. And so is everyone else on this planet.
Herbert
From your two comments, I can assume that you are an extreme Christian Fundamentalist and the only issue important to you is homosexuality. The humorous part about that is that you’ll never win that battle. It cannot be banned or outlawed.
If you look at Ron Paul’s record, you will find that he has been consistent for 30 years. Regardless if you hate him or love him, has has held the same views for many years.
So while you’re off in fairytale land where gay people are somehow destroying families (whatever that means), the rest of us will focus on ensuring that our families will actually have a better future than we had it. We’ll focus on important issues such as the monetary system, our foreign and domestic policies, our civil liberties, national security and so on and so forth.
Herbert and Susan…
I certainly agree that Christ said - at least according to the Gospels - “I am the way…” And what is extremely clear is the the “way”, the “truth” and the “light” is summed up in his command (Matthew 22:34-40) to (I paraphrase) “Love God with your whole heart, your whole soul and your whole mind, and love your neighbor as yourself”. How you are able to twist that simple and direct statement to call the vilification of homosexuals (or anyone else, for that matter) “The Truth” is beyond me. I direct your attention to Matthew 7:1-5
Please people, let’s get the quotes straight here. See John 14:5-6: “Thomas saith to him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith to him: I am the WAY, and the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.” He does not call himself the LIGHT, although Jesus is truly our light, but the word is not mentioned in this context.
Secondly, to MISCONSTRUE Christ’s statement in Matthew wherein He states, “Judge not, that you may not be judged….” is tantamount to bellying up. God tells us in Genesis homosexuality is a grave sin so much so that cities He destroys for it. Yet where in the New Testament does Christ say ok, homosexuality is not a sin anymore? He never does. You all know that. You argue apples and oranges when we’re talking needles and pins. It’s the old adage: Evil prospers when good men do nothing. Homosexuality got its foothold based on this misconstruing of Christ’s teaching. It is not for me to judge homosexuals, God will do that. Only He knows their hearts and souls. But God does not tell us to allow all bad influences into society and speak up for nothing. They have gained rights everywhere they had none before, all because of their “gay rights movement” over the past 30 some years, and yes I am much older than that, and can make the comparison through the generations where others may not be able to do so. If you lived my life prior to this agenda, you would see the difference.
Christ says to turn the other cheek also. So we belly up for everything now! That’s what He meant? No! Christ also said that if we deny Him in this life, He will deny us before His Father in Heaven. Deny God’s teachings on earth and stand up for nothing and see where it gets you.
Ron Paul seems like a good candidate in many regards. I don’t argue that point. He really stood out for me amongst the rest, that’s why I read up on him. However, as other blogs have mentioned here, I have serious reservations about someone who refuses to talk about his religious affiliations, and as a so-called conservative, has no real thoughts on his homosexual position. He states he’s a doctor and can make pro-life at conception statements, but as a doctor he can’t make a medical diagnosis on homosexuals? Or better yet, as a proclaimed Christian has no opinion on this topic? Just leave it to the Clinton phrase of “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” What’s that all about? I’m still dissecting his platform because I do like him in many regards, but not on these. I do realize no one is going to be the perfect candidate, however, in this day and age, these topics are serious and should hold a good amount of clout in the highest office of our land. It’s too bad the Presidential seat has been sullied up so much by the last set of idiots who held it and are holding it now. Now no one has respect for it. If Bill Clinton was able to get impeached for adultery, etc., yet still continue to hold office and sit out his term, then who has respect for this position anymore? Kids used to aspire to becoming President in my day, not anymore. And why should they with such deplorable examples? Ron Paul should step up to the mark and create the proper ethic. Not taking this stand makes him no better than the others. Period. You go the whole route, or don’t do it at all! There’s a bumper sticker that best sums this up: “DO SOMETHING…EITHER LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY!”……..That’s enough, if you don’t get it by now, what’s the use.
Today, everyone’s only worried about how much money they have for retirement, their bank accounts, their 2-3 brand new cars in the driveway, the couple vacations a year, a promotion forthcoming, healthcare, etal., yet no one talks about the opinion of God and what He tells us matters in this world. All the things that truly matter cannot be touched and are immaterial. If you trust in God and follow His Commandments, everything else falls into place.
You can never separate church and state, as you can never separate politics and religion. They are each one in the same. Faith is religion and faith is politics. You practice what you believe. One is just a simile for the other. Historically speaking, they have tried tirelessly to separate these areas to no avail. Keep beating your heads against the wall still won’t separate them. Realize that already….I’ve said enough on this. As Christ said, “This is the cup of My blood which is shed for MANY.” Not ALL, BUT MANY. Which means many will accept His teachings, not all will accept. I can see here who the many really are…..
Mark wrote:
For your information, sodomy was illegal for years and still is in some states until the advent of “gay rights”. Research state laws on that topic before you spout off. Furthermore, adultery was and still is illegal. It is a ground for divorce. Having worked in the legal system for years, I’ve seen judges dismiss that count in divorce decrees and substitute “irreconcilable differences” in its place. Just goes to show how much coverup is done by the court system itself….and the definition of adultery is sexual relations with someone a person IS NOT lawfully married to. Which is another reason why homosexuals want to change their ability to marry. And the beat goes on….
I think to continue a discussion regarding this will lead no where. You will never convince me, I will never convince you. I can only hope that you see beyond the present and small issues such as homosexuality and look at the bigger picture. To look at the larger issues that are in our near future.
*To be fair, I felt that I should add this disclaimer for the other viewers of this blog.
There are literally thousands of religions being practiced today. Here are 20 of the most popular, along with an estimate of the number of followers:
1. Christianity: 2.1 billion
2. Islam: 1.3 billion
3. Hinduism: 900 million
4. Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
5. Buddhism: 376 million
6. African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
7. Sikhism: 23 million
8. Juche: 19 million
9. Spiritism: 15 million
10. Judaism: 14 million
11. Baha’i: 7 million
12. Jainism: 4.2 million
13. Shinto: 4 million
14. Cao Dai: 4 million
15. Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
16. Tenrikyo: 2 million
17. Neo-Paganism: 1 million
18. Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
19. Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
20. Scientology: 500 thousand
It’s all how you approach it I guess. Lots of religions, lots of books, lots of people with lots of different views.
I will say, and to no disrespect, the “grasp” the group with your extreme views have had on this country and politics is slowly slipping away. You see it everyday. A small story here, a small story there. Every year that goes by and another place passes a law allowing for gay marriage, we hear less of an outcry. Every year when gay people grab one more right, you hear less and less about it.
No one objects to someone who holds a religious view and tries to become a better person or a better leader through it. But when you’re so blinded by such a small issue, you tend to lose sight of the bigger issues. That is why Ron Paul brings everyone together regardless of your religious views. He keeps his views to himself, unless asked he will freely tell you how he believes, but doesn’t use them as a platform.
Good luck in your search to find that ultimate Presidential candidate.
(btw, Clinton wasn’t impeached for adultery, he was impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice)
Herbert and Susan…
Life… not Light, sorry but…
..now you’re INTERPRETING Christ’s words of Matthew 7:1-5…???
You’re no longer arguing a point, but preaching your version of the Bible… which is fine - I guess… but I think I’ll stick with the Word.
Thanks anyway.
…and Genesis is bull crap in any case.
Feign wrote:
Not interpretation my friend, QUOTE VERBATUM….and if you will “stick with the Word” and call it bull crap, what is gained?
Happy Thanksgiving.
OK, you all… I’ve read much of your discussion about the homosexual problem. Well in this world we have many problems. Most of them never go away completely, but we have to manage them. If we manage them well, our problems subside, but they always try to make a comeback. I have a political theory that will manage most of our problems and disputes. In a word, it is the theory of mature responsibility. God gives each mature individual the privilege of choosing what to believe, what to think, who or what to value or worship, etc. If you want to go to Hell, that’s your God-given right. If you want to take others with you, then we have a problem. Mature Responsibility says if you injure me without my mature consent by what you choose, then you are responsible for my relief. The Ten Commandments contain laws of responsibility to God and to Others. Always remember the fact that no government in this pluralistic world can legislate and enforce laws that will make a man righteous in God’s eyes. Christians keep trying to create heaven-on-earth. It doesn’t work and it won’t work. It mostly just polarizes people in different camps and hurts both sides causes. Sorry, we can only manage our problems, not eliminate them. This is not heaven, it is earth. Yes, we must protect the immature–the children. Yes, the 1st Amendment did not confer the right to smut, pornography and horror in the public square. We do need a National Censure Board. Regarding homosexuality between consenting adults, this cannot be legislated against. It would be like forcing two individuals who use profanity in their private conversation to stop that! Now in the public square, a public responsibility is required. In private, all government can do is to protect the innocence of the child and the adolescent. In the public square, consenting homosexuals should be given some form of legal protection for their joint financial relationship. They may call it a marriage in its general definition. There should be no discrimination against consenting adults. The consentience should be a matter of public record, not a matter of hearsay or private opinion or “common law.” Then if there is any dispute or dissolution, legal facts and protections will be in place. Finally, regarding my political theory of mature responsibility, abortion is an absolute, pre-meditated 1st degree murder of an innocent child. In rare cases where the probability of the mother’s death is extremely high, only the mother should have the power to make the decision of her life or her baby’s.
The way some posters and others I have encountered seem to regard Ron Paul (or any other politician) is so ridiculous! These people are not searching for a great President, they are looking for a messiah! On the flip side, there are others who want an atheist to run and order all churches shut down, and all religion outlawed!
Ron Paul is for individual freedom. He understands the constitution better than all of the other candidates to the left and right. I for one, am a deist,and libertarian (now registered R), I completely support Ron, will vote for him, and see him as the ONLY candidate who is worthy of my vote
Poor, self absorbed heterosexuals, with all you rights (and aparantly God granted authority). You do not speak the truth. You do not speak for me. Should you, the majority, know more about my life and my relationship with God than I? Under what godly banner can you claim any moral superiority? Are you perfect in your sexuality, your morality? You claim homosexuality is a sin (and you cite the same references for millenia) yet I am still here, and I am as imperfect as you. Do you really want a nation under the laws of the king James Bible? Does that seperate you from any other theocracy on earth? Which laws of Leviticus will you employ? Or, as I suspect, you will only pay attention to those that cast me in the lake of fire and ignore the rest.
For me I rest comfortably in the knowledge that either we ALL parish or we ALL live. The choice, funny as it may seem, does not rest with God but rsts upon all our shoulders. hmm united we stand….
First, I think that we as Christians should be very careful about who we label as heretics. We should all recognize that as fallible humans, we are ALL going to be wrong many times in our lifetime. The big question is not what Dr. Paul believes about homosexuality, but what he believes the government’s role should be regarding all moral issues.
According to our Constitution (and I might add, the Biblical view of government) it is not the government’s right to involve itself in moral affairs.
Marriage is a religious institution, something that only the church should have sway over. At one time, getting married was under the sole authority of the church. The church allowed the government to take over, and because the church abdicated its authority, we are now in a position fighting to keep marriage holy. And yet, we still don’t get it! Rather than fighting to further the involvement of government in social/moral affairs, we should be fighting to get it out.
Dr. Paul believes that the government does not have that right, and as President would work to get our government out of lives. As Christians, we should be thanking God for sending a godly man who understands the limits and obligations of government. Rather than expanding government, and making more laws, the church and Christians should seek to change society by raising godly children and being the “salt” and light of the world that God calls us to be. Quit relying on government to do our jobs; quit relying on government to be the “god” of society.
I applaud Dr. Paul for his consistency in his beliefs. He is the only candidate that has a clue, and cares, about economic policy, foreign policy, the Constitution, government spending…and how all those things affect not only us, but our children, and our grandchildren. Dr. Paul is the only candidate who understands and promotes the vision our founding fathers had for this country. Dr. Paul IS a Christian. While I may not agree with him on every single issue, he is the best candidate on either side and deserves the Christian’s vote. He most definitely has mine.
Gods only kingdom wrote:
Amen to that…..If you are a true Christian….You will stand for the Word of God. Jesus didn’t compromise and we shouldn’t either. Paul said I’m not ashame of the gospel. Bottom line..In this world, if you Stand on truth and nothing but the truth…you won’t win in the eyes of the people..but we live for an audience of ONE
Ruth,
I read that Dr. Paul does NOT support passing a law making marriage between one man and one woman…..but anyway, in response to your post, I think he was dodging the question because it is not a black and white issue, as many Christians(and I am a Christian)have treated it. EVen if the Bible calls it a sin, it is such a personal and emotional subject. That perhaps is why Jesus never spoke of it once!! I think the Christian church has largely mishandled the issue, and hurt many people in the process, even in some cases hindering the Gospel message. We need to have more compassion and not be so quick to speak sometimes.
Thanks,
Gerri
Gerri, I must use scripture to show that the preceding comment is incorrect for two reasons:
1. If you follow this line of reasoning, many terrible sins could be justified, such as incest and the molesting of children. The point is Jesus should not need to mention every possible perversion because He has already shown all through scripture that these things are abominations.
2. Although without the context of the whole of scripture it appears that Jesus never spoke on the subject, Jesus most definitely did speak on the issue of homosexuality. In John chapter 10, verse 30 Jesus said, “I and my Father are one’. (JESUS IS GOD!) The law God gave through Moses very specifically tells us homosexuality, along with incest, adultery, and bestiality(mating with an animal) is an abomination. (Leviticus 18:22) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof,correction and instruction in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16)
Should something innate as sexuality be considered a sin?
I think we need to make a distinction between “homosexuality” and “homosexual behaviour.” Because this issue is so politically charged, people tend to be ruled by emotions and pseudo-science, rather than good data. A study of identicals twins revealed that twin brothers/sisters are not always of the same sexual orientation. This is absolute proof (truly - concrete and unquestionable proof) that homosexuality is not at all genetically predetermined (because twins have the same genetic code). It is also a very strong indicator that it is not heavily influenced by conditions in the womb (since twins share the same womb environment).
There is some evidence that homosexuality might be the result of a genetic “predisposition.” The difference between genetic predetermination and genetic predisposition, is that predetermination dictates an inevitable genetic result (like having blue eyes) - you are simply born that way; genetic predisposition means that various genetic factors make it more or less likely for you to develop certain characteristics (like, preferring reading to athletics).
There is really a conclusion amongst *unbiased* psychiatrists and mental health professionals, that homosexuality is the result of maldevelopment in childhood, exacerbated by (probably) genetically predisposed characteristics. For example, many male homosexuals have an enlarged “corpus callosum.” This is a part of the “reptilian brain” (that is, the brain stem and those parts of the brain attached directly to it) that coordinates functions between the brain’s hemispheres. This helps the brain to perform many simultaneous types of tasks at once, with greater efficiency. Incidentally, this is typical of female brains. Male brains tend to be very good at one or a few things; female brains tend to be moderately good at a wide variety of things. What men lack in breadth, they make up for in depth. What women lack in depth, they make up for in breadth.
When a male child is born with a more or less feminine brain, he is predisposed to be good at tasks, which alienate him from male peers and even from his father’s appreciation. Essentially, we are finding that homosexuality is the result of the sexualization of the need for affirmation from one’s own sex. When this need for affirmation is not met through friendships and (most importantly) the affection and love of the parents, the need for this affirmation becomes sexualized. Because the child fails to develop a firm sense of his or her masculinity/femininity, puberty brings an attraction to what the child feels he or she is lacking. If a child successfully establishes his or her own gender identity, they are then attracted to what they don’t have - the opposite sex.
Anyway, what all this means: homosexuals do not “choose” to experience their attractions. They are involuntary, and are the result of deep-seated psychological maldevelopments. Therefore, “homosexuality” is not a sin. And, really, “homosexuality” is a very new word. This year is the 100 year anniversary of the world. For all of the thousands of years before now, sexuality was viewed as more vague, especially for men.
The Bible nowhere says that “homosexuality” is a sin; rather, it says that homosexual behaviour, or “corrupters of themselves with men” is a sin. So, those who experience homosexual attraction deserve no condemnation for simply feeling the way they do. You can imagine how confused and scared they must feel. And, because they feel the attractions, it is very difficult for them to believe that they are wrong, when they seem so natural.
So, an heterosexual Christian who fools around with his girlfriend even though he knows he shouldn’t, is much more deeply in sin than a confused homosexual who acts upon his or her attractions on account of not knowing any better. In fact, when we Christians sin even in small things, we are much more to blame than the most promiscuous homosexuals who are simply acting out of their own confusion and ignorance. How should they know any better, especially in our society - where political correctness prevents good, reasonable thinking on this matter from being presented. Give them a break, and pray for them. Work in your own time - in Christian love and patience - to help the facts come to light. Be an example of the love of Christ, and of Christ’s own failure to judge anybody (except the religious elite, who should have known better), in the hopes that they will be drawn toward your reason and compassion of their own accord.
There’s no point in throwing stones.
I should also point out, to clarify good Christian thinking on this matter, two simple things.
First, to restrict our only understanding of Jesus’ message to the Gospels is foolish. The same men who wrote the Gospels were accepting of Paul’s message. The Gospel of Mark was written by St. Mark, who was converted by St. Peter (an author of two epistles in the New Testament). St. Luke was a disciple of St. Paul - author of the vast majority of the epistles. Jesus himself comissions the Apostles to be his representatives, and promises he will be with them “even unto the end of the world” in the Gospels. So, we have it on Jesus’ own authority in the Gospels that the men who wrote the New Testament are His representatives, and that He Himself is with them. Furthermore, if you read the Gospels closely, you will find that Jesus was not just a “lovey-dovey” figure devoid of all fire and brimstone. Jesus makes it very clear: God loves all mankind, and wants them all to be saved; I am here to help that happen and to prove that God Himself (Who I Am) is willing to forsake the glory of the Divinity and to experience pain, hunger and thirst with my creatures as a proof of my good faith and undying love.
But God does not throw anyone into Hell. THe book of Revelation tells us that, at the last Judgment the heavens and the earth attempt to flee from the presence of God as He sits upon the Great White Throne. “No place was found for them.” The Last Judgment is a moment, when every man and woman will be exposed to the unrestrained presence of God - for those who have prepared themselves, and been “conformed to Christ” (that is, have been made as like to God as is humanly possible), the unrestrained presence of God will be the greatest possible joy and bliss. For those who have, by their own free choices, grown hostile to God - for those who are opposed to everything that God is - this unrestrained presence cannot be experienced as anything but painful. This is hell. God does not throw us there; we fashion of ourselves our future experience. Jesus makes it very clear that the present time has been given us to repent and learn to love God. If we don’t take the offer, God cannot allow those who refuse to be happy, to continue postponing the final happiness of the rest of creation. God will one day have to usher in the age of blessedness. He can’t change the fact that some people simply refuse to be happy one way or another.
Christians are the most to blame, for other people not believing that God really does want to make them happy and free - they see our lives and judgmentalism and want nothing to do with us.
Lastly, it is really a stupid idea for Christians to appeal to the Old Testament laws as a basis for condemning homosexuality. First off, these are the very laws, from which Christ came to free us.
Second off, the Old Testament laws also forbid trimming your sideburns. They order that we tear our houses down if we find certain kinds of mold. Now we just buy 409.
The fact of the matter is, that while scripture is inspired and infallible, it has to be interpreted by an infallible Body if we are to understand it in an infallibly correct way. The Roman Catholic Church gave a bad name to “tradition” by breaking with tradition and setting upon its own. However, the undivided Christian Church of the first 1,000 years still continues today in the “Eastern” Orthodox Churches (you know, the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches, etc.) - Roman Catholicism broke away from them in the 11th century, and the Protestants broke away from Rome in the 15th and onwards.
So, the Christian Church has the wisdom, through the Spirit’s promise to the actual Body of Christ to “lead it into all Truth,” to understand the true intent of the Old Testament laws. Some of them (like the proscriptions against homosexuality) still stand - but not because they’re written in the Bible (because many other Biblical laws - like not trimming your sideburns, certainly don’t still stand). We know from scripture that “the Spirit of God is not double-minded.” The Holy Spirit does not preach different truths. Therefore, the Christian Church will, throughout the centuries, always agree on proper theology and practice. Protestantism, having fragmented into thousands of denominations and not at all agreeing with the apostolic teachings of the Christian faith, cannot claim to still be experiencing the same teaching of this Spirit, which is not “double minded” and therefore cannot be the source of new, Roman Catholic or Protestant teachings.
I say this, because Protestants are on shaky ground when they appeal to the Old Testament laws against homosexuality as a proof that it is wrong. If that’s the case, why do Protestants trim their sideburns? Why do they buy bleach to take care of mildew, rather than torch their houses? The Church, because She is the Body of Christ, is the real source of Truth, and is the only place where scripture is interpreted correctly. As St. Paul says in his epistle to the Thessalonians: “The Church is the Pillar and Bulwark of Truth.” The Bible is inspired, but you have to be an inspired reader to read it infallibly. Only the Church - not the structure and the clergy, but the whole Body through all time - has the authority to read it the right way.
So, anyway, stop citing Leviticus. You don’t follow %99 of the Old Testament laws, so you just make Christianity and Christians look ignorant!
So, what is it about homosexuality that offends you Christians so much? It doesn’t hurt you. If you don’t like it, just stay away from it. You are only made to look like a bully and a COMPLETE jack arse to open minded people. Lets get some facts straight, shall we?
1. Jesus wasn’t white. (just for you prejuiced jerks)
2. the bible was written by men thousands of years ago. We all know that men lie. Duh. And thousands of years ago it wasn’t any different. Take your “Men rule the World” bs and go live on a little island somewhere.
3. I am looking for an HONEST OPEN MINDED canidate to get my vote. Some one who will bring our military home, secure the borders, let gay people marry, (who are you to say whom someone else can marry?!?!) some one who is pro choice… I am pro life for myself, but believe that if a woman who gets pregnant cant mentally handle that child it is her choice. Adoption? You say… if forced to carry an unwanted baby many women will do drugs and use coat hangers to abort it themselves. Is that what you want? I don’t. I love kids…
I am still going to listen to what this guy has to say, despite your ignorant comments. If what he says is true to me despite the fact that I am both Pagan and bisexual, I will vote for him. I don’t hold someones religion or sexual preference against them unless they are a pedophile.
Blessings to you all, Happy Belated Yule
I’ll agree with the supposition that homosexuals are self identified through cultural prescription. That is, a “gay identity” is a politiacl creation, albeit a nessecary one in western culture. However; the attraction to any person, regardless of gender is not a social construct. I dare say it is not a product of a cerebral gender confusion. It is a variation within Homo sapian sapian, like as you say skin tone, eye color and the rest. It is a variation that is favored by natural selection (or sexual selection).
This is ridiculous. It does not matter what he thinks, it matters what the Constitution says and if he protects the liberties of individuals. Since when does the federal government deal with marriage? The fundamentalist hack was obviously trying to get him to go along with his social condemnation and RP slipped a bit in trying to answer him in a neutral way… being polite. He is a public official who has to serve ALL citizens not one over the other.
I can’t believe the ignorance presented as fact here.
“There is really a conclusion amongst *unbiased* psychiatrists and mental health professionals, that homosexuality is the result of maldevelopment in childhood, exacerbated by (probably) genetically predisposed characteristics.” -Gus, Dec. 25th
What exactly does Gus consider to be *unbiased?* Christian? I am a medical student with a graduate level background in counseling psychology and I can tell you that the consensus of the vast majority of physicians and mental health professionals is that the etiology of homosexuality is unexplained but probably multifactorial and not pathological. Regarding genetic predetermination, yes, that idea has been tweaked by people with a political agenda. However, many, many things are genetically influenced in the same sense as sexuality (for example, susceptibility to cancer or heart disease) and we take that genetic component very seriously. The bottom line is that sexuality is an area where the mind and body overlap, and as such is almost irreducibly complex. This is part of the reason physicians are trained to be nonjudgmental about it (and to those who said Dr. Paul’s attitude was incorrect for a physician, yes, we are trained to be this way: you, however, are judgmental and are not physicians- coincidence? I think not.)
Anyway, this whole issue of whether homosexuality or homosexual behavior is a sin is really irrelevant to a presidential race. There is a precedent of marriage being considered a state/local/religious issue; I think that is correct. Frankly, it’s either a religious institution, in which case religious communities should decide who gets married; or it’s a secular institution, in which case domestic partnerships should be open to everyone. We seem lately to keep ending up in this area of quasi-religious/quasi-legal, and that’s where we get in trouble. Imagine if Muslim values surrounding marriage were enforced by law? As they are in most Middle Eastern countries…get my point? This country’s founders were *brilliant* in avoiding any endorsement of any particular religion!
Wow, What a spectrum of responses here!
I was very happy to find Ron Paul’s reponses to his views on homosexualty. I was happy because I am not only a Ron Paul supporter, and agree with his views, but I am also a gay woman, and a believer in Jesus Christ. I completely agree with his statement that it goes beyond just saying it’s right or wrong. I can attest that this is completely true. I was involved in a conservative fundamental church, and even lead worship at that church, when I found myself in a relationship with another woman who was also in the church. As a result we were both kicked out of the church. And let me tell you that the church was less than biblical on their procedure of kicking us out. I believe Ron Paul was not skirting the issue, but was honestly speaking his heart. I am finding out that there are many christians out there that are finding themselves faced with this issue, and as with so many issues in the Bible, the answers aren’t nearly as clear cut as we would like.
well, just let me say, that i was also suprised with the response that was given by Ron Paul. I myself am a bisexual teenager from WA. I just have one question for all the contenders of the political race, Do you believe that homosexuality is honestly a problem? In recent studies, America is one of the only countries in the world that has an issue with sexuality, and if we are so concerned about the rest of the world, shouldn’t we start right here with our own issues? personally i want to know what this canidate will do to support everyone, believers in God, and the homosexual population. I was born like this and i believe that it is not a persons choice about what they are.
It is illigal in 29 out of 50 states to have a same sex relashionships, and i think it is rediculous that the goverment is running who we love now. the canidate who helps all and not just one or two groups of people will be the canidate i vote for, so look to the future and ask yourself what you can change for all, justice is what needs to happen.
sincerly,
cameron
GOD SAID HOMOSEXUALITY IS AN ABOMINATION, WHICH MEANS HE DETESTS IT. SADDAM AND GAMORA WAS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF HOMOSEXUALITY. WHAT DOES THAT TELL YA ABOUT HOW GOD FEELS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY.
GOD SAID HOMOSEXUALITY IS AN ABOMINATION, WHICH MEANS HE DETESTS IT. SADDAM AND GAMORA WAS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF HOMOSEXUALITY. WHAT DOES THAT TELL YA ABOUT HOW GOD FEELS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY.