BCITORGB wrote:
Tink asks for comment on:
=============
"Groups of Christians still battle each other today to promote the
rights or even the salvation of one group over against another.
Gender
or sexual orientation rather than faith in Jesus Christ has come to
determine the believer's status within a congregation.
==============

Tink, I read over those links and found them mildly interesting. I
found them somewhat lacking in credibility insofar as the author
thinks
that "W" and his cabinet are not "Christian" enough. Nonetheless, I
found some of his general thesis plausible: that too many of these
groups are lead around by the nose. For example, the citation you
give
above illustrates the point. I'm thinking (but who am I?) that with
all
the crap happening around the globe, your god has better things to
worry about that a couple of guys (gals) holding hands.

frtzw906

I realize that the links may lack credibility from your perspective,
though I included them to show that all is not smooth sailing in the
religious conservative camp. The news media oftentimes talks about the
conservative Christian agenda as a monolithic structure,
unquestioningly endorsing the political right. Fact is it is not
monolithic, and it is definitely fractured, if not coming apart at the
seams. This may be a dirty little secret that the political right does
not want to be made known for some strange reason.

There are essentials, and non-essential elements of the Christian
Faith, so much of the cat-fightin' is over non-essentials. Usually to
the ignoring and being ignorant of the essentials. The essentials in
our Christian Life being Faith, Love, and Joy. You are correct, I did
not see anything in that list about who's holding whose hand. That may
explain the lack of the Big Three in supposed Christian's lives.

I like to check out the faces of the audiences of the TV religious
programs. Usually you find dour faces, which convinces me that I don't
need whatever the preacher is "selling", and I would rather be out
paddling! TnT