Thanks, Amazed. I will definitely read those threads. Still going through the Paul one.

I stumbled on thread about God's name:

Thread: GOD IS NOT HIS NAME

One of the posters links a discussion by Rabbis in which they define the word "stranger" used often in Leviticus. Someone argues that ALL the Mosaic laws were given specifically to the children of Israel and that we are therefore, as Gentiles, not expected to adhere to them. Strangers are defined as non-Jews who convert voluntarily, and not Gentiles. And truly, God does address the Children of Israel. This makes sense when you consider that Christians eat pork, or aren't prohibited from doing so. It makes sense when you realize that we don't follow the Kosher laws, or circumcise our boys at 6 days old. Christians practically ignore most of the laws laid down in Leviticus. Scavengers of the bottom of the sea = shellfish. We eat shrimp, prawns, lobster and crab.

Why is this interesting? What has it got to do with homosexuality?

Firstly, Jesus said He did not come to change the law. But who was He talking to exactly? The Pharisees and his followers, Jews. As such, this means that homosexuality laws in the OT are specific to Jews. This statement by Jesus doesn't change the target audience - the children of Israel.

So if one ignores OT laws on homosexuality, this leaves us with only Paul. Paul was addressing Gentiles in his letters but from what standpoint? In other words, what was Paul referencing if not the existing laws in Leviticus and other OT books? Paul sets out to provide a practical basis upon which Christians can live their lives. He "explains" what Jesus meant. But he had to reference the old laws for he had nothing else to base Jesus' teachings on.

If modern day Rabbis are of the opinion that those very laws were specifically for Jewish people, then Paul basically exported what he wanted (or what made sense to him) from the Torah. After all, as a Pharisee, Paul was seriously educated in Jewish Doctrine. But these "strangers" Paul addressed were not converts of Judaism!!! They never voluntarily converted!!! Therefore they were not, are not and shall never be subject to Mosaic Law. (By the way, when Moses took the Jews out of Egypt, many non-Jews went with them. Those strangers had to voluntarily convert and then follow the law eg. Passover rituals precisely for them to become Jews. It was those "strangers" God kept referring to and explains how they come under the law in the OT.)

So what did Jesus say on the matter of homosexuality? Nothing, if it is true that we, Gentiles, do not fall under the law as Jews do. (I need to explore this further of course. And I would welcome any counter arguments). Paul's teachings on this issue, while still valid for the Jew, are being taken out of context. The more I read about Paul, the more I'm beginning to see him as a real person who in a bid to spread the good news may have been over enthusiastic and flawed. Just like modern day evangelists, it is quite possible and even probable that Paul interpreted things in own way and therefore is not to be taken as wholesale truth. Unlike Peter and the other disciples who actually quoted Jesus' own words, Paul never spoke or met the man. Simply stating that he had visions cannot qualify Paul, especially when some of what he says isn't in line with Jesus' own teachings.

Note: I tried to discuss this with a friend yesterday. She told me that when we study the Bible we will find lots of loopholes. But then she seemed to suggest not studying these things too much. So thanks for the encouragement. It is rare to find people who actually question what they are being taught and who don't feel farther from God because of this. And yes, it is the Bible that I'm questioning, our traditional interpretation that makes me uncomfortable, not the existence of God.