@ Nicholas Harrell : Exactly! Thank you! One of the requirements for a scriptural baptism is already having salvation. Baptism is how you show that you've been saved.

@ Nicholas Harrell : Catholicism teaches the NEED for baptism to be saved .

@ Guest : There comes a time in life when everyone of us sees darkness all around and there is no light that could guide us or give us hope. In such a situation we tend to get desperate and in this desperation undertake actions that we regret. In this regard, the best source of enlightenment that a Muslim has available is Quran. A Muslim must turn towards Quran as a source of enlightenment as Allah Almighty mentions in Quran: “There has come to you enlightenment from your Lord. So whoever will see does so for (the benefit of) his soul, and whoever is blind (does harm) against it. And (say), “I am not a guardian over you.”” (6:104)

@ Nicholas Harrell : yes christian stricly follow bible...and catholics they just read and they dont follow acctully...we should follow bible..why bcoz jesus said if you will follow my word and commandments i wil set free and i will give you eternal life...yes...we should not follow traditions, ruls,regulations, systems ,festivals,unwanted man made doctrine...we should not..god will funish...you have book,bible read truth is inside...ok...specially idols,statues worship is big sin...jesus never teach us to worship any idiols

@ ana : God loves all, but that does not mean he agrees with homosexuality. He loves even when we are sinners! :>)

@ Helena : so we dont know if its a sin?

@ Alexa : It's a sin. I shall not judge one. This is Satan's work. He is working his way throughout the world. Many people struggle with the faith in god, including us Catholic's and I deeply disagree with the new law "allowing" there to be homosexuals. We obey God and the law. BUT the law WILL NOT persuade me on agreeing with homosexuality! It shouldn't be a law if we truly believe in our faith! Many of us might be thinking, "I believe god, and I think we should have gay rites." But you shouldn't! God purposely said in the bible NO MEN SHOULD SLEEP WITH ANOTHER MAN. For so many reasons only God knows, and I know there's a reason so I will listen to what he said. Us children of God are capable to live life and follow the ten commandments. Many of us break these rules, like disobeying our mother and father, but homosexuality is far away from anything god allows. He gave us these commandments to make us stronger believers in our Christianity. Helena, if you still have trouble understanding this topic, I greatly recommend you read the holy bible. :)

@ ana : God does love all. But the pope is just a mere man. It amazes me how catholicism can stretch one mere controversial verse in the bible (where Jesus esteems Peter as a leader) and creates an entire doctrine out of it that the scripture does not say. Yes, any serious bible scholar knows homosexuality is a sin. But sin does not deny us access to the kingdom. Not accepting God's precious gift of Himself is the only thing that does that. Wake up folks.

@ Mark : This comment made my day haha, I have a fried who is an extremely devout Catholic. I just think it is funny how one person reads that sentence and a whole religion is based out of it. Oh humans, what are we good for if we can't even agree on what Peter was? Haha.

@ Mark : Sin most definitely will deny anyone the gift of eternal life with GOD' why does God say to follow the narrow path that leads to life by a life of prayer and following the ten commandments and receiving him at the altar if everyone is gonna get in anyway in the end' that logic is idiotic in the extreme .We must struggle against the body and the world to save ourselves' God says narrow is the path and straight the way that leads to life and few are they who find it' while wide is the path and easy the way to perdition and great are the number who find it .If everyone is going to heaven why so many warnings by the virgin mary about hell and the multitude who will go there .

@ Guest : @ Guest : Um, actually, shouldn't love maybe come before faith, in certain ways? Plus, in the bible, David and Jonathan were a homosexual couple, so if you could explain that, that would be nice. The Bible also states that Divorce is a sin, and that you can get stoned for it, while it doesn't explain the punishment for homosexuality, so why isn't anyone talking about that? Why do we support divorce, but not gays? So, how about you read the Bible again, read it correctly, deal with the new law, and spell "rights" correctly?

@ Mark : The only thing that can not be forgiven by GOD is offending The Holy Spirit. God is merciful and forgives even when we have cursed him, but go against The Holy Spirit and you have a problem.

@ Mark : To be forgivin of any sin. One must repent of that sin and try not to commit that sin again. Jesus told the adulterous woman at the well. Go and sin no more.

@ Guest : silly silly silly. God never defined homosexuality as being a greater sin than disobeying our parents. It is just as bad as that. To have the belief that one sin in God's eyes is more evil than another is a sin in itself, because you aren't believing in salvation for our sins. In God's eyes ALL sin is bad and equal, but JESUS died on the cross to forgive our sins. We are ALL sinners, whatever our sin is, doesn't matter. It's sin. But everyday christians aren't going to shape their life around NOT sinning, they shape it around living as close to a sinless life as we can. They are going to shape their life around love, and worshipping Jesus, not shape their life around being completely sinless. It's impossible for man not to sin. Therefore it is impossible for man not to partake in sin. And God never defined being homosexual as a sin, he defined homosexual relations as a sin. So a man or woman can happily be homosexual and not ACT on it and therefore NOT sin in homosexuality. And GOD LOVES EVERYONE EVEN SINNERS. In fact YOUR a sinner, I AM a sinner, your mom, your dad! ALL OF US ARE SINNERS. If a GOD BELIEVING, GRACE LOVING, JESUS LOVING, homosexual acts on their sexuality, it may be a sin, but it WILL be forgiven. Just as you sleeping with your significant other before marriage will be, or you yelling at your mom, or cussing. Are you going to stop all of those things JUST because it's a sin? Nope. Because mistakes happen. Moral of the story: All sins are equal in Jesus's eyes. Your sin is no greater and NO LESS than that of a homosexual. If you still don't understand this, I'd recommend you read the holy bible, and find the EXACT passage at which God describes homosexual relations as a "greater sin" than that of disobeying etc. We are human. We break the rules. It does not make it 100% right. But God loves and accepts us no matter what. He forgives our sins the minute we accept him into our hearts.

@ Elora : PREACH.

@ Jeremy : Do you even know the adulterous woman's name? It was Mary Magdalene. He told her that she was forgiven because she asked for him to save her soul. But she still could have partook in that sin again, and he would have known. But he STILL forgives her. Because he is in her soul. She accepted him into her heart, therefore repenting all sin and trying her best not to fall victim to it, but Mary was HUMAN, therefore she will always sin.

@ Phoenix : Wrong. Of course God loves us all. We are all sinners. No sin is worse than any other sin. It is repenting, asking for His forgiveness, stopping "that" sin (the one we are repenting for), and accepting Jesus Christ as Savior that God accepts. With your analogy a murderer can murder because "God loves everyone and that too means murderers...and if you were a murderer then[sic] that obviously means God accepts murdering..."

@ Phoenix : @phoenix as per yr thoughts Pope believes that God loves everyone. Does that also means that God loves Taliban (the most biggest terrorist of mankind). If God loves everyone than no one should be killed. God created Male & Female and with these 2 a new humanbeing can be get a life. Homosexual people cannot do that which means this is against God's will. He sent us free in this world and this is our chance to find & choose the right path as per God's teaching. Homosexualty is a sin and if you read the depth of all the religion and messengers God sent you will find that there was Prophit Huod who's people become homosexual and God destroyed them completely.

@ Phoenix : Adam was created perfect but choose to sin, and thus became a sinner. He then passed that sinful flesh down to his descendants. So now we are all sinners not by choice but by genetics. (Romans 5: 12) Our imperfect flesh makes us prone to wrong desires. Such desires include, greed, theft, lying, murder, heterosexual fornication, homosexual fornication, and many more. Having any such wrong desire is not in and of it self a sin against God, provided that we don't dwell on and harbor that wrong desire, for we must hate what is bad. (Psalm 97: 10) Acting upon any wrong desire by actually committing a theft, lie, murder, or fornication of any kind is always a sin. And practicing such sins repeatedly makes you unworthy of life in Gods eyes. (1 Corinthians 6: 9,10) In short: A man might like other men, and God will sympathies with his imperfection. However a man having sex with other men is a choice and a sin against God. Each one of us has the same choice Adam did. Don't eat the forbidden fruit!!!

@ Brynda : You aren't born a murderer.

@ Phoenix : Don't twist the Pope words. God loves everyone even gay men. He just hates the sin and the spirit which makes them do that kind of sin.

@ Kevin : God is the Spirit, He doesn't hate himself. Stop trying to justify the sin. We love the sinner and hate the sin. The bible is very specific in homosexual activity being a sin.

@ Phoenix : We are all born sinners and every sin is equal. We have the choice if we want to sin or not and homosexuality is a sin. Saying that God is not preventing it does not make it ok and your blaming him for your sins. Its like saying, " I killed 20 people but God hasnt prevented me from killing so that gives me a right". God teaches to love everyone, gay or not, treat everyone one with respect and be kind. HATE THE SIN NOT THE SINNER.

@ Phoenix : Certainly fine to believe that. But it is not Biblical.

@ Phoenix : Have you ever read Romans 1:18-32? It says many descriptive words about what God thinks of homosexuals. I don't really want to say them because people might get offended, but go ahead and read the scripture itself. He says that they are God-haters, slanders.... and many other not-so-wonderful words. It is true that God loves all, even those that reject him, but it is our choice to sin.

@ Aaliyah : That is true. No matter who you are or what horrific thing you have done God still loves you. He doesn't want ANYBODY to go to Hell. He doesn't hate the sinner he HATES THE SIN. Murders can get to heaven if they believe that Jesus died on the cross for us, was raised from the dead and repent their sins. But when you repent your sins you must be sincere. God knows your heart and knows when you really mean you are sorry for what you have done.

@ Phoenix : Are you saying that by God not preventing Homosexuality that he approves of it? If you following that thinking than by God not preventing murder, rape, slavery, sodomy, lust, thievery, war, disease, pedophilia or adultery that he approves of it? That it shouldn't be condemned, but it should be condoned? God Is a positive force in the world, he gave us his word as a moral blueprint in our earthly life. Satan's power rules over the immorality of a weak minded people & deceives us to discard Gods word so he can seperate us from God. God is love, be he is not mocked. Homosexuality is a sin in Gods eyes & a mockery of his word. There isn't a religion or Bible in the world that condones Homosexual marriage. Marriage is a religious rite (not a right). A Church's leader can marry people of the same sex, but by doing so, they make a mockery of God & his commandments at he peril of the congregation that follows it. It has nothing to do with bigotry, but the teaching of God's word. Mortal's can pervert & twist Gods word, but it is still a perversion, which is an act of Satan.

@ Nicole : No, you choose to be one. God also gave us "Free will" to choose our path on this earth. Homosexuality is a choice, not a birthright. Some people are cruel by nature. It is only by being cruel that makes the act immortal. If we all act on our impulses than any kind of debauchery could be justified. By proving to God that we can't be tempted by the deceiver, than we show him that we are deserving of his Kingdom. The closer we get to the "Rapture" the harder Satan works to separate us from God.

@ Kevin : It's not the sin, we are all sinners, it's the continuation (repentant or not) of the sin that's an abomination in God's eyes.

@ Phoenix : Wrong' God did not make anyone homosexual and he definitely does not accept it as you can read many passages in the bible particularly LEVITICUS 20. 13 God does indeed love us all but he gave us free will to love and follow him 'he gives all the choice to follow him or turn away by a life of sin and will honor that choice even when it means the sinner will end up in hell for their disobedience .We throw ourselves in hell by our actions and decisions we make' NO ONE GENUINELY WANTING TO GO TO HEAVEN WILL EVER GO TO HELL ' it's a choice we are given and only we can make it for ourselves.

@ Megatron : nicely said ' thankyou.

@ TOM WOLAK : Well said, but our lives were written long before we were ever conceived. Here's a thought for you concerning Jesus. "A cross of wood on his back, a crown of thorns on his head, and You on his mind" what a thought, that he was thinking of You while he was dying.

@ Kevin : Sorry but it's not the spirit but instead the flesh, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, as long as we live in the flesh we give in to temptations. I don't care what you do you are still my brothers and sisters.

@ TOM WOLAK : Explain why 70% priests are gay then. Saying somthing is true just because it is written, we all know no history books are correct and just an imagined representation of what really happened, the only way you can insist it is right is if you were there expierencing it yourself!

@ Nicole : amen! preach! Hallelujah! Yes!

@ Mark : “(Who say), “Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.” (3:8) Quran

@ Mark : “(Who say), “Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower.” (3:8) Quran Finding the guidance and truth is something, which a believer should strive for, however, when one, reaches the Truth, then the journey does not end, rather from that point onward a person needs to pray to Allah for steadfastness on the truth. A believer must ask Allah for steadfastness on the path of righteousness as the temptations are many and it is very hard to resist them without the help of Allah. Ergo, whenever a believer thinks that the temptations are increasing and there is a need for inspiration to resist them, he or she should turn towards Allah and seek steadfastness.

@ larry : @larry, dogs can't/don't read. Therefore, the sin of homosexuality is not for dogs, cats, cows, lizards, etc. it is for humans.

@ larry : That is awful, I find religion such an unbelievable contradiction on so many levels a little education completely blows the 'fantasy' of God, heaven, hell creation. Logic should be applied... just a little... so many suffer at the hands of 'religion'

@ lucy : I find the fact that we rely on our own education contradicting. The fact that one would think that there is nothing bigger than themselves is simply heart breaking. Education is taught by man, not by God. Jesus died for you, I hope you learn the good news soon!

@ lucy : We've seen what happens when men make themselves Gods. The Roman Empire, Lennon, Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot, the Castro's any many others that were/are atheists. They also believed in educating themselves, but without a moral compass that the Bible teaches their people suffer. At one time the Roman Catholic Church burnt heretics at the stake, but they weren't following God's law, they twisted God's law for mans evil purpose. Evil is alive & well in the world, it always has been. The deceiver is a master of deception & people are easily deceived. If the world simply followed the 10 Commandments, the world would be a much better place.

@ lucy : Spoken as a true non believer. Remember those who wrote the Bible did not all die at the same time, I mean seriously.

@ Steven : If gay people are going to Hell as sinners...and I'm gay...wow...that must be a terrible after-life...filled with MORE PEOPLE EXACTLY LIKE ME WHO ARE EQUALLY FABULOUS

@ I Speak Truth : There is no IF. That would be a terrible after life. I'm glad you think you are fabulous but after we die it doesn't matter how fabulous you think you were.

@ I Speak Truth : Yep damn right that's gonna be a terrible afterlife, it's true there is a reason for rules in the book, and to believe you have to follow all of them, not pick and choose.

@ I Speak Truth : Can I join you?! I'd rather go to Hell surrounded by open-minded FABULOUS people than with judgemental, self-entitled creeps..... ;)

@ VtabJmarb0814 : Hell is no place to be

@ I Speak Truth : Well, no you don't have to go to hell. Homosexuality is a sin and the Bible says sinners are supposed to go to hell but Jesus died for our sins so that we don't have to go to hell. I'm sorry if you feel like some of the people on these comments resent you, we are supposed to love our neighbor and homosexuality is a sin, but so is divorce and loads of other things yet nobody hates people who have divorced like some people hate gays, so I'm sorry for that but i do ask that you consider the Bible and consider your son and consider repenting and running to Jesus and I know it may not seem like a sin, I I've been in sin and it didn't feel all that wrong but I turned from it and started reading my Bible and it really felt like a great weight was lifted. I Thank you for listening and may god bless you

@ John : “….So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.” (53:32) Quran

@ Jeremy : Are you serious? So where do you go when you get sick? Do you just pray about it and POOF! God heals you? Pretty sure God has better things to don than you heal you every time you get a cold or the flu....

@ VtabJmarb0814 : In a way, I agree with Jeremy. We should be living for the Lord and not be worrying over trivial things. We are supposed to trust in the Lord and be like little children in our faith, right? Is not everything in God's plan? Even us getting sick? The Lord will use illnesses to teach us things whether it be humility, how to trust in Him to get us through it, or something else. Why do you think that when humans find a cure for a disease, another and unknown disease pops up? Because God uses them.

@ VtabJmarb0814 : “And when I am ill, it is He who cures me.” (26:80) QURAN

@ VtabJmarb0814 : “And when I am ill, it is He who cures me.” (26:80) QURAN A Muslim must undoubtedly use medication as a means of cure, however, as far as the source of the cure is concerned a Muslim must associate its provision with Allah Almighty and ask Him for cure only.

@ I Speak Truth : I understand but does the bible directly say you can or cant, because if it did then why not stick to his word. Yes he forgives ALL but wouldn't it still count as a sin, even if it is a sin then just follow that, if you don't its a sin ,but remember god forgives.. sorry this is confusing but i don't understand the whole fuss

@ I Speak Truth : So, since it is 2015 we should say wrong is right? That a sin that is an Abomination in the Bible isn't a sin just because of the year we are in? Sad. Yes, Jesus accepted people for who they were/are, He taught us to love the sinner hate the sin. That's speaking the truth! And BTW, the way you ended your piece is vile.

@ I Speak Truth : Nobody is saying that you shouldn't sit, eat or interact with homosexuals, you can!!! because it's the act that's hated not the person.

@ I Speak Truth : AMEN! ;)

@ I Speak Truth : I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one, homosexuality is definitely a sin and the Bible says that multiple times in the new and Old Testament. However you are correct that Jesus did and we ought to love everyone, and I will definitely eat bread with you someday if you want I don't hate you or reject you but I would question your alignment with god's word if you are so openly proud of your sin. Please read the Bible for yourself to see that it is a sin

@ I Speak Truth : Mary Magdalene was a prostitute when she started to follow Jesus, she repeated for her sin & Jesus forgave her & told her to "Go and sin no more". He did seek out people who were sinners, but to convert them, not condone what what they were doing. Jesus loves you, but if you choose not to follow him in his teachings you cannot be saved. That would be a shame, for everyone has a choice, but it's up to you to take the salvation that Christ offers. It is not given, it is offered, it's up to you to except it. Go forth and sin no more.

@ Erin : The TRUTH in the matter is ALL PEOPLE suffer from different forms of LUST. Lust is a Sin, Yes But, Some have Natural Lust such as a "Man Lusting for a Woman or a Woman Lusting for a Man" Then there are Other types of Lust, what some would call UNnatural &or Evil Lusts. such as "Man Lusting for Man or Woman Lusting for Woman, There are also other types of UNnatural Lusts people Suffer from. such as Grown Adults Lusting for Children, There are even people who Lust for Animals. The Fact is People do Suffer from evil forms of Lust,&No they Dont choose to suffer from those Lusts, but weather one would like to admit it or not anything other then the Natual lust is Evil, &Should be Fought by the person suffering from the UNnatural lust, Some in this This Sick Evil Generation Encourage Gays ect, to just Accept that they are gay & live their life that way, to Bow down to that Demon . But bottom line is, God would Not have given Anyone an UNnatural Lust is he knew they couldnt win the battle. Proof of that is the Fact that their Are people out there Do suffer from UNnatural lust but Fight it enough to live God Pleasing Good Normal everyday lives. &Keep in mind Natual lust is referred to as Sin but it was Not an Abomination to God Punishable by Death.

@ Guy : Well explained: )

@ Erin : Homosexuality is a sin

@ Guy : Everyone creates their own perspective through the Bible, correct? Humans, all of whom are imperfect, should quit attempting to tell others what is right and wrong. Because, guess what, none of us thoroughly understand everything. I believe in love; the love that Jesus taught by and gave to every individual regardless of their sins. Now, Jesus gave us salvation, not the right to judge others. Jesus is a part of each and every one of us, and when we act by love, instead of by hate, we are doing God's work. When you have a personal relationship with Jesus, you know in your heart what is right and what is wrong.

@ Erin : God made Eve for Adam not Steve for Adam. Yes I agree with you that homosexuality is not a choice. Yet it is said in the Bible that Homosexuality is a sin. I cannot give a particular reason(spiritually) why people with these disorders are being born in an unnatural way. this is not the way god created human. But I strongly believe that those sins which are done by their ancestors unwashed in blood of Jesus Christ may lead to certain disorders like this homosexuality problem and also buy the unnatural lusts human developed over centuries and we all knew that humans always try new.Those lusts and interests are carried over to next generations.If they read Bible clearly and accept that they have some problem with them and take the problems to the prayer really with their hearts it's not a big deal for Jesus to turn them into normal human beings. Mr Erin Christians hate homosexuality not homosexuals.Personally I do not hate Homosexuals and instead I feel sad for them. Do not cling to the feelings of humans or anybody. You have a choice of praying to God of Truth. He will reveal truth and way to you. Do not loose hope. Erin, People do not CHOOSE to be gay Neither Bible ENCOURAGE one to be gay. It is upto them who they wanna be, Followers of Christ (or) people who look unto their personal requirements (gayship) and blame Bible and birth. God loves you Unconditionally and that is why truth is before you and yet you have a chance to change and ask God for help so that he can pull you out of that situation and make you straight. Nobody is judging a gay. The judgement has already been given in the Bible about the fate of people who want to remain Gay all their life. Christians are warning Gays not to continue and marry another person of same gender because it is against the arrangement of God. It is for them gays to testify why they are running after the same gender to satisfy their lusts. God can deliver you from this sickness and bless you with a happy family. But who is gonna ready to accept this? It is hard to find a few. Christian people are warning because they care for you and the society and whole humanity and this is not a judgement.this is love that you are experiencing through God by people who stand for way of Jesus. Do not misunderstand and create chaos. Try to think and act. Do not run with the flock. Try to experience God with all your heart and he changes your mindset. Thanks.

@ Erin : What people don't seem to understand, is the fact that when people call homosexuality a sin, it is a a broad term that shouldn't be using. Those who do should be gagged and enrolled in a class to be reprogrammed. The sin is Sodomy. That is what most people mean when they make that broad statement. The problem these days is that people don't think. Sodomy can be committed between a man and a woman also. They all assume, which is understandable in a way, that it happens all the time when gay are intimately involved.

@ Erin : After reading your post I find some contradictions. When speaking of Homosexuals you say that God "will absolve you from your sin if you look for him deep in your heart". You're right, God loves us all, but God is not mocked! Through his word we are taught he forgives the repentent sinner, but a person that lives in sin is not a repentent sinner, because they live in the sin. In your statement you agree that Homosexuality is a sin. If as you say you commit adultery, dishonor your Mother & father, give false testimony, covet they neighbors wife or commit murder he will forgive the truly repentent sinner, but if that sinner continue living in his sin they're not repentent & they anger God. The Church may change their view on Homosexuality, but they do so at their own peril, for a Church that preaches that Homosexuality is not a sin mocks God. A congregation that follows those preachings also mocks God. It is written that your God is a jealous God & that you should not worship false idols. Homosexuality is a false idol, it has become worshiped both in word, thought & deed. It is a lustful act that is against God's word. I don't hate people who practice Homosexuality, I'm just concerned for them. I don't judge them unless they try to force Churches to go against their doctrine & marry them against the teaching of God's word.

@ Guy : jasmin... sure gay can have choose...just dont keep on sinning...there are choises always the question is are you really willing ?! sure God loves all ..but dont bend the words..dont twist the bible..please come on dont do it..it is loud and clear...so easy..so open...there are facts...stop being naive..stop being following false friends....it is a sin and if you are ok with this sin..and still choose to not obey God so that is is your famous mumbo jumbo word CHOSE....? REST MY CASE..

@ Erin : If homosexuality is not a sin then explain this remark by jesus before he died ' NO FORNICATOR OR ADULTERER WILL EVER SET FOOT IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD ' obviously engaging in illicit sex with a man or woman is surely fornicating and when two men or women engage in sexual relations with each other that surely is fornicating so how can you say it is not a sin' you are more like 50 percent catholic as you only believe what you want to believe much like all the offshoots of the one true church .