I'm a newbie named Amy, just lookin' for answers

[Amy Gower]

So I stumbled into this site while doing a search on the Bible and homosexuality, and so far I'm very happy with the kind of discussions that go on in this forum. The posts I have read seem honest and straightforward, and I appreciate that kind of intellectual intercourse.

I'm straight, married, have kids, grew up Lutheran but became very dissatisfied with religion as a teenager, and now, after about ten years away from any church, my family attends a Pentecostal church in the little Texas town we just moved to. I have nearly always had a firm belief in God, but my faith in religion is so-so at best. I think the "ban" on homosexuality and general prudishness is ignorant, the roles of women are, in many churches, undervalued or ignored, I'm skeptical of "speaking in tongues" (something new to me anyhow, coming from my highly conservative Lutheran upbringing), I want to know more about the formation of that Bible and the excluded books, and I want to understand better the nature of Jesus as well as the historical contexts in which the Bible was written. As a start anyway All in all, I am just really excited to dig into the discussions that are on this forum and hopefully be able to contribute in a meaningful way myself and learn some new points of view.

[keltic63]

welcome Amy! jump right in to the discussions.

you will find people of quite a variety of faith practices here, and even a few who practice no faith of any kind. the discussions are quite varied and passionate.

[Daniel]

I went to a Pentecostal college (Evangel). Like you, I've been interested in the books of the Apocrypha.

There are some threads here about speaking in tongues- I think I may have started them. However, to be succinct about it, I can tell you that being able to do it since my Pentecostal days, it's really not a big deal. Much is made of it certainly within Pentecostalism, which considers the phenomena real language. However, I have yet to find a honest-to-god translation anywhere. And the research on it is quite interesting, suggesting a pre-verbal state, the lower- rather than the higher - centers of the brain being involved. I'm not sure what this suggests!

Looking forward to talking about this and other things with you.

[Pablo Rafael]

Hi Amy,

Welcome from one former Lutheran to another. I grew up and worked in the Lutheran Church for many years (LCMS). I found it to be a denomination very much focused on the grace of God (its good point), but very much lacking in outreach, openness to new ideas, inclusion of minority groups and treatment of gays and women.(Even today women and gays are barred from leadership roles in the LCMS. The ELCA is much more inclusive.)

Now I find myself involved in the Episcopal and the Catholic churches. Both much better fits for me. (Especially Episcopal)

Please ask questions and start discussions on the topics you are interested in. I am always interested in discussing religious topics. Just from the little you have said in your introductory post I think you might be interested in The Good Book by Peter Gomes. He discusses the Bible, it's formation, interpretation and application. His writing style is lively and easy to read, not dry and stuffy as the topic might sound. Have you read The Good Book?

I am glad that you have joined us at our humble forums.
Please join in and make your voice heard.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[Daniel]

Amy- here's the thread I started:

http://www.soulforce.org/forums/show...eaking+tongues

You'll find other posters and links to investigate.

[Amy Gower]

Originally Posted by Daniel

I went to a Pentecostal college (Evangel). Like you, I've been interested in the books of the Apocrypha.

There are some threads here about speaking in tongues- I think I may have started them. However, to be succinct about it, I can tell you that being able to do it since my Pentecostal days, it's really not a big deal. Much is made of it certainly within Pentecostalism, which considers the phenomena real language. However, I have yet to find a honest-to-god translation anywhere. And the research on it is quite interesting, suggesting a pre-verbal state, the lower- rather than the higher - centers of the brain being involved. I'm not sure what this suggests!

Looking forward to talking about this and other things with you.

Thanks for the greetings, and the insight into tongues. I have my theories about the phenomena, but would rather read a few of those threads and get a little more insight BEFORE inserting my foot in my mouth. You also mentioned the Apocrypha....have you heard of the Pseudepigrapha? I had never heard of it until it was mentioned in a book I am reading about myth and legend (and let me just insert what a humbling experience THAT is, both finding my spiritual beliefs and well-known stories classified as "myth," as well as understanding that I cannot write off the stories and beliefs of others just because they sound odd or incredulous to me). My religious reading to-do list seems to get longer every year...

[bnmoore]

Originally Posted by Amy Gower

My religious reading to-do list seems to get longer every year...

Welcome!

And why wouldn't it? Most of them agree on an Infinite Mind of some sort. There are also a lot of common or parallel ideas. (rituals and window dressing aside.)

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Amy Gower

Thanks for the greetings, and the insight into tongues. I have my theories about the phenomena, but would rather read a few of those threads and get a little more insight BEFORE inserting my foot in my mouth. You also mentioned the Apocrypha....have you heard of the Pseudepigrapha? I had never heard of it until it was mentioned in a book I am reading about myth and legend (and let me just insert what a humbling experience THAT is, both finding my spiritual beliefs and well-known stories classified as "myth," as well as understanding that I cannot write off the stories and beliefs of others just because they sound odd or incredulous to me). My religious reading to-do list seems to get longer every year...

Hadn't heard the word Pseudepigrapha before you mentioned it. Thank you. I love learning something new, especially a new word.

I would agree: just because something is outside our worldview doesn't mean it doesn't have relevance, meaning and intrinsic value.

[Gennee]

Welcome to the forums, Amy. I read your intro with rapt interest. A friend of mine wrote a series on What the Bible says about homosexuality. It is located at www.epistle.us if you wish to view it. Scroll down to authors, click and go to Bruce Gerig. he has done a wonderful jb researchig this subject.

Gennee