Worse consequences? Can you elaborate?
Sure can... worse condequences as in possible diseases you can pick up... physical consequences of the body. Pretty simple, no?
It is not cut and dry. Nothing is cut and dry. PLEASE don't say that, because if you REALLY are going to stick to that and say that it is so just because it's in the Bible, then you ABSOLUTELY HAVE to believe this is perfectly fine too, because it's in the Bible. By your own argument, you HAVE to believe this.
You're right, not everything is cut and dry. When looking at the Bible you have to consider many things; the context, culture and what type of literary device is being used. The verses I provided span the old and new testament. There is no hidden meaning and it states it is an unatural act. You can interpret it how you like, but that is the meaning. PERIOD.
However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)
When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl's owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)
I am running out of time this morning, but that Bible never endorses slavery... slavery was a fact of life in the Old Testament. It existed before Israel was a nation and existed afterwards. Just as God does not approve of murder yet it is a reality, so he does not approve of slavery, yet it was a reality. Let's take a look at what God did to give slave as close to equal rights (keeping in mind it was a reality) shall we?
The Bible acknowledged the slave’s status as the property of the master (Ex. 21:23; Lev. 25:46),
The Bible restricted the master’s power over the slave. Ex. 21:20).
The slave was a member of the master’s household (Lev. 22:11)
The slave was required to rest on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10; Deut. 5:14)
The slave was required and to participate in religious observances (Gen. 17:13; Exodus 12:44; Lev. 22:11).
The Bible prohibited extradition of slaves and granted them asylum (Deut. 23:16-17).
The servitude of a Hebrew debt-slave was limited to six years (Ex. 21:2; Deut. 15:12).
When a slave was freed, he was to receive gifts that enabled him to survive
You MUST believe I should be put to death for having sex with a man.
This one is easy... different culture, different time. Stoning was used in the old testament as well... that does not mean I am to pick up something and stone you for sleeping with a prostitute (hypothetically of course). You are not reading things in their context.
You MUST believe that keeping slaves is fine.
See above examples... again, wrong context. Slavery was a reality and was in no way endorsed by God. In fact, God made laws to helps slaves.
You MUST believe it's perfectly acceptable to sell your own daughter as a slave, and that polygamy is fine.
If you are referring to King Solomon, it is clear he made many mistakes in his life. Look at the trouble King David had when having children with multiple wives. It is clear there were more complications in life with multiple wives than with one wife.
You MUST believe it's OK to beat your slave, as long as you don't kill the slave.
Again, see the verses I provided
You MUST believe if a man is caught raping a woman, he gives her father some money, then has to marry her and can't divorce.
I don't know this one off the top of my head, so it would be great if you could provide the verse... thanks.
You MUST believe that if a man has an affair with a married women, they should both be stoned to death.
Again, culture and time.
And there you have it. It's in the Bible. It's cut and dry. And the list goes on.
Don't put words in my mouth. I never said "The Bible is cut and dry." I did say the verses I provided were cut and dry. In fact, I emphasized that people take things out of context all the time.
You don't personally agree with homosexuality. That's fine. Would you vote against same sex marriage?[/QUOTE]
Good question. This is something I still struggle with. So in all honesty, I don't know what I would vote for. I see the merits from a government standpoint, but I also see it as possibly endorsing something I do not believe in the first place.