What IS good, and how do we determine it?

[Catholic_Lady]

Well, *WE* don't condemn anybody, first of all. 

I shouldn't give examples because we have no way of knowing a person's heart and so we have no way of knowing who went to Hell. But for argument's sake, let's take Hitler. I may be completely wrong, and cannot say for sure, but he was probably someone who rejected love and goodness. Look at the things he did and the way he lived his life... his actions are completely devoid of love and goodness. His actions seem to show that he rejected those ideals.  

And yes, it i chosen. By choosing to reject those things, you put yourself in the only place where those things do not exist. And like I said. It isn't any sort of physical pain and suffering. It's just a place where love/goodness is not present. That is what makes it a bad place, but if you hate love/goodness then it makes sense for you to be in a place where it is not present.

The bible describes it as a place of fire and torment, not lack of goodness

It also was described as a place where God (who IS love and goodness) is not present. Describing Hell like a 3 dymensional place under the earth with fire and darkness is the same as describing the story of Adam and Even and the garden of Eden. It's just an easy way to describe what it is to the people of the times, but there is definitely symbolism involved.

Hitler loved his dogs. And he considered what he was doing to be good.

Like I said, I may very well be wrong about Hitler. There is no way of knowing for sure.

I don't think you can show me one person on earth who doesn't want love and acts according to what is not right.....so....nobody goes to hell?

If you just want people to love you, but you bring hatred and misery to people in return, then you are just acting on selfishness, not on love.

You are correct, but you have to understand that the Christian defenition of the sin of lust is not simply arousal. Arousal can be involuntary and thus cannot be immoral in and of itself. Lust is when you make the conscious decision to dehumanize someone into an object of gratification for yourself. Doing this requires some active thought and choice. 

So....it only takes redefining a few words to make it all work, huh? Again, nowhere can you find this distinction in the scripture and that is your own addition, based on what you already decided is moral

The origins of the word lust is biblical, so perhaps it was not Christianity that redefined it, but society. And like I said, this is Catholic teaching. Not something I decided on my own.

Do I believe homosexuality is immoral? No. Homosexuality is not freely chosen. People don't *choose* to be attracted to people of the same sex any more than they choose to be attracted to people of the opposite sex. And since attraction is not voluntary, it cannot be immoral in and of itself.

How refreshing!

This is what Catholicism teaches, and it is also what I believe most Christians think.

I DO, however, believe that any sexual activity outside the context of a husband and wife is immoral. This applies to people who are attracted to the opposite sex as well as those who are attracted to the same sex.

Sigh....and you were doing so well, coming across as such an honest person. But no. Only more bigotry masquerading as open mindedness. Of course.

Being gay isn't wrong.....you just can't ever act on the impulse that is a part of who you are and your human nature! See how accepting catholics are?

I'm sorry, but there is no mild way to put it, nor should there be: that is revolting. It's the cause of sexual repression, self loathing and misery and has ruined many a sex life. It's disgusting and hiding the hatred behind statements like 'homosexuality isn't a sin' means NOTHING when you follow it with 'unless you act on it'.

You come across as a kind person. I fail to see how you can endorse this bigotry.

You may not agree with my beliefs about sexual morality, and that is perfectly fine. I understand, and I wouldn't expect you to agree.
Regardless, if 2 men or 2 women want to be in a romantic relationship, it is their right to do so and I still respect them as people and I respect their right. But I cannot say I believe it to be morally good.

Would you agree though that people who are attracted to children "shouldn't act on the impulse that is part of who they are and their human nature?"
If so, then there is nothing intrinsically wrong with thinking it is not always moral to act on impulses. You just don't think it's right in this particular case.