christian "love"

[Godscreated]

If I wanted to start a religion about the importance of not wearing underwear, I bet I could twist the words of the Bible to do just that.

Really?

GC

[Bad Writer]

If I wanted to start a religion about the importance of not wearing underwear, I bet I could twist the words of the Bible to do just that.

Really?

GC

Sure. I don't see why not. The entire book is up for interpretation. If it weren't, then there wouldn't be thousands of different branches of Christianity.

[Brakeman]

This event occurred about 1978 1982 or there abouts so no internet links that I'm aware of. I will ask my mom if she has any newpaper clippings. It did appear in the Maryville Daily Times. (TN) Their last name was Shumate.
I have several family pictures with the family and the little boy that burnt himself alive. I'll see if I can get a scan of those from my mom as well, because it really helps to put a face to the name and story. Then you can see what a beautiful, innocent child he was, and how precious his beloved gay sister was.

-update- I spoke with my Dad over the phone. He corrected a bit of detail on the story. I don't live in Tennessee anymore, so I'll have to wait on my mom to get home to try and get the article or the pictures..

---

Drich,

While I'm waiting, why don't you pray to jesus and ask him if Danny Shumate, the boy in the story, is in hell for loving his sister so much. I'd really really like to know what jesus has to say about his location right now.

Of course there is no proof! Why would there be??

The only reason I asked you for proof is because you have a history of saying whatever you need to say, no matter if it is true or not. I just wanted to see what you would come up with to explain yourself this time.

This event occurred about 1978 1982

The line/correction really sold it... out.

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I've got to make another correction to the story, it seems my memory isn't as good as I'd like it to be. The Dad didn't commit suicide, I got that confused with a deacon of the church evidently. The mom was the one that went crazy and killed herself a couple of years later. He died in 2006. I found his Obit.

SHUMATE, XXXX XXXXX - age 68 of Maryville, passed away Thursday September 7,
2006 at U.T. Medical Center. .. .. . Preceded in death by wife, Linda xxx
Shumate, son, Danny Shumate,

As a funny note, his family didn't list his first wife's name in his obit, the one stricken by grief, just his second wife Linda.

I knew the insides of the story because of my friendship with the daughter later in college. This was a huge catalyst in changing my (then) christian bigoted mind about gay people.

again, proof? A Link to an actual artical or will you line out the year and tell me "this happened in the 60's before they started to document crime."

WOW you are an A1 asshole!,

I am not making this up, my memory of the incident may be fuzzy, it was 31 years ago that he died and I have had a big life since then. Your accusations are sad, wrong, and typical of a irrational theist. If you had only talked to jesus first, you would have known the story is quite true. I will get the "Artical" (SP) for you, not that you deserve it, but I want the others here to see just how wrong you are.

Sadly, I do have to make one additional correction to my story. The mother did not commit suicide either, she divorced the man. I knew I never saw her again, so well, I do admit to being wrong sometimes. However, none of the corrections have anything to do with the horror of the story.

It's really funny that you are providing a shining example of the theme of my story, that "christian" love does not exist, as you certainly do not exhibit any god-like supernaturally inspired love.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Just read the OP, so I'd like to respond to it very directly. If a Christian says, "I still love you," he/she is demonstrating concern for your feelings. Initially, many people who have lost faith feel very uncomfortable confessing that to their believing friends. They want you to know that they love you as a person regardless of what you believe. They loved you then. They love you now.

Imagine a closeted gay son confesses his homosexuality to his father. His father says to him, "It doesn't matter to me, you're still my son, and I love you." The father has professed his unconditional love for his son even if he doesn't understand or approve.

No doubt your Christian friends are disappointed by your choice. Despite that, they can still demonstrate that they care about you. What more can you ask from true friends?

[Godscreated]

Really?

GC

Sure. I don't see why not. The entire book is up for interpretation. If it weren't, then there wouldn't be thousands of different branches of Christianity.

Just wanted to know if you were serious or not before I said do it then.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

I would rather the father threw a fit, than say "you're still my son". As if anything could've ever made him say "ok, you've gone too far, you're no longer my son". Why would a son telling his father he's gay expect to be disowned, if the father is a good father?

[freedomfromforum]

No doubt your Christian friends are disappointed by your choice. Despite that, they can still demonstrate that they care about you. What more can you ask from true friends?

Thank you for your considerate response.

I could ask them not to judge me. Telling
me that they need not judge me, because
god has done that, in no way excuses them
from their strict agreement with said god
and his supposed righteous judgment of me.

In effect, agreeing with a corrupt judge
makes one nearly as guilty of corruption
themselves; if not more so.

[Drich]

ok,

Indeed.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

So, where in 1 cor 13 does it say God is bound to this expectation of love?

Paul is Clearly speaking to the people of Corinth about the "Love your neighbor as your self" command and how this trumps all other Spiritual gifts... In order for your arguement to work you must show that what Paul says to us, applies to God.

Let's cut to the chase, Drich. What you appear to be saying is that "jealousy" is not a property of love as it applies to us, but it could be when applied to your god, who is not described as possessing love, but rather BEING love?

Seriously? And you guys wonder why we say you can make the damn book say anything you want it to.

Ah, no. What I am saying we do not have the right to be jealous, as God has the right to be jealous. For the word being discussed in the Hebrew text is: quanna'. Its used of God bearing no rivals. As in the first commandment. 'You shall not have any gods before me.' None of us has the power or the authority to make such a decree. He does, and His righteous anger that stems from man having 'other gods' before Him is simply translated as 'jealous' when it means a little more than the jealousy we feel. Which is what Paul was telling the corthinians.

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Of course there is no proof! Why would there be??

The only reason I asked you for proof is because you have a history of saying whatever you need to say, no matter if it is true or not. I just wanted to see what you would come up with to explain yourself this time.

I've learned from experience that someone who takes pains to correct their mistakes tends to be honest in general and someone quick to judge someone a liar is usually a liar themselves.

If Brakeman's story is true, where do you suppose Danny Shumate is right now?

I did not ask if brakeman story was true. Much like the rest of you concerning God. My interest in brakemans story has nothing to do with the truth, I just want to see if he can prove it. If he can't prove it then by the same measure you all use against God, then i declare he is a fool for believing in it despite how accurate his version of the story is.

[max-greece]

"You shall not have any gods before me."

Isn't that a rather strange thing for God to say? That reads like there are other gods but you (the reader?) Are not allowed to worship them. Makes a bit of a mockery of the whole monotheistic thing doesn't it?

Shouldn't this have read something akin to "there is only one good and it's me?"

On the contrary this says there are others..... Weird!

[Godscreated]

@ Brakeman, I live near Maryville, Tn. I searched for the article on Danny but the archives only go back to 1997 on the net., so I couldn't find the article on Danny. However I did find the article on his father's death in 2006. Just thought you might like to know. Will talk to some of my family and friends to see if they might remember Danny, I do not remember the incident myself, but hey 30 years and many drugs and alcohol can do that, unfortunately.

GC