Not in this God-forsaken Matriarchy that is the Western World!

The bible as the literal truth? Sure, I don’t mind if that’s what you believe - but the same freedom that is afforded to you must be afforded to me as well - and my choice is to believe that the bible is a book, written by men, and propagated by men and is of no particular value above any other book that espouses the ‘right way to live’. That it may have gotten it right is secondary to the discussion of choice.

Denying me my choice is no different than me denying yours. The vehemence you bring to your beliefs is no greater or no more righteous than I bring to mine, no matter whose name you do it in.

Claiming that homosexuality has a bearing on actual parenting skills beyond the physical act of being able to *have* a child is another favorite topic of mine to watch the religious and conservatives go crazy about.

By that measure of thinking, a male-female couple that are unable to produce their own offspring should not be permitted to raise children they adopt. They are every bit as unable to have children.

But no, you rabid homo-haters would rather have hundreds, thousands of children cared for by ‘the state’ through foster homes, or to be left in the hands of abusive heterosexual couples - better the father be raping the children and the mother complacent than to place the children with two caring lesbian women. Nothing as damaging as having two mothers or two fathers? My money is on you never having spoken to a victim of abuse, nor will you ever deign to challenge yourself in that way.

And all in the name of a religion that, honestly, not any of you follow the teachings of - your compassion is saved for those you believe deserve it, and not those who you personally have no pity for, your willingness to help does not extend to those you deem ‘untouchable’. You do not help the leper, you do not approach the sick, the weak, the less fortunate. At most, you drop the price of a latte or three into a collection plate or, worse yet, volunteer your services to an organization that does not help people if they are not of the ‘right’ religious affiliation and somehow still convince yourself that you are doing God’s work.

Jesus, if he watches you, is ashamed at your duplicity and twisting of His teachings. If there is truly justice in God, it will come when you are shown the injustices you do in the light of a truly compassionate and caring person and have the litany against you read aloud, while you feel the same exclusion and hatred that you have brought against others, in the name of their salvation but in the face of their suffering.

The only person that Jesus assured entry into heaven was the thief on the cross next to his - and that most definitely is not you.

Now, go about your day and pray that I am saved, or pray that I melt in hell, but know that all your heated emotion, all your talk of salvation and following your path to truth matters no more or less than my attempt to reason with you.

We are both zealots, and I no more obnoxious than you.