Quote Originally Posted by davsel View Post
FWIW
I once believed as you do now. I spent years arguing with "Christians" over the origins and interpretations of the Bible, written by man, cause of war, used for control of the masses/finances, great moral stories, etc.

What changed my mind was when a friend gave me a copy of a Greek/English translation of the New Testament. She wanted to take away my argument of translation differences. I read it front to back and became a believer about half way through. I then spent a couple of years studying the Bible through college courses and on my own. It has made a defining difference in my life.
YMMV
That's the beauty of the ideas passed on by Jefferson- he wasn't anti-religion, he simply said that one's religion is the business of that individual, not the state nor the church. That's kind of how I believe... We all choose to believe whatever we like, and I choose to believe, and acknowledge that the bible was still written by men. Men, who at the time thought it wrong to lay with another man, covet their neighbors wives (covet, not pursue), depictions of pornography (guilty here!), and many other things that are not viewed as bad these days. I look at the evolution of our society as a dictation of moral "good," this may sound liberal, but I do retain some limitations based on my morals and beliefs. Look at the 1820's... Slavery was still legal, society believed at that time that blacks were a lesser race, and this was viewed as acceptable. Now if you had the mentality of that time today, surely you would be ostracized and labeled a bigot. But just under 200 years ago this was okay. I view the homosexuality matter in the same light, our society is now viewing equality as right and just as the morals of years past had not reached full maturity.

Again, the bible was written by men of a time where such teachings were appropriate... And I understand your desire to use this argument as a dish on the Constitution, but the wording is different and less restrictive in the constitution, and can more freely advance through time... Also the Constitution contains amendments so that it may be updated, the Bible does not.