By Cory Gross
Editors, the Gauntlet,
Re: "Homophobic dogma enraptures Christians," Feb. 8, 2001
Cooke’s article begins with a very good point: love is better than hate. It then goes on to cite verses from the Old Testament that call "for the death of… homosexuals." I suggest that references be checked before they are placed in an article. One of these references, 1 Kg. 22:43, 46, has nothing at all to do with homosexuality. Another one, Gen. 19:4-5, 24-25, has to do with men trying to rape guests in Lot’s house, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible is not about discrimination.
One cannot take a few select quotes from the Old Testament, and call the Bible a "brutal piece of literature" on the basis of that. It must be taken as a whole document. Jesus is the most important figure in the Bible, predicted throughout the Old Testament and the basis of the New Testament. He says that "the most important [commandment]… is… love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." The second is this: "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Mark 12:19, 31, Matt 22:37, 40). If these were remembered when making "decisions as a society when it comes to issues of civil liberty," our society would indeed be a healthy place for our children to grow up in.