Letter: Columnist conflates religion and scorn for gays

Nick Christie's column concerning the social scorn of homosexuals is well-intentioned and, for the most part, unfortunately true. The intolerance and sometimes blatant hatred shown towards people of alternate sexualities is certainly a problem in this country. However, Christie made a fundamental error by claiming authority on a subject he knows very little: The Bible.

The first mistake was his audacious claim concerning Leviticus, an Old Testament law book. He uses the phrase, "anyone who reads Leviticus front to back." Anyone who has actually read Leviticus front to back recognizes that the book must fit into a large scheme of thinking. I will grant that Leviticus is an often confusing and antiquated book. But, it does not stand alone, nor can it ever. We have seen the trouble of taking statutes out of context in our own country-freedom of speech on its own is a dangerous idea, as is the right to bear arms. It is only within the system of other laws that the Bill of Rights can apply. Leviticus fits into the Bible in a similar manner.

Secondly, Christie makes the cliched argument that the New Testament is a "text manipulated by the Church" and that "no actual copy of the Gospels exists." It is obvious that the Bible is capable of being corrupted and misinterpreted, which leads to acts of terror, such as the Crusades, under the banner of Christ. However, Christie states that since he has not personally seen the original copy of the Gospels, they are untrue. Let us ponder, for a moment, the implications of such a stance. I have never seen the original copy of the Constitution. I have never been to Florida. I did not witness, nor do I know anyone who did witness, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Yet I believe that the Constitution exists. I believe that Florida exists. I believe that Lincoln was shot. Why? Because records exist recording each of these. We believe these records because they are written with the intent to inform, not to conform to common ideals. In the same way, the Gospel writers did not distort their message to pacify the masses. Quite the contrary, 11 of the 12 disciples were brutally murdered for their commonly unaccepted beliefs.

Lastly, Christie makes a fool of himself by implying the intent of a God that he does not believe exists and thus cannot understand. He questions God's authority to inform already enlightened humans about right and wrong. Christie's title, "Use your head-what's truly sinful?" typifies the ridiculous thinking that we can prove God wrong by using our own intellect. It is unfortunate that the plea for hurting groups, like homosexuals, is marred with great lies disguised as authoritative proof.