Daily Archives: January 19, 2007

Recent Discussions on Homosexuality

Posted by on January 19, 2007 Comments Off

In the last few days there have been a number of interesting conversations going on in the blogosphere about Christianity and same-sex relationships. The always thought provoking Kim Fabricus recently posted 12 Propositions on Same-Sex Relationships and the Church which has generated no small amount of conversation (68 comments at the time of this writing). In response The Blue Raja has posted a few anti-theses on same-sex relationship.

Meanwhile Michael has been laboring for sometime at Levelers on a series on the full inclusion of gay and lesbian Christians in the church as well.

Also, Douglas Knight recently posted an excerpt from this excellent article by Oliver O’Donovan, which I think deserves a wide reading.

I plan on offering my own thoughts on all of this discussion soon. Regardless, however it’s been interesting to see some constructive dialogue about this very contentious issue.

Merton on Sin

Posted by on January 19, 2007 1 comment

Posted at nothing new under the sun:

There is nothing interesting about sin, or about evil as evil.

And this evil is not a positive entity but the absence of a perfection that ought to be there. Sin as such is essentially boring because it is the lack of something that could appeal to our wills and our minds.

What attracts men to evil acts is not the evil in them but the good that is there, seen under a false aspect and with a distorted perspective. And the good seen from that angle is only the bait in a trap. When you reach out to take it, the trap is sprung and you are left with disgust and boredom – and hatred. Sinners are people who hate everything, because their world is necessarily full of betrayal, full of illusion, full of deception. And the greatest sinners are the most boring people in the world because they are also the most bored and ones who find life most tedious.

- Thomas Merton, Seeds of Contemplation, 76.

After seeing this quote I went straight out and bought the first copy I could find. Thanks to Byron for this! What an amazing and truthful statement about the nature of sin.

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