Thanks Jonathan, for another very useful analysis of how fundamentalist Christians distort, and even lie about, various biblical passages to suit their particular theological biases. James Finn, in his comment here, refers to a post that I published yesterday which goes into even greater detail in relation to Genesis 19. https://medium.com/prismnpen/the-genesis-sin-of-sodom-says-nothing-about-same-sex-love-a051bda932ae

In Part 2 of this series, a pastor at my college church in Texas suggested that I read Genesis 19 for a ‘clear and definitive’ statement of how God hates homosexual relationships. Below is my summary of the Genesis 19 version of the Sodom and Gomorrah story, based very closely on a reading of five or six separate Biblical translations.

Before nightfall two strangers (we are told they were angels) came to visit the house of a man named Lot in the city of Sodom. This is generally considered to have been around four thousand years ago. We are further…

I really do strongly disagree with much of what you say in this piece. While it is certainly true that some people are naturally good writers and some are not, after a long career of teaching, I can say with some confidence that I have seen thousands of people at every level of intelligence and general writing ability, improve-in some measure-their writing skills.

And, at least in my opinion, it was usually well worth doing.

As for Harlan Ellison's comments about amateur writers, I find his words beneath contempt. There are many damn good reasons to write other than money-grubbing…

Loved th e pictures of the snake. Ours in Australia are a little scarier than yours, but they are also beautiful. I have attached an inferior photo of Lady Banks, promised a while back. Can't seem to locate the good one of the Lady Banks that covers our rainwater tanks. Cheers.

I can't resist writing because my story parallels yours in several ways, including my still remembering a high school incident very close to your wrestling match but with me in the Mike role.

Thankfully there were only two of us present. The story quickly developed very differently to yours.

I had never had sex with boy or girl though I was really ready and eager for both to happen, but never doubting I eventually wanted a wife and family. My buddy invited me for a sleepover while his parents were away. …

And what is good, Phaedrus
And what is not good —
Need we ask anyone to tell us these things?

— from the dialogues of Plato

Preface

One Sunday morning in 1958, I was sitting in the Seventh and James Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, listening to a sermon by a visiting preacher devoted to ideas about Christian approaches to “living the good life.” In the midst of his message the preacher allowed himself a tangential swing into the evils of homosexuality. …