Free Republic

On June 17th, 2008, California legalized same sex marriage. Only three days later, on June 20th, lightning storms ignited more than 1,400 fires throughout the state. As of this writing there are over 1,700 infernos all across the state that have burned down well over half a million acres of forest land. The current situation is certainly a catastrophe of Biblical proportions. The strange thing is California's fire season doesn't even normally begin until late summer. Is there a relationship between the commencement of same sex marriages and the fires that are burning down the state of California? Is it...

Judge Clears Way For Same-Sex Marriages BY DANIELA ALTIMARI | The Hartford Courant 9:54 AM EST, November 12, 2008 NEW HAVEN - A 4-year legal battle for same-sex marriage came to an end this morning in a New Haven courtroom when Superior Copurt Judge Jonathan E. Silbert signed an order. The state Supreme Court last month, in a 4-3 decision, ruled that preventing gay and lesbian couples from marrying violates the state constitution. Today's brief hearing was a formality that was needed before gay couples could start receiving marriage licenses. Immediately after the court proceeding, one of the plaintiff couples,...

BOCA RATON — Mo Brenner is taking Jewish pride to a new and controversial level. The 27-year-old Boca Raton tattoo artist boasts a large Star of David on his upper right arm engraved with Abram, his Hebrew name. He'll gladly sketch Hebrew writing and Jewish stars on his clients at Boca Body Art, because what could possibly be a better way to celebrate religion than with a shrine that will last a lifetime? "A tattoo should really mean something to you," Brenner said. "Mine represents my religion and family." With the tattoo phenomenon continuing to explode - 40 percent of...

While promoters of "The Da Vinci Code" have tried to downplay the film's challenge to Christianity, actor Ian McKellen took a shot at the Bible in an interview with the "Today" show, saying Scripture should carry a disclaimer that it is "fiction." McKellen, who played Gandalf in "The Lord of the Rings" triology, was responding to a question from host Matt Lauer about the requests by some Christian groups to insert a "fiction" disclaimer at the beginning of the controversial film, which suggests Jesus and Mary Magdalene were man and wife and that the divinity of Jesus was an invention...

The Pink CityLocal tourism officials plan on turning Tel Aviv into the gay capital of the world; Israel Hotel Association official: Tel Aviv and gay people are a perfect fitTel Aviv is known throughout the world as “The White City” due to the many Bauhaus-style structures that adorn its streets, but the city may soon be called “The Pink City,” as tourism industry heads are planning on transforming the city into the gay capital of the world, Israel’s leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported. “Tel Aviv and gay people are a perfect fit,” an Israel Hotel Association (IHA) official said. The...

(AgapePress) - A government employee in California is fighting a reprimand she recently received for sending an e-mail expressing her religious beliefs. The employee, who works for a large state agency in Sacramento, read an article in a national magazine which featured a lesbian attorney and her partner. The state worker was troubled by a statement in the article attributed to the attorney. That statement read: "Hypocrisy occurs when religion is used to justify why two people should not be married." The worker e-mailed the attorney from work, expressing her beliefs concerning religion and homosexuality and quoting several verses from...

It is being reported on the Bird Flu Surveillance thread that Vietnam has prohibited a dish using fresh poultry blood. Those in the know realize that all have been warned about this several thousand years ago, but they reject the source. Thus, the bring upon themselves the penalty of their error: In the Bible, from God, it is written: Leviticus 7:26 'And you are not to eat any blood, either of bird or animal, in any of your dwellings. Leviticus 17:14 "For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to...

The Colorado Supreme Court has overturned a convicted killer's death sentence because jurors brought Bibles into the jury room and wrote down and quoted passages from the Old Testament during deliberations. Robert Harlan will serve life in prison without parole after being convicted and sentenced to death in 1995 for the kidnapping, murder and rape of a 25-year-old woman and the attempted murder of a woman who came to her aid. Casino waitress Rhonda Maloney was driving home from work when Harlan forced her car off the road and raped her. The victim escaped and flagged down a passing motorist,...

The Bible and homosexuality Posted: March 11, 2004 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2004 WorldNetDaily.com Sen. John Kerry suggested to an audience in Mississippi recently that the Bible is ambiguous on the topic of homosexuality. "Well, I know the deep beliefs, I respect, I'm a Christian, I've read the Bible, and I know you can find the clauses that go both ways," he said. "I'm not here to argue that with you." Well, I'm here to argue with Kerry. The Bible is clear on homosexuality – Old Testament and New Testament: Homosexuality is an abomination. Kerry may not believe it. You...

Mass. Court: Gay Civil Unions Not Enough Wednesday, February 04, 2004 BOSTON — Massachusetts lawmakers must give gay and lesbian couples full and equal marriage rights, the state's highest court ruled Wednesday. With its decision to back marriage and not the concept of civil unions, the court set the stage for the nation's first same-sex marriages (search) to take place beginning in mid-May. Plus, the court added fresh fuel to a debate that has split politicians, churches and families around the country. The court's action clarified what it meant in November when it ruled that the state's marriage laws were...

City Council prepares for Phelps By Eric R. Wright rep7@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - City officials said Friday they have talked about what to do if a controversial pastor wants to put up an anti-gay monument on public property here. But they don't have a definite plan of action yet. "I think there are as many options as there are ideas," Mayor Jack Spiker said. The Rev. Fred Phelps and his Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church made clear this week their intention to erect such monuments in Casper; Rupert, Idaho; and in cities nationwide where the Ten...

As the Episcopal Church agonized over the confirmation of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson as its first openly gay bishop - and now as his endorsement threatens to split the denomination - some have wondered why homosexuality is such a divisive issue in Christianity. Why don't all Episcopalians and other churches simply recognize that gay people are sexually active and move on? After all, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws this year and Canada plans to legalize same-sex marriages. The reason, in short, is the Bible - the word of God in the eyes of Christians. Until very...