Hi Robert-I,

However, there is nothing in the bible to suggest that animals have the marital capacity.

Though I was responding to a post that talked about homosexuality and zoophilia in a marital context, I don't think of the issue as having much of a marital component: for me, it's simply about "relationships".

However, there is nothing in the bible to suggest that animals have the marital capacity.

That's probably quite true! But animals (particularly dogs) can be very loyal and "loving" in their own limited way. I certainly wouldn't argue that both "partners" in a human-dog relationship have equal emotional capacity -- I'm sure that wouldn't be the case. But, I think it can be argued that the human partner could have a very real, loving, emotional connection with an animal partner, possibly even as strong as the connection between two human partners. [If one reads zoophilia.net, that would seem to be the case.] As long as the human partner is loving towards the animal, and the animal is not harmed in any way (and possibly even "enjoys" and "initiates"), is it right to deny zoophiles from having such relationships (limited as they may be)?

Do you believe that "loving zoosexual relationships" are sinful, or are they acceptable to God. And if so, how do you make that determination?

I don't mean this as a personal attack, Robert-I, but I do feel the issue is worth debating a bit further.

Blessings,
Rainboy