Hi Robert-I,

First of all, thank you for the gracious way in which you have responded to my, sometimes, abrasive comments. I apologize for any offence I have caused. You're a Christian brother, I appreciate you, and I really don't want to cause any hurt. Please forgive me!

[Now I realize when I say, "That being said...", it might come across that I'm saying, "Forget everything I just said...". I'm not! I mean what I said above!]

That being said ... both of us, for better or worse, have gotten ourselves into this debate, and I don't think it's in the best interest of the truth (whatever that may be) for either of us to "pull punches" for fear of offending the other. The best we can do is to try to keep everything reasonably civil and respectful, and give each other a lot of grace (in cases where offence is caused).

On the issue of comparing your loving relationship of 30 years to "fucking a dog or a pig or a cow": Forgive me for taking issue with this, but I never used such derogatory terms in my posts. For the most part I referred to zoophilia (rather than the more abrasive term, beastiality). In addition, I generally referred to "loving zoosexual relationships". Now I realize there is still a world of difference between your relationship and such a "relationship", but taken from the perspective of a "zoo" who genuinely loves an animal, and has formed some semblance of a loving bond with that animal, the difference probably doesn't seem nearly as vast. Hearing your obvious (and understandable) frustration at the comparison -- forgive me! -- but I can't help but think of the way some homophobes say, "I will not have my 30-year relationship with my loving wife compared to two men f***ing". Sorry, I'm being very blunt, but I think this does hi-light part of the issue here -- it's a matter of perspective.

To you, your relationship is loving. [And I completely agree!!!] But you see a zoosexual relationship as "f***ing". To a "zoo" (if zoophilia.net is anything to go by), the relationship he or she experiences with an animal is just as loving and intimate as one that two humans might experience. Though I don't agree with such relationships, taken purely from the perspective of the individuals involved, it is hard to argue that the relationships they experience are any less "valid" or loving than the relationship you have ... or even the relationship heterosexual couples have.

That's why an objective standard is needed! Without a standard everything is left up to perception and feelings.

I know, as a Christian, that you believe that God supports homosexual relationships, and you have what you see as good Biblical support for that belief. That may very well be, and I may be completely wrong on this issue! [It certainly wouldn't be the first time I have totally missed the boat.] But, setting aside for a moment the offense of the comparison, is it possible that similar arguments could be used to defend loving zoosexual relationships (limited as they are)?

Thank you for putting up with me so graciously thus far. I tend to debate things ad-nausium until either I change my mind, the other person changes his or her mind, or someone tells me to "shut up already!" The other alternative is to just "agree to disagree", and we may just have to go that route.

Blessings,
Rainboy