"So since the Bible doesn't say anything against such practices..."

We KNOW that intergenerational marriage was the common practice in that day and time. Even though the Bible does not specify the ages of people we can be pretty sure that most of the marriages in it the man was significantly older than the girl who was probably around 12.


"I either accept the whole Bible as the word of God, or I must disregard all of it as a work of mere men."

Ah I have heard this sentiment for so many things. Does that mean you're a creationist? Which creation story was it the first or second? Did Noah bring 2 of each animal or 2 of each unclean and 7 of each clean animal? These questions are not really answerable and there are plenty of other examples. Both could not have happened only one or the other.

Personally I think it is ridiculous to say if ONE thing is not factually right in the Bible that you have to throw out the whole thing. Two contradicting things can't both have happened. If creation and the fall did not happen as the Bible says it does not take away from people's sinfulness or need for Jesus.

Ah but I am somewhat diverging from our original discussion we were talking about homosexuality in the Bible. My main reason is the one of love. Everyone I know would agree that we no longer need to follow all the laws of the old testament. There is no perfect guide to which are to be followed and which are not. Some people don't address this issue, just pick randomly as they desire, have some kind of guide they decided or one someone else made up that they like.

Personally I go with the rule of love, what shows that God's love. For me that includes homosexuality and boylovers and girlovers. The old testament says over and over it is ok to discriminate against someone based on what tribe they come from, stone someone, and other things we say are just wrong today.

People who are more literal minded about the Bible and I have an issue of perspective that can't really be changed by arguments and at a certain point gets redundant in debating and gets nowhere which is why I don't usually argue it. I partly do due to the pain I have seen it cause same sex attracted people EVEN the kind of thing you describe "I accept you but not your lifestyle". Too many people have become depressed and suicidal over even that.

"Boylovers, by definition, can never have a lifelong committed relationship with a boy."

I have never heard of one that was romantic for life but I know of lifelong friendships that started as yf/af relationships.

"My point is that while gays' love can be pretty much mutual and alike, man/boy love cannot. And of course there are all the examples of when man/boy physical love has done real harm to the boy."

Harm can happen in male/female relationships so I don't see that as much of a point.

I see no point in rehashing this debate we have on here a few times a year so I am fine with stopping it here.