Exactly!!! Although I don't think you exactly meant what you just said. Try thinking of condoning and forgiving as synonyms. I think you've just agreed with me, MA, you just haven't seen through it yet. You can think of it in terms of condoning the trespasses of others or forgiving the trespasses of others, they are the same thing. Live and let live. Concern yourself with your own moral/ethical choices as they affect your life. Leave others to make the same choices for themselves - forgive them their trespasses...
I cannot agree for a moment that to condone and to forgive are synonymous, and in fact, i assert that they are not.
At the same time it is ludicrous to assert that forgiving someone is tatamount to condoning that which one believes is in need of forgiveness. In the case of homosexual couples, i really rather doubt that they would acknowledge a contention that they were guilty of a transgression which need be forgiven. I also suspect they would laugh to scorn that the willingness or unwillingness to condone their choice of lovers were at all meaningful.
He sees it from both sides! 
There ya go, set. As if one person can forgive anybody else for what they do that is considered a sin is just plain hogwash. Who do they think they are? god?
But, J_B, MA has already disallowed the claims by bible scholars that god is not a homophobic. MA knows better than the scholars or what's written elsewhere in the bible!
Personally, J_B, that does violence to my understanding of the meaning of condone. However, i don't think it worth arguing over. The important point is that no one such as MOAN has any right to expect to force a point of view on others upon the basis of contentions about what their imaginary friend told them--so i'm happy to cede the debate to you on that matter of definition.
But, I am sure he will forgive you for it. He's just that kind of guy! I never forgive racial and homphobic bigots. If anything is done to me, it can be forgiven.
You just said if anything was done to you, it could be forgiven. Who is being racially bigoted or homophobic towards you? You just tell me and I will talk to Mr. Setanta and see if he can set them straight for you!
J_B,
On the basis of your definitions, yes, I also concede. So, let me rephrase it, ok? If I vote for something that I think is wrong, then I put forth the false assumption that I approve of it. And, I won't do it.
I really, *really* don't enjoy quoting scripture but I will do so because I think it may help.
Matthew 6:14 -15 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses", NRVS
The notations on 6:14 are as follows, "Trespasses translates a different Greek word than debts (6:12), one that speaks more directly of ethical transgression."
I have a cousin i haven't seen in 35 years who lives at least 2,000 miles away. On a trip I happened to be in her area and rang her up. She areed to meet me at a lucheon spot. I met her there and upon sitting she asked me "have you been reborn in the spirit of jesus?" I responded "I can forgive to your abject rudness if that's what you mean."
