I had another one of the conversations with a conservative Christian about gay marriage. I have had this conversation a million times with fellow Christians and have no problem having it again and again. My latest iteration is probably the most succinct I have been able to be.
First, if you read the Bible from a fundamentalist, literalist perspective, its tough to have much of a conversation. But the truth is even fundies interpret the Bible, even if they don't want to admit it. Homosexuality is case in point. 

In the Fall of 2005, I took a class with Jim Wallis at the Harvard Divinity School. This series of blogs was originally posted on crossleft.org.

Taking a class with Jim Wallis

on Fri, 09/30/2005

I'm blessed and excited to have the opportunity to take a class with Jim Wallis at the Harvard Divinity School this semester.

Throughout the next few months, I'll be sharing my thoughts on the class and snippets of his wisdom.

Some thoughts from Jim Wallis from the introductory class:

Wallis: "Religion isn't a wedge, but should be a bridge to understanding"

I love this quote. Religion has been used as a wedge by humans since religions were created. To put it in evangelical terms, we need to be less concerned about who is saved and not saved and a lot more worried about understanding others, their values and their religion. More often than not, we will find that there are plenty of shared values between religions.

(written upon the eve of the 2004 election..so much of it is still relevant.)

Too often in this country, partisans from the left and the right stand at either side of the political aisle throwing stones in the form of verbal barbs and insults. Meanwhile, most Americans sit in the middle, tuning into the cacophony of cable news networks and political parties. Fed up, most Americans subsequently tune out and go on with their lives. Every four years however, a renewed interest in politics arises from the brute force of the Presidential campaign. This year, as in 2000, the United States appears from the polls to be divided into political poles. At the risk of being one of those partisans, I write to reach out to my brother and sister Christians who consider themselves conservative and evangelical.