The Nonexistent War- by Susan Thomas

A young woman was standing in front of the public court house with a sign that reads "All homosexuals are going to hell. God says so," many people notice but choose to continue on with their business. A few give her a disapproving scowl or even a smile of approval, but they also mind their own business and continue along their way.
Finally a young man comes along and takes notice of they young woman. This man doesn't believe in God because he feels personally that you have to choose between what science says and what a fairy tale book says. He can't just let a woman insult a group of people because of what some unproven fairy tale book says. So he speaks up.
"Mam. What proof do you have that someone who is gay well go to hell?"
The woman stops and looks down at the man. She smiles and puts her sign down and walks up to the young man.
"Well the bible has a lot to say about that subject. Here are some verses on the subject," Then she proceeded to rattle off a bunch of verses from the bible,"Leviticus 18:21-22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Timothy 1:8-10."
"Oh so because some ancient book that can't be accurate because of numersous translations and the sheer ididocy contained inside says so. Because this book says so someone who is gay doesn't have the right to be happy."
"The bible is true. You my friend need to open up your heart to the truth. You are a sinner and if you don't repent you will go to hell."
"So now you're threatening me. Why would I want to believe in a supreme being that seems to enjoy sending people to hell so much?"
The two continued to bicker. Their bickering began to gather an intrerested crowd. Who would win? Who acutally knew the truth? Or were they both stupid? Finally another young woman arrived and took notice of the argument.
She was normally the type to stay out of such arguments. The ever insisting war between religon and science. She was tired of it being shoved in her face. For some reason on this occasion she could not keep quiet. She had enough and lost her temper.
"Shut up the both of you! Do you have any idea how stupid you make yourselves sound?"
They both stared at her in shock.
"Really mam. Can you really say with confidence you believe in God? By looking at your current example  I have doubts. Oh sure maybe you believe in him but you don't seem to be walking the path. What gives you the right to judge those who see things differently? Besides Jesus himself would embrace the homosexual with loving arms? Why do I think this? Simple becasue Jesus preached to those who were unaccepted by society. He preached to the rejected and lost. He don't go around in crowded public places condeming people to hell!"
The woman was silent and had a look of anger on her face.
"You sir are no better than she is. What makes you think you have to choose between science and the bible. You may want to sit down for this, but I am a christian who happens to believe that evolution and the big bang are possible. I also see nothing wrong with gay marriage. Do I believe it is a sin. Yes. The bible does say sexual immorailty is a sin, but if we are going to act on one then we must act on all. I don't see anyone giving up their right to divorce anytime soon. This also is a sin. My point being that this world is full of sin and everyone in it is a sinner.  If we were to pick and choose like this woman over here we can make the bible stand for whatever we want. In fact I do believe Satan is very good at that. Eveyone must take a hard look and see what their own sin is before condemning another for theirs."
"That's all well and good but you cannot believe in both the bible and science. They contradict each other."said the young man.
"Really. Where did you read that? In science class perhaps? Science doesn't disprove God and the bible doesn't disprove science. There is no contradiction. In fact according to science you can't even test for God because it violates the scientific method. If you do that you really aren't much of a scientist. Science as I see it is possible ways God did it all. For example something had to get the Big Bang started. Something had to guide evolution so that we would turn out to be the amazing species that we are. To tell me it's all chance is bit too much for me to chew."
"Never heard it put that way before. I don't agree, but you aren't the problem. It's people like her!" he shouted angrily pointing at the woman.
The young woman took a deep breath and looked up. She could see the woman with the sign was about to loose it so she quickly said one last thing.
"You are only half right. You both are the problem. You are so fanatical about the truth you believe that when you come across someone who has a different view point you have to pounce. You make it your business to force people to choose between the two when in reality you don't have to choose. You with the sign claim to be a follower of Christ, but I see a person using God as an excuse for their own uncomfortable feeling towards a group of people. You sir are frustrated with people like her. The problem is that people like her are small in number and you project that view on to all of God's followers. You don't count the ones like me who usually stay silent and keep their heads down hoping for it all to go away. Because we never speak our voice is lost. Truth is this partially my fault as well for keeping my mouth shut for so long. But this imaginary war you two have going on needs to end. I suggest you deal with yourselves and figure out what you real issue is."