>>I don't quite 'get' the part in your question that says, "what are all the diseases about?" Would you clarify that for me please? Once I understand you I'll be happy to respond.
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>>As far as other diseases... Well, from where I sit they are all a result of man's disobedience to God and His laws. That's in Genesis where God told Adam that if he disobeyed he'd die. He did - we all do at some point. But, this is off my point regarding how we could eliminate sexually transmitted diseases.
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>>Still, the fact remains that if we could (we cannot) get everyone to be faithful to one partner in one generation sexually transmitted diseases would be eliminated.
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>>As far as your second question goes; I honestly do not know why. When I read in the New Testament that "the marriage bed is undefiled," I take that to mean literally that between a husband and wife that anything goes - as long as it's just between them and they both freely enter into it (that is , no consciences are violated). A lot of folks don't realize that the Puritans were actually a pretty racy bunch. <g>
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>>Those folks in Christendom who are attempting, as you suggest, to control others are just plain misunderstanding their faith and IMO just plain wrong. Christianity has no restrictions whatsoever except the notion of marital fidelity as far as marriage and sex. Naturally there are some other issues such as respect and loving each other and so forth...
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>>Still, you have to remember that not everyone is the same and arguing that all believe 'X' because some believe 'X' is pretty easy to poke holes in. <g>
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>Doug, do you believe in a strict interpretation of the Bible?

Chris,

Yes, as long as it's reasonable. I think that there are some folks who make "strictness of interpretation", if you will, more important than a much more important issue, namely allowing the love of God to flow through you to others. I've seen an awful lot of folks argue over minutae and totally miss the 'spirit' of the book.

I've never seen in the Bible anywhere the notion that I had to stop thinking, if that's what you're driving at. <g> On the contrary, everything I've ever read causes me to want to learn more and open my mind more, not close it down. I must confess that this is all to often in short supply within the 'church though...

Does that help?