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Your point would be valid if the Bible were completely unambiguous and internally self-consistent. But it is not, so there is no "solid foundation" that can be free of interpretation. There are many inconsistencies within the Bible, not least in what it teaches about sex and marriage. (I highly recommend the book "Unprotected Texts" by Jennifer Wright Knust, a fine Biblical scholar and a believing Christian.) In fact, most of those who claim to believe in the literal truth of the Bible follow an interpretive scheme known as Darbyism, which is, at least to my eyes, very bizarre and not at all a natural reading of the texts. That is why many Christian traditions teach that the Bible can only be understood with the help of an inner light or with the help of the holy spirit. Whether one is a believer or an atheist, as I am, I don't really see any honest alternative to building our beliefs on shifting and shaky ground. For some two thousand years, philosophers have sought a 'solid foundation' that would guarantee that our knowledge is free from error, but no such thing has ever been found, and there are compelling reasons to think that such a foundation is impossible. We just have to do the best we can with imperfect materials.

Maybe I misread you first sentence. But as a Christian myself, I get irritated when people who are not Christian's asked loaded rhetorical questions like "how can people be Christians, its blah, blah blah." Some people don't understand, I get it, it is their choice. By the same token, I don't understand atheism either, but I don't ask "how can they be atheist," either. Some Christians and atheist alike will tell you that the swinging and Christianity are incompatible, you can be one or the other, but not both. We have found a way to be both and are comfortable with it. The same goes for beliefs with Christianity. There are many traditions, rules and "laws" we don't agree with or apply to our lives. Sure there are basic tenets that are the pillars of Christianity, but many of the things in organized religions are constructs that we feel don't apply. But as long as they are not harmful to others we believe in live and let live. If some Christians believe a robust sex life is not part of Christianity, then so be it, too bad for them. So how can anyone be a Christian and believe or not believe something? We each choose our own path, we respect peoples right to choose their path and hope for the same from them. If they are genuinely curious to know how we came to those decisions we will try to tell them.

The social and group-support aspect of organized religious groups should not be underestimated. People who hold each other up and profess a common belief are much better adjusted, socially and mentally. When a person becomes aware that she or he is moving into another circle, a feeling of discomfort sets in. Not a reason to abandon the first circle. The immutable truth professed by many organized religions actually evolve (am I allowed to use that word) continually. Some, to take an example, have come around to having women as rectors and ministers. Who can say what other kinds of evolutinary changes might yet be possible.

The only comments I can make on this subject are as follows: The Bible can be interpreted any way someone wants it to be or not to be. You can't just take one passage and create an opinion of what the bible says. Hell, you can't take 5 passages with similar words and make a determination of what it says. It's all about how you perceive it. You give 5 different people the same question and you'll get 5 different answers (some may be similar but not exactly the same). I will not get in to my personal religious beliefs but I can say I lived with a religious fanatic for 25 years (her family was as well). The organized religions make bible interpretation (and it's an interpretation of its own) more difficult because most people do not read the bible for themselves. They go to church, sit in the pews and take in what this one man/woman in the pulpit tells them. They think what they hear is correct without researching it themselves. Organized religion has really hurt the movement God intended. The relationship people have with their "higher power" is a personal one. They are the ones to make the decision based on what they research and come to grips with. It's not about someone telling them what they can and can't do (after all this is only another human that has interpreted things the way they are comfortable with. Note: I haven't found a passage saying a woman has to wear a skirt/dress). In today's society where "normal" is determined by someone else, I honestly don't think you can publicly call yourself a Christian Swinger within the "normal" congregations. Mr. Want

Its time to ease up on the confrontation in this thread, Folks. I'd hate to see discussions of religion to go the same route that discussions of politics had to, because religion is a valid issue for many involved in swinging. Politics is not. There have been posts that neared or even crossed over the line of civility with other members. Those who have received messages from moderators know who they are. We need not belittle anyone for his beliefs even if we find them repugnant or not well thought out. Don't use insinuation or innuendo. Sarcasm is sometimes a valuable tool in discussions but use it lightly and with a lot of forethought about how others will perceive it. I'm just a hick Okie, but it seems to me that Believers who know there is a god, have as equal a chance of being right as do Non-believers who know there is not. This is the friendliest discussion board I've seen on the Internet; it took a lot of work to get it this way and we all want to keep it so. Thank you, Alura