On: Do we live in a society without a counterculture?

[thalassophobia]

I know many Christians who do not fast, but that doesn't make not fasting OK by the Bible. This isn't using religion as a cover but obeying its rules.

[undersuit → thalassophobia]

Who makes the rules? The Bible? Which one? Can I use the Jefferson Bible?

Oh the Bible isn't the end-all-be-all and you need someone to make an executive decision sometimes? Who's that?

The Pope? Oh you're not of that kind of denomination? What about the President of the Mormon Church?

[flangola7 → thalassophobia]

But who determines what is "OK by the Bible?" A plain reading of it shows a number of clear contradictions, so we naturally can't rely on the verbatim text. Not to mention there is more than one version of the Bible itself.

That leaves it up to personal interpretation and opinion. Considering that the overall message of Christianity is supposedly something about "love and grace" the not transphobic opinions are a lot more compelling.