There was a story on the news about this, and I thought it would be an iteresting debate. I am undecided.

Dang, when I think of all the one night stands I've had that I could have charged for.... I'd be pretty rich!! LOL

Yep, that is exactly how I feel! I would be rich and satisfied instead of just satisfied.

Macmadame, The men are sinning as well, but this is a thread about prostitutes so I only spoke of them and what they are doing. It is definitely wrong for them as well.

Gloucester, You asked me 'how do you know what God would do?' I answer you with ' Everyone can know what God would do in any situation because He gave us HIS own words in the bible. It's up to every man he created to read it for themself. If you never read it, then you'll never know what God would say or do in a situation such as legalizing prostitution. Also, I don't understand why you needed to make fun of my opinions. I am not trying to judge anyone. God will do the judging, you are right about that. And you're also right about gluttony being a sin. (of which I am the biggest sinner in that area)

for green and jodi. I don't favor judgement and punishment in my approach to man's behaviors. I was merely stating the facts concerning why prostitution should not be legalized. There are consequences to every action in this life. wether good or bad actions. prostitution is a sin and therefore it is wrong and should not be legalized. period.

lilmisdiva, It is not wrong to protect yourself from harm from others, even if you have to shoot the person to defend yourself. This is not what God meant when he said 'turn the other cheek.'

Macmadame, Are you kidding me? You can't see how prostitution (business transaction as you call it) is a moral issue? You don't see the 'sex outside of marriage' in that? Of course it's a moral issue!

Macmadame, Are you kidding me? You can't see how prostitution (business transaction as you call it) is a moral issue? You don't see the 'sex outside of marriage' in that? Of course it's a moral issue!

There is no "of course" about any of this.

Even if you believe the Bible is the Word of God -- which I most emphatically do not -- it still is very much open to interpretation.

Morality and ethics are subjective.

Then give me an example of what you would call a moral issue. Because if you don't believe that the bible is the word of God, then there shouldn't be any moral issues for who's to say what's right and wrong.

Pattygreen, are you claiming that only Christians who believe the Bible is the Word of God are the only people in the world who are moral?

Have you ever heard, engage brain prior to opening mouth? In this case, letting your fingers loose on an unsuspecting forum?

Morality and ethics are subjective.

Morality and ethics most certainly are subjective. They vary considerably from region to region and from era to era. This is why I am inclined to take the pronouncements of individuals like Pattygreen with a large grain of salt. In some cultures and in some eras, for example, it was considered just fine for a much older man to marry a girl who was just entering into puberty, or for a man to have more than one wife. In most regions of North America, such practices are frowned upon. At one time the practice of keeping slaves was considered acceptable practice on this continent. It certainly was considered an acceptable practice by the Judeo-Christian God according to certain passages within the Bible.

I think, moreover, that what believers choose to worship will depend upon what geographical location they happen to have been born in. Had Pattygreen been born in the middle east, she would be spouting surahs from the Qu'ran to us for she would have been exposed to Islam, not Christianity.

Careful examination of the Bible will indicate that it often contradicts itself and that it is often a sombre, violent, and even a racist document - or, I should say, series of documents. Because the Bible does contain so much contradictory material, believers are inclined to cherrypick its teachings and tailor these according to their own temperaments.

EXCELLENT POST GREEN! Very well stated and quite obviously true.

all I can say to you, Donna, is 'you are a rude person.' I hope you feel good about yourself and your insensitive comments.

In order to live with morals, you need to have a moral code to follow. So, 'where does your code come from?' would be a better way to phrase the question.

Survival of the species tailors our moral code although we often do not realise this. We behave just like the rest of the species. When our survival is best served by co-operation, by loving, giving and kindly behaviour, we will do this and we are hard-wired to feel good about it for we are pack animals. If this will lead to our individual/collective demise then we will attack, we will go to war.

EXCELLENT POST GREEN! Very well stated and quite obviously true.

Thanks, girlfriend.

all I can say to you, Donna, is 'you are a rude person.' I hope you feel good about yourself and your insensitive comments.

What did she say that was so rude and insensitive??

And frankly, though I have a devout belief in God and the Bible, the way you present it sounds much ruder than anything Donna said. Because I know God and His Word, I know what you're trying to say but are failing horribly in the tact department.