I'm a semi-regular reader of The State News. Your columnist John Bice has a narrow mind and an agenda, proving it many times in the article "Homosexuality as a sin one more example of Bible's primitiveness" (SN 8/1).

First he uses Bertrand Russell, an atheist, as a reference without an opposing view. Second he uses references from the Bible that are all from the Old Testament. It's true the Old Testament is violent, but its status as the "Old Testament" is clearly defined in the name. Mr. Bice if you have anything bad to say about the Bible as a whole then say it. I would like to see you include anything as bad or worse from the New Testament - I'm begging you.

Finally, stoning and death sentences. First I counter the stonings with the story of Mary Magdalene: "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Then the New Testament counters what qualifies for death with First Corinthians 6:12: "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial." Don't get me wrong, the New Testament isn't meant to erase the old but to give levity. Quite frankly it's a revision in the form of a big footnote with Old Testament references made by Jesus himself. You see Mr. Bice, unlike you, the Bible isn't afraid to show both sides, both the good and bad parts. It proves that itself by giving three times more space by volume to the Old Testament, according to my Bible.

Mark Mack
criminal justice freshman