Homosexuality and Religion

[standing_alone]

Hey, I'm new to the forum and my guess is that this is a topic that's probably been beaten into the ground and aroused many heated emotions, but I'm going to start a thread on this anyway. I was raised in a strict religion, but have freed myself from those shackles. I'm curious to know how different people of different faiths and nonfaiths (atheists, agnostics, etc.) view homosexuality in regards to their spiritual life, or whatever. I guess, how do you justify either your approval or disapproval (or perhaps, apathy) of the homosexual community? Sorry if this is vague. I'm just curious, being a homosexual woman and all.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Have you considered the "Search" function?

 

[michel]

Hey, I'm new to the forum and my guess is that this is a topic that's probably been beaten into the ground and aroused many heated emotions, but I'm going to start a thread on this anyway. I was raised in a strict religion, but have freed myself from those shackles. I'm curious to know how different people of different faiths and nonfaiths (atheists, agnostics, etc.) view homosexuality in regards to their spiritual life, or whatever. I guess, how do you justify either your approval or disapproval (or perhaps, apathy) of the homosexual community? Sorry if this is vague. I'm just curious, being a homosexual woman and all.

Firstly, Welcome. Secondly, you are right in thinking that this has been 'done to death' and has raised temperatures sufficiently to blow several CPU's.....................

As a Christian, I go 'against the rules', and personally am involved in at least two GLBT organisations; unfortunately, I am disabled, so can do little in the form of volunteering.

How do I 'justify my support' ? Do I need to ? - do I need to justify my support of any other group of individuals in Society who do no harm, and only ask to be treated as everyone else ?

Seeing your Avatar, rather puts me aptly in mind of the expession, "A lion's den".......... Good luck to you.

 

[standing_alone]

Michel, thanks for your reply. I totally agree that no one should be forced to justify their beliefs to others; I'm just curious about people's views and whatnot. I'm not looking for a fight with anyone, just was curious, since it's a topic that interests me and affects me greatly as a member of the lgbt community.

 

[Green Gaia]

In Unitarian Universalism, we covenant to affirm and promote 7 Principles. The first (and many say the most important) of these principles is that we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Because of this, the Unitarian Universalist Association has a long history of supporting BGLT rights and equality. We were the first large religious organization in North America to welcome homosexuals and bisexuals as full members, eligible to become clergy.

Many UU churches have put into practice a program for congregations that see a need to become more inclusive towards bisexual, gay, lesbian, and/or transgender people. They are called Welcoming Congregations. It consists of a series of workshops developed by the UUA. The goal of the workshops is to reduce prejudice by increasing understanding and acceptance among people of different sexual orientations. Once a congregation completes all the steps of the program, they are called Welcoming Congregation.

We also have an organization called Interweave. Interweave is a membership organization affiliated with the UUA. It is dedicated to the spiritual, political, and social well-being of Unitarian Universalists who are confronting oppression as lesbians, gay men, bisexual persons, transgender persons, and heterosexual allies. It celebrates the culture and lives of its members.” Interweave membership is open to all interested UUs of any sexual or affectional orientation. It has chapters in many Unitarian Universalist congregations and districts, as well as a Continental chapter. Membership in Interweave involves two primary goals: the creation of local groups for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender Unitarian Universalists for support, socializing, and sharing life issues; and outreach to the larger bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender community to publicize the religious alternative offered by Unitarian Universalism.

 

[Sunstone]

Every week seems to bring yet another thread on homosexuality. Congratulations, Lions, on starting this week's thread! You'll fit in nicely around here!

I support GLBT rights because I figure it's the decent thing to do. Until someone can come up with a cogent argument why that's not so, I will continue to support GLBT rights.

On the other hand, I am against same sex marriage because always having the same kind of sex in a marriage is boring and leads to divorce.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

On the other hand, I am against same sex marriage because always having the same kind of sex in a marriage is boring and leads to divorce.

:biglaugh: outstanding - you almost had me :biglaugh:

 

[Green Gaia]

On the other hand, I am against same sex marriage because always having the same kind of sex in a marriage is boring and leads to divorce.

You had me very confused for a moment. Good one.

 

[Pah]

...I guess, how do you justify either your approval or disapproval (or perhaps, apathy) of the homosexual community? Sorry if this is vague. I'm just curious, being a homosexual woman and all.

I justify my approval because there is no secular reason to continue to deny innate rights and a lot to be challanged in the homophobic arguments from the Religious Right

 

[Darkdale]

I justify my approval because there is no secular reason to continue to deny innate rights and a lot to be challanged in the homophobic arguments from the Religious Right

The only reason to deny homosexuals rights is the idea that homosexuality is a danger to liberty or society. I'd be interested in seeing those arguments, though, I have yet to see them. Just because a majority of Americans hate "gay people" isn't enough to deny them rights. I mean, a majority of Americans dislike "liberalism", but that hasn't been outlawed, nor should it be. You can't just go making laws against things you dislike. They have to present a danger. Homosexuality does not.

 

[Ormiston]

I guess I'm just lucky. I just happen to view gays the exact same way I view straight people. And I have absolutely no trouble with my child being exposed to gay couples. I have an aunt who I respect greatly and she has been in a lesbian relationship for over 10 years. Her girlfriend comes to all of my families gatherings and is considered as much a member of the family as anyone. I've been hit on by gay men and am not threatened by them any more than I'd be threatened by an ugly woman.

 

[Quiddity]

I've been hit on by gay men and am not threatened by them any more than I'd be threatened by an ugly woman.

LOL...:biglaugh:
You should retype that.

~Victor

 

[Ormiston]

LOL...:biglaugh:
You should retype that.

~Victor

...maybe you're right...?

Nah...my point is, I'm simply not interested in either. I'd like to say "equally" but I'd be lying.

 

[Ernestine]

Bottomline is it really doesn't matter what any of us "thinks" about homosexuality. God has spoken and indicates that men who lie with men (or women who lie with women) are something detestable to Him. So if you choose to do it--and it is definitely a choice--be prepared to deal with the consequences. Look up the word "porneia"--it will provide you with a definition of UNNATURAL sex acts that God condemns. If men were meant to be with men, God would not have bothered to create the female or vice-versa. A man's body compliments that of a woman, the primary purpose to pro-create. No matter how one might try to rationalize, deep within they know that homosexuality is wrong, hence your need to ask the question.

 

[Skavau]

No matter how one might try to rationalize, deep within they know that homosexuality is wrong, hence your need to ask the question.

So you're saying homosexuality is wrong because we consider that it may be wrong? I note some flaws in that apparent argument.

It seems very logically bankrupt in what it presents. Why does questioning make something wrong? Humanity has questioned all sorts of things throughout time involving sexual activity, does this mean they are all automatically wrong? And to clarify, I haven't consider homosexuality wrong at all.

 

[michel]

Bottomline is it really doesn't matter what any of us "thinks" about homosexuality. God has spoken and indicates that men who lie with men (or women who lie with women) are something detestable to Him. So if you choose to do it--and it is definitely a choice--be prepared to deal with the consequences. Look up the word "porneia"--it will provide you with a definition of UNNATURAL sex acts that God condemns. If men were meant to be with men, God would not have bothered to create the female or vice-versa. A man's body compliments that of a woman, the primary purpose to pro-create. No matter how one might try to rationalize, deep within they know that homosexuality is wrong, hence your need to ask the question.

--and it is definitely a choice--

AAAArGGGGGGGGGGGGGhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh You had to ruin the fun; it is most certainly not a matter of choice.

The last thread on this subject ruled out (if I can remember correctly) Genetics, pure choice, and the jury is out on "Hormonal effects on the Fetus" during Gestation.

Ernestine, I suggest you read up on the subject of homosexuality.

Try this for a thought; Say you are Heterosexual (which I assume you are, because of your attitude). Would you choose to allow yourself to be seen as a pariah of sections of society, make sure that you are denied all the equalities afforded to heteros in day to day life, law and Religion ?

Think about it.

Every week seems to bring yet another thread on homosexuality. Congratulations, Lions, on starting this week's thread! You'll fit in nicely around here!

I support GLBT rights because I figure it's the decent thing to do. Until someone can come up with a cogent argument why that's not so, I will continue to support GLBT rights.

On the other hand, I am against same sex marriage because always having the same kind of sex in a marriage is boring and leads to divorce.

Love it! Fruball worthy.

 

[Green Gaia]

Think about it.

They don't want to think about it, Michel. It's so much easier to condemn someone else and then blame it on God, rather than to try to understand someone and get to know them and love them as they are.

 

[Quiddity]

You had to ruin the fun; it is most certainly not a matter of choice.

But there is certainly a choice in having sexual relations.

~Victor

 

[Green Gaia]

But there is certainly a choice in having sexual relations.

Well, I would hope so.

But for the majority of people, both gay and straight, there is not choice in orientation.

 

[Fluffy]

Just a note, I tend to avoid the justification that homosexuality is not a choice and therefore justified. I support the right of a man to have sex with another man whether he is homosexual or not (same goes for women). Whether it is a choice or not is irrelevant.

I am coming to the idea that nobody is 100% homosexual or heterosexual. I think of it as a sliding scale with most at one end but never right at the end if you see what I mean. I'd be very surprised if the majority if people who viewed themselves as heterosexual had not had homosexual fantasys at some point in their life and vice versa.