Gay friendly religions?

Well Wicca's usually gay friendly and the neo-pagan community in general tends to be very open toward gay lifestyles.

Yes, wicca is very tolerent of differences. With a creed of
"And it harm none, do as you will...", how could it NOT be?

Originally Posted by LightFilledHeart

Lazarus, beautiful!!! It rings true to me

The religion I most relate to if I were religious would be Buddhism. It relates to my spirituality. What's the difference? I know that Buddhists don't just "Believe", they "experience it". Belief is one thing but to experience it is another. What's the difference between Buddhism and Spirituality?

The New Message from God is also a gay/lesbian friendly religion. There is spiritual doctrine that speaks directly to this.

[theophilus]

Originally Posted by Lady Scarletmoon

I'm looking for a belief system that will not consitantly say i'm going to hell because i'm a lesbian....do u know of any?

Perhaps you can find your answer here:

http://www.spiritualforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=248592&postcount=1

The UU is the main too that I can think of that are gay friendly, though there is no formal "belief" system. There are some Christian churches that are open and affirming, like ones under the "progressive Christianity" structure. Example: Cathedral of Hope Salt Lake City is affirming and welcoming. Google The Center for Progressive Christianity (I can't post links yet).
So if Christianity is an option-there you go.

For any Gay or Lesbian Christians out there please go to this site... don't be swayed by any misinterpretations of the bible that try to tell you that abstinence is an answer or denial of your natural feelings is wrong... that is just personal bias... wrong... wrong... wrong... god would never want that for us... he made just as we are and god wants us to accept who and what he made of us... we should find joy in who we are...

Here is great quote below... from the web site.

http://christiangays.com/

"As society is learning to accept gays based on basic human rights, this website supports homosexuality as an orientation based on Scripture alone.

It is our belief that the Original Scriptures, when understood in the correct context and culture of their time, make no mention of homosexuality. References to same-sex acts were with regard to rape, domination, idol worship, purity laws for the priests, etc. We condemn these acts as well, but recognize that they do not relate in any way to a loving, monogamous relationship between two people of the same sex.

Gays suffer much rejection. Gay Christians suffer especially so, wanting so much to be a part of the church they love, and yet being rejected just for who they are. Jesus always reached out to those who were rejected. Jesus reaches out to we gays today to tell us that we are loved, just as we were created!"

Gay friendly denominations:

United Church of Christ - http://www.ucc.org/ (Track record for liberal activism. When Anne Rice left the Catholic Church again over homosexuality, they sent her a letter asking her for fellowship because they accepted gays.)

Unitarian Universalist Associations - http://www.uua.org/ (Pretty much ideal for a gay person of any religious persuasion.)

Unity Church - http://unity.org/ (I plan on attending one of these congregations. Looks to be ideal for the gay Christian.)

Evangelical Lutheran Church of America - http://www.elca.org/ (Very upper class crowd here, from my experience. Upper class means better educated and more temperate when it comes to social issues. Though missional, they're still pretty apolitical for the most part. Members tend to be democrats.)



Other (not necessarily total tolerance, but moderate enough you can attend, be openly gay, and not get canned):

http://www.umc.org/ - United Methodist Church (very neutral atmosphere. some people will be very liberal, some people will be quite conservative. loving community overall.)

http://www.abc-usa.org/ - American Baptist Churches (MLK's denomination. known for it's political liberalism.)

http://www.disciples.org/ - Christian Church / Disciples of Christ (never been to one of these, but a friend of mine says its very moderate to liberal)



Churches to stay away from:

Roman Catholic Church - No explanation.

Eastern Orthodox - I assume they take the same stance as the Western church.

Plymouth Brethren - Expect to get canned.

Any Presbyterian Church - Expect to get canned.

Any Pentecostal Church (Assembly of God, Church of God, etc.) - Expect to get canned.

Non-denominational evangelical churches - Expect to get canned.

Episcopal Church in America - Used to be moderate, now they've gotten tight about homosexuality.

Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - Very conservative twin of ELCA.

Calvary Chapel - Super conservative. Expect to get canned.

Evangelical Free Church - Expect to get canned.

Southern Baptist Convention - Yeah. You already know.

[theophilus]

Originally Posted by Rivendoah

he made just as we are and god wants us to accept who and what he made of us... we should find joy in who we are...

The problem with this belief is that the human race is no longer in the condition in which God created it. God created the first humans with the ability to live forever. They sinned and as a result death entered the world. The fact that some people are gay doesn't prove that that is what God intended for us. This is a much better site for gay Christians because it recognizes the authority of the Bible and doesn't try to interpret it to fit some preconceived ideas.

http://truefreedomtrust.co.uk/faq

Here is what it says about being gay:

If God made me this way, surely it must be right to express my sexuality
Sexuality development is a complex process, different for each person and involving several factors, including possibly some genetic predispositions. Being born or not born with attractions does not determine the right to act on them.

Why does God allow people to have gay feelings?
We're living in a fallen world, and every one of us is born into this world with an imperfect sinful nature. Whilst it's true that God has 'knit me together in my mother's womb' (Psalm 139:13), the Psalmist also makes it clear that 'surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me' (Psalm 51:5). An inevitable consequence of living in a fallen world with a sinful nature is that we will all desire and long for things, which are clearly prohibited by God in the Bible. Some people will struggle with anger, others with envy, still others with hatred, bitterness, jealousy, slander, or a desire to steal, or commit adultery, or to rebel against their parents. Most people will struggle to one degree or another with lust; for the majority it will be lust over people of the opposite sex, but for some it will be lust over people of the same sex - the Bible simply calls it lust.
The gospel of Jesus Christ redeems (rescues) us from the power and consequences of our sinful natures and begins to transform us, so that increasingly, step by step, we desire and are empowered to live lives which conform to God's pattern for living in the Bible. It's worth noting that very often 'gay feelings' are actually masking a legitimate, unfulfilled need for a right kind of same-sex intimacy, affection, affirmation and acceptance.

The above information is a good reason not to trust how many have interpreted the bible... they want everyone to believe that how they have interpreted the bible is the the ONLY way to interpret the bible... I believe they are wrong... and if you are gay or coming out as a gay christian don't let these people put you back in the closet... the want us to see ourselves as sinners because we have found love in the arms of a person of the same sex... they want to keep us oppressed by trying to tell us that what they believe is the word of god... this is simply an attempt try to interpret the bible to fit some their own preconceived ideas and person bias.

This is all based upon what I believe is a wrong headed interpretation of cherry-picked quotes from the bible... it is all built on a house of cards... that is what i think...

Don't let them try and tell you that what you feel is wrong... god is with us on this... hold strong against the oppression of love...

Here is some interesting reading about how much the bible can and has been twisted...

Here a quote that says it all in my opinion.

"For Fundamentalists the Biblical word is clear and absolute, it is a reality in itself and its meaning is unchanging. It is not relative to the understanding of those who hear it in its varying cultural and historical context. As a result is does not really require interpretation. In a sense fundamentalism is not another kind of interpretation, but a denial of the need and legitimacy of interpretation. It presupposes that the Biblical word can be immediately grasped by all. Unwittingly of course the fundamentalist does interpret, such is the nature of reading and communication. Without realizing it, the fundamentalist equates 'the Word of God' with his or her interpretation of it, and absolutism that for all. In the Catholic Church we have only ever claimed that one person is infallible. In fundamentalist Churches, everyone is infallible".

Now... the thing to remember is that no one has the answer... no one the absolute truth... that rests in the heart... not in a book... we each must chart our own path to heaven and anyone who stands in your path waving a flag of absolutes should be gently pushed aside... they know not what they do...

http://www.christendom-awake.org/pag...bibletruth.htm

http://www.evilbible.com/

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...icle574768.ece