I'm Christian and my roommate/landlord is a gay male... I actually brought this subject up a few months ago to a good friend who's also a minister

He told me although he didn't realize it at first the first church he was a Reverend for was a gay church and he really liked working there... He also told me that ultimately God is love and won't get into debating about it...

I think when the Bible and the Gnostics were written God was working on populating the world and that's where all of this came from

There may be a church in your area that may work mainly with the Gay/Lesbian population??... perhaps.... Big hug...xo

I like your thoughts on this. That is a valid point. I'm glad there is a least one gay church out there. I'm straight but know several gay people and they are lovely.

There is probably a church that supports gay people in Portland not far from my home. It's pretty progressive.

Hugs.

I also believe God knew who we were and loved us before we were born

A lot of Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Lutherans support the LGBT population. Just look up the church online and they will tell you on their website what their beliefs are.

I still feel that organized religion is dangerous.
I have a one-on-one relationship with God and that's what it's all about.

Unitarian Universalists are a good option. They welcome everyone and are based on wisdom from all uplifting spiritual traditions. They come together to help social causes as well. Atheists even attend happily. No one is trying to change anyone. It is not based on one religion or spirtual practice. You may have to travel to a larger town to find them.

Personally I don't believe you have to "be part of organized religion" to be religious. you can study the bible, have your own relationship with god and do it however you want to. I worked for a very large group in organized religion for 10 years and it was quite eye opening....

I am not a fan of organized religion either - my spirituality grows from within and is fostered by loving acts, kind acts, loving experiences and sharing compassion - feeling compassion for all living things, beings, etc. It opens my eyes to a fresh world ready to accept all people for all of their acts and intentions, their being, no judgment or stigma, no partial acceptance. If you open your heart to the world, you will see beauty among all life. I feel like a preacher! Sorry!! I love that people find spirituality ANYWHERE - whether that's within a religion or individually. There's that part of us that needs to be filled with hope and passion. That's where it all lies.

Yes, I guess I am not into organized religion. I've never been big on following the crowd.

Thank you for all the wonderful input. Big hugs.

Hi Jenn~~

Good topic. I'm an everyday Christian so my faith involves much more than attending church services. I've found that it is essential to remember the purpose of church -- to worship God -- nothing more, nothing less. I hate it when churches become involved in politics and social issues.

As I was growing up, I was mostly exposed to the Presbyterian church. And for the most part, I don't think gay-ness was discussed (at least in our household, heck, even s-e-x was not discussed) but in the 70's, I followed my older sister to a Charismatic church. That is where it was discussed loudly and clearly. It was most emphatically a SIN according to the pastor of that church. Along with secular college education. So when I was 32, I finally got the opportunity to get a college education and got one. I was actively involved with the theater department, and that's where I first got my one-on-one exposure to gay people. Which started a fire-and-brimstone storm in my head. I was very confused, because what I saw was not at all what I was taught. Long story short, I decided that most of the gay people I met there were an awful lot more loving, intelligent, and gifted than a lot of the Christian people I had met and gone to church with. And grew up with.

It took a long time for me to re-wire my brain, but eventually that's were I landed with God's grace. In my understanding, the Old testament was about the law, and over time, mankind was at least supposed to learn that trying to follow the law wasn't working very well for us fallible humans. So then came the New testament, where we were introduced to God's grace. And still being in that process, I think we are supposed to learn that us fallible humans are very much in need of God's grace in order to keep from destroying ourselves, others, and even this very planet we live on.

I also believe that the most intimate relationship we can have with God is one-on-one. However, I don't think it's organized religion per se, that is dangerous. What I believe to be dangerous is the strict and rigid following of organized religion. Or any other institution, for that matter. Especially when it's based on following a certain order of things specifically designed to control a group of people within certain exclusive parameters. (which, along with the law, nobody can follow absolutely anyway)

The one thing, if nothing else, I can point to is, the most specific teaching in the Bible that I know of regarding gay (homosexual) people also mentions idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, thieves, THE GREEDY, drunkards, slanderers, and swindlers. I capitalize the greedy because, who hasn't been greedy at least once? The first part of that passage refers to "the wicked" and then goes on to say, "neither the...." and then goes on with the long list of other types of people. So, who were the "wicked" Paul was referring to? To sum that up, I think in one way or another, that pretty much means everybody. ( I Corinthians 6 : 9,10)

Which brings me back to the idea of God's grace. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23).

My remaining question is, with all of those types of people mentioned along with homosexuals in that one verse, why have the
LGBT's been so widely marginalized among sinners? Aren't we all?
Hopefully, by the time we finish the New testament, we'll figure out that working together and solving problems works better than shaming and blaming and making yet another new law.

Presbyterian USA is the current organization that is the most "diverse" friendly group in organized religion these days. They generally don't take offense to homosexual's....

JennS what a great topic! Thanx And Starfish i love your response as well.
I agree that not all Christians are homophobic but many are at least here in Missouri. I know that my fiances mom is very religious. I have been with my fiance for 7 years now and her mother still treats me and our relationship like crap becauee, as she puts it, we are going to hell. She is a minister at her church. A church that preaches love and forgiveness and so on and yet she treats me like shit because I am gay and because im white! Hilarious!!! on so many counts!!

I know not all Christians are against homosexuality but between that and my fondnes for pre-marital sex, abortions and birth control I know I can never be a Christian.

I'm a Wiccan, or witch. I have a very involved spirituality that I practice alone that involves meditation, yoga, and spells.

It is not necessary to attend a Church to have spiritual experiences. you can worship the Jesus or universe of your own choosing inside your house with a candle and some incense and not have someone else be telling you what to believe and who to hate. Explore your own personal spirituality both inside and outside the church in which you are raised and you may find yourself being much more fulfilled then just attending a church which you may disagree with.