Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - Apache Junction, Arizona, USA
CONVERSING WITH "GOD HATES GAYS" CHRISTIANS
I was having a conversation with a Christian woman from another journal. In trying to help her understand that gays and lesbians are born that way, I directed her to a web site written by a conservative Baptist Christian minister. I doubt she read the entire 13 page article, but she immediately posted her views on what the minister had to say.
Her response was to tell me this conservative minister twisted the scriptures and that my life was based on believing a lie of the devil. {sigh} She did say one thing that I wholeheartedly agree with. “I know arguing with people is moot unless they are seeking for TRUTH.” (Emphasis is hers.)
It’s very difficult to converse with someone who’s only grasp of fact is that you believe in lies from the devil and they have the truth of God. That pretty much stops any conversation right there because nothing you can possibly show such a person can trump what they believe God supposedly says - even if God never said any such thing.
Christianity has a long history of taking such stances. Here is a small list of unsupported doctrinal truths that led to the deaths of millions who believed differently:
This is by no means the whole list. All of these popular beliefs were considered the Truth of God in their day. All but two are considered laughable today. All were supported by scripture during their time. Only two are supported by scripture today. Millions of supporters of opposing views were tortured and put to death over the years. Supporters of two must still fear such things today, yet the church denies its role and responsibility for it.
Everyone knows that truth is a relative concept. One person may believe something to be true that another does not. This is why there are so many religions and so many denominations of the Christian religion. I have no problems with anyone’s religious beliefs until they interfere with the everyday lives of someone else. No religion on earth supports the hatred that people harbor against opposing beliefs. Certainly God, no matter whom you believe God to be, doesn’t condone it. Yet today, religious hatred is as common and runs as deep as it has for thousands of years. We haven’t come very far as civilized human beings have we?
In this modern day, as a lesbian, I should be able to sit down with a conservative Christian and speak intelligently with them concerning our differences. I should be able to share scriptural knowledge with them without being accused of twisting or distorting God’s Word. I should be able to attend their churches without feeling like a leper. But with the exception of a few instances I can’t do any of these things.
Even though Jesus Christ NEVER said a single word against gays or homosexuality, some Christians can’t even admit that God might not think of gays as they do. Even though the homosexual lifestyle as we know it today (homosexuals living in committed relations until their death) was never reported in print in Europe until 1869, and in America until 1888, they believe that certain passages in the Bible, written hundreds of years before that, refer to gays rather than to heterosexual people committing acts of lust with each other. Even though judgements outlawing other activities (such as eating shellfish) are found at the same place as the supposed law against homosexuality (which wasn’t even known to exist at the time) it’s okay to say God hates the one activity but not the others. Even though the Bible says nothing about the innate homosexuality as we know it today or about people who are homosexuals, these people say gays are an abomination in the eyes of God. Even though many conservative Christians have come out in favor of being more understanding of homosexuals, they receive email after email - hate mail that cites religious justification for the hatred.
What happened to asking “What would Jesus say about this?” Jesus had nothing to say. Not one word. Nada. If being gay was such a huge sin, one would think he would have at least put it up there with the sins of Pharisees, which he spoke on over and over again. Jesus is supposed to be the example.
I’m gay. I’m just like you. Sex means no more or no less to me than to any heterosexual. I was created in God’s image for His purpose. I work, eat, shop, love my family and friends, just like you do. There is no difference in God’s eyes between my sins and your sins. It’s as simple as that. I’m willing to discuss it with you, if you’re willing to discuss it with me.
©2004 Marcia Ellen "Happy" Beevre
Comments:
Post a Comment
.
![[ Registered ]](http://www.ardeon.org/happy/journals/button.jpg)
