That last post was a little simplistic. On purpose. I'm not an expert on Christianity or on homosexuality. Just like the vast majority of the population. I know so many kind, caring Christians who have allowed the Church to tell them everything they know about gays. Who else is going to tell them? They don't know any gay people. Or so they think. It's not an issue they need to deal with, so they don't bother to think it through. Frankly, I'm the same way about a lot of things. For instance, race isn't a big issue in my life. I don't know many people of different races, and I don't know what we do or don't have in common. So I treat them the way I treat everybody, and I reserve judgement. I just don't dwell on it. I do, however, have gay friends, whom I love. And I see them as whole people, not as gay people. And it saddens me that most people don't. How anyone could know W and B and M, and not love them, is totally beyond me.
I wrote about what gays might have to offer Christianity, intentionally in a bare-bones manner. I wanted to define it in practical terms that "devout" Christians could relate to. Kindergarten level? Maybe. Just an introduction to the idea that the devotion, compassion and love they hold so dear, is right there in front of them! In the people they condemn, the people they think are defective and lacking and sinful. I wanted to write the kind of thing I could show to my Christian friends, or "accidentally" leave in a church pew, and maybe make one or two people think. Consider. Ask a few questions.
Homosexuality is complex. All sexuality is complex, but that's not something we straights usually notice. Being in the majority, we take ours for granted. Sexuality is also physical, not spiritual, in that it doesn't define our relationship with divinity. How can I explain to Christians that gay believers are not "them," they are "us." Nobody's biology defines their spirituality. Isn't the spirit bigger than anything physical? God is not a bigot, yet so many of his followers genuinely believe that bigotry serves Him.
gay believers are not "them," they are "us."
ReplyDeleteMy Favorite line of this post. Well done
My brother is gay, queer as a football bat. But he is also a Coffey and we laugh a lot. He is very religious, too. We have had many talks about his sexuality and I am a firm believer that homosexuality is in the genes. You are born that way. So if being gay is a sin, then it's God's fault. He fucked up. Being natural is not wrong. But the hate filled, sanctimonious “Christians” are. God loves us all…well…he may be holding judgment on me, but He does love everyone else regardless of who or what they are. Even Democrats!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of writing something and "accidentally" leaving it in a church pew. Here are some points I would make if I were writing on that subject: 1) God created all men in His image. 2) Love thy neighbor 3)Was slavery right? Discriminating against and placing judgment on gays is the same corner of the foundation that slavery was born on.
ReplyDeleteBTW - The latest US Census indicated that Hispanics made up more than half of the population in the U.S.A. !!!
Not the right comment place, but couldn't find your email and wanted to make sure you'd read this: http://nerdyapplebottom.com/2011/02/03/epilogue/ with the initial post (referenced in that post) being here http://nerdyapplebottom.com/2010/11/02/my-son-is-gay/
ReplyDeletePeace out!