Religion and homosexuality...?

No, the feelings would not disappear. There are too many closed minded people in the world, often makes me wonder why they didn't come with closed mouths as well. The bible does not condemn homosexuality; there were homosexual acts listed in the bible. It is taken in context and people are made to believe thats what it says. There is a website I found and cant think of it at the moment but it talks about the 5 passages in the bible that condemn homosexuality that are misunderstood and interpreted the wrong way. If us homosexuals are as big of sinners as people think we are, everyone else we come in contact with on this earth we will meet in hell because they are no better than us. The bible was written by a man so whos to actually say what God thinks about it. I believe God is all loving and all forgiving and there is not one person on earth that will no be forgiven for what they do. God creates each individual person to be themselves and its nobody elses business to question what he creates.

Yes, anti-gay feeling would shrink noticably. But as someone else just commented, many believers do not have anti-gay feelings (though some may be just queasy about gay marriage, which is a lot less bad than many people would like to make us think). I am a gay atheist, but know many believers of various denominations who are not anti-gay or anti-gay marriage. Still, unequivocal acceptance by some of the larger church organizations would do a lot to reduce anti-gay feelings. We can feel certain of that, but it would take two generations to say that change was really wrought.

The same would be true of the military. A small (though really a very important) change in policy there would spell relief from most anti-gay feeling across American society. When President Truman ordered the racial integration of the armed forces in 1948, it took two generations for America to pretty much get with the program. We could expect the same delay to occur if the military changed its policy toward homosexual soldiers.

I would bet that a change on the part of the churches would bring about an even faster transformation, simply because they are (supposed to be) in the love-thy-neighbor business, not the kill-thy-neighbor business. The problem is, of course, that the large church organizations are NEVER going to take steps that may be perceived as compromising their professed morality. We are more likely to see a change occur in the policy of the American armed forces than in the policy of a large church. So I think people ought to put their efforts into change within the public or secular domain rather than within the private or spiritual(?) domain.

I think that religion plays a huge part with the anti-gay sentiment in this country. Most religions don't accept homosexuality. And if you're following the debate on gay marriage, you will see that a lot of the Christian religions absolutely hate homosexuality, and aren't afraid to voice that opinion.

If religions would accept homosexuality, I think it would still take about 20 years before it became no big deal. The reason for that is because you still have the ones who hate it around, give it enough time for the next generation to come in and there won't be as much of a problem.

The original question asked if religion is why there is anti-gay abuse. The answer is NO. I'm assuming the person writing the question was speaking of all organized religion that preach their word from the number one, all time best selling book, for over the last 100 years. "The Holy Bible".

The Bible clearly states at least 3 times that I'm aware of, that Homosexuallity is a sin. Though, the Bible also says that eatting pork is a sin, pre-marital sex, having sex with animals, eatting camels, etc. The one thing that many of you seem to be forgetting is that it also says in the Bible that God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son, and who ever shall believe in him shall not parrish, but have eternal life.

True Christians, are not anti-gay, because Jesus told them to love one another...not just other christians, but everyone, even their enemies. A person who knowingly and continually kills, covets, or tortues a homosexual is not a true Christan. A true Christian is also not a homosexual, because it is a continous sin. A person who knowingly and continually defies the word of God is simply not a Christian. No big deal. IMHO I think if homosexuals want to practice a modified religion to suit their sexual desires, than they should build their own religious denomination. It's your American right to worhship any God you choose, but you should NOT demand that Christians Change the beleifs they have in their God.

I think the reason so many homosexuals feel as though religious denomiminations decriminate against gays/lesb. is because many homosexuals feel that Christians should CHANGE what they have beleived and studies and worshiped since the beginning of time. The True Christians will not Change Gods word, and really why should Christians have to re-write "The Holy Bible"? Homosexuals need to adapt to their own relgion which says its great to be a homosexual. Christians beleive that Jesus Christ is the son of God...The Jews don't. A true Christian doesn't expect the the Jews to Change their beliefs, because it doesn't suit them...or cry discrimination because they don't practice the same beliefs.

It really mistifys me that so many various social groups demand others to change to suit their needs. If 1/2 of that energy was spent working on themselves, building their own communities, and worrying about issues that really matter, like alternaive fuel sources, soil conservation, pollution, and child walfare this would be such a glorious planet.

As a gay Catholic I would say that religion is a big reason why there is so much anti-gay abuse out there even though the numbers of people going to Church are dwindling. There is also the "macho man" image that many young straight guys seem to think they have to have - although what exactly is tough about a group of guys bashing up one gay guy is beyond my comprehension.

To top this off the Courts seem to think that it is ok to beat up gay people - although this attitude is changing thanks mainly to the deaths of Matthew Sheppard and others and the subsequent outporings of anger. It is sadly a cultural problem that encompasses a couple of generations and it will take two or three generations to wipe it out.

Luckily things are slowly changing for the better but it is baby steps all the way and soetimes it is two steps forward, one step back, and at other times one step forward, two steps back, but I think overall we are making slow progress.

Sadly it will take politicians with some testicular fortitude and it appears doubtful that we will ever be likely to see any. The Democrats (in the US) and Labor (in the UK, Australia and NZ) keep promising us the world but never seem to deliver. We faithfully give them our votes and they dribble bits of legislation our way here and there, all the while promising great sweeping change - but never delivering on their promises.

One day - maybe. (SIGH)

God opposes homosexuality and every other sin.Does God hate the people?No just the act which is the sin.If you expect God to accept practicing homosexuals into the "church" or as saved you must be insane.The bible says anyone that is involved in such acts and doesnt flee the immorality are to be stayed away from.That goes for outside marriage sexual relationships and all other sins as well.Homosexuals if they are such as they say can be Christians if they stay away from that lifestyle.Same as with anyone.The bible is totally against the gay relationships so if a gay person wants Christ lay down the lover and take up the cross.It seems harsh or"narrow minded" but either Gods word is the authority or it isnt.Take that for what its worth.Hope that helps oh yeah get away from the false teachings of catholism!!!!!

the main reason so many people are against homosexuals stems from the church and their upbringing within the church or small town beliefs witch also stem from the teachings of their church . If the church would leave the issue alone , the tolerance level would go way up . I don't feel that anti tolerance would disappear completely for a good while . You have to remember that there are so many people who are still out there that allow someone else to do their thinking for them . ie: the church their parents friends . So as long as these people still live they will continue to poison others with their narrow minds and warped beliefs .

Conservatives, and these new 'neo-con' dorks, dislike anything out of the mainstream. They see it as a threat to Authority, which is the most important thing to Conservatives. Their view is if we dont follow the leader society will fall apart and the loosely shared values of our various cultures will fall into chaos. It is very important, to them, to fit in and be a part of constructive society. It is highly ironic that people who hold this view should actually oppose gay marriage. Gays who are ready to settle down and have a commited relationship generally want to contribute to society in a constructive way too. Some couples want to adopt children, 'fit in' with other parents, and provide a loving stable environment for their child. They fill a role by being willing to adopt children that are hard to place, minority orphans some of whom have medical problems. These children would languish in orphanges without the benefits of a loving couple devoted to their well-being if it werent for the nice gay couple who adopted them. Gays do not try to raise their child gay. They accept the child's personal orientation. The Conservatives look at the homosexual orientation as a matter of choice and therefore think of them as deviant. Conservatives refuse to accept the findings of many studies that show homosexuality is a natural condition that one is born with and not a matter of deviant psychology or a decision that bucks the 'natural order'. If they would just accept that gays are born that way they would find new allies that fill a constructive societal role. The biggest thing that prevents Conservatives from accepting homosexuality as a birth condition that occurs in nature is Divine Infallibility. God cannot make a mistake. If you view homosexuality as a mistake, then God has faltered. They think that homosexuality must then be a choice and not something that God would plan out. I would like to point out the long history of minority-bashing that the Religeous Right has engaged in and remind everyone that the human spirit is universal, there is not a One True Path, the planet is full of interpretations of human spirituality, and theology out of the Middle East is more about social conformity than spiritual development. Hopefully churches that accept homosexuality will become more common and gays who choose to be Christian will be able to contribute to their church without judgment or 'curings'.

I THINK YOU NEED TO "GROW UP" NOT THE CHURCH.

YOU ARE ASYING THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY NE THAT IS RIGHT.

IT IS AGAINST THE BIBLE, IT IS AGAINSE HUMANITY IT IS AGAINST ALL THAT IS THE FABRIC OF THIS EARTH.

BEING GAY IS WRONG, IT IS A CHOICE AND IT IS WRONG.

SAW THIS TOO:

Lets first examine the definition of homosexuality...it is the practice of sexual behavior with the same sex. A great debate these days. Is it deviant? i.e. behaviors and attitudes that differ from the normal social and moral standards.

Hmmmmmm...

Let me put it this way.

If I loved having sex with animals and formed a group to say that we were born this way, and started challanging laws that opposed this behavior... going so far as to challenge the very Bible that teaches against it... and marching in parades, having protest, and touting the illusion that I am being discriminated against because I love beastiality... would you say it is deviant or that it was just my right to do my thing?

Moral decay, is moral decay, and unnatural behaviors can not be made right by giving it a superficial tweek with a name change. That name is "gay".

Gay is a cute name and makes it socially acceptable... socially palletable... But it still remains a continued and ongoing asset in the moral decay column.

I do not hate or dislike people who practice homosexuality, but it is time for some one to stand up and call a horse a horse.

The aime of the homosexual movement is to attack the Bible. Oh, I know what youre thinking... this guy is nuts. But if satan can keep blinding the minds of the homosexual community, they will unwittingly get laws changed that will declair it a crime to speak against their sexual practices, under the satanic inspired veil of discrimination.

If that happens, what would happen to men and women of God who speak against homosexual practices from their church pulpits, or in the streets? Can you say, Monopoly Game--Go straight to jail... It could seriously mean persecution of true believers. Persecution of the true Church, if you will allow it....

just food for thought...

The short answer is yes, if religions grew up and accepted homosexuals then prejudice would disappear within a few decades, and perhaps we could see an end to atrocities, like the hanging of two gay boys in Iran, with some lame excuses following.

It wouldn't *all* disappear--but a great deal of individual prejudice would evaporate, and more importantly, the institutional supports for legal policies of heterosexism & homophobia would collapse. There might be individual people who are anti-Gay (remember, for example, there are some homophobes among atheists, although not with anything like the frequency that one encounters it among evangelical Christians & fundamentalist Muslims), but the massive movements of heterosexist intolerance & oppression would lose their steam, and legalized inequality might disappear.

To be fair, though, many religious groups are *not* anti-Gay at all. Some examples of affirming, pro-LGBT religious groups:

--Unitarian Universalist

--Quaker (traditional, that is to say, liberal, Society of Friends)

--Neo-Paganism, including Wicca

--United Church of Christ

--Metropolitan Church of Christ

--reconciling & welcoming congregations (individual churches/synagogues, but not whole denominations) in mainline Protestant denominations & Reform Jewish synagogues

--Swedenborgian Christians