For me it brought me closer to my spiritual quest! Because i needed to face I was created like this by my Maker, so obviously i could count on a Higher Power to help.
I am not *religious* anymore, but highly spiritual.
I was raised within a protestant church, but stopped attending when I was 14. I never heard anything specific against gay people at church, I just drifted away slowly. I consider myself slightly religious and deeply spiritual. I believe in God and pray frequently in addition to meditation. I don't believe that being a lesbian excludes me from believing in God. I have a dear friend who is very religious and we debate this all the time. She really feels deep in her heart that I am going to burn in hell for all of eternity for being a lesbian. But, I believe that God made me this way and is not going to punish me in the after life for being a lesbian. It's not really something that I struggle with because I know what I believe and I don't really care what anyone else thinks! :lol: The matter of my soul is my business and I am not worried about it.
I was brought up in what is technically a Lutheran (but very lapsed) family, keeping in mind the Swedish Lutheran is very different from the understanding of the same denomination in other countries. Effectively, my parents go to church for births, weddings and christenings, and confirmations, which are huge in Sweden (the teenagers-usually around 14-15, enjoy it because you get a party and lots of presents, and generally you get to go away to summer camp and do something nuts while learning enough to get through the confirmation). I was confirmed by an old family friend (effectively adopted brother of my grandfather) who ran a summer camp on an island in the Stockholm archipelago with no running water and electricity. I loved it, and my Pastor's view on religion, despite him being a Pastor, was a lot more down to earth than you might expect.
I was deep in depression at the time, and felt alive out on that island. I almost made friends. We moved to England around the same time, and in my search for something that would help me sort out my life, I turned to religion here too. I joined the local church youth group, and for a time it gave me comfort. But I never could deal with the faith side...I'm a bit too mired in needing something that makes sense to me.
I've gradually drifted, partly because I finally realised I was gay when I was 19, but also because it simply wasn't answering the questions I had about my life and my mind. My local church leaders do not have an issue with me being gay (I asked them), but the heads of the Anglican church continue to be quite clearly homophobic. Even then, I'd have continued had I just been able to have that sort of relationship with God. But I just don't work that way.
My counsellor/coach/teacher uses a lot of the Hawaiian Huna principles, and I finally bought a book on it because it all made so much sense. I have been reading it avidly since...it makes SENSE to me! It's like I'm reading my own mind, when reading the explanations in that book, and knowing that there is so much more to this than just the book! I no longer count myself as "Christian", although I am so by birth, but more Spiritual, probably on the path towards studying Huna in more detail. And essentially believing that we are all perfect, we just need to believe in ourselves and each other(and no, I don't do that well yet, but I'm working on it).
to be honest...i'm not religious at all. i used to be a fairly spiritual being, however, but not so much anymore...about the only thing i really believe in is karma and the cosmos :)
Yes, yes, yes, this is a very touchy topic. Well, first. I follow more than just one path, I follow a variety of them. First, I follow the practices of Catholicism, without the overbearingness of patriarchy. Second, I follow the simple practices of Buddhism, with all of the balances that lie within it. Third, I follow the mystical side of being a Wiccan, and all of the Goddess/God worship/love of all living things aspect of it. And finally, my basic practice of Presbyterianism, and my deep respect of the Jewish path. At one time in my young life, I wanted to convert to the Jewish path, but the possibility is still there.
Contrary to popular belief (lol!) The Presbyterian church that I'm a member of is very progressive. You might say that it's very liberal in its views, but don't think for a minute that tradition doesn't run deep within it. It most certainly does.
My faith is based on the miracles that have happened in my life (I'm foolish enough to believe in miracles, because what happened to me in my "past" life, it can't be explained any other way.) I do believe that there is a God/Goddess that sent his/her angels to keep me from "going home" too soon. I do believe that my Creator sent me the message, "It's not time for you to come home, just yet. I'm not done with you." So, I'm living my Creator's will, and it has brought me along fine so far.
Pages
For me it brought me closer to my spiritual quest! Because i needed to face I was created like this by my Maker, so obviously i could count on a Higher Power to help.
I am not *religious* anymore, but highly spiritual.
I was raised within a protestant church, but stopped attending when I was 14. I never heard anything specific against gay people at church, I just drifted away slowly. I consider myself slightly religious and deeply spiritual. I believe in God and pray frequently in addition to meditation. I don't believe that being a lesbian excludes me from believing in God. I have a dear friend who is very religious and we debate this all the time. She really feels deep in her heart that I am going to burn in hell for all of eternity for being a lesbian. But, I believe that God made me this way and is not going to punish me in the after life for being a lesbian. It's not really something that I struggle with because I know what I believe and I don't really care what anyone else thinks! :lol: The matter of my soul is my business and I am not worried about it.
Shannon
What a fascinating topic this is!
I was brought up in what is technically a Lutheran (but very lapsed) family, keeping in mind the Swedish Lutheran is very different from the understanding of the same denomination in other countries. Effectively, my parents go to church for births, weddings and christenings, and confirmations, which are huge in Sweden (the teenagers-usually around 14-15, enjoy it because you get a party and lots of presents, and generally you get to go away to summer camp and do something nuts while learning enough to get through the confirmation). I was confirmed by an old family friend (effectively adopted brother of my grandfather) who ran a summer camp on an island in the Stockholm archipelago with no running water and electricity. I loved it, and my Pastor's view on religion, despite him being a Pastor, was a lot more down to earth than you might expect.
I was deep in depression at the time, and felt alive out on that island. I almost made friends. We moved to England around the same time, and in my search for something that would help me sort out my life, I turned to religion here too. I joined the local church youth group, and for a time it gave me comfort. But I never could deal with the faith side...I'm a bit too mired in needing something that makes sense to me.
I've gradually drifted, partly because I finally realised I was gay when I was 19, but also because it simply wasn't answering the questions I had about my life and my mind. My local church leaders do not have an issue with me being gay (I asked them), but the heads of the Anglican church continue to be quite clearly homophobic. Even then, I'd have continued had I just been able to have that sort of relationship with God. But I just don't work that way.
My counsellor/coach/teacher uses a lot of the Hawaiian Huna principles, and I finally bought a book on it because it all made so much sense. I have been reading it avidly since...it makes SENSE to me! It's like I'm reading my own mind, when reading the explanations in that book, and knowing that there is so much more to this than just the book! I no longer count myself as "Christian", although I am so by birth, but more Spiritual, probably on the path towards studying Huna in more detail. And essentially believing that we are all perfect, we just need to believe in ourselves and each other(and no, I don't do that well yet, but I'm working on it).
Gentle hugs,
Chris
www.rainbowinspirations.co.uk
http://rainbowinspired.livejournal.com/
He he...dig the blues, I think i got more spiritual after I lost my religion...
Hugs
Roxy
Yes, yes, yes, this is a very touchy topic. Well, first. I follow more than just one path, I follow a variety of them. First, I follow the practices of Catholicism, without the overbearingness of patriarchy. Second, I follow the simple practices of Buddhism, with all of the balances that lie within it. Third, I follow the mystical side of being a Wiccan, and all of the Goddess/God worship/love of all living things aspect of it. And finally, my basic practice of Presbyterianism, and my deep respect of the Jewish path. At one time in my young life, I wanted to convert to the Jewish path, but the possibility is still there.
Contrary to popular belief (lol!) The Presbyterian church that I'm a member of is very progressive. You might say that it's very liberal in its views, but don't think for a minute that tradition doesn't run deep within it. It most certainly does.
My faith is based on the miracles that have happened in my life (I'm foolish enough to believe in miracles, because what happened to me in my "past" life, it can't be explained any other way.) I do believe that there is a God/Goddess that sent his/her angels to keep me from "going home" too soon. I do believe that my Creator sent me the message, "It's not time for you to come home, just yet. I'm not done with you." So, I'm living my Creator's will, and it has brought me along fine so far.
Very deep topic, Caly.
Thanks,
Sebastian
Hugs,
Sebastian
http://www.facebook.com/sebastianbruce
I know what you mean Roxy.
Hey Shannon,
Thanks for your input.
Thanks Chris! I am glad you like the topic.
Isn't it awesome when you finally find something that "clicks" for you?
Nothing wrong with believing in Karma and the Cosmos.
Pages