God Is Gay?
Excerpt from On the Meaning of Adam Lambert
by Juneau
In choosing a title for this essay, my intention is not to offend, but to stimulate thinking. I chose this title because it evokes a number of ideas for me, such as: If Creation is the manifestation of God, and homosexuals are part of Creation, then homosexuals are a manifestation of God. And, that humans throughout history and culture have tried to define God; well then, why not this one? Or that God is unknowable, fluid, evading our efforts to define and set boundaries around – just as Gayness defies our simple dichotomies about gender.
One of the women (whom I call “C.”) posting on the wowowow site is a fundamentalist Christian who believes homosexuality is a sin. She still loves Adam, but frequently mentions that she doesn’t agree with his “life style”. Our dialog evolved into a conversation about religious belief. As a fundamentalist, C. interprets the Bible literally as the sole and true word of God. My response:
Hi C., this is such a rich and interesting discussion to have… I think our world is full of things made by humans — writing, art, music, buildings — but inspired by something we call divine. This doesn’t mean the work is therefore perfect. It is all of necessity interpreted through the human mind, with all its flaws, prejudices and cultural baggage. I am convinced that the Bible is no more privileged in this regard than any other sacred work, be it the Koran, Buddhist sutras, or the Sistine Chapel.
What is so compelling and moving to me is that despite the differences in epoch and culture, people were reaching for the same thing — an experience of the sacredness of our human lives and yearning to connect with something transcendent in the universe. If we could all recognize this, we would stop arguing about which belief system is “the Truth” — they are all striving towards the same truth. There are many roads to that truth. You found yours through Jesus. I found mine through science and Judaism. Unfortunately, we get distracted and blinded by the incidental details along the way. Homosexuality is one of these distractions, in my view.
You ask why God created a man and a woman. You may also ask why God created homosexuals. As I think E. and Glorious mentioned in previous posts, homosexuality is not a willful choice that some people make in defiance of God. They are born that way… It’s like race. There can be no justification for discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation.
I sometimes think race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, economic status, nationalism, and other such divisive attributes of human society are a grand test of our ability to see through the smokescreens of prejudice and tribalism and hear the Cosmic call to Love.
Juneau writes about neuroscience, physics and whatever else attracts her peripatetic attention. She is co-author with Xena of On the Meaning of Adam Lambert, and co-hostess of this Salon.
Cimi,
So I gather that you equate homosexuals with kidnappers and pornography… you can’t have one without the other, right?
I struggle to not be burdened with self-righteousness. It’s a heavy responsibility to have to speak for God, pointing out the error of everyone else’s ways but my own. So I hearby denounce my Christian upbringing, as it seems to require me to be judgemental and opinionated, narrow-minded and as dogmatic as an Islamic extremist.
If varying sex acts makes a person a sinner then please send me straight to hell where I’ll be free to enjoy myself as a human being, rather than have to be concerned that I am pro-creating or recreating in a Biblically approved manner.
There are millions of other books out there besides the Bible, which was edited some thousand years back by the eary Christians, who founded the Catholic Church. I can’t imagine limiting one’s education to the words of one book. But you go ahead and enjoy!
Well I just happened to….come by here…haven’t been here in months. And there’s a new comment.
RoRo. hi. I’m not real educated on speaking and writing eloquently. So i’ll just say this. I don’t judge anyone. All I meant to say was that Adam is a sinner just like you and me and everyone else. Albeit an awesome sinner:) I really….you know, there’s no words for Adam. He’s almost at the level of how much I love Jesus, and what Jesus did for us all by dying on the Cross for our sins so that we could have life eternal. You know, I don’t condone my own sin so how can I condone Adam’s? I just know. Ok, it’s my belief, yes, that Homosexuality is a sin just like any other sin. No worse. Just. sin. It’s as simple as that. We’re all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. God didn’t make sin. WE sin.! God didn’t make homosexuality. And to be clear, NO! I am not equating Adam with pornography and kidnappers. I don’t remember what i wrote in my last post about that and I can’t seem to find it. But no! I was just (in my own unorganized way) trying to let others no that sin is sin. God sees it all the same. none is worse than another. Hard to believe, I know. In my own finite mind I would think that murderers would be worse than people who gossip but, in God’s eyes, they’re not. Anyways. I certainly don’t mean to offend anyone but I have to tell the truth I know. God bless.
I want to expand on my remark that “homosexuality is not a choice.” After reading the recent blow-up in the LGBT community over Cynthia Nixon’s remarks about her bisexuality and choice to be with a woman, I feel it’s important to recognize that there is diversity in the expression of sexuality. Basing an argument about civil rights on whether sexuality is biologically ordained misses the larger point. This is about equality for all citizens. Rights should be taken away only when serious crimes are committed. Loving another consenting adult does not remotely fall into the category of a serious crime or threat to society. As far as we’re concerned, the world needs more love and more commitment by individuals to take care of one another, not less.
Peace,
Juneau
Ihis is about equality for all citizens. Rights should be taken away only when serious crimes are committed.
I so much agree. Still don’t agree that being homosexual is ok though.
I re-read this and would like to add another point. Regardless of our individual beliefs, according to our own Declaration of Independence and the Constitution all our citizens have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A legal union does not threaten anyone else’s marriage. The complexity of homosexuality is a lot for me or anyone to sort out. But I do know that here in the U.S., the right to happiness that does not threaten others should be a given. Yes, I do believe in the grace we receive from a loving God through Jesus and those most important words from Christ are repeated over and over in my Bible – we are to love one another; to love our neighbor as ourselves. We are not called to judge but to love.
I agree with different people and the freedom of our choices
And I refuse to put them God because God Promoted on all of this
With respect and greetings
God say’s it best: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me.
There is a requirement to enter life. To enter life one must give their life to Jesus Christ. In doing so one also must confess their sins and ask forgiveness. All gay/lesbians aside: God loves everyone. But…You have to be in Christ. All this means is that you know Him and accept what He did on the Cross for you. And I just gotta say–why WOULDN’T anyone accept what He did? I think it’s awesome! God came down from Glory, put Himself in a human body (like ours) and lived life here on earth yet, yet!! He committed no sin. wow. What. a. God. I’m tellin’ ya people, if you haven’t found Jesus yet…end times are drawing nigh, better get lookin’. I wanna see all of you in heaven with me:)