Can you be gay and religious?

[Kulindahr]

Gay and religious? I'd say spiritual. I have no interest in being around people who think I should burn in hell because I like guys too.

I guess you can be gay and religious, but why? Religious leaders preach their hateful ignorance and condemnation about people like us to their followers who then try to make us feel we shouldn't get to breathe the same air as they do. "Love the sinner, but hate the sin!" Is that supposed to make me feel better about them, or myself?

Interesting that some only see the toxic side -- they need to learn this:

Sure you CAN. Just don't get involved with a toxic church. I know of more than one church welcoming to same sex folks

 

[Windsong]

I think it's a hard thing.

When I was in my 20s, I used to think, gosh, there has to be a middle ground, a point where I can comfortably balance both my deep and genuine religious beliefs, with a sexuality that I really wasn't okay with. I used to think that.

But then I tried for lifelong celibacy and only got until my mid-30s before I couldn't do it anymore. Doing the right thing just got me multiple suicide attempts.

Dated my first ever boyfriend when I was 34. Part of me felt pretty rotten about, like I was betraying some great tenet ... but then I remembered how the celibacy thing just didn't work (in the worst possible way) for me. Anyway, he didn't end up being a very great guy, so we only lasted 6 months.

I'm 36 now. And I feel like, ever since then, there's just been this gap. Like, I'm not the same religious person that I used to be, like, there's a schism now between who I was and who I used to be, and I can't get back there.

I always thought my absolute inability to deal with my sexuality on a healthy level was due to my religious background. Maybe it was, or maybe it was just me all along? God's fine with who I am, but I'm the one who's not? I don't know. I wish I had an easy answer.

 

[Pierresro]

No there is no proof of any God soeone gets very sick evry one is asked to pray nt once did any God help any one any one know od one time?

 

[johaninsc]

No there is no proof of any God soeone gets very sick evry one is asked to pray nt once did any God help any one any one know od one time?

could you repost that?

even Jar Jar was confused

 

[Mariatenebre]

I think it's a hard thing.

When I was in my 20s, I used to think, gosh, there has to be a middle ground, a point where I can comfortably balance both my deep and genuine religious beliefs, with a sexuality that I really wasn't okay with. I used to think that.

But then I tried for lifelong celibacy and only got until my mid-30s before I couldn't do it anymore. Doing the right thing just got me multiple suicide attempts.

Dated my first ever boyfriend when I was 34. Part of me felt pretty rotten about, like I was betraying some great tenet ... but then I remembered how the celibacy thing just didn't work (in the worst possible way) for me. Anyway, he didn't end up being a very great guy, so we only lasted 6 months.

I'm 36 now. And I feel like, ever since then, there's just been this gap. Like, I'm not the same religious person that I used to be, like, there's a schism now between who I was and who I used to be, and I can't get back there.

I always thought my absolute inability to deal with my sexuality on a healthy level was due to my religious background. Maybe it was, or maybe it was just me all along? God's fine with who I am, but I'm the one who's not? I don't know. I wish I had an easy answer.

Well you know if your religion is the cause of you feeling terrible about your sexuality there are other pro LGBT religions out there.

 

[Telstra]

I think you can if you believe in making up your own stuff and say it is true,
like god loves gays, god let gay marriages, god created gays ... etc and etc.

 

[joyjoy22]

Maybe, for as long as discrimination won't take place while you are in church. Try to dress appropriately.

 

[Yuki Sohma]

Simply put

Yes

 

[MrBubulino]

It's not all black or white.

 

[Celso]

Sure. I am. I have faith in Jesus message about Fatherhood of God and brotherhood of men. I believe his Life IS the Truth and the only Way to the Father. He was our Creator living among his creatures to teach them about the love of God. Before the world was even created He IS.

I'm not into dogmatic and crystallized religions of men though.

 

[Kulindahr]

^
"Crystallized" -- nice adjective for what some churches have turned into!

 

[Natello4]

You can be anybody you want. Just be true to yourself and bold enough to rock life as you are.

 

[Croft85]

I really do know any more I know what the Bible says but I know in my heart I'm gay. I believe in God and Jesus but I disagree with the bible. So I don't know anymore. What God wants so create us allow us to be gay lesbian bi etc... But tell us our love is an abomination? It's wrong it's rude it's unfair it's unjust.

 

[SeaCore]

I really do know any more I know what the Bible says but I know in my heart I'm gay. I believe in God and Jesus but I disagree with the bible. So I don't know anymore. What God wants so create us allow us to be gay lesbian bi etc... But tell us our love is an abomination? It's wrong it's rude it's unfair it's unjust.

Feeling like the creator of everything considers you an abomination sounds like a lot of weight to bear.
These are the sorts of feelings that need resolution on your terms and I hope you give yourself the space to do that. Definitely use this subforum to help you explore these feelings. Or go elsewhere if you don't feel supported here.
Keep close to your mind what you believe and why; maybe there's information you're missing?

 

[teddy]

We have to live our life thoroughly and not worry about all our questions. Religion is a twisted way to make the weaker lose the head.
Religion makes people impressionable, we can manipulate them to be willing and do what we want, in good as in evil.
I do not need to hang on to an almighty person to try to live my life best and help my neighbor.

 

[Rickrock]

There are some religions who accept gays. There is obviously a range of interpretations of the Bible. I have actually adjusted what I think about what my faith means, but have not debated with my church, just quietly attend. You need to work out what interpretation you believe and if you need to find a church to match that or if you just practice what you believe privately.

 

[mcbrion]

I prefer to think of myself as gay and spiritual. Religion is ritual. Spirituality is Enlightening. When people are caught in the "religion" of it all, they can be dogmatic. And therefore, they retain - frequently - all the anger, judgement and bad attitude that being a mortal being contains in the flesh. When they escape that (which means escaping their Ego, and, perhaps, the limits of the Flesh), then they rise to the spiritual level and from there, they can truly BEGIN to see GOD.
By the way, I am also Black and gay. And 70.

 

[LandSome80]

I'm both catholic and bisexual, I don't think is related...honestly my religion beliefs make me wondering but still isn't my religion fault but the person who grew me in this way.

 

[g0yman51]

some denominations say: You can't. Other say: You can.
It is up to you: You can decide which religion do want belong to. But you can't decide to be gay: Whether you are gay or not, it's not anything to decide of.

 

[Irish Queer]

I’m gay and Catholic. Ok I’m à la carte in the sense I do pick and choose stuff I agree and don’t agree with. But having faith/being religious isn’t a bad thing. The bad thing is how organised religions twist and manipulate beliefs to benefit the corrupt members in it.