Religion and Homosexuality

I totally agree with druscilla's jar –though I’m not fully convinced there is a god.

I’m and Agnostic Catholic. Even though my religion is against homosexuality, it really has no effect on my view of LGBT people, as I am bisexual myself.

I do think religion is one of the main barriers of gay rights; since so many religions see homosexuality as negative, it influences the area they are within.

I believe same-sex marriages should be allowed in the church in all circumstances.

Most religions teach us to love one another and that should include the LGBT community. I do not feel that I should be shunned from my religion because I am bisexual. If I feel like marrying a woman one day, then I would like the right to do so. I think it should be a basic human right. As an American citizen, I’m entitled to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and if being with woman makes me happy, then so be it.

Teenagers To The End:

As an American citizen, I’m entitled to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” and if being with woman makes me happy, then so be it.

But as an American citizen, you're accorded no greater rights than anybody else within the Catholic church. And if Catholicism maintains that it will not marry gay people, I don't believe you have an argument. I mean, I think everything else you said was fair, except this part - I believe same-sex marriages should be allowed in the church in all circumstances.

Rather, you should be allowed a civil marriage, but if the Catholic church do not want to marry you, then there is nothing you can do about it. The American constitution guarantees freedom of religion, which means religions also have freedom, which means they can do whatever they like in their churches.

Again, the Catholic Church should no be prejudice to a specific group as is preached in the Bible. Being an American citizen is higher than being a member of the Church; the American Constitution may prohibit freedom of religion if they make amendments. This problem does not only exist in the Catholic society.

I see that; just as the church can deny a heterosexual couple marriage, it can do the same for homosexual couple. I just believe it should be allowed, mot that the church has to.

You're allowed to interpret the Bible however way you want. Okay. But Catholics interprety it in a certain way, and Catholic dogma interprets it differently; they shouldn't have to change just because you disagree with them, however wrong you think they are. It's up to you to find a different church, not to change one which has existed for thousands of years.

The American constitution could be amended to forbid freedom of religion. But I doubt that will ever happen. Mostly because America is based on freedom - both of religion, and from religion.

And as America is largely religious, I doubt that anyone would agree to revoke the freedom of religion amendment.

The Catholic Church isn't even that influential in the US. And anyway Spain is a "Catholic" country and same-sex marriage is legal there. It's not the dogma itself, but how tolerant people are.

I doubt they would remove freedom of religion. The fact is that they can and choose not to, makes them supreme.

I see your point Bloodraine, though I do not entirely agree with it. That’s okay though, our opinions are what make us interesting as people :)

P.S. I agree with kafka.

I find that it's the religions' fault that homosexual marriage is illegal in many countries. Particularly in the USA, with California and Prop 8 and all that, I think it's Christianity that seems to be behind it. I just don't think that what is regarded as a sin in a religion should necessarily be passed as a law for a country. I mean, obviously, the sins which involve harm to other people should be kept as laws, like murder, theft, etc. But the point is, other peoples' sexualities aren't harming anyone else, and I can't understand the attitude towards homosexuality that is presented with christianity.

In the bible, it says that "neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." However, the bible also says that "he that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord." So, what, are we supposed to pass some sort of law on men with no genitals now?

What I think is sad is that child molesters, rapists, murderers, etc. are all allowed to marry; yet homosexuals are not. How is that fair?

^ To add to that, child molesters can have children as well. Why shouldn't homosexual couples be allowed to adopt children if child molesters (who, needless to say shouldn't be around children at all, let alone their own) are? It's wrong.

Alexface.:

^ To add to that, child molesters can have children as well. Why shouldn't homosexual couples be allowed to adopt children if child molesters (who, needless to say shouldn't be around children at all, let alone their own) are? It's wrong.

Well, I suppose this varies from country to country, but in Britain, I'd like to think that a sex offender would never be allowed to adopt a child. The adoption process is difficult even if you're a perfect couple. You have no chance if you have a serious criminal conviction, basically. Whereas gay couples have been allowed to adopt for a while.

^I think what was meant was that a man convicted of child molestation would be able to have his own child. Homosexuals couples aren't really able to procreate, therefore they would have to adopt- which isn't allowed. Alex was making the point that if a child molester can have a child, a homosexual couple should be allowed to adopt since they can't have children of their own.

Christianity's views on homosexuality was the very thing that convinced me to leave. I am bi and every sunday the preacher would preach about how it was wrong for a girl to want to be with a girl...

Teenagers To The End, how can you be an Agnostic Catholic? Just wondering.

The Church I go to, do not openly discriminate on the choices people make about their life partners. However, they prefer staff members to be straight. But, they don't do as goodlilgoth's old preacher would do...preach against it...

Preaching against homosexuality, to me, just seems ridiculous. They can preach all they want, but gay people ain't getting any straighter because of it. (Excuse the cliché tone. :XD)

When I went to church (still have to, say my parents :|) as a Christian (Anglican), thankfully nothing like that was ever preached. Otherwise I'd have become rather annoyed, to say the least.

Alexface.:

Preaching against homosexuality, to me, just seems ridiculous. They can preach all they want, but gay people ain't getting any straighter because of it. (Excuse the cliché tone. :XD)

When I went to church (still have to, say my parents :|) as a Christian (Anglican), thankfully nothing like that was ever preached. Otherwise I'd have become rather annoyed, to say the least.

Our church didn't either. Or our Youth Group. (I don't know if that's because I had a reputation as being quite vocal and wore my rainbow button to Youth Group, but I like to think it is. :tehe: )

However, my very religious grandmother gave me a book for Christmas called "Be Intolerant - Because Some Things Are Just Stupid". Yeah, like this book Grandma. Thanks.

I went to a Catholic primary school.
And my year six teacher told me that if we ever had feelings for another girl we should pray to God until they went away.
And then she told us about the story of a man who 'thought' he was gay and then he prayed to God and now he's amrried with three kids.
Now I think back on it, it amuses me. :XD

ChemicallyImbalanced:

I went to a Catholic primary school.
And my year six teacher told me that if we ever had feelings for another girl we should pray to God until they went away.
And then she told us about the story of a man who 'thought' he was gay and then he prayed to God and now he's amrried with three kids.
Now I think back on it, it amuses me. :XD

I wish I were there. I would have told her about my best friend's grandmother who was married to a man who was gay and was still gay when they divorced later.

Marrying someone doesn't require sexual attraction.

-head desk-

I think being homosexual is perfectly fine in church. I don't see why people hate them and damn them to hell because they like the same sex. I think gay marriages should be allowed in church because its just like any other marriage between a male and female. I don't see why it would be a problem.

The issue is that in Christian doctrine Marriage is the definition of union of MAN and WOMAN.