Is Religion the problem or eductaion?

Question

I want to post this on two fronts. yet I think religious people need this more that Homosexuals.

I am a convert. From Christianity to Atheism. I grew up beliveing that Homosexuality was a sin. So strong was that belief that after convertion I still saw it as unnatural.
I read a young man's story and it grabbed me. People condem him, and he wants so much not to be Gay but he is. It is obviously not a choice as he continues not to "practice" In hopes that he will pass from this, that God might save him, A God that he believes in. Yet he finds that he is still attracted to boys. He does not want to be punished by God for his sin. And he has asked Jesus to come and save him. But he is still gay.
He want's to know why God made him this way. He has not choosen this. My heart went out to this story. I have been so wrong. We need to educate, and abolish cults that make a boy suffer like this. This is not just about homosexuality but all issues made taboo. Education or Religion?

Greenthumb. Are you a moron? oh no sorry Mormon.

What do you know?

Looked through any pretty rocks lately?

Answer 1

I am a religious Jew and my answer will fly in the face of Jewish doctrine but I am going to give it anyway.
I am not gay but I have a friends who are and they would rather not be. They did not choose to be that way. They were born that way. God would not make someone a certain way and then punish them for it. I do not and don't think I will ever believe that. I believe there was historical reason for it the "ban" against homosexuality (procreation) and Adam and Steven or Eve and Abby together cannot make children and that was paramount at the time.
Now people are born gay just as my brother was born autistic, my neighbor was born with a club foot and a friend was born blind. I am not equating homosexuality with a disability but my friend would like to see and my gay friend would like life to be easier for him.
Judaism condems homosexuality but we are also allowed to think for ourselves and I don't think God makes someone a certain way and then punishes them for it. No way.
I don't know why God made him that way. Only God knows but I know we could make the lives of gay people a lot easier if we accepted them for who and what they were and condemned them or embraced them based on their character and not their sexual preference.

Answer 2

In my personal opinion, if you are a follower of Jesus you won't persecute anyone. The problem with religion, ethnicity, brand awareness, nationality, hometown spirit, sexuality, ect. is they all separate people into groups. I was raised to believe not to act on things that were sinful, supposing I turned out to be gay I could never have a relationship, if I turned out to be a big patriot I could never go to war. Or at least I couldn't do those things and still be a good Christian. But I was also taught that I shouldn't judge anyone who does do those things, and I should never push my world view on others that don't share it. It was always okay to remind another Christian that they were sinning, but never a non-Christian, it was okay to preach about the good news of Jesus, but never the consequences for not accepting Him. This is still my modus operandi.

Answer 3

If man is made by God, then He is responsible for His creation. He should suffer for his failed creation if it goes wrong.
Most Christians would say that is what he did thru Jesus. But if that is so then why do we have to believe it? Is it to make God feel better for His big failed creations.

I don't know if being Gay is natural. I don't have the urges, and I find it hard to relate to. Yet It also means I don't get to judge someone who is.

As a Man I know this. As a Christian I was compeled to judge.

Answer 4

you have have been given some greater interpreting to do. There are thoughts in numerous mythologies -- i'm questioning of the Celtic / Druidic and Norse yarns -- a pair of hero who is going on a quest for The Fount of understanding or some such factor. After the needful trials and blunders and suffering and turning out to be-above-it-all, he famous -- A pool of water. nonetheless and clean, reflecting his own face. His existence; his fact; no longer something greater, nor much less. He looks. He sees. He walks away. And his real adventure starts off.

Answer 5

I read and reread your statement, because except for the last sentence it is a statement not a question. Your question as posted appears to be another attack on religion.

I feel sorry for your dilemma and your pain. However in your quest for answers I feel you have cut yourself off from the only source of correct answers. Obviously your search of Christianity did not produce an answer you wanted to your questions. I can understand this because with the exception of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints none of the more than 2500 Christian denominations has the legal authority to speak for Christ. The LDS Church goes even further and offers a means whereby every individual can prove that claim. This is not the answer to your question, only the stage for my answer.

I am assuming that your question is a legitimate and sincere effort on your part to get a truthful and helpful answer to a serious problem, and not just another rant against religion for not validating someone's personal feelings.

A serious question deserves a serious answer. I hope you will agree that to get a serious response that is really helpful, a certain amount of time and effort to search and study the issue should be expected. A serious and sincere search will produce a serious and sincere response, anything else will be a waste of your time and effort and mine.

I am going to post two locations for you to research that will provide answers to both your questions. Whether they mean anything to you will depend on your personal integrity, but the answers you seek are there.

On the homosexuality issue:
Go to: newsroom.lds.org (Newsroom The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints); then select Same Gender Attraction under Public Issues. A full detailed and official response to your question you will find nowhere else.

On the religious issue go to:mormon.org (Officail LDS Church information). This site will answer all of your questions and direct you to proof positive.

Only your effort to discover the truth will reveal the true intent of your question.

Good luck and have an interesting search.

Answer 6

We can't abolish religion or religious beliefs. The alternative is probably just as bad. I guess it's just a matter of making sure that you speak up when you feel someone is being unfairly judged or victimised for their beliefs or lifestyle choices (as long as they are doing no harm to themselves or others). If we can all be more tolerant of the wonderfully diverse people we see every day. If we could learn more about the immigrants that have just come in from Africa, or the muslims that have been living quietly down the road for years, or even the christians, that deliver bread to the poor every second Saturday... There certainly are some zealots in every religion. There are also a lot of people, just quietly believing what they believe without shoving it into everyone elses faces.

I am an atheist. I am friends with a number of christians, a couple of Jews, and one muslim. I have a few friends that have dabbled in witchcraft, and I know lot's of people who spend time seeking spiritual answers and ideas, whilst not admitting to any secular beliefs. I am also friends with people with whom I've never discussed religion, and wouldn't know if they held any religious beliefs.

The people I am friends with, no matter what their religion, are tolerant and open minded people. I don't press them with my beliefs, and they don't pressure me with theirs.

Answer 7

there are many top oxymorons ... honest politician : rap music and gay Christian.
I'm sad that you have been misled away from Christianity.
Btw, Christianity or rather (what Jesus said in John 3:3 ) BORN AGAIN Christianity isn't a religion at all. It's faith.
God would not allow people to be born into this sin without much hope of reversal. This proves it IS a choice.

Answer 8

Education is the only safer way to move towards Learning and both aren't same ,as some people may think of.It's from learning that one can proceed towards self awareness.Religion has always been a restrictive mental block in this process.If we could educate all the children in this world.our lives can become richer and happier.

Answer 9

I think I saw the same thing. It was on TV. He even tried to get 'treatment' that included electrocuting him. I'm not even joking. He grew up as a strong Christian, but then he realized he was gay and there was nothing he could do about it. His family hates him and his life just sucks. I feel bad for the guy. Religion ruins so many lives.

If anyone is still stupid enough to think homosexuality is a choice, this proves that it definitely isn't.

Answer 10

Most Fundies wouldn't take any notice of him - as far as they are concerned the gay guy chose to be gay.
The alternative is that 'god' made him that way and everyone 'knows' that 'god' doesn't make mistakes so it must be the gay guys choice that made him gay.
Fundies seem to forget that millions of mentally and physically challenged people are also born into Xian families.
I wonder how they deal with that.
Do they send them back or try to act as though the retard is normal ans lets him play on Y!A R&S?