How many religious people are tolerant/accepting of homosexuality?

Question

I live in Canada and same-sex marriages are legal here and Im just curious if any religious persons have a tolerant/accepting attitude towards homosexual despite their religious beliefs.
For example, my parents are Muslim but they reconcile free will and tolerance with what their religion says (i.e. it is a sin). My mother thinks they are cute even lol and she loves how nice and joyful gay people are (the ones she has met). My father too and so they both support same-sex marriage and are accepting of gay people. Heck they voted Liberal to make sure their right wouldn't be threatened.
Im just curious if any other religious people take such views.

I think most atheists like myself are accepting of it but I am more interested in the religious ones.
As for my parents, yes they do tend to be quiet liberal. Perhaps it is because we do live in Canada (for quiet some time now). Plus my father is an educated and logical man and he even criticizes his own religion; he hates it when things cannot be questioned.
And yes I know how some Islamic countries treat gays...but I think my parents are an example that there can reconciliation between tolerance and acceptance and personal beliefs.

Wiccan/Buddhists etc.: Yes I am aware of the more tolerant attitudes your religions take. I suppose I meant more of the religions such as Christianity (especially), Islam and Judaism.

Answer 1

I tend to not bring this up often because I'll get reamed if I do, but I'm a straight Christian who is tolerant of homosexuality. After doing an examination of all the verses commonly used to condemn homosexuality (in their original languages) and reading scholarly material on the subject, I've come to the conclusion that the Bible hardly addresses the topic at all. The only cases that DO show up are NOT examples of healthy monogamous homo-sexual relationships, but of rape, pedantry (either pedophilia or use of male "call-boys"), or idolatry (temple prostitution) and it is these practices that the Bible condemns.

Furthermore, modern psychology is of the opinion that homosexuality is not a choice. Some say it's ingrained in a child's early formative years, others at birth through genetics (still others say it's a bit of both). At any rate, most of the time sexual preference is no more of a person's choice than their ethnicity is.

Because of all this, I had no trouble when I found out that my roommate is gay. He's respectful of my straightness (meaning he doesn't hit on me) so I have no trouble respecting him. We're still good friends :)

(Also, at least 12 other people at school know he is gay and are ok with it; but he's still too afraid to come out of the closet at a Christian University).

Answer 2

I'm accepting of homosexuality and I support same-sex marriages. I believe in equal rights and the separation of Church and State.

Of course, I admit that while I'm Christian, I am a very liberal minded one and would probably consider myself more spiritual than religious. It gets very complicated, having to reconcile one's personal beliefs with religion while remaining true to yourself, your principles and the application of customs, beliefs and practices as they were written 2000 years ago. I've accepted that while I'm Christian, I don't necessarily believe in or agree with 100% of what is considered standard Christian doctrine.

I'm sure there would be some Christians who would say that if I don't believe everything as it's written over 1500 years ago, then I'm not a true Christian. I'll let God be the judge of that.

Answer 3

One of the difficult aspects of Christianity is the fact that while we are not responsible for the actions of others, we are responsible for sharing the will of God as given to us in the Bible. Does this mean we have the right to condemn, judge or punish? NO. Does this mean I should vote for something that I believe in my heart is against the will of God. NO. I will not lobby for or against legal issues with regard to anyone's marriage. I will monitor my own behavior and I will do my best not to hurt anyone with my actions or words. If someone asks me my beliefs as you have I will share them. I would actually prefer if people kept their bedroom behavior behind closed doors, homosexual, heterosexual, bi-sexual, whatever it is; I don't care to know. That is their personal business and I sometimes wonder why everyone needs to know. Would I expect my pastor to marry people of the same sex in our church, no. Do I care if a judge does, not really. If they know what we have shared about God, then we have done what was required and nothing else needs to be done.

Answer 4

The Bible presents a point of view denied by lots of people who call themselves "Christian."

1Corinthians 6:9 Don’t you know that evil people will not receive God’s kingdom? Don’t be fooled. Those who commit sexual sins will not receive the kingdom. Neither will those who worship statues of gods or commit adultery. Neither will men who are prostitutes or who commit homosexual acts. 10 Neither will thieves or those who always want more and more. Neither will those who are often drunk or tell lies or cheat. People who live like that will not receive God’s kingdom. 11 SOME OF YOU USED TO DO THOSE THINGS. BUT YOUR SINS WERE WASHED AWAY. YOU WERE MADE HOLY. YOU WERE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD. ALL OF THAT WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD.

SOME OF YOU USED TO DO THOSE THINGS… They ARE NOT PERMANENT.
BUT YOUR SINS WERE WASHED AWAY... They CAN BE FORGIVEN.
YOU WERE MADE HOLY… You CAN GET THROUGH IT.
YOU WERE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD… No matter what you’ve been through -- NO ONE IS “TOO BAD.”

BUT… THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY THIS CAN HAPPEN:

ALL OF THAT WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST AND BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD.

... Since this portion of the New Testament is addressed in part to FORMER participants in homosexual lifestyle, we must conclude that the PEOPLE are to be accepted, but their current choices are not consistent with a proper Christian life. The lifestyle choices must change in order for them to be accepted into the Christian community. about a page before this passage, you'll find another related to a person claiming to be Christian while living a blatantly immoral life: 1Corinthians 5:12 Is it my business to judge those outside the church? Aren’t you SUPPOSED TO JUDGE those INSIDE THE CHURCH? 13 God will judge those OUTSIDE. Scripture says, “Get rid of that evil person!”

Answer 5

We are to hate sin as God hate sin. I don't hate homosexuals but I do not agree with there lifestyles and have no problem telling someone that. And I do not agree with same sex marriages that was not God's design. So no I do not support them in what they do but as a Christian I am supposed to love inspite of and speak the truth in love.

Answer 6

My religion generally accepts homosexuality as a naturally occurring orientation, and has entire denominations that consist of LGBT members.

"Let My worship be in the heart that rejoices, for behold: all acts of love and pleasure are My rituals." -- from The Charge of the Goddess

Answer 7

Yes, I'm tolerant of them. I have met some very nice gay people before. But I still believe the Bible says it is wrong.

Answer 8

How interesting that your parents, as Muslims, are tolerant of homosexuality when major Islamic leaders have spoken out against it... homosexuals would be executed in Iraq and Iran.

Answer 9

I am not religious and I am accepting of Homosexuality. It has been around longer than any christian will admit to. When two people dedicate their lives to each other they should be able to share in the same benefits as other legally married couples. Period

Answer 10

I'm Mormon and have many gay friends that I love
and cherish.
It's not my job to judge them. I'm only commanded to love them. I respect the gifts and talents they have and share. Their "orientation" is their business. I don't know why so many people have decided to condemn gays as "sinners." They've turned a blind eye to their own daily sins and have decided what weight God puts on various sins.
It's so freeing not to be too judgmental!