And I swallowed what they taught. It was rigid time of blind faith and doctrine. From an early age I knew I was different somehow, but I couldn't put it into words. I followed what was expected of me, and performed for the admiring crowd. That is until I couldn't do it anymore and had to follow my heart. I did so with trepidation caused from years of indoctrination, yet as I stepped forward into life I never abandoned my faith. I couldn't and can't. What I don't understand is why my faith has abandoned me? Rather, why has the teachers of doctrine made me an example when I live an examplory life?
I sincerely believe that G-d put me here not to test me, but rather to test others on how well they treat their fellow man.
Any mature thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you for your time.
2007-12-09 14:45:23 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I have good sentence structure. How cool is that? Forgot spell check. Contacts are out.
and I'm gay. I did forget to say that. Sorry.
2007-12-09 14:52:19 · update #1
i really think that you are hurting and searching. continue to petition and pray to God and you'll get the answers you need. promise you won't stop until you find them ? i will pray for you too. you were put her for a purpose and it is no accident. God does have a plan and a purpose. deal with God directly. he is in the business of helping people. you may not be treated well on this planet . honestly, jews are often resented because they are in fact the choosen. don't let anyone hate you / or impact you enough to impact your relationship with God. He's the only one that you can really count on and has your best interests at heart. he knows your heart and can help .
2007-12-09 15:05:15 · answer #1 · answered by Mildred S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As well as L'Chaim's excellent suggestion of Steven Greenberg's book, and SheyneinNH's thoughts about the Reconstructionists, I'd like to add the Reform movement, which is not merely accepting of gay people but (in the UK, anyway) has many lesbian and gay rabbis, and also to suggest you read Godwrestling by Arthur Waskow. Waskow was my inspiration in finding my way to a Judaism which had nothing of the harshness of the Orthodoxy my father had rejected so comprehensively.
2007-12-10 03:46:59 · answer #2 · answered by Ambi valent 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Recently a jewish person here mentioned a story that your question makes me recall.
A non-Jew asked a Jewish Rabbi if the Rabbi could teach the whole of the Torah while standing on one foot. The Rabbi replied, "Do nothing to your neighbor you would not visit on yourself. This is the whole of the Torah, the rest is commentary. Go and study further."
So in your moment of indecision, live with this -- Do not do to others what would be loathesome to yourself. In this, Torah will be upheld, and it does not rely on your faithful ups and downs.
2007-12-09 22:54:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Anything is possible with GOD. The bottom line is your relationship with him. Very rarely in scripture we are given an example where GOD lays out the whole plan. Usually the lives of the fathers was lived one step at a time. That way they rely on GOD and not their own understanding. It is all about your relationship with GOD. As far as the practices of Rabbi's, I am clueless. I am a Christian.
2007-12-09 22:53:13 · answer #4 · answered by Bye Bye 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Judaism is an ancient and scattered religion, a broad tent under which many ways of being Jewish can comfortably coexist. If the way in which you were brought up doesn't connect well with who you are, please don't feel that the religion has abandoned you. You merely need to seek a little further to find a Jewish community with which you feel more comfortable. And I do *not* mean "Jews"-for-Jesus! I mean honest-to-G-d Jews.
The Reconstructionist movement is welcoming to gays. Jewish Renewal groups invite participants to seek more meaning in their lives, in a Jewish way.
There *is* a place for you under the tent of Avinu Avraham. Please look for it, and you'll find it.
Wishing you shalom lev.
2007-12-10 00:33:36 · answer #5 · answered by SheyneinNH 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not the faith that has abandoned you, neither have you abandoned it.
It is the pinch from deep inside, that tells you there's something wrong somewhere.
Find it out; it's for you to do it for your own good!
Happy searching!
2007-12-09 22:57:46 · answer #6 · answered by Habib 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well Judaism is a series of laws that you have to abide by in order to be considered a good Jew. I don't know why Judaism would of abandoned you.
2007-12-09 22:49:07 · answer #7 · answered by M. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK here's a mature response:
Your story is so vague, I don't feel qualified to say much more than....good sentence structure (but make sure you fix your spelling mistakes next time)
2007-12-09 22:50:11 · answer #8 · answered by Here..have some Kool-Aid 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You have to find your own path to your own spirituality. No predigested formula is going to work,because you are an individual. I would break away from all your religious traditions as a starting point,study other faiths,then take another look at where you started. best wishes.
2007-12-09 22:50:57 · answer #9 · answered by Maya 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
consider a possibility with no g*d, or no tests. it is you and the world. "this above all - to your own self be true" - yep he is right, even after a couple of hundred years.
2007-12-09 22:51:25 · answer #10 · answered by noitall 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋