religions accepting gay lifestyles

[jake-the-peg]

Following on from the make me a Christian question - are there any religions that accept gay lifestyles as acceptable.

I'm just back from India and there the papers are talking about decriminalising homosexuality so I guess Hinduisms doesn't

[keyplus90]

Don�t worry about India or Hinduism. In Hinduism (according to the believers) everything is allowed and it is a matter of will. I am not sure how they have a will from the animals.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/byronic501/682093 65/sizes/o/

http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/pdf/Archive/Al t/alt.religion.islam/2006-08/msg02449.pdf

[Octavius]

There is a lot of diversity within the Christian church. Each congregation has their own beliefs on homosexuality. Quakers for example openly accept homosexuality �it was not the gender or sexual orientation of the people concerned in a relationship that mattered, but the depth of feeling they have for each other.� However, there are many other congregations that view homosexuality as the act of immorality. Judaism has similar contrasting views to Christianity, but Islam is completely unmoving.

Even though Buddhism clearly teaches that one should avoid sexually immoral acts like adultery. It does not clearly define homosexuality as an immoral action. In fact, many Buddhism countries like Thailand are very open for homosexuality comparing to Western countries. In general, Buddhism is considered a gay friendly religion.

Different scriptures in Hinduism can be interpreted in different views for homosexuality. One of the first Hindu scripts, Bhagavad Gita scripture said that one should act according to one�s true nature, although scriptures like Manusmriti are against homosexuality and call for the chopping off of fingers.

I wouldn�t count on the scientologists either, they require that �The sexual pervert�.should be taken from the society as rapidly as possible and uniformly institutionalized; for here is the level of the contagion of immorality, and the destruction of ethics� LRH was a big fan of quarantine for homosexuals. And if you look hard enough, the Vendidad of Zoroastrianism tends to give the vague idea that homosexuals are demons and should be put to death. Baha�i Faith, think it is a disability that should be overcome.

It would seem that the decentralised religions (Wiccan, neo-pagan etc) may offer some hope, accepting people in their various groups, sects, clans, covens, kindred as individuals in their own right. They consider that sexual orientation is morally neutral (ok

[Octavius]

... if between consenting adults and safe).

[joggerjayne]

The Church of the Latter Day Geezer

... as founded by our very own R1Geezer (who hasn't posted much, recently. Hello Geez ???).

After I confessed to having an odd fling with a couple of my girl friends, R1Geezer made me a Priestess of his Church.

I still sleep on a stone alter and drink wine from a silver goblet. :-)

[Octavius]

I am not 100% certain, but I think his �acceptance� was only levelled at porn stars who dabble for the sake of their �art�, and bi curious ladies.

I suspect that if you deign to be completely lesbian, then he may insist you be demoted to twig-holder, sweeper upper or such like in the hope you get bored and stop turning up.

[Whickerman]

Most Pagan strands accept homosexuality - there are a few that don't though, particularly thinking of the older Alexandrian Wiccan groups (that might be a shock to some Wiccans btw).