People of all faiths, please read.

[phoenix11664]

I'm working on a screenplay where a character realizes he is bisexual and he struggles (at first) to reconcile that with his (Christian) faith. He finally comes to the conclusion that God loves and accepts him no matter what his sexual orientation is. In one scene, he encounters a roomful of gay, lesbians, and bisexuals from all different faiths. It is inspiring for him to see so many different people of faith. They end up spontaneously gathering around him and laying hands on him to show support, each of them offering up a prayer or blessing.

So what I'm asking for is this:
A) Any insight into your faith, its views of homosexuality, and how you have been able to reconcile your faith with your sexual orientation (which is often looked on as sinful).

B) A prayer or blessing from your faith that might be appropriate here. I'd love to have some prayers in different languages, if possible(Yiddish/Hebrew, Arabic, etc.). It doesn't have to be something from a holy text or anything. You could just write something that would have the language and flavor of such a prayer.

Some faiths I'd really like to see represensted in this scene:
Judaism
Islam
Wiccan
Mormon
Jehovah's Witness

I know I'm leaving a lot out. If you're of any faith, please post. Also, please
respect my wish for this not to become a debate or argument about religion. There are other posts for this. My intention is for this to be a positive thread for members to share some of their faith and personal journey.

Thank you.

[Long Duck Dong]

lol eclectic old faith wiccan / shaman

my beliefs do not single out sexuality in any form... to me, there is simply ways of being who you are

its a bit like saying that you need air to have fire....but fire needs somewhere to burn ( wood / scrub / trees etc ).....so its a symbiotic relationship and the way that works in relationships / sexual interaction, is that the fire can be the passion and the air, the desire to intermingle.......but the tree ( female ), scrub ( male ) under growth ( trans ) etc.... is not really looked at....( excuse the genders and states of gender to plants aspect, its simply to get a clearly idea of different aspects of gender )

we simply see fire and air and wood.....

unlike modern wicca, my beliefs do not have a central god / goddess or higher power......instead, it has nature as the focal point......and works around the idea that nature is as much a part of us as we are a part of nature.......

in that aspect, I do not pray......but talk with nature....and the talking can take many forms..... simply working with the soil when preparing a garden for planting, is a form of talking....but talking without words......

much of my belief, doesn't involve ceremonies, rituals etc..... and enjoying the embrace of the warm sunshine, like a lovers arms, to me, is a far closer connection to nature, than chanting and waving wands etc

to sum my view of life, nature and my beliefs up in the simplest forum, it would be this

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/wiccanwolfe/pentagram.jpg

[goldenfinger]

As a "nothing", I still thank god for rules and sins, but for without them, I could not sin, and there would be no rules to break. Most, if not all my sexual pleasures comes from breaking those rules.Life without them would be boring.:eek::eek::bigrin::bigrin:
I think we need to understand, that one without the other, we have nothing. I have said it before, it we have nothing to compare against, how do we know what we have.If we have nothing to loose, we'll have nothing to gain either. We'r dead. Who created "Temptation", the bible of cause.Why, you figure that out for yourself.:female::female::male: :male::male::female:
Now, what rule can I break tonight.:bigrin::bigrin:

[diB4u]

I'm working on a screenplay where a character realizes he is bisexual and he struggles (at first) to reconcile that with his (Christian) faith. He finally comes to the conclusion that God loves and accepts him no matter what his sexual orientation is. In one scene, he encounters a roomful of gay, lesbians, and bisexuals from all different faiths. It is inspiring for him to see so many different people of faith. They end up spontaneously gathering around him and laying hands on him to show support, each of them offering up a prayer or blessing.

So what I'm asking for is this:
A) Any insight into your faith, its views of homosexuality, and how you have been able to reconcile your faith with your sexual orientation (which is often looked on as sinful).

B) A prayer or blessing from your faith that might be appropriate here. I'd love to have some prayers in different languages, if possible(Yiddish/Hebrew, Arabic, etc.). It doesn't have to be something from a holy text or anything. You could just write something that would have the language and flavor of such a prayer.

Some faiths I'd really like to see represensted in this scene:
Judaism
Islam
Wiccan
Mormon
Jehovah's Witness

I know I'm leaving a lot out. If you're of any faith, please post. Also, please
respect my wish for this not to become a debate or argument about religion. There are other posts for this. My intention is for this to be a positive thread for members to share some of their faith and personal journey.

Thank you.



I'm not a practicing Mormon, but how does my religon deal with a person that is gay or bisexual... http://www.affirmation.org/ that is a for supporting GLBT Mormons.



But sadly, the truth being that if your gay bisexual or a lesbian, and a mormon then you will be excumunnicated. http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2051422&page=1%22



Why should I be excumnnicated because im not althogether straight?

"LDS church is not just something you go and do on Sunday," Holsinger said. "There are manuals that tell you how to carry out your day-to-day existence. How your family eats its meals, what you eat for your meals, what activities your family participates in. It is a lifestyle. It is all encompassing."

But if Mormons are like the general population, at least 1 percent -- tens of thousands of them -- could be gay. And that is strictly against church doctrine.


Now i know why i dont go to that church, yes i could just write to the bishop and say please ex cummincate me... But until that time comes, then i dont bother. If a church member knocks at my door, I'll quckly change clothes and parade a fake penis infront of their eyes.

Godo luck with your manuscript. I hope that I have helped.

I love God, God loves me... I dont need to go to any church to know that. I treat ppl with compassion, with kindness ( most of the time), I am openminded and do not judge most ppl- (pedo's and rapists) are the exception...

[TaylorMade]

This actually happened to me Tuesday. . .

Most on this forum know I am Christian and active in my church- - trying to do what I can. I hadn't been out to anyone there really, except for an intern or a close friend, both of whom treat me with love, respect and acceptance. One of them said - - "I used to be addicted to Heroin. I can't judge you."

Their acceptance meant alot, and almost seemed to be a psychological shield with the questions roiling around within. I prayed over them, asking God to make it right or make me right.

Finally, I decided to float out a test balloon. . .probably the ballsiest thing I was going to do: come out to my pastor. . .if I was going to get a cool reception, I at least was leaving w/in the week, so the damage would be minimal and I could take off,with that question in my head resolved.

I don't even think I ate breakfast. My hands shook. I could barely drive, and to top it off, I was late to the appointment ...he'd wanted to see me anyway, to pray with me before I left town... so, would the prayer turn into an attempted exsorcism?

We sat down in his office, with it's row after ROW of books, baseball caps, tae kwan do certificates, diplomas and warm coffee. He sat in the leather wingback chair and pulled it close to mine, those big blue eyes staring, half in anticipation, half in fatherly concern.

So. . .I told him. . ."Rick, I'm very happy to have been sheperded by you for these past five years. I have learned so much about myself, spiritually grown and felt challenged w/o feeling judged, 'cause you see, Pastor. . . I'm bisexual, and I'm trying to cling to my faith." I locked eyes with him. "It's hard, you know."

The loving arm he had put around me had not moved an inch. "I understand." He nodded. "Well, that brings up a major concern in looking for a church. . .It's Orlando, a big city and all, but it's still the Deep South. The last thing you need is to go to a church where they'll condemn you. . ."

I don't think I listened to much else Rick said. It's an overwrought sentence, but there it was - - he was not going to condemn me, and by turn, God wasn't gonna do so either.

And he prayed with me, saying. . ."Be with (Taylor) right now. She is Your child. . .and as she knows there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, may she be a blessing, even to those who may condemn her . . ."

I don't recall being so happy with my church as I was in that moment. I think I hugged a pillar on the way out. Dumb when you think about it...'cause a church isn't as much an ediface as it is... people.


Hope this helped Phoenix.


*Taylor*

[pasco_lol_cpl]

Taylor, That sounds like an absolutely fantastic experience. We're so elated for you in that your pastor did not judge you, and instead showered you with love and compassion. I wish more people of the cloth could be like that.

[12voltman59]

Taylor--that was a great moment for you.

I do think that a large number of pastors would now do what Taylor's did for her----

Last night's (Friday night) edition of PBS's: "NOW with David Brancachio" dealt with how many new generation evangelical churches and pastors are leaving behind the conservative politics of the past and are now addressing different issues--like things that have a true spiritual nature----and are inclusive instead of divisive issues.

I found that a hopeful sign.

Here is the link to info about the show, with the story available as a video:

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/404/index.html

[HighEnergy]

Taylor, that was a wonderful story. I'm very glad for you.

The little car is getting to the end of the ticker tape. How'd the move go?

[TaylorMade]

Taylor, that was a wonderful story. I'm very glad for you.

The little car is getting to the end of the ticker tape. How'd the move go?

Monday, I move... I have to finish packing some odds and ends tomorrow.

*Taylor*

[jem_is_bi]

Monday, I move... I have to finish packing some odds and ends tomorrow.

*Taylor*

I wish you good health and I hope you do well in your chosen career endeavors in Orlando. I also hope you can find a church that will allow you to be spiritually fulfilled, since this is so important to you.

JEM

[DarthKratos]

As a Christian who just recently found out about this part of my life. I have to say I'm kinda scared. It's hard to tell if people will accept me or not. I have however found a group of Christians who have been supportive. They have never been judgmental and have always been there if I needed someone to talk to.

[12voltman59]

I was thinking Taylor---your now former pastor has a valid point--you have been living in Miami--which is a rather cosmopolitan place---and you will find that even though Orlando has become a large metro area--- in many ways, it still does retain its sleepy, deep south, small town roots and it may not be so easy to find a church where you are accepted as you are and also provides you with the sort of spiritual practice you prefer----take care and good luck in that regard dear...

I wish ya all the best in all ways with your move to the land of Walt and Mickey Mouse!!!

[jedinudist]

The Nazarene faith I was raised in made suicide the only viable option for me.

Obviously, I didn't succeed, but the "christian" faith I was subjected to told me that not only does "god" NOT love me, but there is a special place in hell for my kind.