Infiltrate
Most traditional church, synagogue and Muslim members are against same gender marriage and also full of fear and ignorance about homosexuals. Many gays and lesbians have left those religious institutions behind for good reason.
Traditional religious people vote. They voted to support Proposition 8. If those people are to become supporters of the rights of all, they have to get to know gays, lesbians and their supporters as human beings. Right now they are seen as outsiders.
Now is the time to infiltrate those institutions. Not all homosexuals who have left their religious institution lack a spiritual life and seek a wider community. Go back to the religious communities, infiltrate them, become members, worship with the people, help the poor and sick in those churches, Synagogues and Mosques. Teach classes, vote in their councils, serve on their trustees and make them be careful about what they say and how they spend their money.
The hierarchies of the Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, Mormons, Episcopalians, Lutherans and Presbyterians will be glacial in their willingness to change. But we are interested in the people who vote, not the people at the top. When religious voters get to love, appreciate and their LGBT members, they will vote from their knowledge of human beings, not legalist stereotypes handed down from on high.
Infiltrate!
Traditional religious people vote. They voted to support Proposition 8. If those people are to become supporters of the rights of all, they have to get to know gays, lesbians and their supporters as human beings. Right now they are seen as outsiders.
Now is the time to infiltrate those institutions. Not all homosexuals who have left their religious institution lack a spiritual life and seek a wider community. Go back to the religious communities, infiltrate them, become members, worship with the people, help the poor and sick in those churches, Synagogues and Mosques. Teach classes, vote in their councils, serve on their trustees and make them be careful about what they say and how they spend their money.
The hierarchies of the Roman Catholics, Southern Baptists, Mormons, Episcopalians, Lutherans and Presbyterians will be glacial in their willingness to change. But we are interested in the people who vote, not the people at the top. When religious voters get to love, appreciate and their LGBT members, they will vote from their knowledge of human beings, not legalist stereotypes handed down from on high.
Infiltrate!
posted by RWC | 9:54 AM
4 Comments:
A faster way to open up those closed religious groups would be if the gay clergy within them would come out of the closet. The charge of hypocrisy brought against organized religion in this country is fully justified. The United Church of Christ and the Unitarian-Universalists are notable exceptions.
Until there are enough supporters in the congregations, it would be economic and religous suicide for the gay clergy to come forward. All clergy needs to welcome whoever worships in their congregations so that the congregation in return is a safe place for the gay clergy then to come out.
I agree but I think many gay and lesbian clergy are secure enough in their jobs that more could take risks coming out.
gay and Lesbian lay people that are out could do a lot to infiltrate conservative congregation of all faiths the teach those Chistians that homosexuals are human beings and have rights.
Robert
I agree but I think many gay and lesbian clergy are secure enough in their jobs that more could take risks coming out.
gay and Lesbian lay people that are out could do a lot to infiltrate conservative congregation of all faiths the teach those Chistians that homosexuals are human beings and have rights.
Robert
Post a Comment
<< Home