Quote From: a31g49Why is it so hard for so many on this site to understand that not everyone is a christian and not everyone is a born again christian.
I happen to be Native American and am proud of my heritage-- ethnic and spiritual. My culture doesn't condem people for living how they are made. We don't believe we own our children-- meaning we can not chose their path for them-- we can only guide them.
We have nothing in common with fundamentalist christians when it comes to belief systems. Many in my community have embraced a spirituality (christianity) which DESTROYED our culture and way of life. It's a very sad thing. But I suppose when you are confronted with "Convert or die" many do choose to accept the conquerers way of life.
So, when you all start going on and on about what your god wants from all people of the earth, all I can do is shake my head at your ignorance. For isn't that what you do when you are confronted with traditions different from your own?
I believe the Earth is the mother of us all, and that we are destroying our mother. Can't you hear her screams? But do I tell you SUV driving, 6000 square foot house living, polluting non-bleievers that you our murdering our mother? Isn't that more important that who someone loves? No, I don't. Not generally, anyway.
My tribe has a cultural history of accepting all among us as brothers and sisters. Including those who do not fit into traditional gender roles. Including those who are attracted to those of the same sex. It's all around us on mother earth. All mammal species show same sex attraction. While it is not the norm, it is not unnatural.
You do not get the right, because you call yourself a christian to comdemn people who believe other than you do. And you sure don't get the right to make the laws that affect us all according to your religion.
You surely do not have the right to impose self-hatred and self-loathing on people being true to their born selves.
I'm so thankful I live in a part of the country where I do not have people like the visitors on this board trying to convert me to their religion.
And all of this judgement day stuff is a little confusing. I remember that less than 20 years ago, that kind of reasoning was only used by doomsday cultists like Jim Jones or David Koresh. It's frightening to me how many seemingly sane Americans have fallen into the doomsday cult mentality.
I could really get into the jesus rhetoric if more pople who claimed to be christians quoted the Sermon on the Mount insteas of leviticus.
I am not gay, but I have had the pleasure of knowing many gays, lesbians and transgendered people throughout my lifetime. I am the richer in spirit for it.
And I almost for got. For those illogical people who claim that god doesn't make mistakes? What about people born transgendered? In the US, the birth rate of people with ambigous genitalia (intersex) is about 2% of live births. So those people are not mistakes? I don't believe they are and according to your logic, you shouldn't, either. But then that doesn't fit your worldview of two genders and strict gender based societal roles.
I long for the day we all get past out superstitious knee jerk reactions to those who are different. I am hopeful though. It was only a little over a hundred years ago that the official US government position on my people was 'the only good indian is a dead indian.'
Maybe someday the attitudes I'm seeing here toward those who are gay/lebian/bisexual/intersex/transgendered are just as abhored by mainstream society.
I might have to do some prostelytizing of my own, if I had to face this type of self-righteousness on a daily basis.
I am so sad for you that you have been treated in a wrong manner by those who call themselves Christians. Before you decide I am a fundamentalist nut, let me just say I am the sister of an openly homosexual male who I love with all of my heart. My best friend has also been living an openly lesbian lifestyle for the past 18 years and I still love her like a sister without judging her. I am also 1/16 Choctaw and finally I am a true Christian. Basically what the world calls Christians are religious people who don't exemplify Jesus. If they or you read the Bible you would see that Jesus did not hang out with the religious people of His day and was often accused by those same religious people for hanging out with sinners. I am not religious. Unfortunately in our country all sides, whether they are Christian or not, Gay or not, believe their point of view is the right one. While reading your post, I felt great sorrow for you because while you were condemning the religious people who'd posted, you couldn't see in your anger that you were being just as bad as they were. We all need to quit waging our own little wars for our viewpoint and leave each other alone. For our country to be called the United States of America, we have never been more separated. We are divided by race, gender and sexual orientation. Finally I would say this to you and would just ask that you really think about it...is it any more right for homosexuals to shove their sexual orientation down the throats of heterosexuals than for heterosexuals to shove their sexual orientation down the throats of homosexuals? Neither way is right. What two people do in the privacy of their own bedroom is their own business, however if you put it out there into a public forum, you make it the business of other people, so you can't get mad if they don't agree with you. Dr. Phil was right, the first lady wasn't really having an issue with her sister about her sexual orientation, but they had other issues going on. I hope that in your life instead of running into and dealing with religious people you have many more come into your life who are true Christians. Take a look in a mirror and you might find your behavior is just like those you are having a problem with, because you are really angry and feeling that your way is the right way just like them. That's what really showed in your post.
(Original Air Date: 10/19/05) Sexual orientation used to be something kept hidden from family and co-workers, but now more and more people are "coming out" and finding acceptance. Anjela says her mother and sister don't support her sexual orientation, and feel she can't be Christian and gay at the same time. Can they reconcile this touchy issue? Then, two men debate whether a person can go from gay to straight, and parents of a 4-year-old boy fear their son's desire to play with dolls and wear heels means he'll grow up to be gay. Are they overreacting to his wishes to be a princess instead of a prince? Talk about gender and gay issues here.
