The Baha'i Studies Listserv
Pardon me. The Deuteronomy reference emphatically should include Deuteronomy
chapter 20, along with 21 and 22. Sorry.
GS
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Selchert <ebedeyn...@aol.com>
To: Baha'i Studies <bahai-st@list.jccc.edu>
Sent: Tue, Apr 16, 2013 3:11 pm
Subject: Re: Against nature...
The Baha'i Studies Listserv
Stephen seems to want desperately to flush us out of theunderbrush on the issue
of all things LGBT. Clearly, the public Baha’i rulesabout gayness are at odds
with the customs of our (western) society in much thesame way that Baha’i
rules concerningalcoholic beverages are at odds with the customs of our
society. They drink; weare prohibited from drinking. We are prohibited from
doing what gay folks do.Personally, I would way rather have a drink of
something strong than do whatgay folks do, but that’s just me. I was born a
heterosexual and I know that noone born with my particular preferences would
never be inclined to choose topursue same-sex physical/romantic relationships.
Personally, I would be leeryof encouraging a gay person or a devoted aficionado
of microbreweries to enrollas a Baha’i, (no dang it; I am not comparing
homosexuality to alcoholism; I am comparing it to regular social drinking!)
regardless of their beliefs or other sterling qualities. Folks withfull
knowledge of the rules who do enroll as Baha’is despite their
incompatiblepreferences (how many of us can truthfully deny a predilection
forback-biting?) have a ready-made spiritual battle to fight.
Having said all that, the history of religions is repletewith examples of the
power of desuetude. Meditate on the laws of Deuteronomy chapters21 and 22.
Ponder deeply the issues of Acts 4:32 – 5:13. Remember fondly Matthew19:3 – 12
and all the fun the churches have had down through the centuries withissues of
marriage and divorce.
Some laws are specifically abrogated; others just fall intodesuetude as they
become unhelpful and create barriers to inclusion and thesalvation of the
masses. Obdurate repudiation of desuetude turns greatreligions into tiny
separatist cults.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desuetude
But perhaps all of that is ancient history and irrelevant inthe New Order.
Perhaps the law is engraved in stone until the next Manifestation. I don’t
know. I will watch from the next world with mildcuriosity about how our
great-great grandchildren work it all out. But I suspect nottoo many
generations will pass before Baha’is think about homosexuality in muchthe same
way that Catholics think about contraception.
But who knows?
GS
-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Kent Gray <skg_z...@yahoo.com>
To: Baha'i Studies <bahai-st@list.jccc.edu>
Sent: Tue, Apr 16, 2013 11:15 am
Subject: Re: Against nature...
The Baha'i Studies Listserv
Opps, needed to correct one of the links.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgenderism_and_religion
The other redirected to this one anyways.
Don, what if the influence of all secular progressivism went away, what would
society look like?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_religion
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_Universalism
What if America or whatever else society you want to insert instead, became
desecularized...
And became a Unitarian Universalists society?
A Neo Druidist society?
A Wiccan society?
A Raëlian society?
An Eckist society?
A Liberal Hindu society?
A Liberal Mahayana Buddhist society?
A Liberal Muslim society?
A Liberal Jewish society?
A Liberal Christian society?
Sent from my iPad
On Apr 15, 2013, at 16:10, Stephen Kent Gray <skg_z...@yahoo.com> wrote:
The Baha'i Studies Listserve
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_views_on_same-sex_marriage
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT-affirming_religious_groups
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT-affirming_denominations_in_Judaism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT-affirming_Christian_denominations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LGBT-related_organizations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitarian_Universalism_and_LGBT_topics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_organizations_that_support_same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_and_religion_topics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_and_homosexuality
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_and_religion
Don, you seem to think its only because of secularism that everyone isn't on
the same page you?
Read all the above Wikipedia articles on the various religious and theological
viewpoints.
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