The Baha'i Studies Listserv There are a variety of religions in the world. While most either are explicitly anti LGBTQQIA or neutral towards them, there are affirming religious groups.
Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism have affirming factions. This is a specific denominational issue in Judaism and Christianity. I could add Buddhism as well because of the Hinayana and Mahayana divide on this issue. Most Hindus are on one side and conservative Hindutva is on the other. Most Muslims are on one side and the liberal Al Fatiha Foundation and liberal Imaan groups are on the other. Wicca, Unitarian Universalism, Eckankar, LaVeyanism, Raëlism, Neo-Druidism, and the Native American Religion are affirming religions. Though, not listed by Wikipedia, I would add Thelema as well to the list due to my own research. Religious Humanists and Religious Existentialists tend to be affirming as well. I compiled the lists from Wikipedia articles on affirming religions, organizations that support same sex marriage, religious views on same sex marriage, etc. It's ironic that the leeway for interpretation in scripture present in the top five religions allows for flexibility in this matter that the Baha'i Faith lacks. While LGBTQQIA people and allies are part of the top five religions, they do tend to be drawn to the next seven as well. I wonder what are the religious demographics of these people. Skygram, do you know what religions these ex-Baha'is convert to or to irreligion? How are they doing today? Do you still keep in contact with them? Was it all for the better now, if they managed to convert to an affirming religion or denomination? This is especially noted in how lots of Unitarian Universalist churches have extensive affirming programs in congregations which are known as Welcoming Churches. It is sad for the ones who stay Baha'is, but they apostates probably have moved on with their lives for the better. While I didn't come to my current religious affiliations because they were affirming, but rather for other reasons. I choose Unitarian Universalism because of the diversity of religious beliefs that can fit within that big tent. Religious Humanism because I liked reading the Humanist Manifestoes, but didn't care for Secular Humanism. Buddhist Humanism, Humanistic Buddhism, Nichiren Buddhism, Buddhist Modernism, Engaged Buddhism, Buddhist Protestantism, etc. because of my prior like of Religious Humanism and my liking of Mahayana Buddhism. I was interested in Eckankar because of soul travel and various other things. I was interested in Contemporary Modern Neo Paganism and hence Neo-Druidism and Wicca. I was interested in various UFO religions including Raëlism. I like the Golden Rule which is in all religions. I like the page on Wikipedia listing the various formulations across religions. Buddhism and Humanism have my favorite formulations. I also like the Declaration of a Global Ethic. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism have formulations I read regularly as well via the Wikipedia page. Wicca and Thelema also have formulations that I have memorized as well as read regularly via Wikipedia. The Humanist Manifesto II In the best sense, religion may inspire dedication to the highest ethical ideals. The cultivation of moral devotion and creative imagination is an expression of genuine spiritual experience and aspiration. We believe, however, that traditional dogmatic or religions that place revelation, God, ritual, or creed above human needs and experience do a disservice to the human species. Whether the Baha'i Faith does a disservice to humanity is up to debate, or not? Sent from my iPad On Apr 16, 2013, at 20:20, Skygram <skyg...@gmail.com> wrote: > The Baha'i Studies Listserv > Gary, > > You have prodded the sleeping elephant in the room! > > I recall many years ago there was a Bahai bumper sticker that read, "Human > Rights are God Given Rights". But now that sexual preference is considered a > human right by many countries along with the United Nations, you don't see > this bumper sticker any more. > > Over the years having known a number of gay Bahais, both male and female, > who have struggled with their issues of sexual identity, most have ended up > leaving the Bahai Faith because in it they found no sense of spiritual > refuge. Instead most encountered a lot of mean spirited behaviour of self > righteous Bahais of which unfortunately, there are more than a few. > > Then there is another group of Bahais who marry into relationships with > other gay Bahais of the opposite sex. They do this to "pass" as straight for > various reasons and they also struggle with the inherent conflicts of being > homosexual in the Bahai Faith. > > It is all very sad for these human beings and I have discovered that there > is little compassion found in our communities for these people. I cannot > imagine that this is what Baha'u'llah had in mind nor how Abdul Baha would > want us to treat these children of God. > > I am sure that some of the Bahais will comfort themselves with Bahai > scripture as a way of justifying their behaviour. But it shouldn't take > scripture to love all of human kind without exception. > > Bill > > > > __________________________________________________ > You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:skg_z...@yahoo.com > Unsubscribe: send a blank email to > mailto:leave-697342-1719008.2a3842ae5b2f7d34dd5fdfc724616...@list.jccc.edu > Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu > Or subscribe: > http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st > Baha'i Studies is available through the following: > Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu > Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st > News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st > Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net > New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:arch...@mail-archive.com Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-698633-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
