The Baha'i Studies Listserv I shouldn't have listed Neo-Druidism, Wicca, and Thelema separately. They are all forms of Contemporary Modern Neo Paganism.
Contemporary Modern Neo Paganism (includes various ethnic, folk, and syncretic religions) Unitarian Universalism Eckankar LeVeyanism Raëlism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Neopagan_movements The mainstream of world religions can be divided into Abrahamic and Dharmic. Abrahamic Christianity Islam Judaimsm Dharmic Hinduism Buddhism Sent from my iPad On Apr 29, 2013, at 18:43, Stephen Kent Gray <skg_z...@yahoo.com> wrote: > The Baha'i Studies Listserv > Another message where I referenced Raëlism. > > Sent from my iPad > > On Apr 19, 2013, at 23:35, Stephen Kent Gray <skg_z...@yahoo.com> wrote: > >> 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:skg_z...@yahoo.com >> Unsubscribe: send a blank email to >> mailto:leave-698633-1719008.2a3842ae5b2f7d34dd5fdfc724616...@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:skg_z...@yahoo.com > Unsubscribe: send a blank email to > mailto:leave-699934-1719008.2a3842ae5b2f7d34dd5fdfc724616...@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-700207-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@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
