The Baha'i Studies Listserv
Sent from my iPad On Apr 30, 2013, at 20:45, Stephen Kent Gray <skg_z...@yahoo.com> wrote: > 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-700230-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@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
