So...ended up procrastinating most of the day, did a bit of homework.Hung out with my old roommate from freshman year, David (yup, it was David and David freshman year...it was CRRAAZZZYY) which I always look forward to on Tuesdays.
Alas, after that, I went to something that I am really glad I went to. I met a friend of mine, Erin, at the Barnes and Noble and we both went over to DePaul, which was hosting an LGBTQ panel. The panel consisted of a Rabbi of a temple off the Addison stop I believe, a Methodist pastor who has a church in Lakeview, and a leader/representative of the Muslim group on the DePaul campus. The panel, if you could not guess by now, was how LGBTQ was looked upon in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
I'm really glad I went to this. If anyone didn't know, I was adopted into a Jewish family when I was less than a year old and have grown up jewish. Later on, like everyone else, I started having my own questions. Especially when my mother passed away. Went though a few "phases" and have ended up comfortably saying that the questions will never end and that makes me all the more excited about living my life. I consider myself an agnostic Jew, if that makes any sense. I have my own unique view on religion and spirituality, as I'm sure everyone else does. I was raised in a very open minded household and wasn't forced to believe in anything and, at the same time, told to learn about the world and the different cultures and religions. This included learning about LGBTQ at somewhat of a young age. Being rasied to accept others included LGBTQ and my father and I are very accepting to LGBTQ. I have a lot of friends who are LGBTQ and am honored to know them and I fully support gay rights and like the culture very much. My view? Love is love. No one has the right to tell you who you love. I never got homophobia and it really bothers me, wheather it be because of religion or any other form of ignorance in general. It really gets to me that something like this is this much of a problem to people. ESPECIALLY when we have come as far as we have. Errrr...people. Anyway, I could go on and on about this but I will save that for another post (perhaps I'll make a video??!!) and will now go to the panel I was at.
So we talked about what the religions believe in a whole about LGBTQ. The rabbi said that it is important to be very accepting as a community to LGBTQ and that it goes back to tradition of being accepting to others and that it doesn't say anything in the Torah that LGBTQ is NOT acceptable. The Muslim speaker said that, all in all, that islam is still not where others are when it comes down to LGBTQ and that it is somewhat rare to find a mosque where being openly gay is ok. He said that he thinks Islam will reach that point, but still has a little ways to go when it comes to being open with it. He was very honest about it. Then, the pastor said that there are all different things Christians would say about it because there are different views on it (as I'm sure there are in all religions and cultures). She said that, in the Bible, Jesus does NOT even mention anything against LGBTQ and that, obviously, it depends on if you were a bible literalist or not and denomination (at certain times).
So then we talked about what they personally thinked about LGBTQ. The rabbi said he welcomes and has LGBTQ couples at his temple (which I have been to once, it seemed very nice) and they eliminated the option of him and her in terms of marrige on their membership forms so that it was open to all kinds of couples. Alright, cool stuff! Next, the Muslim speaker said that he doesn't believe there is anything wrong with it and accepts it at his organization. He said, because the Koran is really important to the muslim faith as in there is not a lot of questioning the Koran, it may be harder to find people accepting to it. But he believes that it is not fair to take away one's faith because of who they are and he is a very open minded individual and doesn't believe there should be a problem with it. Nice! Lastly, the pastor told us that she does not believe that being LGBTQ is a sin at all! She said that she believes that love is a holy thing and you should have love for that special someone, and forced love (rape, molestation etc) is wrong and a sin, but as long as it's concentual love, who cares if it's a boy and a girl, a boy and a boy, a girl and a girl, or whoever! She said others would find her radical in her beliefs in certain christian communities and accepted that but she believes that people should not worry so much about the afterlife and concentrate on loving one another on this earth and that Jesus says love everyone and that means everyone!
We talked and she talked about how she does not take the bible literally, as it would be offensive. She also says that she does not like the phrase "Love the sinner, hate the sin" as she thinks it is insulting and, when it comes to the question of applying that to LGBTQ, that there is no sin to begin with. This was really amazing to me, as some of the past experiences I've had with Christianity have not been as open to LGBTQ as her. She went on to saying that about 80% of her congregation are LGBTQ. Awesome! She really awed me. Now that's a Christian! Loving everyone is something Jesus would have wanted. EVERYONE! She also said that denominational sects of christianity are shrinking and that there are a lot more non-denominational churches now, which I wasn't really aware of. It was very interesting to here that though. I asked her why, because of my past experiences, was LGBTQ looked down upon in other churches I visited. She said that the majority of non-denominational churches are bible literalist. Most of the ones I have been to are non demoninational, so I guess it sort of added up. Though I will do my own research, this seems like an accurate observation, which sort of saddens me on how they can not be so open with LGBTQ, especially in a religion that is suppose to be beautiful and loves everyone. I have no problem with religion, if you could tell, as long as it's not forced or condesending towards others and focuses on love (which, when it comes down to it, I think what religion SHOULD and IS about). So, it's nice to hear that there is a church in this world so open about it and a pastor so open and accepting to it as she was. It was a very relieveing experience! She even invited me to check out her church
After that, we said a few closing words, and then we left!
All and all, I am very happy about what I learned last night and am relieved that there are steps being taken to make the world a bit more accepting, especially in the LGBTQ community! No one should be able to take away your rights because you love someone and that someone happens to be the same sex or transgender!! It's utterly ridiculous! I think, once the ignorance finally washes away from it all, then we will see the true meaning of American: acceptance and freedom. I hope that one day these petty issues will be solved in our government, that gay marriage will become legal anywhere in America (or the world even!) and that the hate can be put down and abolished! Stop hating and start loving!
That's all I have for now!
Peace!- The AR
One of my heroes, Harvey Milk, making a speech:
i went to a similar panel when i was in undergrad and while i don't remember many details, i do know that i left feeling very inspired. and every year at pride, there are a ton of churches that march - and they get the loudest cheers from the crowds.
ReplyDeletei don't know if you've ever gone to chicago pride, but that was actually the first parade i ever went to, and it was amazing. i don't know if it stands out in my mind because it really was that much better than any other parade i've been to, or if i just remember it that way because it was my first and i was so blown away... still, we had roadtripped up there from cbus and it was an amazing time.
lastly, "agnostic jew" makes absolute perfect sense. being jewish is so, so much more than just a religion, or a culture, or an ethnic group... if you identify as jewish, you're jewish.