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Note: This page is being resuscitated after seven years of dormancy. After deleting all the dead links, there's not much left. Any suggestions for links to information about faith communities' perspectives on homosexuality would be much appreciated. Please send suggestions to johanna@bridges-across.org.
Contents:
Faith Communities and Homosexuality
Communities of Faith & Homosexuality
by Heather Elizabeth Peterson
Editor, Greenbelt Interfaith News
Faiths and denominations vary widely in their attitudes toward homosexuality; some religious communities hold largely to SideA or SideB, while others are severely divided in their beliefs. The articles below show the many religious perspectives on this issue, and demonstrate ways in which people of various faiths and denominations are attempting to bridge the divide.
Two types of articles are listed. Articles listed under Beliefs either give a general overview of the perspectives within a particular community of faith, or else they argue in favor of SideA or SideB. Articles listed under Bridges may be written from SideA, SideB, both sides, or neither side; their common factor is that they call for or contain discussions between both sides in this important issue.
It should be emphasized that the Bridges articles are not listed separately as a way to indicate that they are superior to the Beliefs articles. Both types of articles can advance our knowledge in this area, and both can retard it. Bridges articles do offer a unique way of examining the question of the morality of homosexuality, though, and they may offer unique insight into ways in which people on both sides of this issue can learn from each other.
Multifaith and Multidenominational
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Beliefs
From the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance. This Side A site provides the most extensive information on the Web about the attitudes of faiths and denominations toward homosexuality. Links in the "Communities of Faith" list that are labelled OCRT come from that collection of pages. Each of the pages listed provides excerpts from relevant writings, as well as links to online documents from the religious group in question.
Homosexuality and Religion -- 1997 in Review
By Heather Elizabeth Peterson, from Greenbelt Interfaith News.
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Beliefs
OCRT: The Church of England and Homosexuality
OCRT: Episcopal Church and Homosexuality
The Quiet Revolution: How a Heresy Trial Has Rocked the Episcopal Church
By Heather Elizabeth Peterson, from Greenbelt Interfaith News. Describes the recent Anglican debate over homosexuality.
Statement of Koinonia
"We believe that homosexuality and heterosexuality are morally neutral, that both can be lived out with beauty, honor, holiness, and integrity and that both are capable of being lived out destructively." A statement signed by a number of Episcopal bishops following the creation of Continuing the Dialogue in 1994 (see below).
The Kuala Lumpur Statement
"We find no conflict between clear biblical teaching and sensitive pastoral care. . . . We encourage the Church to care for all those who are trapped in their sexual brokenness and to become the channel of Christ's compassion and love towards them." A statement issued by a number of Anglican bishops from the southern hemisphere in 1997.
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Bridges
Emerging Common Ground
"We are on a journey together, and these beginning articulations of emerging common ground are the start of that journey together." A joint statement issued in 1997 by Integrity/Toronto (Side A) and Fidelity (Side B).
A Homily Preached on the Occasion of the Holy Eucharist Among Members of Integrity/Toronto and Fidelity
By the Rev. Canon A. Paul Feheley of Fidelity. "You and I owe God and each other a commitment to be open to hearing and seeing new truth, to risk our deepest presuppositions to know, believe, and understand that our thinking can and should be altered to the mind of Christ."
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Beliefs
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Beliefs
Bridges
Dalai Lama Urges "Full Human Rights for All," Including GaysBy Dennis Conkin, from the Bay Area Reporter. "His Holiness opposes violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation. He urges respect, tolerance, compassion, and the full recognition of human rights for all." An account of a June 1997 meeting between the Dalai Lama and representatives of gay organizations.
Episcopal see Anglican
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Beliefs
By Vatsyayana and translated by Richard Burton, from Bibliomania. As the title implies, this is a frank account of homosexual practices, from the ancient Indian sex manual.
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Beliefs
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Beliefs
The Qu'ran and Homosexuality
Edited by Paul Halsall, from People with a History. "But whoso rebels against God and His Apostle, and transgresses His bounds, He will make him enter into fire, and dwell therein for aye; and for him is shameful woe." Passages on homosexuality from the Islamic holy book.
Muslim see Islamic
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Beliefs
Judaism and Homosexuality
By Paul Halsall, from People with a History.
Twice Blessed: The Jewish GLBT Archives Online
An index to information on Judaism and homosexuality.
Reform's Position on Homosexuality
From soc.culture.jewish FAQ. Excerpts from various official documents.
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Beliefs
"The Radical Faerie Fellowship is a diverse and unorganized group of Gay men who center their spiritual lives around various and sundry pagan doctrines."
Contradictory Views on Radical Faerie Thought
By Mitch Walker, from White Crane. "Since Gay Spirit arises and lives in the psyche, one must face one's psyche in an actual and full way to truly reach a fuller partnership with Gay Spirit. In practice this means a thorough encounter with one's Gay Shadow, with what is most disturbing and most resisted against inside one's own feelings. It is, I believe, the failure of such encounters and the subsequent projection onto other people that is responsible for the acrimony we've seen at times even in the most idealistic of gay groups and individuals." A history of the Radical Faerie movement, and a description of the divisions within it.
Homosexuality in Vodou
By Mambo Racine Sans Bout, from The Vodou Page. "Because open homosexuals are rigorously excluded from Protestant congregations, and frowned upon in Catholic services, the only avenue for spiritual expression for homosexuals in Haiti is Vodou." An article by a priestess of the Vodou.
Sex, Wicca and the Great Rite
By Adrienne, from The Blade & Chalice. "For the celebration of the Sacred Marriage, it is inappropriate for the deities to be of the same gender, in whatever facet, but the gender of the persons doing it isn't at issue. A man can manifest the Goddess and a woman can manifest the God." A general description of the sexual rite within Wicca.
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Bridges
Edited by Lynna Landstreet, from The Blade & Chalice. "How do gays fulfill the male/female polarity usually required in ritual? I know there are cases where it wouldn't be a priority, as in Dianic or feminist rituals. But most of the covens I know of are based on balance. This includes the balance of male and female energies." A discussion of some of the problems involved in being a gay Pagan, and how these problems might be overcome.
Wiccan see Pagan
Zoroastrian
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Beliefs
Vendidad: Purity Laws
Translated by James Darmesteter, from Avesta. "Ahura Mazda answered: 'For that deed there is nothing that can pay, nothing that can atone, nothing that can cleanse from it; it is a trespass for which there is no atonement, for ever and ever.'" A passage on homosexuality from a holy book of the Zoroastrians.