Christianity

A new book that debuts in print this week is already causing outrage and discordant reactions from right-wing American Christian conservatives, who have labeled the book a sham, shameful, inaccurate, and a misinterpretation of the basic tenets of the Christian faith.

PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. -- A Kansas man whose online lecture about the Bible and same-sex relationships gained considerable attention has gathered about 50 Christians from around the country to delve into his belief that the Scriptures do not condemn homosexuality as a sexual orientation.

A new project launched Wednesday is giving LGBT-supportive Christians a public forum for to proclaim their love and acceptance for their their gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender friends and family members.

Hi, I'm a Christian. As a gay man, I understand all too well why those words conjure up fear, loathing, and dramatic eye rolls among my LGBT friends. But I'm proud of my faith. I love its emphasis on grace, mercy, and love. I love Jesus' teachings about forgiveness, service, putting others first, and giving people more than they deserve. I love that he was known for befriending the outcasts and "sinners" while condemning the religious leaders. We could use a little more of that attitude today! But as much as I love my faith, sometimes my fellow Christians make me want to scream.

For the past thirty years, the Bible has been so tightly intertwined into politics that we’ve been confused as to what makes up the Bible and what makes up a political platform. “Traditional family values” — what does this even mean?

Whatever one’s religion, it is but a thought, a belief, and should never be imposed on anyone else. That’s why we have separation of church and state. Believe what you want, but don’t establish what you believe as a means to enslave others to your belief. To do so is to impinge on the human rights of others to live in freedom. The freedom to love those who consent to love us and express that love sexually, is not a belief, it is a universal right...

Hey Linda: You’ve been spouting off at the mouth a lot of utter nonsense about how dangerous it is to allow gays in the military. ... Linda, some of the most powerful, victorious, and abundantly brave – breathtakingly heroic actually – armies in history had in their rank and file – and leadership – gay men. ... And now with your ignorance and hate you demean their memory and you scorn those who want to wear a uniform of honor in order to serve this country and risk their very all to do so. How dare you.

In 1960, the young Reverend Robert Wood (1923-present) published a first-of-its-kind book, entitled “Christ and the Homosexual,” in hopes of inspiring a movement of dialogue, new writing, and deeper understanding regarding the gay community, particularly by the Church.

ROME, Ga. -- A tenured librarian at Shorter University is the latest among nearly 60 staff members to leave the Christian liberal arts college over the school’s ban on gay employees.

When I left home in the fall of 2008 and started school at Harvard, I was amazed at how much openness and support there was for LGBT students on campus, mainly because it was worlds apart from the conservative Christian church in Kansas that I’d come from. Back home, gay issues were never discussed, every family and every wedding was heterosexual, and the few people who eventually came out waited until they had moved far away. 
The message was largely unspoken, yet crystal clear: If you don’t fit into a heterosexual identity, you aren’t welcome...