Daniel Rarela

Dan,

I went through something very similar with my family. My mother and I had a very strange relationship for at least a year and a half after I came out. It was the hardest thing, because we used to be so close. My dad never judged me and was always by my side, but my mom was mad because she said I was going to hell. I asked her, which hell? Your perceived notion of hell? She said, “no, the one the church teaches us about”. All I said was “well, maybe the church got it wrong” why would God condemn someone for loving?” She replied with, “Because it says in the Bible.” To, which I replied “No, that is what they tell us the Bible is trying to say.”

I grew up in Catholic school… 12 years. I grew up quoting the Bible and know all the references that people use from the Bible to show that homosexuality is wrong. However, those interpretations are never solid and whenever I would disagree and give my interpretation, I could never be proven wrong but would only be told that I am wrong because the other person has “faith”. Which, was always a cop-out in my opinion, and totally disregarded the fact that I have faith as well.

Bottom line is… being Gay is not a choice and, thusly, how can it be wrong in God’s eyes? Of course, these are just my opinions and questionings for my own personal faith.

Much love to ya!

~ b.chris

watch all 13 parts.
Very interesting. Well, I’m Dutch and we have gay marriage now for.. God knows how long and accepted gay relationship such a long time ago.
Still, it’s shocking to see many still see it as something wrong. Than again, I promote freedom of thinking so if people think it’s wrong, they have the right to think that.
Whatever we think about it, we should never hurt each other for it.
Anywa,, if one of my children would come foreword with being gay, it would NOT change my feelings at all for them. Never. I love them as always as normal.
And again, I don’t have an issue with gay relationships at all and don’t even pay it much attention since we all should have the freedom to be what ever we want to be

Thats what i try to say. “Let God Judge”. Its true that in the Bible, and according to the faith, that homosexuality is a sin! theres no changing that. what is not understood by outsiders is that as christians we are to love everyone reguardless. God hates sin, but God loves the sinner (the sinner includes you, me, him, her, them, and homosexuals). so as christians we should do the same. if you saw my journal, you saw that people were so quick to jump and say that the Bible is a hateful book in regaurds to homosexuality. actually it is (God hates sin) but with that, they believe that its hateful towards the homosexuaal. absolutely not!!!!! The bible simply tells us to avoid it..okay…but we are to love them as ourselves, as our neighbors (for thats what we all are). So given that they came from Christian BG’s it Is SUPPOSED to be as if nothing were different, they are their chidren and should be loved the same.

kenny,

“theres no changing that.” not until people accept that there is. christianity has caused some of the worst wars and prejudices known to human kind and always goes back later to say they were wrong…so, maybe there is chaning it, but the time is just not right?

also…

”...the Bible is a hateful book in regaurds to homosexuality. actually it is (God hates sin) but with that, they believe that its hateful towards the homosexuaal. absolutely not!!!!! The bible simply tells us to avoid it..okay…”

Yes, true, God hates sin. But it is man who defined what sin is based on what other men claimed God was trying to tell us. Seems a little biased to speak for God as to what sins he hates. And, if you are basing it on the Bible, then there is no one correct interpretation of it. I have NEVER seen the Bible as a hateful book. I love the Bible. I just think that some of the people who interpret its pages are hateful. I have never read incontrovertible evidence in that book that God neither condemns nor condones it. And, whenever I get into a debate with a fellow Christian, they always cite some quote that could have a million different interpretations, but try to pass it off like only their interpretation is what counts because that is what their “faith” teaches. Well, fine for them…but holding that to everyone else is the actual sin.

Just some input…

~ b.chris :o)

“it’s true – being gay isn’t a choice. but if God did (does?) want me to give it up for His sake, I make the effort to at least be prepared for it and try. But at the same time I keep reminding myself who I’m doing this for – Christ, and not other people who just subconsciously hope that I’ll do it to gain their approval”

How do you know that he wants you to give it up? I was told by a priest once that God wanted me to give it up, but then I asked him for proof and he quoted the Bible and then I told him what I thought the quote could possibly mean and if it had any weight to it and he got so flustered because he could not disprove me and basically said that I should not question things and just have faith that the church is right. Then I asked if that is what they told people during the crusades, or when the jews were being persecuted, or when the missionaries came to california, or when hundreds of thousands of women were burnt at the stake…i could go on and on and on… He left, very disgruntled and said that the Catholics and the Christians of today (the 90’s) were not responsible for the prejudice of the past. I always thought that was a great line. So, to go along with my comment to Kenny (above)...maybe that is how all this will be seen years from now…like some tragic mistake that was all bred out of hate and misunderstanding. At least, I hope, because I am all about equality, love, and not being judged.

~ b.chris :o)

Oh, yeah, and P.S. —> reason why I commented so quickly earlier is that I had already seen this documentary before. But, i think it is a great service to post it here! Cheers!