homosexuality, truth and fear

A response I posted at another blog...

I think the issue is so much greater than homosexuality. The religious right has shown themselves to be very uncomfortable with and often beligerent to any people group or ideology that doesn't fit their paradigm. Life is static, black and white. The truth has been revealed and found by them - done. Anything outside of this truth structure is a threat and therefore hard, if not impossible for them to deal with. If they allow the possibility that something in their truth structure is wrong, the whole thing falls apart because it's all based on absolutes. I would agree that there are absolutes, where I differ is my willingness to admit that God may not have revealed all absolutes or the complete nature of His absolutes to us. Beacause of that, I'm free to love and not judge people I don't agree with or don't understand. What a wonderful freedom that is! Getting past what church people are taught to do - be offended and therefore protective of their faith structure - was a big hurdle in my life and can only imagine that it is for many others. What pushed me over the edge was the realization that my offense and protection of the religious structure I was brought up in was really pride. My insecurity of what I was brought up to believe was brought to light when called into question and that's really all about me. It has NOTHING to do with God. When I see televangelists and religious right leaders charging against oh so many issues (including homosexuality) I'm struck by the fact that they can't see past their own fear. In my opinion, fear is what is motivating them. Fear of losing their comfy way of thought and life. Fear that their children will not accept their ways. Fear that they'll have to do some deep soul searching that can be painfully uncomfortable if you've never allowed yourself to do so. But, again, it's all about them. They try to twist it into love or minimally altruism but most outside the sect see it for what it is. I applaud any church that welcomes and encourages free thought and respectful disagreements. Yes, it can be messy, it's not the suburban perfectly manicured, conflict free bliss so many aim for, but it is how we learn if we afford ourselves the opportunity.