We do care. We may not always understand what you're going through, but we're here for you.
And btw, I think the Episcopal Church might be just the thing, in that it allows for a wide range of opinion, so that even as changeable as you can be, it should be able to accommodate most of those changes. Perhaps it could be a much needed constant in your life.
Yes, maybe you are right. That and it is similar to the Catholic Church which I like. I wouldn't have to deal with the Catholic teachings that I have trouble with such as the "contraception is evil" teaching and the "Mary was immaculately conceived" teaching.
However, they do have some beliefs that I really like such as a belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist which I have pretty strongly believed in for most of the past few years. I also like the way that you don't have to go to confession all the time because the penitentiary rite at the beginning of the Episcopalian/Anglican Mass absolves you of all of your sins.
Originally Posted by DeanM
Just a quick thought~
Please remember that if you read any book on theology, that you're reading what that author believes.
Authors are not God, and can be quite incorrect at times.
Me? I trust the Holy Spirit to guide me. I may have ended up with a belief system that many consider to be a bit whacky, but I am always open to learn from others.
Just be careful not to get into the "It was in a book so it must be true" mindset.
There's a lot of mixed messages out there. Trust your heart to help you sort through them . . .
Oh don't worry. I tend to be rather gullible at times but I can also be rather skeptical at times too so I wouldn't worry too much about me accepting everything I read just because it's in a book.
Anyway, could you all offer some books that explain homosexuality and why homosexual sex acts and relationships are not a sin? I have been particularly interested in learning about this theology for some time now.
I don't usually assert that I'm qualified in a given area... but in the specificality of homosexuality and Christianity (keep in mind I'm a conservative regarding the latter) I've spent years asking similar questions. So, I'm going to offer my 2cents on this one.
First off, my PM box is open to discussion on this, if that is something that would be beneficial to you.
Second, some weblinks which may be helpful in terms of support (though to really dig in, books are better): www.christiangay.com (progay from a conservative theological standpoint) www.beyondexgay.com (ex-members and victims of Exodus International speakout) www.lcna.org (queer support from a Lutheran standpoint) www.Jesus.com (the home of the Metropolitan Community Church) www.ecwr.org (Evangelicals Concerned)
And finally, the books (all of which I own and have read):
Anything by Virginia Ramey Mollenkott (who got her degree from Bob Jones, is an evangelical, and was a style consultant for the NIV Bible translation; she is also lesbian)... specifically:
Virginia Ramey Mollenkott and Letha Scanzoni, "Is the Homosexual My Neighbor? Another Christian View" (Harper & Row, 1978) as far as I know, this book is the cornerstone of Queer Christian theology Virginia Ramey Mollenkott, "Sensous Spirituality: Out from Fundamentalism" (Crossroad, 1992) Virginia Ramey Mollenkott, "Omnigender: A Trans-Religious Approach" (Pilgrim Press, 2001) deals specifically with transgender issues
William Stacy Johnson, "A Time to Embrace: Same-Gender Relationships in Religion, Law and Politics" (Eerdmans, 2006)
Father Daniel A. Helminiak, "Sex and the Sacred: Gay Identity and Spiritual Growth" (Harrington Park Press, 2006) Father Daniel A. Helminiak, "Whate the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality" (Alamo Square Press, 2000)
Michelle Wolkomir, "Be Not Deceived: The Sacred and Sexual Struggles of Gay and Ex-gay Christian Men" (Rutgers, 2006)
Margaret A. Farley, "Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics" (Continuum, 2007)
Kate Bornstein, "Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of us" (Vintage, 1994)
Robert E. Goss, "Queering Christ: Beyond Jesus Acted Up" (Pilgrim Press, 2002) Father Goss is previously a Jesuit Priest
Marvin M. Ellison, "Same-Sex Marriage? A Christian Ethical Analysis" (Pilgrim Press, 2004)
also, anything by Leanne McCall Tigert, who is a Christian psychologist and my friend: Leanne McCall Tigert, "Coming out Through Fire: Surviving the Trauma of Homophobia" (United Church Press, 1999) Leanne McCall Tigert, "Coming out While Staying In: Struggles and Celebrations of Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals in the Church" (United Church Press, 1996) Leanne McCall Tigert, "Coming out Young and Faithful" (Pilgrim Press, 2001) Leanne McCall Tigert, "Transgendering Faith: Identity, Sexuality and Spirituality" (Pilgrim Press, 2004)
Last, but the last shall be first: "The Queer Bible Commentary" (SCM Press, 2006) An entire Queer Systematic Theology and Biblical Commentary, written by various gay, lesbian and trans clergy.
Holly, Anything by Virginia Ramey Mollenkott (who got her degree from Bob Jones, is an evangelical, and was a style consultant for the NIV Bible translation; she is also lesbian)... specifically:
Whoa! A lesbian who got her degree from Bob Jones? I bet she has some tales to tell about that place...
__________________ "God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy."
-- Billy Currington
I would highly recommend Ten Things I Learned Wrong from a Conservative Church by John Killinger, in addition to many already mentioned.
__________________ "In our denomination are compassionate Christians. 'Compassionate conservatives' is an oxymoron. The Lord we serve is liberal in every way possible, abounding with peace and justice." -United Methodist Bishop Felton May
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I am also reading Diana Butler Bass' Christianity for the Rest of Us. Still in just the 3rd chapter but I was impressed how she mentioned the neighborhood she gre up in in Baltimore was the same one in John Waters' movie A Dirty Shame. While in Waters' flick the conservative middle class neighborhood was taken over by swingers plus one household of bears (large hairy gay men; they slept in a tree embracing each other) she said the middle class ideal neighborhood of the 1950s changed into one dominated by singles and childless couples and was changed to the despair of some who turned to New Age cults or fundamentalism; others, like her turned to a mutually supportive liberal Mainline Church.
__________________ "In our denomination are compassionate Christians. 'Compassionate conservatives' is an oxymoron. The Lord we serve is liberal in every way possible, abounding with peace and justice." -United Methodist Bishop Felton May
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To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. No guilt of life, no fear of death This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
McLaren is one of those emergent or emerging church guys. He's supposed to be good. The right wing hates him so that's a point in his favor.
__________________ "In our denomination are compassionate Christians. 'Compassionate conservatives' is an oxymoron. The Lord we serve is liberal in every way possible, abounding with peace and justice." -United Methodist Bishop Felton May
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McLaren is one of those emergent or emerging church guys. He's supposed to be good. The right wing hates him so that's a point in his favor.
Yep!
Well, I'm one of those emerging church types myself, which is probably why I like him. But I'm also a Pentecostal and a founding member of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy (Libertarian Division). Izzy's R complicated I guess.
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. No guilt of life, no fear of death This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
‘Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand
I wouldn't have to deal with the Catholic teachings that I have trouble with such as the "contraception is evil" teaching and the "Mary was immaculately conceived" teaching.
I have been particularly interested in learning about this theology for some time now. 
Yeah I bet so too! 
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