Bringing a question up out of obscurity (hijacked from another thread)

[Soulsearcher]

It might help if i put some things into context. I joined the church for a girl. I joined to help keep up my "secret identity" and to keep trying to hide. I left Christianity behind almost 20 years ago, but i joined the church only 5 years ago. What better way to convince people I'm normal. Join a very strict church for the sake of marrying one of it's members with a huge focus on starting a family. If that didn't hide what i was then nothing would. For me it was a cover story nothing more. There are more reasons for joining the church than actually believing it, some dishonest, some less genuine but not devious. When the people who joined for other reasons like myself god, covenants ect play no part in it. it's like letting a membership expire from someplace you just don't see the point in visiting again.

Now being my comments kinda lead to this thread being started i guess i should expand. There have been comments by prophets speaking as prophets that have harmed gays. They are no longer typically quoted and president Hinckley went above and beyond to try and redirect and reeducate how members approach the topic and let me say i have a great respect for that man to this day. This being said a lot of older membership use these comments combined with scripture as a club and a sword, and no this isn't just the LDS church

Leviticus 20:13- "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." What is so difficult about obeying that simple standard?! I'm bringin' it home to my f*g friends out there. CASTRATE YOURSELVES if you plan on entering heaven!

God hates queers and that is why AIDS was created! AIDS is the cure for queerness!

(concerning the murder of a 15 year old homosexual) This was not murder. This was the first cultural domino to fall in which proper moral values are asserting themselves against these sick perverted freaks. Let the cleansing begin!

The only cure for homosexuality is extermination.

These were comments made by proud christians, the defended them as what god really wants and stand by them. Are they the majority? Not even close, but they are the extreme, there are still some less then "enlightened" people out there that because they cling to slightly outdated views do cause harm with the bible and their faith as their backing and trying to convince them that they are not following the direct will of god can be near impossible. Is the gospel it's self harmful no, however when leaders of faiths and even members use it as their source for inspiration with out clear correction from anyone down the line it does become a muddy line now and then

This is the line of thought that lead to the comments that kinda kick started this entire thread in a round about kinda way lol.

Edited January 27, 2012 by Soulsearcher

[JudoMinja]

It might help if i put some things into context. I joined the church for a girl. I joined to help keep up my "secret identity" and to keep trying to hide. I left Christianity behind almost 20 years ago, but i joined the church only 5 years ago. What better way to convince people I'm normal. Join a very strict church for the sake of marrying one of it's members with a huge focus on starting a family. If that didn't hide what i was then nothing would. For me it was a cover story nothing more. There are more reasons for joining the church than actually believing it, some dishonest, some less genuine but not devious. When the people who joined like other reasons like myself god, covenants ect play not part in it. it's like letting a membership expire from someplace you just don't see the point in visiting again.

Now being my comments kinda lead to this thread being started i guess i should expand. There have been comments by prophets speaking as prophets that have harmed gays. They are no longer typically quoted and president Hinckley went above and beyond to try and redirect and reeducate how members approach the topic and let me say i have a great respect for that man to this day. This being said a lot of older membership use these comments combined with scripture as a club and a sword, and no this isn't just the LDS church

Leviticus 20:13- "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." What is so difficult about obeying that simple standard?! I'm bringin' it home to my f*g friends out there. CASTRATE YOURSELVES if you plan on entering heaven!

God hates queers and that is why AIDS was created! AIDS is the cure for queerness!

(concerning the murder of a 15 year old homosexual) This was not murder. This was the first cultural domino to fall in which proper moral values are asserting themselves against these sick perverted freaks. Let the cleansing begin!

The only cure for homosexuality is extermination.

These were comments made by proud christians, the defended them as what god really wants and stand by them. Are they the majority? Not even close, but they are the extreme, there are still some less then "enlightened" people out there that because they cling to slightly outdated views do cause harm with the bible and their faith as their backing and trying to convince them that they are not following the direct will of god can be near impossible. Is the gospel it's self harmful no, however when leaders of faiths and even members use it as their source for inspiration with out clear correction from anyone down the line it does become a muddy line now and then

I think my description of your joining the church being setting a goal you didn't really want is fitting, as you were trying to start a "normal" family when that wasn't at all what you really wanted for yourself. You were essentially living a lie, and I think that is what causes people the most harm- It is why I could never abandon the church, because my belief in it is a part of who I am and if I left, I would be living a lie for myself.

That being said, I am very sorry for what you and others like you have had to go through at the hands of "Christians". Things like what you quoted are what caused me to first start forming doubts about the church as a teen. Many of my friends were "outcasts" and very bitter toward Christianity for treating them like dirt. One of those friends, in particular, was a very extroverted lesbian who became interested in investigating the church due to my friendship and example. My Young Women's leader at the time was very harsh and judgmental and drove her away.

I think this highlights another example of how the gospel itself may not be harmful to someone, but the imperfect people within the church can do harm. If you did believe and have a testimony of the gospel, you would be stuck between a rock and a hard place trying to live up to its expectations while being surrounded by some very judgmental individuals within the church.

Like you, I am very thankful for Pres. Hinkley's clarifications and truly Christ-like approach toward the gay community. If the judgmentalism some members can show were a part of our doctrine, I do not think I could believe... I would not feel comfortable being part of a church that supported such mistreatment, and instead of just becoming inactive during my college years, I probably would have left the church entirely for something different. As it is, I personally do believe this is the true church and that the people striving to live it are just imperfect. I know I'm not perfect, and I certainly do not want to turn the judging finger toward others when that very judgmentalism is what I despise.

[Maureen]

...While not scripture, it also makes me think of this quote "Christ never said it would be easy. He only said it would be worth it." (can't remember the source...)...

You probaby can't find the source because from what I could find, Christ didn't say these words, it was Mae West.

M.

[JudoMinja]

You probaby can't find the source because from what I could find, Christ didn't say these words, it was Mae West.

M.

I know Christ didn't say it, and acknowledged in my post that it wasn't scripture. I just couldn't remember who it was that originally said it. I still think it is a very fitting quote that at least partially captures the essence of our lives and the struggle to live righteously in an unrighteous world.