Is that what we are to believe? That somehow, God loves certain people more than others? If so, than that makes God a Lesser God, and I refuse to believe that. My faith in God is such that He loves us all. My favorite line in a movies comes from a little known movie called The Five Heartbeats, where a minister asks his congregation how can they say they love God, whom they cannot see, and not love their fellow man, whom they see everyday. That has such truth to it.
One of the things that I find so uplifting about my own personal faith, is that God gave us Free Will. He gave us the right to choose, and make decisions for ourselves. How is it, then that A lot of Churches today want to take away that Free Will? They want to remove choice. They want to take away the very things that Our Lord and Saviour gave to us, if that is what you believe in. I, in no way am trying to push my faith or views on anyone, however having grown up in the African-American Baptist Church system, I have beliefs that while never will be shaken, are entitled to evolve. I clearly remember "Judge not, lest ye be judged". Every Preacher I have ever had at some point or another referred to "Judgement Day". When this day comes, who will be the Judge? Certainly not any Minister, Preacher,Father, Rabbi, or anyone else I missed. It is not up to us to determine whether something is right or wrong. It is up to us to treat individuals fairly. That isn't a difficult thing to do.
My God is a God of love. My God is a God of acceptance. If I don't ever live my life like I'm supposed to, I do indeed try to be a person of love and acceptance. Acceptance of things that are different. Acceptance of things that are new. Acceptance of the fact that people are not going to live their lives like I do, and I'm not going to live my life like some others.
I am straight, with a beautiful daughter. I've been married and divorced. I was married in a Church. Although the marriage didn't last forever, the experience and joy I felt on that day was amazing. I could not see myself depriving people of expressing their love for one another in the same manner, or any other manner they choose, for that matter.
I am very, very disappointed in our society. We are supposed to be evolving, and on a lot of issues we are. We will never have that "perfect union" untill all people are treated equally. All people should have their civil rights.
Love is love. it doesn't change just because the players change. Now don't get me wrong, I'm referring to love between adults. Is the love between a man and another man any different than the love between a man and a woman? No, it is not.
The church likes to call homosexuality a perversion. Is it anymore perverted than some of the things done between man and woman? Hell to the no!
The Church likes to talk about the sanctity of marriage. Well, the sanctity is broken time and again by the Elliot Spitzers of the world. If people like that can become a part of this "exclusive" club, anyone should be able to. We allow people who shit on what we consider a sacred act, to marry as often as they would like. The divorce rate among Heterosexuals is astronomical, so obviously we don't have this marriage thing down to a science.
I watched the people demonstrating because of Proposition 8, and my heart truly went out to them. It's going to take a lot more peaceful demonstrations. It's going to take people who are in the closet coming out, especially to their families. People tend to try to be more understanding when something hits closer to home. Staying in the closet is like giving acknowledgement to those who think your love is wrong.
You should have nothing to hide.
I'm writing this diary because I just came from Church. I saw all the spirituality and love and just wondered to myself how many here voted for Amendment 2. I told my Reverend that I was going to call him this evening because I wanted to discuss something with him. I'm going to put the whole Gay Rights thing right out there and see where he is. I may be looking for another Church soon, but let's hope not....