The Michigan Daily - Friday, March 5, 1993- Page 5 SE_AITY AND THE SUP__E__ ___ ___ REIMB G What religion says about homosexuality and what homosexuals say about religion eligion can be both a force for guidance and morality, and crutch or venue by which fa- natics justify their own beliefs. Complicate the subject by men- tioning homosexuality - referred to by some as a sin, and others as an acceptable, normal way of life. The result is confusion, disbelief and hostility. There is no definitive answer as to how religion should re- spond to homosexuality because few people want to confront the problem within their personal faiths. For both homosexuals and hetero- sexuals, pain remains. The religious decision to embrace or reject people based on their sexuality haunts many people - whether they are bisexuals, gay men, lesbians or straights. "Homosexuality is a sickness and needs to be treated as such.... It is a lifestyle which would require repentance." - Associate Presbyterian Minister As a result of negative interpreta- tions of homosexuality in texts such as the Torah or Bible, many religions have rejected homosexuality, describ- ing it as a sin or an inappropriate lifestyle. Kevin Richardson, a member of the Baptist Student Union- a college ministry of Southern Baptists - said he felt many Baptists center their lives upon the Bible and follow what it says. "Some passages in the Old Testa- ment and New Testament, especially Romans, say homosexuality is a sin and a sinful lifestyle," Richardson said. "What the Bible says, we would up- hold." Dr. Carl Geider, an associate min- ister at the First Presbyterian Church, said Presbyterians do not accept ho- mosexuality because same-sex rela- tions are considered sinful. "Although I am not a spokesperson for the church ... there are those who feel still today that homosexuality is a sickness and needs to be treated as such.... It is a lifestyle which would require repentance," Geider said. LSA junior Kamran Bajwa said many Muslims believe homosexual- ity is wrong because it is taughtas such in the Koran. Bajwa is president of Islamic Circle. "You're only supposed to have heterosexual sex and within wedlock," Bajwa said. "Islam sees men and women created for unique roles and positions and that is as each other's mates." LSA juniorDeanaSolaiman, also a Muslim, said the religious texts of Islam say homosexuality is "on the wrong path" against God. "If (homosexuals) take that wrong path, they are continuing self-destruc- tion and are hurting their future. Sex or a relationship lasts for so long, but eternity is forever." "Some stories were written with divine inspiration - others, human prejudice." - Interfaith Minister Many people argue that religious texts can be interpreted in various ways. Supporters of this viewpoint contend that when some people interpret a pas- sage to say homosexuality is a sin, it can be a result of unconscious preju- dice. Rev. Christopher Atwood said he feels the Bible - except for very few passages - does not forbid homo- sexual relations. Atwood is a minister at Guild House, an interfaith justice and peace campus ministry. "There are places in the Bible that prohibit specific acts, but their context is more than just homosexuality," Atwood said. "Jesus never says any- thing about homosexuality. If God is revealed in Christ, you have to judge all under that." Atwood said he felt the Bible should not be treated as one monolithic canon, but as stories written at different times and by many authors. "Some stories were written with divine inspiration - others, human prejudice," Atwood said. "Those voices renresent different communi- come a foreigner in their midst. It's about hospitality, nothomosexuality," Rohde said. "The sexual perversion is as much heterosexual as anything else. Lot of- fers his daughters to the men banging on the door," Rohde added. "We are open to homosexuals being a part of our congregation, a part of the church." - Congregational Pastor Depending upon theirphilosophies, some faiths provide a welcoming at- mosphere to homosexuals. Yet this decision often comes after much dis- cussion within the congregation. Rohde said he feels his church provides an "open and affirming" ministry to homosexuals. "Oneof theprinciples behind our church is each congregation can make their own decision," Rohde said. "We are open to homosexuals being a part of our congregation, a part of the church." Virginia Peacock, chaplain of Canterbury. House, said she felt the Episcopal church has a similar attitude. Canter- bury House is an Episco- pal campus ministry. "Our ministry for years at this campus has been very supportive of the gay and lesbian com- munity," Peacock said. "The Episcopalian church stresses a life that attempts to see Christ in all persons." Rabbi Robert Dobrusin of the Beth Is- rael Congregation said he felt the Jewish religion encourages and respects diversity within its com- munity. "We're talking about human beings who have spiritual and communal needs as other Jews do," Dobrusin said. "There has to be a balance in accepting the obligations of the laws of the Torah and letting those laws re- spond to contemporary reality." As a result, Beth Is- rael has welcomed gay and lesbian Jews into the congregation. But this decision came aboutonly after months of discus- sion and debate within the community. "Homosexual acts are seen as an abomination in the Torah," Dobrusin said. "If aperson takes an approach that the Torah is the Word of God and never can be changed, then your decision is made." "I was accepted, but I didn't feel comfortable. It's very heterosexual in temple." -Jewish Lesbian Some homosexuals have found that they must choose between their faith and their sexuality when they accept religious texts or teachings as true. Because of this, many bisexuals, gay men, and lesbians resist or reject their religions entirely. University faculty member Maurice Adib said he was raised Catho- lic, but considers himself an atheist now. His decision was not a result of his sexuality, but from "observing we don't need that myth anymore. "I used to be very much a Bible- believer, but it gets a bit boring. It's always the same arguments and counter-arguments," Adib said. Adib added that he does not think people can condemn homosexuality based on ancient proverbs found in the Bible. "The same chapter that mentions homosexuality as a sin forbids mixing twntvnesoftextiles.-.vn cn't weair didn't feel very comfortable. It's very heterosexual in temple." Bulkin said her mother, who is also a lesbian, struggled with her religion asaresultof herhomosexuality. "She's always been culturally Jewish, but in practice she let go of that for a long time. She took a different path." University staff member Kathryn Clements, a member of the United Church of Christ, said she felt her sexuality put her in exile from reli- gion. "Many of the predominant images of the church is either anti-gay, les- bian, or bisexual or very pro-hetero- sexual," Clements said. Clements said as she was coming out as a lesbian, she thought she had to give up her Christianity. "I thought it asking a congregation to have gays and lesbians in their church," John said. University staff member Ann Davis attends Northside Presbyterian Church, which welcomes homosexu- als into its congregation through the Morelight program. "Morelight churches try to make it easier for gay and lesbian people to fully participate in church activities," Davis said. "They're trying to make changes in the hierarchy found in most churches." Davis stopped attending church while she was in college and never thought to go back until she found More light. "I never really lost my faith or felt my lesbianism was a contradic- tion to Christianity or God. I went U U act is." Walters started the ordination pro- cess in 1991 and said she has already gone through many of the steps to becoming a full minister. "For me, it has not been a particu- larly violent process. I've had good support frommy local church," Walters said. "They are more concerned with ordaining good people who are com- petent. Your sexual orientation has nothing to do with that. "If I am ordained, there will prob- ably be much more controversy. The church legitimizes homosexual rela- tionships by ordaining me," Walters said. "Some people find it very threat- ening" "I spent years desperately trying to change. I really believed it was a matter of my faith. I faked it and faked it until found out I couldn't make it." - Homosexual who took part in an Ex-Gay Minstry Many homosexuals still question religion and their place within it. In fact, counselors find that homosexuals often ask for advice on how to deal with a faith that may not accept their lifestyle. "I counsel a lot of young people who find their sexual orientation is gay or lesbian and ex- perience discrimination from the religious tradi- tion of which they are a part," Atwood said. "You can imagine the internal violence when their reli- gious community con- demns (a homosexual's) fundamental identity." Lesbian Gay Male Programs Office coun- selor Jim Toy said many people have a fear of coming out as homo- sexual because their reli- gion may reject them. "Some people want to change from gay to straightso they won't get kicked out. I can help people change their be- havior, but not their ori- entation," Toy said. Toy does refer people to groups like "Homo- sexuals Anonymous" or "Ex-Gay Ministries" that claim they can change a person's sexuality from homosexual to hetero- sexual. Second-year Social Work graduate student Craig Kukak took part in an Ex-Gay Ministry for 16 years. "I spent years desperately trying to change. I really believed it was a mat- ter of my faith," Kukak said. "I faked it and faked it until found out I couldn't make it." Kukak left the ministry three years ago and does not currently practice. organized religion. "For a time Ineeded to become a recluse with my faith and see what the Bible says. I don't think God would play games or manipulate us," he said. "I'm skeptical about religion now. In a sense, I'm kind of fortunate to go through what I've gone through be- cause I don't buy whatever people tell me about God. I've got to go deeper," Kukak said. "They sincerely think they are do- ing the right thing and following God, but they're sincerely wrong. I have been through that struggle," Kukak added. "The Bible pretty unequivocally says that homosexuality is a sin.... If you have sin, then you cannot go to God because . _ . e _ .L.,a__~ press confusion over the way their religions treat bisexuals, gay men and lesbians. It is an issue all people must face, regardless of their religious views. RC sophomore Scott Horstein said he found it interesting that the Bible could be read in so many different ways, depending on a person's de- nominations. "People try to legitimize their stand basedon what they read in the Bible. It seems to be a repository of morality for many people," Horstein said. "For me, the Bible doesn'thold that author- ity." T Fritz Kramp, a first-year engineer- ing student, said his Christianity de- cides how he feels about homosexual- ity. "The Bible pretty unequivocally says that homosexuality is a sin.... If you have sin, then you cannot go to God because he's sinless, holy,' Kramp said. "It's a separation from God." LSA senior Lisa Hinterman said she was taught by her family to believe in herself, not what her religion says. "I think it's narrow-minded to take one passage of a text as support or negation of one type of people," Hinterman said. "I wish people wouldn't persecute homosexuals be- cause of the Bible." Hinterman said she felt religion has been homophobic for a long time, making it harder for homosexuals to practice their faith. "Homosexuality has just come out in the open. I think it will take a long time to change. You're baptized and raised that way your whole life and told homosexuality is wrong;" Hinterman added. Karen Fashoway, LSA sophomore, has attended Catholic schools for her entire education and said she was never taught anything about homosexuality. "I don't remember anything com- ing up in classes whatsoever. Any- thing Iheard about homosexuality was people making jokes about it" Fashoway said. "People would make degrading comments about my high school because it was an all-girls school -either we're all lesbians or we're all going to be nuns." RC junior Jason Baluyut said his Methodist faith does not affect his stand on homosexuality. "I don't care what God says, Baluyut said. "I believe in human rights." "God doesn't play cruel jokes. We are equal and our love is equal." - Homosexual Quaker getting married within his religion While everyone seems to have ab opinion on religion and homosexua ity, some stances are tempered by the strong emotions attached to faiths. For the religious, the bottommline is a supreme being. Regardless of a person's choice of deity, religion teaches to love. Religion teaches to respect life. Religion teaches kind- ness. As some religions accept homo- sexual marriage within their faith, the process of marriage can even make a person's faith deeper. Fourth-year graduate student Charley Sullivan and his fiance will be getting married in June within the Quaker religion. Sullivan said being homosexual has made his religion stronger. "My coming to terms with my ho- mosexuality has been a process of faith. God created in me a capacity to love and that love is whole and holy," Sullivan said. "That love is directed to men. The Quaker faith accepts that all people are equal and all people are of God, Sullivan said. "God doesn't play cruel jokes. We are equal and our love is equal. Love should be there and should be nurtured." Sullivan said it has taken six years for the members of his meeting to accept the idea of a same-sex mar- riage. "Two people are standing aside. But the majority are behind our indj - vidual relationship and relationships like this in general," Sullivan said. "It's not just about marriage - it's a recognition that our lives and loves are f was an either/or situation. My church doesn't condemn homosexuality, but it certainly doesn't condone it," she added. "Many homosexuals say they are disenfranchised by the church." - Member of church with a special homosexual ministry However, some churches provide services especially for homosexuals as alternatives to worship services that may ignore the needs of the homo- sexual community. Huron Valley Community Church is attended by both heterosexuals and homosexuals, but tries to create a re- laxing atmosphere for bisexuals, gay men and lesbians. "John," a member of the church who wished to remain anonymous, said many homosexuals have a hard time finding places that are non-threat- ening to practice their faiths. "Many homosexuals say they are disenfranchised by the church," John said. "But our church is more casual in ritual and dogma. We provide an at- mosphere where people can be com- back out of a strong need. I had forgot how much support I got in that envi- ronment," she said. "The church legitimizes homosexual relationships by ordaining me. Some people find it very threatening." - Open Lesbian Associate Episcopal Minister Many religions can accept homo- sexuality within their faiths or congre- gations. Yet, controversy re-emerges when a homosexual tries to become a part of the clergy. Jennifer Walters, a graduate stu- dent at Michigan State University and open lesbian, is acandidate forordina- tion in the Episcopal church. Currently, she is an associate minister at the Epis- copal Church of the Incarnation, which is located in Pittsfield Township. Walters, who has a partner, finds that her lifestyle opens even more prob- lems considering the national Episco- pal church's policy that non-celibate gays or lesbians should not be or- t:a 14n.nv--. v .r.hatnrntna 1a.