No gay soldiers in 'The Salvation Army'?

Love thy neighbour!


You've heard it before. It's a popular sentence within the Christian belief. It also take different shapes, such as the teaching of "Karma" in Buddhism (among others). "Do to others as you wish be done to you", also a powerful statement. All these 'rules' or guidelines within religion, but all it boils down to is;

- Treat people without judgement, prejudice and resentment.

These messages do have a common thread, they encourage us to treat others as we hope to be treated. To see other humans and give them the same value we see in ourselfs, no less, no more. To not judge beforehand.

I'm not a believer in religion, but this message is one I strongly support. However, sadly, a lot of times it's not followed. 'Love thy neighbour' says the Christian belief, what if your neighbour is gay? And you follow the bible, cover to cover, and wish to interpret it the very same way a lot of other christians do - calling gays an abomination? Or what if your neighbour is a believer of another God than yours, or none at all? Would you no longer honor your neighbour, since he/she doesn't follow your path?

I saw not long ago on TV, a documentary about how 'The Salvation Army' exclude gay people from joining their 'peace-army', because 'being gay' doesn't go with their believes, and how they in a lot of countries put in much effort and money to stop the fight for equal rights regardless of sexual orientation. There was a man, in Africa, who strongly believed that gays should be given the death penalty, who got the question;

- So gay people are 'as bad' as murderers?

His answer puzzled me, it went something like this;

- You can't devide sins in 'small sins' and 'big sins', a sin is a sin, all of them are as bad as the other.

This blows my mind. Not the part were he thinks that gays can be put in the same folder as murderers, but his statement of 'a sin is a sin'. Christianity and Jesus, I thought, wanted to spread love and understanding, with 'Love thy neighbour' being a pretty powerful statement. But here we have a man, who feels so much hate for people who only want to share their life with people from the same gender, and to him, that's horrible. His hate, for something as beautiful as love between two humans, his struggle, against equal rights for all human beings, the discrimination he practices, the people he judge and condemn, is that not also a sin, according to his beliefs?

- Love your neighbour, damn it! ~HappyBoi.


xoxo
Happy kisses,
HappyBoi


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Comments

Unfortunately many Christians and people of other faiths choose which elements of their scriptures they will believe and which they will ignore. Many often bend the meaning of the words they read to support their individual or wider radical beliefs (hence the actions of extremist muslim groups). For many people too (not always, but predominantly those from particuler religious backgrounds) the thought that two men can love each other in ways that are more ordinarily thought of in terms of love between people of opposites sexes is potentially quite threatening. There are many more recent examples in the media and in the streets of men openly showing affection to other men, though most would never consider taking their feelings further and egaging in sexual activity. However, they are the ones who are comfortable with being open about their feeling and their sexuality. the ones who are less prone to open shows of affection may have had previous unwanted atention from other men, may have concerns about their own sexuality or may just be looking for some reason to hate someone else. However, the whole situation changes when it comes to two women having a sexual relationship and the mood then changes to that of lascivious delight.
 
Being bi and having grown up in a Christian household I know full well how people's prejudices have made me feel. Some people are just too narrow-minded to see outside of their religion or culture. I guess my own experiences have made me much more tolerant and accepting.

What I don't get is that, in the gospels, Jesus is portrayed as being accepting of people who were social outcasts in Jewish society because of their "sin" or "social standing". Tax-collectors, adulterers, lepers, the poor - were all people Jesus accepted as his friends. He spent time at their houses, ate meals with them, drank wine with them. I'd rather follow that example.

Yes, love thy neighbour - all of them - and the world would be a much better place.
 
Im a former salvationist and I can assure you that there are many gay men in the Salvation Army!!
International Headquarters in London is run by older gay guys so the Ármy´has alot to consider before making its claims public!!
 

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