Hello, my name is Theo

[Theo]

Where to begin? I confess to being a bit apprehensive about posting and joining this online community.

For me it really comes down to a question about spirituality. What is it?

I really haven't had much success in locating myself in a religion since I came out as a gay man. I have attended many different churches but felt like I've never really belonged.

I desire to see myself as a spiritual person. People tell me I'm kind, generous and compassionate. And I want to believe there is a God who, despite all the suffering in this world, is a loving being.

Where to start?

Theo

[scott snedeker]

Welcome home Theo!

Begin with reassurance that you are a man with the soul of a man, Beautiful of body and spirit. God created you gay because there is another of his gay children who needs you. And when the two of you find each other and make love, He will smile like a parent watching his child opening a present on Christmas morning. He has many joys waiting for you. Follow your heart and His gift of the capacity to love men intimately and you Know the joy that He loves to share with his children.

Many folks on this site believe in a Loving Christ that loves His Gay children unconditionally. By His love you are entitled to the Joy of loving and Making love to men

I am a Druidic Pagan Who embraces the teachings of Buddha and Christ. I believe all life to be sentient and connected. I believe Humans sense this connection as Love. The more love you feel toward yourself and others, The more connected you are.

Druids feel love of the forest spirit, an essence that comes from nature. Christ felt love for everyone as he sensed this treasure in everyone. Buddha developed awareness of loving-kindness to all living things and by doing so ended the pain of suffering for millions.

Welcome home, Brother

Love,

Ash

[Theo]

I appreciate that you took the time to reply in such a heartfelt way. You radiate much energy and compassion. I have a friend who was active in a Druid group.

As a small child, I was not raised in any religion. I didn't know the doctrinal differences between a Christian, Jew, Muslim, or Buddhist. I was raised in foster homes and it was in one of these that I was introduced to a religious cult. They seemed to have close families and that attracted me. Also, for the first time I became acquainted with the Bible. Then, for many years, I functioned as a religious automaton. In retrospect, I feel, I was shut down spiritually and emotionally, merely following a clearly articulated ritual of daily life waiting for all things to be resolved, by God, at a future date.

During this time I had to suppress, and loathe, my internal feelings about intimacy.

I guess my dilemma is I feel unable to connect with a spiritual life but have a deep desire for such.

Thanks, Theo

[paul]

Hi Theo,

Welcome :wave:.

My thinking is that if there is a God and God want's you to know who God is, the onus is on God. IOW, I think it's a good thing for us to set our ideas of who "God" is aside.

It seems to me that when we "know" something we stop looking. Because we think we already know, we don't need to keep looking (and seeing), and we operate from a notion. On the other hand, if we are constantly looking for God, who I assume is alive and thus constantly moving vs. a static idea, we are open and alive as well.

"No person has seen God and lived...." If that's true, it's a pretty safe bet that those who would try to tell you who God is because they know, are not telling the truth (unless you are talking with a ghost :eek::lol:).

On the other hand, if "God" judges the heart, as is purported, you are probably pretty safe since God knows you "want to believe there is a God who...."

I hope you stick around and become a part of the SF community. There are some wonderful people here (you already met Ash), with some very honest souls.

paul

[Theo]

Wow! Excellent reasoning. Simply beautiful; beautifully simple.

I appreciate your response. I'll try and write more later in the day.

Thanks,
Theo

[Nyshana]

Welcome! I'm new here also. :)

As regards spirituality, religion can be terrible in relation to LGBT..ness (yes yes, my brain has been slowly decaying ever since I finished exams). I was actually coming to the conclusion a few days ago that with me being bi, and with my having asked God about it lots and recieved "It's Ok", "No, really, it's OK", "It's still OK!" etc. Christianity must be wrong - and I was struggling to find a balance between Christianity being my faith and it also being utterly wrong.

Since then I've read lots of stuff, here and elsewhere, and I can now say that things aren't so clear-cut. Yes, it can be hard to find a spiritual "resting place" which will accept you - but I'm discovering it's not impossible. :) I strongly encourage you to read up on the subject; peace and quiet in this respect isn't as unattainable as it first seems. There are good resources regarding Christianity here - also this article (http://epistle.us/hbarticles/christiangayethic.html) which is linked in a thread here - I expect you can find resources regarding other religions with some looking too.

I will also say that you can have spirituality without religion. Your beliefs don't necessarily have to follow a pattern dictated by an organisation - you can discover truth of your own accord.

I'm still not sure if I can keep accepting Christianity as right, and I'm working on that - and I have my own views. Mostly, that I certainly do believe in God, and I don't believe God makes mistakes. As God made me bi, bi is what he wants me to be - as he made you gay, gay is what he wants you to be.

Emma

[Gennee]

:love:Welcome to Soulfore, Theo. I thank you for sharing your story. It was three years ago this month that I came out to myself as transgender. One of the concerns I had was reconciling my trangenderism with my faith in Christ. Jesus loves us as we are. He is more interested in our hearts. Now I am able to minister to people society hates but God loves unconditionally.

Theo, God has plans for your life. Be happy with who you are.

Gennee

:wave::love:

[Vanessa White]

I don't think that your story and current and past experience sounds all that different from many of my friends here. I hope that we can assist you in finding a path that works for you.

Gennee makes an excellent point about her faith and relationship with Christ; for me, I never doubted my relationship with Jesus; it was my relationship with a church that has been a struggle, the manmade entity that chooses whether to label us as "defective" or "worthy". I started life as Catholic, then my partner and I, and our daughter, joined a Methodist church in our community. We are very concerned about the highest levels of the Methodist church not wanting to change their language to be more embracing of persons with a gay identity. So, we focus on our spiritual life and hope that change will come, as it has in other churches and in other arenas. Sometimes, it feels as if the changes comes too slowly, and I get impatient, but I am trying to effect change locally, and sometimes, that takes a bit longer.....

Anyway, so glad that you found us; hang around and keep posting, you are among friends here.....:love:

[tymejumper]

Welcome Theo,

I think as LGBT persons, it has always been a struggle for us to be spiritual after suffering spiritual violence at the hands of the church and its doctrine. Unfortunately, I don't believe that The Creator(God/Goddess)would create us and then say it was wrong for us to experience love and find our soulmates. That is the domain of mankind, and a way for men in general to be in control of others. Kinda sad if you think about it.

[RaymondCharlesWoollcombe]

HELLO Theo!

Welcome to SOULFORCE

Relax and Enjoy your stay!

WEEEEE

Peace and Love
Crazy Ray....:pray: