Having been raised AG (dad and stepmom), I know how easy it is to fall into the trap of hearing the pastor and church members but not hearing God by doing one's own research and prayer. All my life was told that homosexuality was a horrible sin and a path straight to hell. Having a Lesbian mom it was nothing unusual or strange to me. It was almost like living 2 lives though - living my life as I thought my 'AG' family would want me to live, then contemplating how my life would be if I could just be who I was like my mother was. Finally, better late than never, I came out to myself and found the most wonderful girlfriend/partner/lover/friend. As our relationship progressed, I felt the need to look into why I did not feel that I was sinning when I was told so different from those I looked up to spiritually. I finally discovered for myself that my relationship was a blessing from the Lord and He was perfectly okay with my, just the way I was. It took a long time for me to see that and accept myself and I still struggle with some family members who are horrified, but I'm okay with it, Jesus is okay with it and most everyone else I know is too.
I think deep down in our hearts we know when we err, sin, do wrong. Likewise we know when we are right. I have an aunt who is having a very difficult time with who I am, she is convinced it's Satan and I'm headed to hell, I'm angry and selfish, etc., etc. She has no interest in reading my 'junk' or discussing my being a Lesbian, as she feels this will allow the spirit of homosexuality into her 'door'. She will not allow herself to obtain knowledge in a subject she knows nothing about other than what various 'Christians' have told her. To her knowledge equals sin. That is what fundamentalist leaders encourage their followers to believe, it keeps them in place and keeps the money flowing. I agree with TJ, in the end, it's always about the money...
