#queer faith

[nerdygaymormon]

Alma 41:10 : Wickedness never was happiness

Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.

If wickedness never was happiness then what make you joyful is not wicked.

I know queer people who find peace and happiness in expressing their gender identity. I know queer people who find fulfillment and joy in a relationship with a partner. This verse testifies those things aren't wicked.

Others may declare we are temporarily happy but this will fade in the long term. Sometimes they'll say that we are not experiencing real joy, or that we aren't being honest. My experience is people who say those things usually don't have friendships with queer people. They don't know someone who was experiencing a great deal of anguish until they started transitioning, and how right it makes them feel. They think heteronormative relationships are fundamentally different from queer ones, but brain scans show people experience love the same way no matter the gender of who they love.

Would it be fair to say that the opposite is true? Those things which bring you despair, sadness, discouragement, misery, dissatisfaction, gloom, melancholoy, pain, and sorrow are wicked. I'm not talking about short-term pain to achieve longer-term goals, but things which genuinely have a negative impact on your health and mental wellness.

Loneliness is one such thing. Humans are social creatures and need connection, so to say a whole group of people are required to alone forever is a wicked thing to require of them.

This verse from the Book of Mormon is a guide to help us evaluate what is wicked and what is good.

#queer faith #queer scriptures

[ellie-says-nop]

Growing up in the church and and growing into a queer Christian, I can, without a doubt say that queer/LGBTQ+ Christians have much greater faith than our straight brothers and sisters.

As LGBTQ+ Christians we suffer a lot of disdain and discrimination from other Christians in church. The Church as an institution has hurt, shamed, exciled, and alienated the whole LGBTQ+ community.

Yet, LGBTQ+ Christians still seek God, still seek community, still seek fellowship and a relationship with God.

We actively try to seek God and community knowing that we will be hurt, shamed, exciled and alienated. We know that most likely we won't be accepted.

Yet we still have so much faith in God, that all that doesn't matter. We have faith that God does accept us and loves us. No matter what others say or do. We keep coming back to God and sometimes the church, because of our faith. May we be able to keep that faith and be an example of faith and be blessed!

Tldr: LGBTQ+ Christians have the strongest faith! May we be an example of faith to all! God bless yall!

#queer #queer christian #lgbtq+ #lgbtq #lgbtq christian #queer faith #lgbt christian #Christianity #faith #faith in jesus #faith in God

[blessedarethequeer]

Divine One, we thank you for the gifts represented in each stripe of the Pride flag: for the gift of Sexuality in its multitude of manifestations; for the spark of Life and spirit of Healing you work through the hands and hearts of your people; for the Sunlight that warms our bodies and souls, as well as for the Nature around us and within us that this vitality sustains; for the Magic and Art you inspire in the hearts of your people to Create in your divine image as you are ever-creating us; for the Serenity we find in the refuge of your embrace, in community and through your Spirit even in the most trying of times; for the Spirit and breath of life that continues to move through the witness of your Queer children and those who march alongside us.

We pray that we might grow in appreciation for the ways that each of these gifts touch our lives, that we might grow in celebration for the multitude of ways we see them magnified in the lives of others. Let us be reminders to one another that we are each divine originals, creative expressions of your loving joy. May our witness be a testament to the love you work into each unique fingerprint of humanity across every language, every border, every culture.

//

excerpt from my prayer for this morning’s Pride Sunday worship service

6.4.23

#queer christian #trans christian #queer faith #trans faith #prayer

[lapsed-lys]

April 22nd 2024

Entry #031

Solidarity

I've noticed a surgence of people making blogs to journal their faith journey, like me. I don't know if it's simply that Tumblr's algorythm shows me more of them as related topics to my blog or if there's really a surgence lately, but in either case... Oh, how it warms my heart!

I love seeing people love God. I love reading people's inner thoughts as they open their hearts to fellow Christians. I love pondering alongside my siblings in faith regarding Christianity questions. I love deepening my faith hand-in-hand with the community. I love people who love too.

Let's give our thanks to the Lord for gathering us together and thus helping each other strengthen our faith!

#journal du lys #christianity #catholic #catholicism #christian #queer christian #christblr #christian tumblr #trans christian #queer faith #queer catholic #trans catholic

[gnosisandtheosis]

"

Rainbow Door, supporting LGBTIQA+ people of all faiths and cultures.

For many LGBTIQA+ people, connections to faith, family and communities are deeply important for their sense of identity and belonging. There are LGBTIQA+ people in every faith, and there are LGBTIQA+ people with faith in every culture.

Switchboard Victoria is proud to launch our new web page for LGBTIQA+ people of faith, their friends and family. A digital resource that supports you in affirming your faith and LGBTIQA+ identity. You can view it online via our profile, or visit https://www.switchboard.org.au/people-of-faith

If you’re gay, lesbian, queer, trans or gender diverse, bisexual, asexual or non-binary and being asked to hide or change this, you can talk to our Rainbow Door service.

If you are experiencing violence or being pressured to change or hide your sexuality or gender identity, you can call us for support.

💛 Rainbow Door (everyday 10am - 5pm) Ph: 1800 729 367 Txt: 0480 017 246"

#lgbtq christian #queer christian #Queer faith #LGBTQIA #Victoria #Australia #support services #gay #lesbian #transgender #non binary #gender diverse #asexual #religion

[godshousecat]

I’ve been covering my head more lately due to my scalp issues but I’ve fallen in love with the beauty of veiling again. I love the feeling of modesty, protection, and privacy it brings me.

#veiling #headcovering #queer faith #queer theist

[rainbow-sheeps]

hi ^^ im in need of some advice

so, my relationship w/ God is non existent. i dont talk to Him, acknowledge or think of until its night (then i get nervous about death for me and my family and then i pray) and i dont want to do this anymore. i used to be close to Him but then i just stopped being (i stopped bible reading as i didnt know how to read the bible in a way that was helping and not hurting my mental health) and i just dont know how to have a relationship w/ God honestly. what does a relationship w/ someone who is invisible even look like? im really confused and i just want to be close to Him again but i dont even know where to start :( any help is appreciated <3

Hi, Admin Kili here with some words of encouragement from their older sister, Elf, who is a queer affirming seminary student.

"Faith is a lot more than just trusting feelings that there is someone there. I know for sure, even being in Seminary there are days where I feel far from God. It is hard. Faith is the assurance that we have that we will be raised again on the last day when Jesus comes again, and in the meantime it can feel lonely and hard to understand or feel like we can see him. The good news is, when Jesus returned to the Father he left us the Holy Spirit as a sign that we have been brought into God's family- the family from which all others get their names. Doubt is normal. Thomas, one of Jesus's disciples doubted that Jesus had been resurrected. John, Jesus's earthly cousin, even sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah or if they should wait for someone else. My professors remind us that theology is faith seeking understanding. It is hard to put our faith in someone we can't see" It's hard to trust what you can't see, even professors of theology say that themselves. You're valid in your doubt and your worries. What's more, you're still loved even on days where you feel your faith in God is waning, or even non-existent. You're a much loved child of the king.

Elf had one more thing to say before she left the call where I asked her for help on how to answer.

"Studying the word doesn't always come easy to me, but it's been made easier by being taught how to read the Bible like it was written, as God's overarching story of creation-fall-redemption-restoration. It also helps to be surrounded by a faith community, if you can find one. If not, then you still have the Triune God with you. Before the creation of the world God existed eternally in a loving relationship of the Father loving the Son, the Son loving the Father, and the Spirit binding them together. When we become Christians we are brought into that relationship.  You are not alone in this. Doubting is not a great unforgivable sin. It is normal when we are faced with the cosmic. One of my good friends here at my seminary said to me that God loves to answer prayers where we show dependence on him- and asking God to show himself to us is a prayer he loves to answer."

Her closing words are thus.

"My faith grows stronger through times of testing. We live in a self sufficient society so it can be hard to set aside my desire to pull myself up from my doubts and be the perfect Christian. But I've come to see that my relationship with God is not about me, but about him. He reached down from eternity to pull me out of this corrupted world and bring me into his kingdom. No amount of feelings can replace what faith really is- choosing which narrative to live in without hedging your bets (this is a quote from a commentary I read). Even C.S Lewis said there were days when he felt doubt. When I have those days I remember that I am placing my bets on the God I have seen in the Bible, who has spent the whole of history to this point trying to redeem his creation back to him."

We love you, and we're praying for you. If you aren't already on Sheep, we would love to have you. Have a wonderful day, and we love you.

#Queer Christianity #Queer Christian #Queer theology #Lgbt Christian #Lgbt faith #Queer faith #Lily-bugged #Kili tag #kili answers some asks

[raphdoods]

UHHHH I fully forgot that I made this blog?!? 😳 have another thing! a rework of an old piece from grad school, titled "The Ontological Argument".

#art by me #biblically accurate angels #religious trauma #queer art #queer faith

[nakibistan]

LGBTQIA+ Imams, Clerics & Faith leaders:

Classical Imam An-Nawabi

South Africa & World's first Openly Gay Imam Muhsin Hendricks

Algerian-French Imam Ludovic Mohamed Zahed opened an Unity Mosque in Paris

Canada's First Openly Gay Imam El-Farouk Khaki

America's First Non-binary Imama Amina Wadud

US's First Openly Gay Imam Daaiyee Abdullah

US's First Trans Male Imam Tynan Power

US's first Trans Woman Imama Mahdia Lynn

Unity Mosque's founder & Imam Frank Parmir

Queer Imam/Imama Trina P. Jackson

Black Non-binary, Queer Imam Taylor Amari Little

Tamsila Tauqir from Inclusive Mosque Initiative (IMI) lead the first Inclusive Congregation in UK. She was also a leader of Safra Project, a LBTQ Muslim support group.

Pakistani Transgender Maulvi Jameela Begum/Maulvi Jameela

Bangladeshi Gay Imam Suleman

Pakistani Gay Imam Sameer

Pakistan's Khawaja Sara/Transgender Imam Muhammad Khan

Pakistan's Islamic Transgender madrasa founder Miss Rani Khan

Indonesian Transgender Madrassa's Founder Shinta Ratri lead prayers for Transgender

Italian Genderfluid, Queer Imama Sveva Basirah

Jordanian Former Gay Imam & Sheikh Khalaf Yousef

Somali-Australian Imam Nur Warsame

Iranian Queer Mullah Taha performed Same-Sex Weddings for gays - BBC News

Tanzanian-Indian Intersex,Transgender Imam & Scholar Sheikh Hussein Mustafa Parmar

German Sufi professor & Imam Rahal Eks

German's Bisexual Liberal Imama Seyran Ates

German's Openly Gay Imam Christian Awhan Hermann

➡️ See Also :

https://www.thelocal.no/20170620/norwegian-muslim-plans-liberal-mosque-in-oslo

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5263255/Imam-caught-trying-meeting-boy-15-Grindr.html

https://76crimes.com/2023/05/25/gay-muslim-leader-murdered-in-bangladesh/

https://minivannewsarchive.com/society/six-men-and-an-imam-arrested-for-homosexual-activity-956/comment-page-1

https://5pillarsuk.com/2019/05/02/controversial-mufti-abu-layth-mocks-classical-scholar-imam-an-nawawi-on-homosexuality/

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/muslim-worship-leader-raped-boy-at-mosque-2182791.html

https://www.channelionline.com/amp/madrasa-teacher-arrested-for-molesting-a-child-student/

https://www.khaama.com/mullah-imam-arrested-for-raping-child-in-ghazni-province-02516/

#queermuslims #lgbt muslim #queerimam #transimam #womanimam #femaleimam #queer faith #queering islam #religious queer #transmuslims

[nerdygaymormon]

1 Nephi 16:10, 26-29 - Liahona : They had the Brass Plates, but that wasn’t enough

Lehi & Sariah's family were soon to go to a new land. They didn't want to embark on this journey without the scriptures, so their sons were sent back to Jerusalem to obtain the Brass Plates which had the scriptures.

But it turns out that the scriptures were insufficient. God sent them the Liahona to point the way and send them "new writings." as needed.

Scriptures are a record of what previous generations wrote about their seeking the Divine. Scriptures are sacred and beautiful for allowing us to see how others, in all their humanity and imperfections, tried to walk with God. The Liahona is confirmation that the scriptures aren't sufficient and don't define what our walk with God must look like.

The scriptures involve humans and their understandings and biases. Since the scriptures were written, humanity has gained new knowledge and our understanding of God evolves. To refuse to grow past what the scriptures say is to be like those who refused to believe God could give new revelation and told Sariah and Lehi they must return to Jerusalem because there's no way God could say to leave Israel. Time and again, God proves to be larger than any box humans put Him in.

By having both the Brass Plates and the Liahona, it's an example that we honor the journeys of others and their struggles to figure out God's will and the principles they learned while simultaneously being willing to follow the "new writing" that God gives to us for our own journey. Hold onto the Brass Plates, but follow the Liahona when it differs.

Don’t let others tell you what new writings God can or cannot give to you. I think this is a great lesson for queer people when we get messages for ourselves and our lives which are contrary to what is taught at church. If the "new writing" is centered on love for others, love for yourself, and love for God, never be afraid to follow where that takes you for those are the greatest commandments, everything is subservient to those principles.

————————————————————

10 And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness.

26 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord said unto him: Look upon the ball, and behold the things which are written.

27 And it came to pass that when my father beheld the things which were written upon the ball, he did fear and tremble exceedingly, and also my brethren and the sons of Ishmael and our wives.

28 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.

29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

#queer scriptures #queer faith

[bethelctpride]

In our inaugural discussion, we explore the significance of open and affirming places of worship and discuss the intersection of faith and queerness. Our fantastic panel of local thought leaders present viewpoints from various religions, denominations, and lived experience:

Anthony H. Crisci, CEO of Circle Care and attendee/volunteer leader of St. Paul’s on the Green

Rabbi Evan Schultz, Senior Rabbi of Congregation B’nai Israel Bridgeport

Rev. Kym McNair, Baptist Minister

Rev. Ryan Gackenheimer, Pastor of First Congregational Church of Bethel

Link to additional references on the YouTube page

#open and affirming church #queer faith #queer religion #queer judaism #queer christianity

[pieandhotdogs]

[We] must understand that myths were originally situated in particular ecosystems. Just as mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of underground mycelia, so are myths the aboveground manifestations of specific ecologies. Myths are momentary eruptions of beings that have been growing for millennia belowground.

…

Our textual myths are the fruiting bodies of these vegetal gods. And when we have a fruiting body, we must ask: Where are its roots located? What is its mythic mycelium? Where has it come from. If we fail to address these questions, we are doomed to misunderstanding and confusion.

The Flowering Wand: Rewilding the Sacred Masculine by Sophie Strand

#pagan #queer faith #gender exploration #god herself

[blessedarethequeer]

O wondrous Divine, grant us the humility to trust your trans children who have the courage to tell us who You have called them to be. Turn our hearts away from the desire to fit one another into defined boxes and easy answers. Inspire us to do the sometimes hard but always necessary work to be a people and community fit to hold their witness in true refuge, that ALL that you have made them to be is welcome here. Stir up in us the courage to stand firm in loving solidarity and committed defense whenever any member of this body becomes a target of violence and attack.

Free us from shame and fill our hearts that we each might have the courage to answer your call within our own self, to live into the hope you lay before us. Creator God, you call us each by our True name in that divine spark that alights each and every heart. May the witness and gifts of your trans beloved remind the whole of your people that each one of us continues our becoming, continues to live out our ongoing Creation day after day after day.

//

excerpt from my prayer for this morning’s Pride Sunday worship service

6.4.23

#queer christian #trans christian #protect trans kids #trans furry #queer faith #prayer

[lapsed-lys]

I am a reconnecting aromantic bisexual trans Catholic and I ensure you that God loves you as you are. If God did not want trans identities to exist, then how come the Holy Spirit transcends the concept of gender itself? Gender non-conformity and homosexuality is not sinful behavior and the most important thing is that you remain strong in your faith. Lapses in faith are normal for all struggling Catholics and God will always welcome you back with open arms.

Thank you for your kind words, sincerely. I will always stay a Lapsed Catholic due to never being able to accept the Eucharist (being trans and all, well, in my hometown church anyway, maybe it would be different in my Irish basilica), but you are right: my lapses, small case l, will happen at times, but I must never let it waver my trust in God.

We are here, and we are loved by Him. I have never been able to worship him as I can now pre-transition, so my transness cannot be a bad thing in our faith.

Let's stay strong together, we have our place in Christianity and in Catholicism 🫂

#réponses du lys #catholic #christianity #catholicism #lapsed catholic #christian #queer christian #trans christian #trans man #trans catholic #queer faith #queer catholic #lgbt christian #christian tumblr #christblr

[owlmylove]

I'm having conversations with Bob Dylan and King David.

Ezra Furman, on keeping faith while queer at The Radcliffe Institute

#ezra furman #queer faith #owl post

[erinisbi05]

What if God is a Capybara?

I recently heard about the existence of these cute, packy animals, and I was immediately filled with admiration for them! I mean, thank God for my FYP page, I guess? haha.

Capybaras are a kind of rodent that commonly lives in South America. They are also the largest living rodent to exist on earth until today. Some of the reasons why capybaras are adored by many people can be attributed to their friendliness and caring nature towards humans and their fellow Capybies (okay, I made that up, hehe). In fact, according to an animal fact guide, most capybaras are social and communal species!

So, what does a capybara have to do with...God?

Or, to make the question more general, what can these fellow animals—sharers of goodwill and partners of love—show about divine reality and God's holistic image?

A little backstory: As someone who grew up in a conservative family and used to be pretty conservative myself, I was often exposed to the dogmatic approach to God's gender and appearance, which is for the most part masculine-leaning. God, although not inheriting human gender, was almost always depicted as this old white man living above the skies, with wrinkles and a lengthy beard, overseeing and governing the ways of the world. One famous example of this depiction is "The Creation of Adam," which was painted by the Italian sculptor and painter Michael Angelo around the 16th century.

I remember being accustomed to this depiction of God for many years (and I believe a lot of us are). Okay, God is a He. He wants to be called a He. "He is an old white man with a long beard; got it," I used to think to myself; however, there were also times where I could not help but ask, "Why does God have to be depicted this way?" I mean, was he really old and white or was it just an anthromorphic way of humanizing God? It did not help that my dilemma was shoved down in the depths of my curious mind, all because I was taught that this God imagery was the only right way to see God (cuz the Bible says so, huh?). God, for me, did not only have to be old and white, He had to be masculine. He had to have a very deep voice that would shake the ground of the earth, tadaaa!

Basically, seeing and calling God anything other than the traditional norm was sinful, heretical, and weak!

And I was just a 15-year-old kid trying to make sense of that.

I was trying to make sense of a lot of things, actually.

Now that I am 17, I know and recognize things better, although learning is a lifelong pursuit. Leaving my fundamentalistic beliefs behind gave me a wider sense of understanding. I have to be frank; it was not easy giving them up, but if giving them up means I will help bring out the greater good not only for myself but for others, I will. And one of the things that I had to eventually give up was the thought of a linear image and depiction of who God is. I had to fully acknowledge the reality of the culture that many writers of the Bible grew up in to embrace God's diversity when it comes to gender, virtues, and appearance, which made me realize the beauty and wonder of God in many earthling species. I was lovingly enlightened by this truth.

I used to shame and frown on others who saw God in animals and called God a she, they, it, or whatever. Ironic how I am one of them now! Going back to the capybaras, our fellow animal earthlings can also reflect the love that the Lord has shown to all of us.

They can also reflect the holistic reality of what it means to be flawed and vulnerable and why God does not have to be this massive, gigantic cosmic being dressed up in patriarchy and full-blown masculinity. If there is one thing I learned about being a Christian, it is that our whole being is centered on love and that we are made for love. Love is for everyone and is made to be lived out.

Also, it amazes me how the Trinity demonstrates this fairly. When we look further beyond the traditional norm, the Godhead is unified and diversified, regardless of how it has been portrayed in biblical times. For instance, the Holy Spirit, although usually referred to in a gender-neutral tone, shows feminine traits associated with how doves are often used to symbolize peace, love, and new beginnings. Jesus, as a human, was born as a man but affirmed the value of feminity for both men and women, or everyone in many cases in the Gospels. For rather than going against this truth, Jesus lived it in his way of life (fun fact: the word "Sophia," which means wisdom, is also thought to be related to the word "Logos," which means reason). Lastly, God the Father was also described in feminine imagery and metaphors throughout the Old and New Testaments, showing that God can be seen and referred to beyond the standard form of divine recognition that many of us attribute Him to.

I would like to believe that God is not afraid of combining masculinity and femininity in the first place. If that is the case, God will also not keep us from imagining Him on the horizon, out there to cherish the sacred truth of our finitude and humanity while honoring and living out the virtues and principles we have learned from Him.

Seeing God as a man, woman, or neither, or in animals such as capybaras, does not alter or anger God at all. It may sound scary and heretical at first, but God imagery, especially when it comes to how we see and refer to God, should not have to be human and masculine-exclusive, for every living being can reflect and point us to a greater and wider understanding and relationship with our Creator.

I am content seeing and calling God in different ways (I usually refer to God as "he" out of convenience, but I am learning to visualize Him as a parent goose? HAAHAA). Anyway, here is a father capybara waiting to cuddle you up!

ID: A graphic illustration of a capybara head hugging a black and white colored cat with pink and white text above and under them saying, "What if God is a capybara?"

#lgbt christian #queer faith #godbeyondgender