A crisis of religious identity...

[Storm]

Originally Posted by WizyPie

From what research I have done, Unitarian Universalism DOES in fact seem to suit my beliefs quite well.

Cool. Ask me anything.

Are there UU church's?

Yes, presuming you're in the US. You can search for a local congregation here. There are a very few elsewhere, but it's primarily an American phenomenon. In the 60s, the American Unitarian and Universalist churches merged into a single entity (hence the rather unwieldy name). If you're outside the states, the two parent Christianities still exist independently, and you could look them up.

It seems like it could be complicated finding a congregation as there seems to be a great deal of diversity within the belief.

Not really, though it may take a while. My advice would be to contact the offices of any and all chapters within easy reach, and schedule appointments with Reverends (or board members, in the case of lay-led congregations) to explore whether they're good fits for you.

[Storm]

How To Use the Quote Feature is stickied in the New Members area.

[Trey of Diamonds]

Originally Posted by WizyPie

I am feeling more and more that a spiritual journey is something that I need to do for myself. I appreciate the suggestion, as I can say I don't exactly have a game plan as of yet. The more options the better.

The option I would suggest is a Unitarian Universalist Church. It would allow you to explore any religion or spiritual path with no pressure to actually join any religion or spiritual path. They are open and welcoming to the LGBT community and are involved in social activism. To find one near you go here.

UUA: Find a Congregation

I suggest you avoid all churches that do not openly suggest who you and/or want you to change your lifestyle. Even if these people tell you they love you they are lying. They love the person they want you to be, not the person you are. So avoid these types at all cost. Seek out the communities that accept and love you for who you are, no conditions.

[WizyPie]

Originally Posted by Storm

Yes, presuming you're in the US. There are a very few elsewhere, but it's primarily an American phenomenon. In the 60s, the American Unitarian and Universalist churches merged into a single entity (hence the rather unwieldy name). If you're outside the states, the two parent Christianities still exist independently, and you could look them up.

I am in fact in the US, so this is excellent news. Thank you.

Originally Posted by Storm

Not really, though it may take a while. My advice would be to contact the offices of any and all chapters within easy reach, and schedule appointments with Reverends (or board members, in the case of lay-led congregations) to explore whether they're good fits for you.

I will be moving in the next month. I think my search for a congregation will begin then. Until then I will do my best to fully understand this belief system to make certain it's what's right for me.

Originally Posted by Storm

How to use the quote feature is stickied in the New Members area.

I do appreciate the link.

[waitasec]

Originally Posted by KingOfTheJungle

I realize that the popular spin these days is to say how God created some people with same sex attraction therefore it is his will that they act on those desires. From a biblical perspective, it couldn't be further from the truth. There's all kinds of brokeness in the world such as sickness, floods, hurricanes, etc.. Christians with a biblical perspective attribute such brokeness to the fallen nature of the world, not because it pleases God that such things exist.


Romans 8:

19For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

can you please explain what constitutes a fallen nature...what are the characteristics?

[Nakosis]

Originally Posted by WizyPie

Hello to you all.
I sought out this forum because I wanted a place to discuss something that has been weighing quite heavily on my mind. I hope you will all bare with me as this is my first post here.

I have recently accepted my self as a gay individual and made my family and some close friends aware of this. I feel happier than I have in a long while, as I have finally started being okay with who I am. Though I come to a conundrum that I'm not sure I'm equipped to handle.

Being told be many people that God hates me and that I am going to hell has, I think understandably, turned me away from Christianity. I still believe there is a god, but I don't think we understand him as well as we think we do. So I am left with just that, an unfinished thought on a rather important matter. Not sure where to go from here.

Thank you for taking the time to read and any input would be greatly appreciated.

I suspect some of them Christians pretend to know more about God then they actually do. Being critical of someone else's "sins" seems hypocritical since Jesus told them to worry about their own sin first. If you ask me they have plenty of their own sin to worry about before passing judgement on someone else.