I used to be a hindu

[willy1590]

Hello
I used to give worship to lord shiva and planned on celebrating divali and other festivals. I then spoke to another hindu who told me that homosexuality is wrong and that premarital sex is prohibited and that started me on my leaving of hinduism.
Can you accept these things and be a hindu?

[Jainarayan]

That other Hindu is full of male bovine excrement. There is no theological basis to say homosexuality is wrong. The belief that it is, is a legacy of British and Muslim rule in India.

Read these:

Homosexuality
On the subject of sex and life styles it needs to be mentioned that homosexuality which is a major obsession with the "Abrahamic coalition" (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and the focus of many social and politico-religious agendas in the West and which attracts endless invective and hatred is a non-event in Srivaishnavism. None of the acharyas have ever considered the topic important enough to discuss. So for a Srivaishnava position on the subject we need to take another look at the Scriptures which inform us that there are three types of births;-

The jiva is blinded by ignorance; sometimes it is embodied as a man, sometimes as a woman, sometimes as a homosexual. According to its deeds and the nature it acquires thereby, it may be born as a deva, a human or a beast.

Srimad Bhagavatam 4.29.29.

According to the Dharma, homosexuals (both male and female) are born as such and cannot be "converted" from heterosexuality. There is no conscious choice in the matter of sexuality - it is determined by one’s Karma. The question of evil or wickedness does not arise in the case of natural disposition. The victimisation, discrimination or ostracization of homosexuals is wrong and contradicts the teachings of the dharma. The acharyas have never addressed this issue, and none of the law givers have made a big deal about it. In fact there is no mention of homosexuality in any of the catalogues of sins that one finds in the Puranas. It is a matter of no consequence and not worthy of any serious mental expenditure. The general guidelines of the Dharma regulating relationships and social activities apply to homosexuals as well. - The Handbook of Srivaishnavism of Ramanujacharya p. 41

Society: One Hindu's Take on Gay Marriage - Magazine Web Edition > July/August/September 2012 - Publications - Hinduism Today Magazine

As far as premarital sex, there is nothing against it specifically afaik, except that there are principles, not rules in Hinduism.

[Riverwolf]

Homosexuality isn't even mentioned in Hindu doctrine, and pre-marital sex is only discouraged, but not overtly disallowed. I'm a Hindu who accepts both these things.

[Vinayaka]

Originally Posted by willy1590

Hello
I used to give worship to lord shiva and planned on celebrating divali and other festivals. I then spoke to another hindu who told me that homosexuality is wrong and that premarital sex is prohibited and that started me on my leaving of hinduism.
Can you accept these things and be a hindu?

Of course. As far as I know, Hinduism is one of the few religions that doesn't go off on homosexuality. In some scriptures, its written about as the 3rd gender. But yes, you do encounter 'traditionalists' for lack of a better word ... people who are very biased, and as Jainarayan has pointed out, most likely influenced by non-dharmic forces.

In Britain there is even a Gay and Lesbian Vaishnava Association; perhaps you could contact them for additional support on the matter.

Who needs enemies when you have friends like that?

[Odion]

Originally Posted by willy1590

Can you accept these things and be a hindu?

You can.

[Marble]

Originally Posted by willy1590

I then spoke to another hindu who told me that homosexuality is wrong and that premarital sex is prohibited and that started me on my leaving of hinduism.

I think that's a cultural thing, not a religious one.
In earlier times, there was no such thing as a pension scheme, the only possibility to provide for old age & bad times was to have many children and hopefully enough of them would survive.
A son being homosexual was a problem, because he would not produce offspring (no in vitro fertilization).
Also society was very patriarchal, therefore they wanted womens' sexuality being controlled by the family - for the needs of men outside/before marriage there were prostitutes.

[Maya3]

Of course you can be Hindu if you are gay!

Maya

[willy1590]

Thank you very much everyone!

[Shântoham]

Originally Posted by Maya3

Of course you can be Hindu if you are gay!

Maya

pranām

But can you be gay if you are a Hindu? What about the panca ṛṇa? pitṛ ṛṇa in particular?
Please understand that I am not trying to be polemical or judgmental. I am only raising a scriptural point.

[willy1590]

what does that say?