Pew Research: 41% of Gays/Lesbians/Bisexuals Have No Religious Affiliation

[Skwim]

" And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

… gay, lesbian and bisexual adults substantially less likely* than straight adults to affiliate with a religious group. Four-in-ten (41%) identify as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” compared with just 22% of straight adults who say the same.
*link to Pew article​

I know, I know, you already assumed as much. But in theory, there’s no reason there should be any difference. The disconnect, I would assume, is almost entirely due to the way religious groups perceive and treat LGBTQ people. Many of the largest denominations have actively demonized them to the point where LGBTQ people want nothing to do with organized religion. They may still believe in the supernatural, but they know damn well that holy books have no love for them — and that many followers of God actively work to suppress their civil rights.
source

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Serves these religions right! And serves LGBTQ people well.

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[PoetPhilosopher]

On the LGBTQ social sites I've been on... about as many identify as Christians/theists as atheists.

Just trying to more or less back up the actual statistics of the report.

I did talk to one that said, "I'm a Christian. But it's hard to be gay and a Christian because I have to accept my orientation while putting myself down as a terrible sinner for said orientation."

 

[Shadow Wolf]

But in theory, there’s no reason there should be any difference.

Surely you dont actually believe that? You pretty much hit the epicenter by saying their holy books (several of them, anyways, and definitely moreso and more consistently in the Abrahamic texts) have no love for us. From there, we are emotionally traumatized, spiritually tortured, and psychologically abused (with a high risk of physical and sexual abuse). It done more than enough damage to me to not even want anything to do with the UU church because its too protestant in how the do things. I left it all behind, and today want to be no part of it.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Most of us still are religious, though. It's really only the Abrahamic religions that are bigoted toward LGBT people, not that that stops LGBT people from creating their own churches, synagogues or mosques.

 

[Enoch07]

Encouraging!

Those number are up much higher from past years! It's a sign times are changing, and a good sign at that for everyone invloved.

Fifty Years After Stonewall: Widespread Support for LGBT Issues - Findings from American Values Atlas 2018 | PRRI

But of course atheist would be butt hurt by it.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Encouraging

It really is, isn't it? If one of the more marginalized groups in society is functioning sans religion and god than the general population, what is their excuse for saying we need it to be good and moral people? The same goes for those with Autism, who too are more non-religious than the general pop but also known for being genuinely and deeply caring people. We are getting along just fine without. Why do other groups need it?

 

[Enoch07]

It really is, isn't it? If one of the more marginalized groups in society is functioning sans religion and god than the general population, what is their excuse for saying we need it to be good and moral people? The same goes for those with Autism, who too are more non-religious than the general pop but also known for being genuinely and deeply caring people. We are getting along just fine without. Why do other groups need it?

We need it the same way LGBT need to the way they are.

Because we just are.

No other justification is needed.

 

[KelseyR]

" And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

… gay, lesbian and bisexual adults substantially less likely* than straight adults to affiliate with a religious group. Four-in-ten (41%) identify as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” compared with just 22% of straight adults who say the same.
*link to Pew article​

I know, I know, you already assumed as much. But in theory, there’s no reason there should be any difference. The disconnect, I would assume, is almost entirely due to the way religious groups perceive and treat LGBTQ people. Many of the largest denominations have actively demonized them to the point where LGBTQ people want nothing to do with organized religion. They may still believe in the supernatural, but they know damn well that holy books have no love for them — and that many followers of God actively work to suppress their civil rights.
source​

Serves these religions right! And serves LGBTQ people well.

.

.

This almost suggests that they're smarter than the average bear, but I bet it's because they are made to feel like outcasts. And Muslims have been known to murder homosexuals by throwing them off tall buildings.

 

[Revoltingest]

Those LGBTs.....making God cry in multiple ways.

 

[Skwim]

Surely you dont actually believe that?

All else being equal, if they were not LGBTQ, why not? I see no other factor. So it's ONLY because they are LGBTQ, and the trouble the church has laid upon them for it, that these particular people are identifying as atheist, agnostic or nothing,

.

This almost suggests that they're smarter than the average bear, but I bet it's because they are made to feel like outcasts. And Muslims have been known to murder homosexuals by throwing them off tall buildings.

That's where I'd put my money as well.

 

[Skwim]

Those LGBTs.....making God cry in multiple ways.

Kind of a woose wouldn't you say?

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[Enoch07]

That's where I'd put my money as well.

You do realize that your chart points to an increase of religious LGBT people in recent years right?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

We need it the same way LGBT need to the way they are.

Because we just are.

No other justification is needed.

But that is contradicting what we are seeing from a steadily growing rise in non-theism, as well as from demographs that are less religious than the gen pop. It seems, more and more, we just don't need it.

 

[dingdao]

A 5 year old study?
Pew Research??? Really? I know they are a real organization, but even the name sounds biased.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

All else being equal, if they were not LGBTQ, why not? I see no other factor. So it's ONLY because they are LGBTQ, and the trouble the church has laid upon them for it, that these particular people are identifying as atheist, agnostic or nothing,

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That's where I'd put my money as well.

That strongly suggests there is going to be a difference between LGBT and non-LGBT.

 

[Enoch07]

But that is contradicting what we are seeing from a steadily growing rise in non-theism, as well as from demographs that are less religious than the gen pop. It seems, more and more, we just don't need it.

Ah the rise of non-theism is as a whole yes.

But this chart points to a rise of religion in the LGBT community specifically.

Which is encouraging. It's a sign that LGBT and religious people are setting aside their disagreements, so much so that LGBT are staring to attend church. It's a wonderful sign that hate is being conquered, slowly but surely. That is a good thing is it not?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

religious people are setting aside their disagreements, so much so that LGBT are staring to attend church. It's a wonderful sign that hate is being conquered, slowly but surely. That is a good thing is it not?

Abrahamics, especially today, are largely and mostly those religious people giving LGBT people hell, and where LGBT have an increase of being religious is nonChristian religions. And those Christians setting things aside, it seems silly as they are basically saying "this is the latest entry of the Bible that doesn't really matter or apply." In that regards its highly encouraging because those of a highly dogmatic religion are casting aside dogma for humanitarian concerns and improve their treatment of those they mistreated. But they are still cherry picking their religion and leaving more if it in the past. Why not just leave it all behind?

 

[Enoch07]

But they are still cherry picking their religion and leaving more if it in the past.

I agree in the past Abrahamic religions have been terrible and done horrific things to LGBT folks. But it's slowly becoming a thing of the past, each year LGBT become more and more accepted, which means less hate.

We are not cherry picking though.

It's about a greater understanding and coming to the realization that LGBT are not inhuman things, but that they are people. The next big challenge will be to get ones harmed/damaged like yourself to humanize religious people. Though you are already on that path a tiny bit at least I think.

Time and understanding will heal the wounds and close the divide.

We can no more walk away from our religion than LGBT can walk away from being LGBT. So the best we can hope for is to learn to love and respect each other, which is happening!

 

[MonkeyFire]

In my religion females are required to be bisexual. Its extremely rare to see straight females.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

We are not cherry picking though.

The Bible clearly states homosexuals are to be put to death, "their blood is on their hands." So much the Bible today has been left in the past, and is today irrelevant. Even Jesus warns about changing things and not following the laws or prophets. But because we killed god people pick and choose freely without consequence.