Comments on: Religious Guilt http://concretereverie.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/religious-guilt/ Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:00:17 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Bookmarks about Sexuality http://concretereverie.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/religious-guilt/#comment-105 Bookmarks about Sexuality Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:00:17 +0000 http://concretereverie.wordpress.com/?p=45#comment-105 [...] - bookmarked by 2 members originally found by hfishel on 2008-10-29 Religious Guilt http://concretereverie.wordpress.com/?p=45 - bookmarked by 6 members originally found by [...] [...] – bookmarked by 2 members originally found by hfishel on 2008-10-29 Religious Guilt http://concretereverie.wordpress.com/?p=45 – bookmarked by 6 members originally found by [...]

]]> By: Gel Estrada http://concretereverie.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/religious-guilt/#comment-12 Gel Estrada Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:43:39 +0000 http://concretereverie.wordpress.com/?p=45#comment-12 I was also a member of a religious organization, you are not alone. I also felt the same way, they want me to be straight like change my way of clothing and act more female. And now, I am not active anymore in that religious organization. I just sing in a church choir. It sucks sometimes. haha..just sharing. ;) I was also a member of a religious organization, you are not alone. I also felt the same way, they want me to be straight like change my way of clothing and act more female. And now, I am not active anymore in that religious organization. I just sing in a church choir. It sucks sometimes. haha..just sharing. ;)

]]> By: concretereverie http://concretereverie.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/religious-guilt/#comment-7 concretereverie Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:09:33 +0000 http://concretereverie.wordpress.com/?p=45#comment-7 @fozmeadows: Thanks, your comments are always so sweet :) @fozmeadows: Thanks, your comments are always so sweet :)

]]> By: fozmeadows http://concretereverie.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/religious-guilt/#comment-6 fozmeadows Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:30:46 +0000 http://concretereverie.wordpress.com/?p=45#comment-6 My friend I mentioned before, the one who came out in the past two years? Part of what she was reconciling with herself was the fact that for several years, she'd been a committed Christian, or at least committed enough to feel guilty, confused and worried by the fact that she was consistently attracted to women. I've not sat down and had an in-depth conversation with her about how she worked things out with herself, but the main thing is, she did, and she's happier for it. (And for the record, I'm pretty certain that while she's out to her friends, she's not to her family - which is fine.) It's hard to be faced with the prospect of friends thinking less of us whatever the reason. Sadly, some people are grossed out by same-sex couples; and not all of them feel that way because of religion. In some cases it's just plain bigotry, or, alternatively, yes, they might just not be used to it. Whether someone is willing to change their mind is dependent on exactly that - willingness. It also helps if you try and let them adjust at their own pace. If that means some ignorant, rude or weird questions, so be it, but if they're genuinely trying to understand and not just be offensive, it's worth trying to answer as best you can. Maybe something to do would be to talk about it with your friend as an idea, and find out why she objects. You might not change her mind, but at least you'll understand her (and others like her) a bit better, and especially where we disagree, that's always a good thing. But remember - you're not alone! :) My friend I mentioned before, the one who came out in the past two years? Part of what she was reconciling with herself was the fact that for several years, she’d been a committed Christian, or at least committed enough to feel guilty, confused and worried by the fact that she was consistently attracted to women. I’ve not sat down and had an in-depth conversation with her about how she worked things out with herself, but the main thing is, she did, and she’s happier for it. (And for the record, I’m pretty certain that while she’s out to her friends, she’s not to her family – which is fine.)

It’s hard to be faced with the prospect of friends thinking less of us whatever the reason. Sadly, some people are grossed out by same-sex couples; and not all of them feel that way because of religion. In some cases it’s just plain bigotry, or, alternatively, yes, they might just not be used to it. Whether someone is willing to change their mind is dependent on exactly that – willingness. It also helps if you try and let them adjust at their own pace. If that means some ignorant, rude or weird questions, so be it, but if they’re genuinely trying to understand and not just be offensive, it’s worth trying to answer as best you can. Maybe something to do would be to talk about it with your friend as an idea, and find out why she objects. You might not change her mind, but at least you’ll understand her (and others like her) a bit better, and especially where we disagree, that’s always a good thing.

But remember – you’re not alone! :)

]]>