Religion Dispatches
…to worship, regardless of sexual orientation. To be clear, the ad did not “promote” homosexuality, advocate for churches to perform weddings for gay couples, or endorse any activity that church might find objectionable. The ad, in my reading, says that anyone who believes in God is welcome in a house of worship. As Muslims living in America, we too will be faced with a similar issue: how welcoming will we be? Like the ad, I am not advocating for a…
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…Africa. The common denominator of these institutions is that they did not rely upon political boundaries to relieve suffering. The religious traditions of hospitality, refuge, and sanctuary created the vibrant multiform culture of diversity, welcome, and innovation that many of us claim as American. However, religious traditions of exclusion and purity rear their heads at regular intervals to demand higher walls and harder hearts. We are now at a…
Read More…ting. Fighting, and even losing, a battle for marriage equality would be a welcome luxury for them. Despite international pressure against this despicable and inhumane law, Reuters is reporting that it will likely pass, with some modifications. Spero News reports that the terms of the bill currently are: “[L]ife term in prison for one homosexual act. Option of the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality”, which includes relations with a minor…
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…d like one, and the party needs to make clear that nonreligious people are welcome, along with their ideas and priorities.” Expanding on that thought, Levin told RD: It’s a bit of a chicken-or-the-egg situation, which is why I think progressive nonreligious activists and the party need to meet each other halfway. The party needs to provide a space for secular Democrats to feel included and valued, but secular Democrats also need to rise to the occ…
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…btle” she observes, “and it suggests that if you don’t agree, you aren’t welcome and you even may be un-American. That’s a lot of pressure when you’re in elementary school.” Measures in Category 2 are framed as “Resolutions and Proclamations Recognizing the Importance of Religious History.” The only one of these to be introduced in 2018 was the Proclamation Recognizing Religious Freedom Day. But while the measures in this group may be subject t…
Read More…number of celebrated figures and other possible means. The objective is to promote and solidify homosexuality. Al-Azhar, in a previous statement, reiterated that the amoral and satanic propaganda launched by these various, vicious, parties has the purpose of destroying the human moral order respected by all religions and schools, because this moral order is in line with humanity’s innate quality (fitrah) created by Allah. Promoting homosexuality a…
Read More…egins, as a small rainbow flag flutters from the window. The first meeting welcomed nine intrigued but slightly nervous guests, and has grown ever since. Participants from across the Arab world, from Morocco via Libya to the Levant countries, discuss issues of refugee rights and asylum, Islam and homosexuality, and coming out. Most LGBT activities and connections in the past were largely online – yet here there is a tangible sense of grass-roots a…
Read More…riginal Italian ‘accogliere,’ according to an Italian I spoke with, means ‘welcome’.” Martin notes that the phrase “partners,” which was also groundbreaking as a reference acknowledging the legitimacy of same-sex relationships, is now “these persons.” A Vatican spokesperson, confirmed, however, that the Italian translation was still the official translation, so the new version appears to be an attempt by conservatives to spin the coverage of the r…
Read More…ith Abraham, three strangers come to Abraham and Sarah’s home and they are welcomed in with a lavish meal. The strangers turn out to be angels from God who bless them with news that they are to have a son at their advanced age. When Jesus is asked in Matthew 25 who will get into heaven, Jesus offers these criteria, “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in.” That’s a far cry from t…
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…eligious events at which his own gay and lesbian constituents would not be welcome. Most recently he spoke before the Family Research Council’s Watchmen on the Wall conference for pastors where he asserted that “if Christians ‘had provided for people in our community,’ then we ‘wouldn’t have needed a debate on health care.’” Asheville, the center of the 11th district, is a fairly liberal place known for its arts scene. Recently, Bothwell and a maj…
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