Reply #30: My thoughts as a Liberal Christian. [View All]

[peacebaby3]

I don't really like the evangelical label because I believe that people see Christ in you by the way you act and the things you do, not by how much you tell them. That is probably still evangelical to some degree, but most people consider evangelical going out and speaking the word. I think actions are far more important than words. If someone wants to convert to my beliefs, it's certainly not going to be by me preaching to them that my way is the right and only way. If someone asks me about my beliefs, I will tell them.

Now, to answer all of your questions...

I completely support gay adoptions. If a child can be raised in a loving, stable home, and as long as a gay couple can meet the same criteria as any couple that wishes to adopt, they should certainly be allowed to do so. There are so many children that need homes and I would be thankful to any couple who would be willing to share their lives with a child that needs a home.

As far as "marriage" goes. I believe that "marriage" is a religious term and should not apply to any union recognized by the State. All of us should be recognized as a civil union by the government and hold the same rights. If you seek to follow through with marriage, as a religious ceremony where you and your partner want to be recognized before God (or the higher power you recognize and has nothing to do with your rights under our government), then you do so in a church, mosque, synagogue, etc. As a separate entity from the state, the "church" has the right to decide who they will and will not marry based on their doctrine. I know there would be churches who refuse to marry gay couples, but I believe that others would (such as UCC and UU)and while I would certainly disagree with churches who refuse to marry a couple just because they are gay, I would never want the line crossed between church and state. I want them out of our government and I believe that if I ask that, our government has to stay out of their church.

May I add, that there is a good chance that I would be denied a "marriage" in most churches because I would not believe in their doctrine. If there were a UCC anywhere close to me, I would be a member.

I had a conversation with my relative who actually still believes that homosexuality is a mental disorder. She called me a gay rights advocate and I corrected her and told her I was a human rights advocate so, yes, I do believe it is a human rights issue and not about heterosexual vs. homosexual. We are all human beings and deserve the same rights under our government.

I don't pretend to have all of the answers, but I do know based on the teachings of Christ that I am suppose to love my brothers and sisters and in order to do so, I must treat them with respect and want them to be able to have the same rights that I do.