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A Guide and Index to Genuine Spirituality
Those who say that religion has nothing to do with politics do not understand religion. - Mahatma Gandhi The fundamentalist seeks to bring down a great deal more than buildings. Such people are against, to offer just a brief list, freedom of speech, a multiparty political system, universal adult suffrage, accountable government, Jews, homosexuals, women's rights, pluralism, secularism, short skirts, dancing, beardlessness, evolution theory, sex. - Salman Rushdie
The national government will maintain and defend the foundations on which the power of our nation rests. It will offer strong protection to Christianity as the very basis of our collective morality. Today, Christians stand at the head of our country. We want to fill our culture again with the Christian spirit. We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theatre, and in the press - in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of liberal excess during recent years. - Adolf Hitler in his first radio address to the German people after coming to power in 1933
What is most revealing about the controversial social issues involving religion today - e.g., homosexuality, women priests, married priests, creationism vs. evolution, separation of church and state, etc. - is that tolerant religions, such as Buddhism, are not experiencing any crisis over these issues. Only intolerant, dogmatic and authoritarian religions are. They are the ones in confusion, in agony, in civil war. They are the ones trying to oust any individual or church which questions their intolerance. They are the ones trying to force their ideology on others.
The effects of this intolerance on society are profoundly serious. For example, in America it has been estimated that up to one-third of the teen suicides are gays who receive almost no support from society or religion for developing a positive self-image. In most schools they are the only students having no civil rights protections or recourse from the violence inflicted on them. They are the prime targets of school bullies.
PFLAG reports the following disturbing facts:According to a GLSEN 2005 survey: "Only nine states and the District of Columbia have comprehensive anti-bullying laws that specifically address bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and only three of these laws mention gender identity. Nine other states have 'generic' anti-bullying laws that do not specifically define 'bullying' or enumerate categories of protected classes such as sexual orientation or gender identity. The remaining 32 states have no laws at all." (For more information on the hostile school climate, visit GLSEN.)
- 69% of GLBT youth report experiencing some form of harassment or violence, with 46% reporting verbal harassment, 36% reporting sexual harassment, 12% reporting physical harassment, and 6% reporting physical assault.
- Gay and lesbian youths are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other youths.
- Of 1.3 million homeless children on America's streets, 500,000 are thought to be GLBT kids thrown out by their parents.
But here's the most surprising part of this issue: instead of all churches taking a stand in support of these teens, many - particularly those of the religious right - work vigorously to undermine even the slightest attempt at support or protection by any social system. Others stand by silently, apparently more interested in protecting "values" or "tradition" than young lives. Even as America vehemently condemns child abuse as criminal, it looks the other way when religion knowingly encourages or allows abuse of young gays in the name of false principle and morality. This is a great shame to the nation and to its religious institutions.
In another example of the effects on society of religiously-based intolerance, science education in American schools is frequently undermined by religious extremists who overtly and covertly attempt to prevent the teaching of evolution as a fact. Other Western nations don't debate the validity of evolution or allow religion to be taught in science classes; but unlike them, America has millions of politically active Christian fundamentalists who push a creationist agenda on our schools and on our textbook publishers. Many of our children grow up either knowing nothing about evolution or developing a disdain for it, because they have been taught that it is just a "theory," rather than the foundation of modern biology.
Here are some important sites about a number of controversial social issues involving religion:
- Dissent
- Evolution vs. Creationism
- Married Priests
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Separation of Church and State
- Sexuality
- Women's Issues
- General
Dissent Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church, based on the spirit of Vatican II, seeks "to institutionalize a collegial and egalitarian understanding of Church in which decision-making is shared and accountability is realized among Catholics of every kind." In a word, democracy.
Born Again Fundamentalist Christianity Exposed attempts to help those who are dissatisfied with fundamentalism and want to escape from it.
Call To Action USA is an independent national organization of over 18,000 people and 40 local organizations working for the kind of Catholic Church personified by Pope John XXIII and only glimpsed at Vatican II.
Catholics for a Free Choice is an independent non-profit organization engaged in policy analysis, education, and advocacy on issues of gender equality and reproductive health. Although it works in the Catholic social justice tradition, many of its supporters have been disciplined and silenced by the Vatican for not adhering to the hierarchy's ideology.
Catholics Speak Out encourages reform in the Roman Catholic Church and adult responsibility for faith. In particular, the project works towards equality and justice within the Church and dialogue between the laity and hierarchy on issues of sexuality, sexual orientation and reproduction.
Divorce, Remarriage, & a Church of Compassion A professor of religion, who is also a member of the Canon Law Society of America, questions absolutes about Catholic teaching on divorce.
The End Of Faith by Sam Harris, analyzes the clash of faith and reason in the modern world. Also, articles by and about Sam Harris:
- An Atheist Manifesto
- Sam Harris: Interview
- Sam Harris on the Reality of Islam
- Killing the Buddha
- God Wrote A Book
- Why Religion Must End
International Movement We Are Church Significant international movement to democratize the Roman Catholic Church, based on the spirit of Vatican II.
Muslim WakeUp! Seeks to bring together Muslims and non-Muslims in America and around the globe to celebrate cultural and spiritual diversity, tolerance, and understanding in an atmosphere that is filled with compassion and free of intimidation, authoritarianism, and dogmatism.
NO to Political Islam This modern, progressive Muslim site includes a petition, forums and articles. "We seek a future in which all people, men and women, Muslims and non-Muslims, enjoy the benefits of equality, justice, democracy and human rights, and freedom of inquiry, freedom of thought, and freedom of expression."
Progressive Muslim Union of North America Provides a much-needed forum, voice and organizing mechanism for Muslims who wish to pursue a progressive religious, intellectual, social and political agenda.
Recovery from Mormonism Dissenters from the Mormon religion provide an alternate viewpoint.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests An international initiative within the Roman Catholic Church to prepare, ordain, and support theologically qualified women and men from all states of life who are committed to an inclusive model of Church.
See Change Campaign believes that the Holy See, the government of the Roman Catholic church, should participate in the United Nations in the same way as the world's other religions do - as a non-governmental organization. A project of Catholics for a Free Choice, this campaign to change the status of the Roman Catholic Church at the UN might sound strange or frivolous, but it is neither. The current status of the Vatican gives it unusual political powers and influence no other religion has - or any should have. See the site for more information and to join the campaign. Also, see The Church at the United Nations, an article from Catholics for a Free Choice, which asks: "What place does a religious body - claiming to possess the universal 'objective truth' and to speak infallibly on moral matters - have in an intergovernmental institution like the United Nations?"
Walk Away from Fundamentalism A support forum for those who have left or are in the process of leaving fundamentalist Christianity.
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Evolution vs. Creationism
Isn't evolution just a theory that remains unproven?
In science, a theory is a rigorously tested statement of general principles that explains observable and recorded aspects of the world. A scientific theory therefore describes a higher level of understanding that ties "facts" together. A scientific theory stands until proven wrong -- it is never proven correct. The Darwinian theory of evolution has withstood the test of time and thousands of scientific experiments; nothing has disproved it since Darwin first proposed it more than 150 years ago. Indeed, many scientific advances, in a range of scientific disciplines including physics, geology, chemistry, and molecular biology, have supported, refined, and expanded evolutionary theory far beyond anything Darwin could have imagined.- Frequently Asked Questions About Evolution - Supplemental Information to PBS's TV Miniseries: Evolution
The Bible and Astronomy A brief and interesting examination of the conflicts between science and religion over creation concepts.
The Complete Work Of Charles Darwin Online This site is aimed at serious scholars, but can be used by anyone with an interest in Darwin and his theory on the evolution of life.
Darwin and Evolution Overview Includes links to a variety of articles and references.
"Evolution & Intelligent Design," a 4-part article from LiveScience.com:
Also from LiveScience.com, Behind the Controversy: How Evolution Works.
- Part 1, An Ambiguous Assault on Evolution
- Part 2, The Death of Science
- Part 3, Belief Posing as Theory
- Part 4, Anti-evolution Attacks on the Rise
15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense From Scientific American, a list of rebuttals to some of the most common "scientific" arguments raised against evolution, plus further sources for information.
Firmament From the Catholic Encyclopedia, an explanation of the ancient Hebrew concept of the "firmament" mentioned in Genesis.
The Flat-Earth Bible Article explains the flat-earth cosmology of the Bible.
"Intelligent Design" Not Science: Vatican Paper "Intelligent design does not belong to science and there is no justification for the demand it be taught as a scientific theory alongside the Darwinian explanation." - Vatican Article in L'Osservatore Romano
National Center for Science Education is a nationally recognized, nonprofit clearinghouse which provides information and advice to teachers, parents, school boards, the press and others in order to keep evolution in the science classroom and "scientific" creationism out.
A Natural History of Peace Contrary to past beliefs, humans are not 'killer apes' destined for violent conflict, but can make their own history.
No Answers in Genesis provides an excellent selection of links to articles and sites debunking creationism. As the quote on the site so accurately says, "Creationism is not the alternative to evolution, ignorance is."
Pope John Paul II on Evolution This is L'Osservatore Romano's official English translation from the French of John Paul II's statement supporting evolution as fact ("new knowledge has led to the recognition of the theory of evolution as more than a hypothesis").
What's interesting is the consternation and disbelief it caused among many creationists who had hoped that they had a comrade in this extremely conservative pope. They should have known better. The Church has never taken a stand against evolution, and this pope did nothing more than admit what most scientists and educated people already know: that evolution is a fact. Unlike the fundamentalists, the Catholic Church learned from the embarassing Galileo incident not to contradict hardcore science with conjectural theology. Theology loses every time. The Church's escape route on evolution and the collapse of the Garden of Eden version of humanity's creation is to insist on a special divine creation of the soul out of nothing.
Incidentally, if you heard that the pope's statement was mistranslated, here is a Q&A response from the Catholic Information Network correcting that rumor.
Also, see "Intelligent Design" Not Science: Vatican Paper "Intelligent design does not belong to science and there is no justification for the demand it be taught as a scientific theory alongside the Darwinian explanation." - Vatican Article in L'Osservatore Romano
Science and Creationism From the National Academy of Sciences, an online book which gives a straight-forward, responsible and expert explanation of evolution vs. creationism. Get the facts from the horse's mouth, not from the other end.
Understanding Evolution This site, which is a collaborative project of the University of California Museum of Paleontology and the National Center for Science Education, helps teachers fend off attacks on evolution.
U.S. Lags World In Acceptance of Evolution "Among the factors contributing to America's low score are poor understanding of biology, especially genetics, the politicization of science and the literal interpretation of the Bible by a small but vocal group of American Christians, the researchers say. ...one thing that will help is to have Catholics and mainstream Protestants speak up about their theologies' acceptance of evolution."
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Married Priests CORPUS - National Association for an Inclusive Priesthood Promotes an expanded and renewed priesthood of married and single men and women in the Catholic Church.
FutureChurch is a coalition of parish-based Roman Catholics concerned that Catholics will lose the Mass if nothing is done about the priest shortage. Sensibly enough, their suggested solution is to open ordination to women and to the married.
Rent A Priest Don't let the somewhat frivolous sounding name of this site fool you. It's about a serious issue within the Catholic Church and a common sense attempt to solve it.
Founded by Louise Haggett, the mission of the "Rent A Priest" referral program and "Celibacy Is The Issue" (CITI) - an international married Roman Catholic priest faith community - is to provide the spiritual and sacramental ministry of married priests to Roman Catholics who feel distanced from their faith for whatever reason. This movement is an impressive example of reform, inclusion and spiritual rejuvenation in the Church at the grassroots level.
Roman Catholic Womenpriests An international initiative within the Roman Catholic Church to prepare, ordain, and support theologically qualified women and men from all states of life who are committed to an inclusive model of Church.
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Same-Sex Marriage
Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages.
- Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King Jr. -
In spite of all the rage that social conservatives vent against gay marriage, they have yet to present even a single rational argument against it. The only real issue surrounding gay marriage is whether conservatives and the churches who support them should be allowed to impose their arbitrary will and religious beliefs on others through the power of the state. Here are some hard-hitting articles:
Adam and Steve--Together at Last Commentary from The Nation's Katha Pollitt, who exposes the silliness and poor logic of those attacking gay marriage.
American Academy of Pediatrics: The Effects of Marriage, Civil Union, and Domestic Partnership Laws on the Health and Well-being of Children "There is ample evidence to show that children raised by same-gender parents fare as well as those raised by heterosexual parents. More than 25 years of research have documented that there is no relationship between parents' sexual orientation and any measure of a child's emotional, psychosocial, and behavioral adjustment. These data have demonstrated no risk to children as a result of growing up in a family with 1 or more gay parents. Conscientious and nurturing adults, whether they are men or women, heterosexual or homosexual, can be excellent parents. The rights, benefits, and protections of civil marriage can further strengthen these families."
A Catholic Defense of Same Sex Marriage "In the past, the Church accepted homosexuality more openly and even had liturgies to celebrate same sex unions. There was a recognition that different sexual orientations are clearly part of God's plan for creation..." - Daniel C. Maguire, Catholic Theologian at Marquette University
The Descent of Marriage? reveals that it's the "democratic and inherently legal process that the right wing wants to circumvent with their proposed constitutional amendment."
The Gay Marriage Deception "They most definitely were not 'protecting' marriage; they were attacking gay people." - Boston Globe Columnist Thomas Oliphant
Joining Forces to Battle Same-sex Marriage From the National Catholic Reporter, how American churches are funding a project to attack gay rights.
Mayday, Mayday! Why Every American Should Worry About the Rising "Culture War" Against Gay Marriage...and Gay People "We are seeing a rising tide of intolerance, persecution and blatant threats aimed at gays and lesbians in this country, sugarcoated to appear to legitimate and praiseworthy, with righteous-sounding words like 'preserving family values' and 'protecting our Judeo-Christian institutions'. Radical religious 'conservatives' are touring the country in a PR-heavy campaign to 'protect the sacred institution of marriage from activist judges.'"
National Pediatricians Group: Children Of Same-Sex Parents Harmed By Gay Marriage Bans "State and federal legislators who say they’re trying to 'protect' children by sponsoring constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage are not just wrong, they are actively harming the health and well-being of all our children."
10Couples Launched by The American Civil Liberties Union and the Emmy-winning production company Public Interest, this site features streaming video of 10 couples attesting to how same-sex marriage bans have stifled their families and relationships.
Why Are They Afraid to Call it 'Marriage'? "Ultimately, it's not the substance of the issue that really matters to conservatives. It's the fact that a symbolic line must be drawn somewhere - anywhere - to symbolize their ability to resist social change."
For those interested in more information or in taking a stand against injustice and prejudice:
A Constitutional Amendment From TheocracyWatch, extensive information about the religious right's aggressive agenda for attacking gays and gay marriage.
Freedom to Marry is the gay and non-gay partnership working to win marriage equality nationwide. Headed by Evan Wolfson, one of America's leading lesbian/gay rights advocates and lawyers, Freedom to Marry brings new resources and a renewed context of urgency and opportunity to this social justice movement.
The Human Rights Campaign is trying to gather a million signatures on a marriage rights petition which they plan to deliver to key leaders in Congress and in state legislatures around the country. If you're interested in signing it and having friends and relatives do the same, visit MillionforMarriage.org.
Interfaith Working Group Online News, action alerts, opinion and more concerning religious diversity and social issues, including gay marriage.
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund has started a campaign to challenge and counter the Bush Administration's campaign of trying to smear judges who rule in favor of gay rights by referring to them as "activist courts" or "activist judges."
Marriage Equality USA provides comprehensive information about same-sex marriage.
We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization.
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt, as inscribed on the U.S. Capitol building
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Separation of Church and State
People place their hand on the Bible and swear to uphold the Constitution. They don't put their hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible. - Jamie Raskin, Professor of Constitutional Law, American University
American Civil Liberties Union If not for the ACLU, the Constitution's Bill of Rights would be little more than empty words on paper. Few Americans realize how much the degree of freedom they enjoy today is due to the persistent battles of the ACLU for personal and civil rights. This is one of the oldest organizations which advances religious tolerance by reinforcing the wall separating church and state.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State This no-nonsense interfaith group of activists fights to prevent the religious right and others from from using government to impose their religious standards on the rest of us. See, also, the article, Is America A 'Christian Nation'?
Council for Secular Humanism Among secular humanism's major contributions to humanity's welfare is its firm stand for separation of church and state. Many interesting articles.
DefCon: Campaign to Defend the Constitution is an online grassroots movement combating the growing power of the religious right. They fight to uphold the First Amendment's guarantee of separation of church and state and oppose efforts to control and distort religion, education, science and culture in ways that threaten American society.
Freedom From Religion Foundation This is an educational group working to promote the constitutional principle of separation of state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheistic beliefs. We strongly support groups such as this one, not only because they often demonstrate a higher degree of philosophic honesty than many of their theistic counterparts, but because, if they are not free to dissent against religion and the imposition of religious belief through the power of the state, no one else will be either. The principle of separation does not undermine anyone's religious belief - it protects it.
A Liberal Islamic Web Site Several articles advocate the rights of Muslims to live free from Islamic religious coercion.
Mainstream Loudoun - A Voice for Moderation In order to preserve religious and personal freedom, maintain separation of church and state, and to counter the imposition through public policy of one religious tradition over others, Mainstream Loudoun researches and educates voters about the true purpose and negative effects of the public policies promoted by extreme right groups.
Military Religious Freedom Foundation A watchdog group dedicated to maintaining religious freedom within the U.S. military. The organization's founder explains that "We apparently have a radicalized, evangelical Christian Pentagon within the rest of the Pentagon." Among the findings in MRFF's December 11, 2006 Compliance Report on the Pervasive Violations of the United States Constitutional Religious Freedoms of Military Personnel:
- Attempts by missionary organizations such as Force Ministries and the Officers’ Christian Fellowship to create "Christian soldiers" by training active-duty military personnel to evangelize their subordinates and peers.
- Military leadership appearing in uniform in promotional videos for these missionary organizations and openly discussing their commitment to bring religion into the military.
Religious Right Power Brokers: The Top Ten "The United States is home to dozens of Religious Right groups. ...the most powerful organizations conduct nationwide operations, command multi-million-dollar bank accounts and attract millions of followers. They have disproportionate clout in the halls of Congress, the White House and the courts, and they wield enormous influence within the political system."
Talk To Action: Reclaiming Citizenship, History, and Faith An online publication and forum focused on the rise of the Christian right as a social and political force and on what those who are opposed to that movement can do to counter it.
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and supported by James Madison for adoption by the Virginia legislature in 1786, this bill became the basis for the religion clauses in the Constitution's Bill of Rights.
When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross. - Sinclair Lewis
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Sexuality
The American Psychiatric Association opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as "reparative" or "conversion" therapy, which is based upon the assumption that homosexuality per se is a mental disorder, or based upon a prior assumption that the patient should change his/her homosexual orientation.
American Psychiatric Association
Three articles from The Southern Poverty Law Center exposing anti-gay propaganda and disinformation:
How To Prevent Your Kids From Becoming Gay "Paul Cameron doesn't like homosexuality. But his 1978 recipe for avoiding it - sex play for teens - will shock many a parent."
The Fabulist "Anti-gay researcher Paul Cameron's falsehoods are well known. The incredible thing is the people who still cite them."
Garbage In, Garbage Out "As a scientist, Paul Cameron is a disgrace. Under his chairmanship, the Family Research Institute, a Colorado Springs, Colo., gay-bashing propaganda mill, has churned out reams of pseudo-scientific 'studies' purporting to prove that gays and lesbians are more prone than heterosexuals to commit murder, die young and molest children, among many other dubious findings."
Al-Fatiha The goal of The Al-Fatiha Foundation is to provide a safe space and forum for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered Muslims to address issues of common concern, to share individual experiences and institutional resources, and to reconcile sexual orientation or gender identity with Islam. Al-Fatiha promotes the Islamic notions of social justice, peace, and tolerance through its work, to bring all closer to a world that is free from injustice, prejudice, and discrimination.
AL-GAMEA GLBT Association of Middle Eastern Americans.
American Association for Single People According to the latest census, 86 million unmarried adults - many with children - live in the United States. But laws, taxes, religious and political institutions, and social values are heavily structured against them. Single and think you're not affected? Consider this: according to the AASP, "...statutes in many states still refer to children born to unmarried parents as 'bastards.' In many other states, statutes and judges refer to these young people as 'illegitimate children.' " If you think that's an outrage, visit AASP to find out what to do about it.
Answers to Your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality by the American Psychological Association. There is probably no greater deception being promoted in America today than the claim that being gay is a choice. Get the knowledgeable view from the professionals and arm yourself against charlatans and bigots. See also the APA Policy Statements on Lesbian and Gay Issues, as well as Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Issues by the American Psychiatric Association.
Assault On Gay America PBS's Frontline examines anti-gay attitudes, fears and beliefs that permeate American society and lead to anti-gay violence.
Atticus Circle educates and mobilizes fair-minded straight people to advance equal rights for LGBT partners, parents, and their children.
Beyond Ex-Gay This on-line community for those who have survived "ex-gay" experiences offers an abundance of resources to escape the "ex-gay" trap.
Birth Control and the Catholic Church An honest and comprehensive site about the Church's stand, including an explanation of the highly questionable concept, "natural law," on which the Church bases its stand.
Catholic Pastors to Bishops: Treat Gays and Lesbians More Pastorally 23 Roman Catholic pastors have released "An Open Letter to the Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church Regarding the Pastoral Care of Gay and Lesbian Persons." Concerned over the increasingly violent and abusive language used by certain Church officials when addressing issues pertaining to homosexuals, the signers of the Open Letter call on all bishops to treat gays and lesbians with greater pastoral sensitivity.
Catholic Pride and Prejudice The story behind the hierarchy's obsession with sexuality.
Catholic Priest Resigns Due to Conflict of Conscience is an informative article by a priest about having reached the breaking point over the Vatican's sexual doctrine and, particularly, its refusal to ordain women. For those who haven't heard, John Paul II has even forbidden debate on the matter. It's only one example of how extremely intolerant and rigid the Vatican has become in recent years on a variety of critically important social issues.
Dignity USA Gay Catholics calling for justice and equality in the Church. Unfortunately, the Vatican doesn't listen, because it thinks it doesn't have to. And now the Vatican is trying to silence this organization.
The Effects of Marriage, Civil Union, and Domestic Partnership Laws on the Health and Well-being of Children From the American Academy of Pediatrics: "There is ample evidence to show that children raised by same-gender parents fare as well as those raised by heterosexual parents. More than 25 years of research have documented that there is no relationship between parents' sexual orientation and any measure of a child's emotional, psychosocial, and behavioral adjustment. These data have demonstrated no risk to children as a result of growing up in a family with 1 or more gay parents. Conscientious and nurturing adults, whether they are men or women, heterosexual or homosexual, can be excellent parents. The rights, benefits, and protections of civil marriage can further strengthen these families."
Ex-Gay Watch News and analysis of "ex-gay" disinformation and propaganda.
Faith In America "...is a national organization dedicated to the emancipation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from bigotry disguised as religious truth. Such religion-based bigotry has been used throughout history to justify discrimination against other groups of people, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and people of minority religious beliefs."
Feminist Sexual Ethics Project Site explores sexual ethics within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and shows how the toleration of slavery in the early teachings of these religions affects the lives of women today.
Fortunate Families Helps Catholic parents of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender children find support and resources to create a more welcoming church and society and to create strategies for making their faith communities and their world safer and more just for their children.
Gay and Christian Detailed scholarly information and analysis of scriptures shows why there is no conflict between being gay and Christian.
The Gay and Lesbian Vaishnava Association Dedicated to promoting gay tolerance within all branches of Hinduism, this site offers information and support for LGBTI Vaishnavas and Hindus.
Gay/Straight, Man/Woman, Self/Other From What Is Enlightenment? magazine, an interview with Jose Cabezon which asks, what would the Buddha have had to say about Gay Liberation?
Institute for Welcoming Resources Resources that support the unconditional welcome of people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and their families into the church of their choice.
Interfaith Working Group News and activism on issues involving sexual orientation and identity, reproductive freedom, and separation of church and state.
Kashi Kashi is a spiritual interfaith ashram founded by Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati, an American-born spiritual teacher of Kali Yoga. Besides being a strong advocate of service to those who are suffering - people living with AIDS, the homeless, the poor, and anyone in need - she is also very supportive of young people who are gay or questioning their own sexuality.
Keshet-Rabbis The members of Keshet-Rabbis hold that GLBT Jews should be embraced as full, open members of all their congregations and institutions.
Leaders Of "Ex-gay" Programs Apologize For Causing Harm "We apologize for our part in the message of broken truth we spoke on behalf of Exodus and other organizations."
Mayday, Mayday! Why Every American Should Worry About the Rising "Culture War" Against Gay Marriage...and Gay People "We are seeing a rising tide of intolerance, persecution and blatant threats aimed at gays and lesbians in this country, sugarcoated to appear to legitimate and praiseworthy, with righteous-sounding words like 'preserving family values' and 'protecting our Judeo-Christian institutions'. Radical religious 'conservatives' are touring the country in a PR-heavy campaign to 'protect the sacred institution of marriage from activist judges.'"
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Why Reparative Therapy & Ex-Gay Ministries Fail In PDF file format, this well-documented examination of the ex-gay movement is probably the best of its kind on the Web. Written by the Education Director of the Human Rights Campaign, it gets to the heart of the important issues and reports the embarassing facts that the religious right and the ex-gay movement never tell the public. If you think that being gay is a choice, this might change your mind.
The Moderate Roman Catholic Position on Contraception and Abortion "Catholic teaching on contraception and abortion has been anything but consistent." - Daniel C. Maguire, Catholic Theologian at Marquette University
More Light Presbyterians work for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
MyOutSpirit.com is an online community for finding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-affirming spiritual resources and for meeting other spiritual LGBT people.
National Sexuality Resource Center gathers and disseminates the latest accurate information and research on sexual health, education, and rights. Through active outreach to advocates, academics, researchers, policy makers, and diverse communities, NSRC initiates constructive dialogues on sexuality to promote social justice and improve the quality of life in the United States.
New Ways Ministry The intent of this site is to provide "a gay-positive ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Catholics and reconciliation within the larger Christian and civil communities." In spite of this organization's good intentions and rather conservative handling of gay issues, the Vatican, as of July, 1999, abruptly ended the ministries of the organization's co-founders. See the site for further information. This is just one of many recent attacks on gay Catholics by the Church hierarchy, and one more example of the increasing need to democratize and de-centralize political power within the Church.
Out In Scripture With the help of skilled scholars, this Human Rights Campaign resource places comments about the Bible alongside the real life experiences and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith and their allies.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America Planned Parenthood affiliated health centers nationwide provide high quality, affordable reproductive health care and sexual health information to nearly five million women, men and teens. Planned Parenthood welcomes everyone — regardless of race, age, sexuality, disability, or income and offers innovative programs on making responsible choices about health and sexuality.
Professional Organization Statements And Policies About "Reparative Therapy" The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Association of Social Workers, together representing more than 477,000 health and mental health professionals, have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus there is no need for a "cure."
Queer Jihad Contrary to the claims of some scholars that Islam is a tolerant religion, that is the one thing it seldom is on a wide range of issues. Visit the Essays & Articles page, for example, to read about some of the incredibly vicious attacks directed against Muslim gays trying to find understanding within their own religion.
The Real Meaning Of "Ex-gay" The American Psychiatric Association repudiates anti-gay conversion therapy, also known as reparative therapy.
Religions' and Denominations' Positions on LGBT issues From the Human Rights Campaign, overviews of many religions, including their positions on LGBT people and the issues that affect them.
Religion and Faith News and resources supporting the GLBT community and their friends in a broad range of spirituality.
Religion and Sexual Ethics A chart showing the Baptist, Buddhist, Catholic, Methodist, Mormon, Muslim, and Jewish stands on thirteen different sexual issues - appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle in December 1994. Evidence of the varieties of morality in religion.
Religious Groups' Policies On Homosexuality From the Ontario Consultants for Religious Tolerance, dozens of essays which describe the current policies, beliefs and practices of various faith groups about homosexuality.
Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing A multi-faith organization advocating for sexual health, education, and justice in faith communities and society.
The Rockway Institute A think tank which brings together scientific and professional expertise to counter antigay prejudice and inform public policies affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people.
Safra Project is a resource project on issues relating to lesbian, bisexual and transgender women who identify as Muslim culturally and/or religiously.
Soulforce The founder of Soulforce is Rev. Mel White, a former ghost writer for Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and others, who has since become a formidable opponent of the religious right. Soulforce takes the non-violence teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., and applies them to the fight for justice for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and the transgendered. What makes this site important is not only the principles of tolerance and spirituality it upholds, but the powerful moral force it brings to the fight, a force that is still shamefully absent from most Christian churches.
Straight for Equality is an outreach and education project that empowers straight people in supporting and advocating for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people.
The Trouble with Islam This important site is not only about Irshad Manji's eye-opening book of the same name, but much more. The author is exceptionally insightful and articulate, especially about the current state of Islam. The book, its wake-up call for intellectual honesty, and other information on the site are critically important to understanding a multitude of issues related to Islam, including its repression of women and its almost rabid hostility to gays and lesbians.
Truth Wins Out A "truth-squad" site dedicated to exposing the fallacies and disinformation of the "ex-gay" industry.
TruthSetsFree.net An inclusive, ecumenical Christian outreach to GLBTQ Christians, friends, and family. The ministry emerged from the publication of founder Justin R. Cannon's booklet, The Bible, Christianity, & Homosexuality, described by the Los Angeles Times as "an illuminating...analysis that argues the Bible doesn't condemn faithful gay relationships."
Was Jesus Gay? From the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, an article discussing both sides of the issue.
WayneBesen.com Site of Wayne Besen, rights activist, columnist, public speaker, and author of multiple award-nominations book, "Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth."
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Women's Issues American Association for Single People According to the latest census, 86 million unmarried adults - many with children - live in the United States. But laws, taxes, religious and political institutions, and social values are heavily structured against them. Single and think you're not affected? Consider this: according to the AASP, "...statutes in many states still refer to children born to unmarried parents as 'bastards.' In many other states, statutes and judges refer to these young people as 'illegitimate children.' " If you think that's an outrage, visit AASP to find out what to do about it.
Amnesty International has launched a global campaign to Stop Violence Against Women. "Violence against women is a cancer eating away the core of every society, in every country of the world," said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International. "It is in our hands to make a difference and to bring human rights home."
Birth Control and the Catholic Church An honest and comprehensive site about the Church's stand, including an explanation of the highly questionable concept, "natural law," on which the Church bases its stand.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ (BASIC) An Irish network of women and men working for the ordination of women in the Roman Catholic Church.
Catholic Network for Women's Equality Working towards structural change for inclusiveness in the Catholic Church.
Catholic Priest Resigns Due to Conflict of Conscience is an informative article by a priest about having reached the breaking point over the Vatican's sexual doctrine and, particularly, its refusal to ordain women. For those who haven't heard, John Paul II has even forbidden debate on the matter. It's only one example of how extremely intolerant and rigid the Vatican has become in recent years on a variety of critically important social issues.
Challenging Fundamentalisms - A Web Resource for Women's Human Rights Focuses on identifying and exposing the international dynamics of fundamentalisms, highlights the impact on women in particular, identifies trends and strategies to counteract them, and shares comprehensive, cross-regional information and analysis to promote a greater understanding of fundamentalisms.
Divorce, Remarriage, & a Church of Compassion A professor of religion, who is also a member of the Canon Law Society of America, questions absolutes about Catholic teaching on divorce.
Feminist Majority This cutting-edge organization, dedicated to women's equality, reproductive health, and non-violence, uses research and action to empower women economically, socially, and politically.
Feminist Sexual Ethics Project Site explores sexual ethics within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and shows how the toleration of slavery in the early teachings of these religions affects the lives of women today.
MADRE: An International Women's Human Rights Organization An international women's human rights organization that works in partnership with community-based women's organizations worldwide to address issues of health and reproductive rights, economic development, education, and other human rights.
National Organization for Women NOW advances women's rights and promotes the goal of equality in the United States and around the world through education, litigation, advocacy, networking, conferences, publications, training and leadership development.
Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance One of the most frequently visited web sites about religion, it's also a lightning rod for religious extremists offended by fairness and accuracy (it's been hacked). Besides covering an encyclopedic range of topics, it also discusses hot issues, including the status of women in the churches. This is a major on-line reference.
Ordaining Women - from the National Catholic Reporter, a series of articles:
- Editorial: Finished Playing By The Rules
- Though Church Bans Women Priests, More And More Women Are Saying, 'Why Wait?'
- Profiles Of Five Women Priests
- Reluctant Bishop Ordained For North America
Roman Catholic Womenpriests An international initiative within the Roman Catholic Church to prepare, ordain, and support theologically qualified women and men from all states of life who are committed to an inclusive model of Church.
Sisterhood is Global Institute SIGI works to deepen the understanding of women's rights at the local, national, regional and global levels, and to strengthen the capacity of women to exercise these rights. Of particular interest is a focus on women's rights in Islamic societies.
Taslima Nasreen Site of the famed Bangladeshi feminist writer whose views have drawn sharp criticism and even violent reactions from Muslims. "If any religion allows the persecution of the people of different faiths, if any religion keeps women in slavery, if any religion keeps people in ignorance, then I can't accept that religion."
This Teaching Cannot Be Infallible The National Coalition of American Nuns responds to the Vatican's exclusion of women from ordination.
The Trouble with Islam This important site is not only about Irshad Manji's eye-opening book of the same name, but much more. The author is exceptionally insightful and articulate, especially about the current state of Islam. The book, its wake-up call for intellectual honesty, and other information on the site are critically important to understanding a multitude of issues related to Islam, including its repression of women and its almost rabid hostility to gays and lesbians.
Women Go 'Missing' by the Millions "One United Nations estimate says from 113 million to 200 million women around the world are demographically 'missing.' Every year, from 1.5 million to 3 million women and girls lose their lives as a result of gender-based violence or neglect."
Women Leaders Online An inclusive, Internet-based, activist group for empowering women in politics, media, society, the economy and cyberspace.
Women Ordained Catholic Priests "They are part of a movement from within the Roman Catholic Church that has been ordaining female priests since 2002..."
Women Ordained: Stepping on the Vatican's Toes From the president of Catholics for a Free Choice, an article about seven women who had the courage to challenge the Vatican by being ordained.
Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual WATER is an international community of justice-seeking people who promote the use of feminist values to make religious and social change.
Women's Ordination Roman Catholic theologians who firmly believe that the discussion on women priests should be left open. Complete texts of more than 130 contemporary Catholic theologians who favour women priests, plus more than 1000 documents relevant to the ordination of women.
Women & Theology An extensive, annotated list of links to resources on women and religion, feminist theology, or the feminine divine; created by the Women's Studies Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries.
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General Byron Williams is a writer, theologian, and activist who fuses theology with public policy to bring a fresh social justice perspective to the public arena. Byron serves as pastor of the Resurrection Community Church in Oakland, CA.
Center for Progressive Christianity promotes an understanding of Christian practice and teaching that leads to a greater concern for the way people treat each other than for the way people express their beliefs, the acceptance of all people, and a respect for other religious traditions.
Christian Alliance for Progress A national progressive movement to reclaim Christianity and transform American politics.
CrossLeft A strategic center for grassroots activism among progressive Christians who believe they can take back the way Christianity is perceived and interpreted and help to reframe the conversation about Christianity in the U.S.
The Despoiling of America A well-documented article about "how a political religious movement called Dominionism gained control of the Republican Party, then took over Congress, then took over the White House, and now is sealing the conversion of America to a theocracy by taking over the American Judiciary."
Faith in Public Life A resource of faith movements which share a call to ensure that diverse religious voices for justice and the common good consistently impact public policy, and that those who use religion as a tool of division and exclusion do not dominate public discourse.
The Interfaith Alliance Major interfaith organization takes on the religious right's political agenda and exposes the right's intolerance on many social issues.
Interfaith Working Group Online News, action alerts, opinion and more concerning religious diversity and social issues, such as equal rights for sexual minorities, reproductive freedom and separation of church and state.
NCCJ The National Conference for Community and Justice, founded in 1927 as The National Conference of Christians and Jews, is dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism in America.
National Council of Churches USA An ecumenical partnership of 36 Christian denominations in the United States which believes that genuine unity demands inclusivity and a respect for diversity.
Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance One of the most frequently visited web sites about religion, it covers hot issues, including evolution vs. creationism and the status of women and gays in the churches. This is a major on-line reference.
The Progressive Christian Witness A Web-based resource that aims to strengthen the voices of progressive Christianity in the public square by publishing theologically grounded articles for laypeople and pastors on significant issues in American life.
Rejection Hurts An online community where people share stories of how they felt unwanted or alienated by organized religion.
Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace is an inclusive Christian ministry whose mission is to proclaim and practice the biblical call to integrate spiritual renewal and social justice.
TheocracyWatch This project of the Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy (CRESP) at Cornell University is a major source of information about the increasingly pervasive role of the Religious Right in the U.S. government, and support for activism opposing it. The commentary on the subversive Dominion Theology movement is especially worth noting.
The Yurica Report Many articles about the threat of the subversive Dominion Theology movement to democratic government.
Bigotry in the name of religion and morality is still bigotry. - DLT
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