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Sep. 9th, 2007 02:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lizzybennetI yelled at a the Relief Society teacher today at church. The lesson was on Chastity. She said that homosexuality is reprehensible and those who practice it should be treated as such. In other words, treat gay people as if they are reprehesible. I raised my hand to object. This was smack dab in the middle of her lesson, in front of the whole class.
"Excuse me...I have a family member who is gay and I would never treat him as "reprehensible". He is still a child of God, and still my family member who I love."
Teacher: "But would you take him to the temple with you?"
Me: "Of course not! But that doesn't mean that I shun him or treat him with disdain. We are suppose to love all our brothers and sisters."
At this point, I lost track of the what was said by her/me and others because several other people chimed up. They basically said "what she was trying to say is love the sinner not the sin." Yeah, I understand that philosophy just fine, but that is NOT what she said. I was so worked up, I sat there feeling shaky the rest of the lesson.
However, I knew that attacking her in the midst of her lesson was wrong. I should have found a more tactful way of saying what I meant to say. After I had time to sit there and think about it, I realized I should have cited the story of Jesus and the prostitute, how he didn't condemn her or judge her (let you who have no sin cast the first stone...). I felt so baffled as to where all those strong emotions came bursting out from. I'm normally a don't-rock-the-boat type person. But I know my brother-in-law is an awesome person. To think that someone would treat him as reprehensible because of the choices he has made regarding his sexuality is ridiculous.
She rushed up to me after the closing prayer and apologized. I also apologized. I guess things are ok between us now, but I figure I made quite an impression on all those ladies who don't know me yet. Great, just great. I don't regret what I said, but I do regret the way in which I said it. I just need to accept the fact that the people in this congregation say off-the-wall, not true things on a regular basis. No one corrects them, not the bishop, not the RS president. They just nod, and move on with the lesson, ignoring that anything bizarre was said. I suppose that is how the peace is kept.
"Excuse me...I have a family member who is gay and I would never treat him as "reprehensible". He is still a child of God, and still my family member who I love."
Teacher: "But would you take him to the temple with you?"
Me: "Of course not! But that doesn't mean that I shun him or treat him with disdain. We are suppose to love all our brothers and sisters."
At this point, I lost track of the what was said by her/me and others because several other people chimed up. They basically said "what she was trying to say is love the sinner not the sin." Yeah, I understand that philosophy just fine, but that is NOT what she said. I was so worked up, I sat there feeling shaky the rest of the lesson.
However, I knew that attacking her in the midst of her lesson was wrong. I should have found a more tactful way of saying what I meant to say. After I had time to sit there and think about it, I realized I should have cited the story of Jesus and the prostitute, how he didn't condemn her or judge her (let you who have no sin cast the first stone...). I felt so baffled as to where all those strong emotions came bursting out from. I'm normally a don't-rock-the-boat type person. But I know my brother-in-law is an awesome person. To think that someone would treat him as reprehensible because of the choices he has made regarding his sexuality is ridiculous.
She rushed up to me after the closing prayer and apologized. I also apologized. I guess things are ok between us now, but I figure I made quite an impression on all those ladies who don't know me yet. Great, just great. I don't regret what I said, but I do regret the way in which I said it. I just need to accept the fact that the people in this congregation say off-the-wall, not true things on a regular basis. No one corrects them, not the bishop, not the RS president. They just nod, and move on with the lesson, ignoring that anything bizarre was said. I suppose that is how the peace is kept.
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Date: 2007-09-10 04:07 pm (UTC)That needed to be challenged.
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Date: 2007-09-10 08:10 pm (UTC)WOO HOO!!! You ROCK! That is so awesome that you stood up that way and defended something you believe in. WOOT!!!