VC2 Top Contenders US | October 02, 2006 | 7 comments

Tolerance Grows in Brooklyn

jblue62
Religious groups typically preach that homosexuality is a sin and that gay people should not be given the same marriage rights as heterosexuals. When young people are first discovering that they are gay, hearing such things in church can lead to feelings of inferiority and deep emotional scaring. However, while the leaders of religious communities often preach such intolerance, the bible does not directly condemn same sex relationships, and is open for interpretation.

Several churches in Park Slope, Brooklyn, take a very progressive stance on the issue and at times act as gay rights advocates, actively protesting the main branch of their denominations to change their stance on the issue of inclusion and gay marriage. These congregations can be seen as a model for tolerance in religion and an example for the world.

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7 comments // Tolerance Grows in Brooklyn // Video

  • joefrancis86
    • 0
      joefrancis86  

    • I am going to be the first negative person to post a comment on this. I want you to all know that there is a message of love in the Bible. But there is also a message of repentance, and of death.

      First let me talk about the message of Love. God created us, and we sinned. This seperated us from God. He sacrificed His only son on the cross so that we may have forgiveness, because He loves us so much. He didn't have to do this.

      Then there is the issue of repentence. Jesus tells us that He is the only way to the Father, and that the road to Heaven is narrow. He tells us we must believe in Him, and be born again. Being born again means that we must be born of the spirit. We do this by believing that Jesus is the son of God, and repenting of our sins. Repentance is means to not just ask for forgiveness, but to turn from your sin. Some things take time, but the apostle Paul tells us that all things are made new in Christ. So things of our past which were sinful should change as we come closer to Christ.

      There are not only verses that say homosexuality is a sin in Leviticus, but in Genesis, Romans, and many other books of the Bible. It is not that Christians hate people that are homosexual, but the Bible tells us that it is a sin, and through our love for them we want to draw them to repentence in Jesus Christ.

      And finally death. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of god is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 (ESV) Without repentance we will remain seperated from God. All things that are good come from God, so without God there will be no good. This is our spiritual death, which is hell.

      By people creating these churches which twist scripture to please people, they are only leading them down a path wich does not lead to God. It is wrong, and they too need to repent. Or they may be destined for an eternity in hell without God.

    • 4 years ago
  • JayFunk
  • slopey
    • 0
      slopey  

    • The full wedding policy and a lot of other interesting information about Park Slope United Methodist Church is available on their website link

    • 5 years ago
  • mombabe
    • 0
      mombabe  

    • So much spiritual violence has been done in the name of the church that it's easy to miss the places where people are working together to spread the message of love and solidarity. The powerful commitment to breaking down the walls the Church puts around God's love is something to be celebrated, shared and shouted from the rooftops. Yes! Greenlight it!

    • 5 years ago
  • elleempire
    • 0
      elleempire  

    • Park Slope is an extraordinary neighborhood in many ways. I really appreciate knowing the no-weddings rule at the Methodist Church. The history of social justice movements that have emerged from Brooklyn churches is significant: a number of churches were crucial centers for the abolitionist movement in the 19th century as well as shelters for runaway slaves. The anti-sweatshop movement of the 1990's orginated in a Brooklyn church. GL for showcasing another aspect of this acitivist tradition!

      Check out our project Crazed: The Belly Dance and let us know what you think!

    • 5 years ago
  • ksvaughan2
  • fortearly
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