One Girl's Journey
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My First "I'm disappointed in you" email
Editor's Note: You may find the comments on LiveJournal also interesting.
So I received an interesting email.
It's not even the "I'm disappointed" you're becoming Jewish, it was a Facebook email that said "I'm disappointed in some of the public things you're saying on Facebook" email.
I'm supportive of gay rights. I'm supportive of gay marriage. I was when I was Christian. I still am now that I'm Jewish.
The details and context - I've been starting to be more publically supportive on Facebook, and yesterday posted a link to an article, and expressed my disagreement with a right-wing fundie who was not only against gay marriage or homosexuality in general, but thought so many of "the problems" with homosexuality today would be solved if it were just still a Felony and Illegal. The man in question (from AFA) wrote in his own blog things like, "Think for a moment of the current social controversies that could potentially be avoided if homosexual conduct was still against the law.... Gay marriage: problem solved. We should never legalize unions between any two people when the union is forged specifically to engage in felony behavior. Would we sanction, for instance, the formation of a corporation whose stated purpose was to import illegal drugs? ...Hate crimes laws: problem solved. We wouldn't throw a pastor in jail for saying that illegal behavior is not only illegal but also immoral. For instance, he's free to say that murder is not only contrary to man's law but also to God's law. End of the threat to freedom of religion and speech...
I stood up against this on my Facebook page, although I did modify my opening comments from "For Shame! For Shame!" to "In matters of faith, there are variations from individual to individual, and from denomination to denomination. Sometimes I'm appalled at certain variations, and AFA's Bryan Fischer opinion and assertation in this instance appalls me. You might be appalled, you might agree with him. Or ...you might never have heard of him at all. I just thought I'd share this link."
In reply, I got the following email: "I'm concerned about some of the opinions you are espousing. I know you know that as a Christian the final opinion is what the Bible says on a matter.Of course there is mercy and compassion for the individual, but that is very different from a public stance :("
Oh noes.
I've put off making my Facebook profile say "Religion=Jewish" because I haven't completed my conversion process. I don't want to be misleading anyone, for claiming something I might not have the right to claim, according to officials or technicalities. I know I *FEEL* Jewish, I *THINK* Jewish, and I *ACT* Jewish, but I also am very careful not to tread on toes yet, because of the technicalities. I don't count for a Minyan yet, as far as I know, and that's not even counting the fact that I'm female. Currently, I have my Facebook Profile set to say, "Religious Views: matter to me, significantly."
Summary - Once again, I'm feeling like I need to step up my studies and wrapping up the loose ends, almost just so that I can set my Facebook Profile for "Religious Views = Jewish."
That's an odd goal, isn't it? *le sigh*
- - - -
Addendum - The answer I'm trying to send, but Facebook is having Inbox Errors right now.
- - - -
(Dear Friend,) So I've been thinking about this email exchange all morning, and trying to figure out how to address it better.
On this one issue, I think that there's still a chasm between the prevailing two opinions. (1) There are Christians who are against gays, based on their reading of the Bible. (2) There are Christians who are supportive of gays, based on their reading of the Bible. (3) There are Jews who are against gays, based on their reading of the Bible. (4) There are Jews who are supportive of gays, based on their reading of the Bible.
So you have a four-part chart: (A) Those who read the Bible and conclude that they are Jewish, and (B) those who read it and conclude that they are Christians. (C) There are those who read the Bible and conclude that the Bible is against gays, and (D) those who read it and conclude that it is not against gays.
Because of this, anything I say online is going to be problematic with someone on that chart.
But I've concluded that although I keep MOST of my political opinions to myself, and simply publically support that people should study and learn and form intelligent opinions, I can no longer be completely silent on the issue of Gays in Society.
I am in support of the right for Gays to Marry. And I am now less apologetic about this stance than I used to be.
And I'm sorry that this probably disappoints you. But I can understand why you felt concerned and disappointed. But this happens to be where I am at.
I do love our friendship greatly, and always have. (Signed, me)
So I received an interesting email.
It's not even the "I'm disappointed" you're becoming Jewish, it was a Facebook email that said "I'm disappointed in some of the public things you're saying on Facebook" email.
I'm supportive of gay rights. I'm supportive of gay marriage. I was when I was Christian. I still am now that I'm Jewish.
The details and context - I've been starting to be more publically supportive on Facebook, and yesterday posted a link to an article, and expressed my disagreement with a right-wing fundie who was not only against gay marriage or homosexuality in general, but thought so many of "the problems" with homosexuality today would be solved if it were just still a Felony and Illegal. The man in question (from AFA) wrote in his own blog things like, "Think for a moment of the current social controversies that could potentially be avoided if homosexual conduct was still against the law.... Gay marriage: problem solved. We should never legalize unions between any two people when the union is forged specifically to engage in felony behavior. Would we sanction, for instance, the formation of a corporation whose stated purpose was to import illegal drugs? ...Hate crimes laws: problem solved. We wouldn't throw a pastor in jail for saying that illegal behavior is not only illegal but also immoral. For instance, he's free to say that murder is not only contrary to man's law but also to God's law. End of the threat to freedom of religion and speech...
I stood up against this on my Facebook page, although I did modify my opening comments from "For Shame! For Shame!" to "In matters of faith, there are variations from individual to individual, and from denomination to denomination. Sometimes I'm appalled at certain variations, and AFA's Bryan Fischer opinion and assertation in this instance appalls me. You might be appalled, you might agree with him. Or ...you might never have heard of him at all. I just thought I'd share this link."
In reply, I got the following email: "I'm concerned about some of the opinions you are espousing. I know you know that as a Christian the final opinion is what the Bible says on a matter.Of course there is mercy and compassion for the individual, but that is very different from a public stance :("
Oh noes.
I've put off making my Facebook profile say "Religion=Jewish" because I haven't completed my conversion process. I don't want to be misleading anyone, for claiming something I might not have the right to claim, according to officials or technicalities. I know I *FEEL* Jewish, I *THINK* Jewish, and I *ACT* Jewish, but I also am very careful not to tread on toes yet, because of the technicalities. I don't count for a Minyan yet, as far as I know, and that's not even counting the fact that I'm female. Currently, I have my Facebook Profile set to say, "Religious Views: matter to me, significantly."
Summary - Once again, I'm feeling like I need to step up my studies and wrapping up the loose ends, almost just so that I can set my Facebook Profile for "Religious Views = Jewish."
That's an odd goal, isn't it? *le sigh*
- - - -
Addendum - The answer I'm trying to send, but Facebook is having Inbox Errors right now.
- - - -
(Dear Friend,) So I've been thinking about this email exchange all morning, and trying to figure out how to address it better.
On this one issue, I think that there's still a chasm between the prevailing two opinions. (1) There are Christians who are against gays, based on their reading of the Bible. (2) There are Christians who are supportive of gays, based on their reading of the Bible. (3) There are Jews who are against gays, based on their reading of the Bible. (4) There are Jews who are supportive of gays, based on their reading of the Bible.
So you have a four-part chart: (A) Those who read the Bible and conclude that they are Jewish, and (B) those who read it and conclude that they are Christians. (C) There are those who read the Bible and conclude that the Bible is against gays, and (D) those who read it and conclude that it is not against gays.
Because of this, anything I say online is going to be problematic with someone on that chart.
But I've concluded that although I keep MOST of my political opinions to myself, and simply publically support that people should study and learn and form intelligent opinions, I can no longer be completely silent on the issue of Gays in Society.
I am in support of the right for Gays to Marry. And I am now less apologetic about this stance than I used to be.
And I'm sorry that this probably disappoints you. But I can understand why you felt concerned and disappointed. But this happens to be where I am at.
I do love our friendship greatly, and always have. (Signed, me)
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