Why I do not like religion...

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I think its a too much too expect anyone from the "GLBT" community to feel good toward the "Abramic religions" although obviously they all do have gay members some being "cured" and others choosing an "interpretaton" that lets them be proud. I think the honest truth is that all those religions are really anti gay and it takes a lot of "interpretaton" and "seeing the historical context of the author" to get past that. And how can you anyway. Paul and Muhamed claimed to be directly inspired by God, so if you believe one of them you believe everything they say is perfect, bigoted parts and all.

As far as I know Paul wrote his own words down and Muhamed at least dicated it and then approved the result. Christ we only have second hand of, but the only groups he attacked were capitalists and fake religous money makers.

OK Tea I apoligise if i was assuming you were more rejecting based on who you are. Its more whats in my own head really. I mean the whole thing about how intact the Koran or the words of Paul have stayed through history is something im not an expert on. I assume most literalist believers would say they have stayed intact. Thats why I think it's only a true Koran in the original Arabic and translations are just called "the meaning of" the Koran. Thus I would expect they have tried hard to keep it unchanged over the years. I know there was a noturious "satanic verse" part praising other gods that Muhamed changed himself claiming satan added it.

There's been many books taken out of the Bible, as well.

Honestly, I think basing an entire religion on one book is rather foolish. Why didn't Jesus write it all down himself? Because it was never meant to be the cornerstone of the religion and people's faith/beliefs.

The Bible is nothing more than a collection of writings that convey individual opinions and ideas. It's not, and never was, the 'inspired word of god'.

I am not some big defender of christianity but I will give my opinion on that. Jesus importance wasnt in what he said it was in what he did. so it only took people to report it. I'm not saying I believe it happened though, just that the writings are not the important thing there imo.

Let me clarify. I believe there is a difference between Jesus himself, and the type Chrisitanity founded by Paul, which has been the dominant form of Christianity since Roman times. I believe Christianity is anti gay unless you discard the post gospels new testament and Paul or at least discard the belief that all he wrote was directly guided by God and see him as a flawed man who could be wrong. Which involves cutting out a lot of christianity. When i said "the writings" i meant the idea that Jesus should have written something down, i dont think writings he made would have been a important as what actions he is meant to have done.

I think people on this forum have an unrealistic idea of "interpreting" religions and think that everyone just "interprets" some vague book based on what they believe, a bigoted person will read it as bigoted and an accepting person will see it as accepting. I think it is more complicated than that and more dificult imo.

Mutate, have you seen the movie Stigmata?

No but I will look it up.

I am currently going to a Quaker meeting which is of course left wing, anti war, pro gay form of christianity and like it there. I also used to go to another similar church which was left wing, political activist with a gay pastor. So the things I wrote are personal fights i am wrestling with inside myself. I prefer their path to the fundamentalists and think they have a more fair and informed way of studying scripture critically, but problems are still there and need to be faced.

to be fair though, the Koran was written (dicated i should say) by one man. Though i havent read it or researched contradictions in it. I know it has parts which are spiritual and wise, and also some parts here and there which are offensive to modern western equal rights and thus are the "fly in the ointment".