Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Evangelicalism, You Have Traumatized Me.


 
The past couple of weeks, I've been having many difficult emotions coming to the surface. They have been repressed for years, only surfacing at times. I did not know where they were coming from and in the past, the only way I would deal with them was through drinking, so that I could temporarily escape them. I have been angry. I have been having a hard time sleeping. I have indigestion. I have a lot on my mind. I have much to say, but I don't know quite how to say it, but I will try anyway. Please listen to me, even if it is hard to hear, even if you want to turn away, because maybe it will save you before it is too late. So here it goes:

Evangelicalism, you have traumatized me.

I grew up in your faith and culture. You appeared to represent God the best. You spoke about God's unconditional love for us. You claimed that you did so many good things in our world. Your gospel promised to give us eternal life, and make things all shiny and new, little by little. You would improve families and communities. Churches would grow, producing beautiful praise and worship songs. Your children would be safe, saying the sinner's prayer at VBS and rededicating themselves at Bible camp every summer. But, what did your gospel look like for me?

I grew up in your Church as a gay child. What was preached to me from your pulpit? You told me that I was an abomination, a wicked and deviant homosexual. No, you did not know that you were speaking to me, but I heard you loud and clear. Yes, you did offer me a solution to be acceptable to God, but what did that solution look like? It looked like this: I could invite Jesus into my life (this was the easy part) and I could turn from my sins. As a gay person, that meant that I could in no way identify with being gay. Sure, I could admit to "same sex attraction" as a struggle, with tears, but I could not claim that as part of my identity. You told me that I would have to either force myself into marrying the opposite sex, after much counseling (which has never been proven to work) if I wanted to find companionship. If I did not want that option, then I was to remain companionless for the rest of my life. This was my cross to bear.

​When you gave me my cross to bear, you did it so nonchalantly- "This is your thorn in your flesh. We all have our own struggles with sin. You can do this. God will be there for you and so will we. We will be by your side, fulfilling your need for companionship. Now, cheer up and put a smile on your face and go on and serve the Lord with joy and gladness!" So while the rest of those in your Church had the hope of finding love, forming a family, and finding a lifetime of companionship, we did not have that hope. In fact, those desires in themselves were evil for us, if not imagined with the opposite sex.

So with that, you stripped away our hope for a future. Sure, many of us did it for a season, just as many of your straight members will remain single for a season. But, as spring turned to summer, and summer turned to fall, and the last of the leaves had fallen, what we were left with was a chilly isolation. You see, college friends are great! They have free time to hang out, partially filling that need for companionship. But, as our friends start to marry and have families of their own, they didn't have as much time for us. And that's ok. That's normal. They should be spending time with their families. But, what happens to us? What happens to us as we grow sick and old? Who will stay beside us, day after day, hour after hour, sleepless night after sleepless night as we lay in our sickbed, and eventually our deathbed? Who will hold our hand, kiss our face, sing to us, share sweet memories with us, and calm our fears? Will you do that?

Evangelicalism, you have traumatized us.

You see, when a tragic disease hit our community, you did not lift a finger. That is what you do, you tie up heavy burdens, but you will not lift a damn finger to help. Instead, you would swiftly lift up your finger with ease to point and judge. This is what you said, "God is judging them, and they have received within themselves their due penalty for their sin." You would also wield your power to lobby and to keep the government from helping us, when we needed it the most, leaving our sick, hurting, and dying community to fend for itself. Where were you during this time to show the love and mercy of God to our community? You were to busy being righteous, I guess. You did not want to be made unclean by us. And so, many of us would die, separated from Church and family.

Evangelicalism, sadly it becomes much worse. You would drive us to depression- driven by shame, to addiction- driven by hopelessness, to depression, driven to suicide- by despair. You ignored the transgender community as well, as around 41% of them would attempt suicide, trying to escape the pain of a strict binary that didn't fit their reality. You told them that they were confused and a threat to your Church and society. You told them that God and the Church could in no way accept them unless they fit a mold that you had formed for them, while ignoring the pain and trauma that your brothers and sisters must endure to force themselves to comply with that mold. Your queer children would be kicked out of their homes and bullied at school. Still you weren't there. You were too busy singing beautiful, empty songs of lip service to your god.

Evangelicalism, you have traumatized all of us.

You have given us a Janus-faced god- a god of love, and a god of endless wrath. If we get him right and if we say the right prayer, and if we repent enough, he will clothe our wretched selves with his own righteousness so that he can stand to look upon us. But if we don't get it right, it will be eternal wrath, with fire and brimstone, where we will suffer and scream out in terror for all eternity with no relief. ISIS would be more gentle and merciful than your god. You would use fear to convert your kids to this god who loves them so much, if they will just let him in. You would also give us a purity culture, where your girls were only valuable if they made it up to the altar as pure, spotless brides (even better if they saved their first kiss for that altar). Your women would feel like worthless rags with one slip-up, while your men would be excused and easily forgiven. You would forever make us wonder if we were ever worthy enough. You would tell us that Christ is our righteousness, but boy, we had better be doing our part. We would always wonder if God really loved us, even while we told the world that God really loved them.

Evangelicalism, you have made your people defend a book, but not the marginalized in front of them. You have blinded them with your judgements. You have made them so hungry for power, that they want nothing to do with the powerless. You have turned them into the oppressors. You have made it all about the next life, while ignoring this one. Your people pray, sing, maintain their holiness, but what they don't see is that this is turning them into white-washed tombs. They don't realize that righteousness is justice. Holiness is defending the powerless and taking care of the least of these. You have made it all about themselves.

You still have some honest, good people within your religion, but you must release them from your bondage. You must give them the freedom to be messy, to question, to love, to do justice, to give mercy, to be kind and gentle. You must step aside and let them see Jesus, and to be Jesus.

Evangelicalism, you have traumatized us enough. Maybe you are the one who is traumatized. It is time to examine your fruit. It is time to heal, so that you may bring healing.



"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
-Matthew 7:16-20, NIV
 
"Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
-Romans 13:10, NIV
 
"Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
-Matthew 22:37-40, NIV
 

Gay Activist Jimmy LaSalvia: "Why I Left the GOP (And You Should Too)"


Via Mentors Channel / FB:


Today's Daily Dharma: Our Devotion to Transformation

Our Devotion to Transformation
Poetry is leading us.
It never cares how we will
be held by lovers
or drive fast
or look good in the moment;
but about how completely
we are committed
to movement
both inner and outer;
and devoted to transformation
and to change.
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Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 03/11/2015

“Ninguém quer a guerra e a miséria, mas por que ainda existe tanta guerra e tanta miséria no mundo? Porque neste planeta, de forma geral, ainda existe muito prazer no sofrimento. Até pouco tempo atrás, as pessoas facilmente se matavam e vibravam ao ver o sangue derramando. Essa memória ainda está muito presente nas nossas células. Então, para que possamos transformar o mundo e criar uma cultura de paz, precisamos tomar consciência desse prazer e cortar os nós do apego ao sofrimento.”

“Nadie quiere guerra y miseria, pero ¿por qué todavía existe tanta guerra y tanta miseria en el mundo? Porque en este planeta, de forma general, todavía existe mucho placer en el sufrimiento. Hasta hace poco, las personas fácilmente se mataban y vibraban al ver la sangre derramando. Esta memoria todavía está muy presente en nuestras células. Entonces, para que podamos transformar el mundo y crear una cultura de paz, necesitamos tomar consciencia de este placer y cortar los nudos de apego al sufrimiento.”

"No one wants war or misery, but why is there still so much of both in the world? They exist because people still feel so much pleasure in suffering. Not that long ago, people would all too easily kill one another, and even cheer over bloodshed. This memory is still present in our cells. In order for us to transform the world and create a culture of peace, we must become aware of this pleasure and cut away our knots of attachment to suffering."

Satsang completo:
http://www.sriprembaba.org/pt-br/satsang/040914

Via I fucking love Chaos Magick / FB:


Monday, November 2, 2015

Via Fantástico: Pesquisa inédita traça o perfil do jovem brasileiro da Geração Y

01/11/2015 21h42 - Atualizado em 01/11/2015 22h42

Pesquisa inédita traça o perfil do jovem brasileiro da Geração Y

Jovens, que nasceram cercados por internet e conectados o tempo inteiro, cresceram. Eles têm entre 18 e 34 anos e são o futuro do Brasil.

Os jovens, que nasceram cercados por internet e conectados o tempo inteiro, cresceram. Eles têm entre 18 e 34 anos e são o futuro do Brasil. Na reportagem especial desse domingo (1) o Fantástico mostra um perfil da chamada Geração Y. A apresentadora Poliana Abritta foi a Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo para contar a história do Fernando, da Tatiana e do Lucas. Juntos, os três ajudam a contar a história dessa galera que tem um perfil tão diferente das gerações anteriores.

Click aqui ara ver o video

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do dia - Flor del día - Flower of the day 02/11/2015

“Quando toma consciência do prazer que sustenta uma situação negativa que se repete em sua vida, você começa a ver que existe um pacto de vingança por trás dela. E como desfazer esse pacto com o mal? Conhecendo o contrato e admitindo que o assinou.Enquanto não fizer isso e não tiver coragem de rasgar o contrato, você estará à mercê dessas forças negativas que sabotam sua felicidade. E quando você decide rasgar o contrato, a outra parte reclama, pois ela se alimentava do seu pagamento - sua energia vital, alegria e liberdade. Nessa hora é preciso ter bons advogados e seguranças, ou seja, firmeza na oração e na prática espiritual diária.”

“Cuando tomas consciencia del placer que sustenta una situación negativa que se repite en tu vida, comienzas a ver que existe un pacto de venganza detrás de ella. ¿Y cómo deshacer este pacto con el mal? Conociendo el contrato y admitiendo que lo firmaste. Mientras no hagas esto y no tengas el coraje de romper el contrato, estarás a merced de esas fuerzas negativas que sabotean tu felicidad. Y cuando decides romper el contrato, la otra parte te reclama, porque ella se alimentaba de tu pago –tu energía vital, alegría y libertad-. En ese momento es necesario tener buenos abogados y seguridad, o sea, firmeza en la oración y en la práctica espiritual diaria.”

"When we become aware of the pleasure that sustains a repeating negative situation in our lives, we begin to see that it is fueled by a pact of revenge. And how can we undo a pact with evil? We begin by acknowledging it and admitting that we were the ones who signed the contract. Until we have the courage to tear up the contract, we will be at the mercy of these negative forces that sabotage our happiness. When we finally decide to tear up that contract, the other party complains because they were feeding off of our installment plan,payments in the form of our own vital energy, joy and freedom. At this time, it would be wise to have good'lawyers' and 'bodyguards,' which come through steadfast prayer and our daily spiritual practice."

Today's Daily Dharma: Gently Bowing

Gently Bowing
On the one hand, bowing is a simple gesture—a human offering—where we extend heartfelt respect toward another. Standing up straight, looking directly at our world, fully appreciating the profound invitation, we acknowledge the remarkable timelessness of it all and we say hello by gently bowing. We actually bow by gently lowering our head in appreciation. This gentleness has no agenda other than to softly open, fully awake to what is fully awake, completely available and exposed.
—Michael Carroll, "Gently Bowing"
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Friday, October 30, 2015

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día - Flower of the Day 30/10/2015

“Quando eu olho para uma pessoa não vejo se é homem ou mulher, muito menos penso sobre qual é o seu partido político ou a sua religião. O que eu vejo são almas. E observo se estão receptivas para receber as sementes de amor. Tenho tentado plantar semente de amor em todos, inclusive nos políticos, não importa de qual partido. Eu não me preocupo com partidos, me preocupo em encontrar caminhos para melhorar a vida das pessoas. Meu intento é acordar os valores necessários em todos os seres humanos. Pessoas boas hoje, podem se tornar más amanhã; e pessoas más hoje, podem se tornar boas amanhã.”

"Cuando miro a una persona no veo si es hombre o mujer, mucho menos pienso sobre cuál es su partido político o su religión. Lo que veo son almas. Y observo si están receptivas para recibir las semillas del amor. Intento plantar semillas de amor en todos, incluso en los políticos, no importa de que partido político. No me preocupo de los partidos, me preocupo por encontrar caminos para mejorar la vida de las personas. Mi intención es despertar los valores necesarios en todos los seres humanos. Personas buenas hoy, pueden serlo aún más mañana, y las personas malas hoy, pueden volverse buenas mañana."

“When I look at a person, I don’t judge whether they are a man or a woman, much less think about what political party or religion they are affiliated with. What I see is their soul. I observe whether or not they are receptive to receiving seeds of love. I have tried to plant seeds of love in everyone, including politicians, regardless of which party they are in. I do not care about political parties; I care about finding ways to improve people's lives. My intent is to awaken the values that are called for in all human beings. ‘Good’ people today can become ‘bad’ tomorrow; and people who are ‘bad’ today can become ‘good’ tomorrow. ”


Link para o Satsang completo:
http://www.sriprembaba.org/satsang-04-10-2015-sri-prem-baba…

3 from FB:




Today's Daily Dharma: Overcoming Our Fear of Death

Overcoming Our Fear of Death
If we ask ourselves questions like 'What is my death?' and 'Where do I go after I die?' we may be able to come up with some interesting ideas. But in the shadow of death, we shall need more than fascinating explanations to sustain us. Our salvation lies in sustaining holy ignorance, the open, receptive mind of bare awareness. This requires faith, courage, and determination, because when we penetrate beyond ideas about dying, we uncover what we really fear, and with good reason—our feelings about dying.
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Thursday, October 29, 2015

Today's Daily Dharma: The Fundamental Aim

The Fundamental Aim
The fundamental aim of Buddhist practice is not belief; it’s enlightenment, the awakening that takes place when illusion has been overcome.
—Trinlay Tulku Rinpoche, "The Seeds of Life"
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Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Waking Life 2001 Full Movie


Today's Daily Dharma: The Fruits of Solitude

The Fruits of Solitude
We can't kid ourselves: if we never take a break from our busy lives, it's going to be extremely difficult to tame our minds. This is why it's recommended to take time every day to meditate. Even short periods of sitting silently with ourselves allow the mind to settle down.
Read More

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día - Flower of the Day 28/10/2015

“A água nos oferece muitos ensinamentos. Se você observá-la, verá que ela jamais impõe a sua cor a nada ou a ninguém. Ela está sempre recebendo todas as cores. Assim ela nos ensina sobre a aceitação e a humildade; sobre a liberdade de fluir sem se apegar a nada. Ela nos mostra caminhos para atravessarmos os grandes desafios dessa tão desafiadora etapa da nossa jornada evolutiva.

“El agua nos ofrece muchas enseñanzas. Si la observas, verás que ella jamás impone su color a nada o a nadie. Está siempre recibiendo todos los colores. Así nos enseña sobre la aceptación y la humildad, sobre la libertad de fluir sin apegarse a nada. Nos muestra caminos para atravesar los grandes desafíos de esta tan desafiante etapa de nuestro camino evolutivo.”

"Water offers us many lessons. If you observe water, you’ll see that it never imposes its color on anything or anyone. Water is always receiving the colors of the world. It teaches us about acceptance and humility; about the freedom of flowing without clinging to anything. It shows us ways to cross the great challenges that come in this extremely difficult stage of our evolutionary journey.”

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Today's Daily Dharma: We Must Act Now

We Must Act Now
The situation in which we find ourselves today is more dire than any other moment in human history, and we simply cannot wait until we become perfect bodhisattvas or perfect environmentalists before we respond. We must act now, as flawed, failed,
flailing selves.
Read More

Monday, October 26, 2015

Via Sri Prem Baba: Flor do Dia- Flor del Día - Flower of the Day 26/10/2015

“A maior parte dos chamados ‘seres humanos’ ainda está transitando do animal para o homem. O que caracteriza o estado de consciência animal é a luta pela sobrevivência. Só é possível ancorar a consciência humana quando deixamos de simplesmente buscar pela sobrevivência através da satisfação de necessidades básicas e começamos a manifestar valores humanos: cooperação, respeito, amor, verdade e assim por diante. E somente quando consolidamos esses valores e ancoramos a consciência humana poderemos nos mover em direção à consciência divina.”

“La mayor parte de los llamados ‘seres humanos’ aún está transitando del animal al hombre. Lo que caracteriza el estado de consciencia animal es la lucha por la supervivencia. Solo es posible anclar la consciencia humana cuando dejamos de simplemente buscar la supervivencia a través de la satisfacción de necesidades básicas y comenzamos a manifestar valores humanos: cooperación, respeto, amor, verdad y así en adelante. Y solamente cuando consolidamos estos valores y anclamos la consciencia humana podremos movernos en dirección a la consciencia divina.”

“At the deepest level, most of whom we refer to as 'human beings' are still transitioning from an animalistic consciousness to a truly human one. What characterizes the animal state of consciousness is the struggle for survival. We can only anchor human consciousness when we stop focusing exclusively on our own survival, needing to satisfy our most basic needs, and instead begin to manifest human values such as cooperation, respect, love, truth and so forth. Only when we unite these values and anchor human consciousness can we move toward divine consciousness."