God.

Jesus said that the world did not know God.

By this he meant that the traditional image of God as a harsh judge and punisher of humankind was false.

He told us that God is our Father.

He said that God judges no one.

He said that God is merciful and forgiving.

He said that God is Love.

For that he was crucified.

The custodians of the traditional image of God felt threatened by him.

They stood to lose their hold on the people.

So they conspired with the secular power - the Romans - to kill him.

The Romans for their part made an example of him - crucifying the King of the Jews.

And later Christian authorities reinstated the harsh image of God which had sustained the Pharisees before them.

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Jesus.

Jesus is the sign-post that shows us the way to Salvation.

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Gay Love.

Because you call us homosexuals does not mean that our same-sex attractions are purely sexual.

Our attraction is also love.

It resembles the great love of David and Jonathan in the Bible.

And it emulates the great Greek lovers of antiquity: Achilles and Patroclus, Hercules and Iolaus, Theseus and Peirithous, Orestes and Pylades.....

Even the Greek gods had male lovers: Zeus and Ganymede, Apollo and Hyacinthus and Cyparissus, Hermes and Crocus and Perseus.....

So the idea that homosexuals are somehow more sexual than heterosexuals is a myth.

Homosexuality is love.

And as such it is acceptable to God.

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Love is Life!

When love is absent from our lives we feel empty, we feel desolate, we feel lonely, we feel hopeless, we feel helpless, and we cannot cope.

This is death-like.

But when there is love in our lives we feel happy, we feel fulfilled, we feel generous, we feel strong, we feel optimistic, and we can cope.

This is Life.

And when we love we are in God and God is in us.

Love God and love your neighbor.

And Live!

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Love.

"Love is the fulfillment of the law."  Romans 13:10 (NRSV)

Rather than adhering more and more rigidly to moral principles we should consider practising love as the fulfillment of the law.

Moses gave humanity guidelines for living.

But Jesus' commandment was to love.

Many religious people practise righteousness as a pathway to Heaven.

But the deeper understanding is centered in the heart.

A tender, compassionate, loving heart is the basis of a closer relationship with God.

So do not get hung up on moral principles.

Confront your fears.

And open your heart.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Hat Boxes.

Earning Heaven (and avoiding hell) through Good Works.

Spiritual Evolution from animals to humans to angels.

Mortification of the Body - abstaining from earthly pleasures in order to win Heaven (and avoid hell).

The Path of Knowledge - gaining esoteric knowledge as a path to Enlightenment.

Righteousness - the practise of moral principles to earn God's favor.

All these approaches are centered in the mind.

But the ultimate approach is centered in the heart.

It teaches us to love.

To love God and to love everyone.

For everyone is a Child of God.

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Perspective.

The inmost nature of God is Love.

God does not punish us.

God does not judge us.

God loves us like a Father.

And we are to love Him and all His children.

But this will be challenged.

It will be challenged by Satanists whose perspective is evil.

They will try to turn you to the dark side.

And it will be challenged by religious authorities who will try to impose their personal theology on you.

But God is faithful.

He will help you.

He will rescue you and honor you.

And He will show you His Salvation.

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