Obedience and Submission to Religious Beliefs
Many religions have strict guidelines about sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. These beliefs can create an intense inner conflict for members who identify as LGBTQ+. In Christianity, for example, some denominations teach that homosexuality is a sin and that it goes against God's will. For these individuals, living out their sexuality may be impossible without feeling immense guilt, shame, and fear.
For many, this inner conflict leads them down one of three paths:
1. They may feel compelled to suppress their sexual orientation or identity altogether, which can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and self-loathing.
2. They may try to convince themselves that they are no longer gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, but this can cause further psychological distress.
3. They may choose to leave their faith entirely, which can result in feelings of abandonment, grief, and loss.
These experiences can be incredibly painful and confusing. To cope with the cognitive dissonance between their religious beliefs and their sexual identity, many LGBTQ+ believers turn to various strategies. Some may seek counseling from their church leaders or therapists to help them reconcile their beliefs with their sexuality. Others may attempt to find passages in the Bible that could support their own sexual orientation or gender identity. Still, others may simply ignore their spiritual side altogether and focus on finding community among other LGBTQ+ people outside of their faith.
All of these coping mechanisms have risks and limitations.
Strategies for Coping with Religious Conflict
One common strategy for dealing with the conflict between religious beliefs and sexuality is to rely on cognitive reframing techniques. This involves changing how you think about your situation by replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
Someone who has been taught that homosexuality is a sin might reframe it as "God made me this way" or "I'm still loved by God even if I am different." While this can provide some relief, it doesn't address the root problem: the internalized shame and guilt associated with being LGBTQ+ within a conservative faith tradition.
Another approach is emotional avoidance, where individuals try to ignore or suppress their sexual desires. This can be particularly difficult because sexual attraction is not something that can be easily controlled. It requires immense effort to pretend like it doesn't exist. As a result, many people end up feeling more isolated, ashamed, and depressed.
Some LGBTQ+ believers choose to leave their faith entirely rather than deal with the inner conflict. They may seek out new communities or spiritual practices that are more accepting of their sexuality. This can bring feelings of grief, loss, and abandonment, but it allows them to live authentically without feeling conflicted.
No matter which path they take, the experience of navigating religious doctrine and sexual identity can be incredibly challenging for LGBTQ+ individuals. The best thing we can do is offer support, compassion, and understanding, recognizing that everyone's journey is unique and complicated.
The intersection between sexuality and religion can create intense inner conflicts for those who identify as LGBTQ+. To cope with these struggles, individuals may use various strategies such as cognitive reframing, emotional avoidance, or leaving their faith altogether.
All of these approaches have risks and limitations.
What matters most is offering love, acceptance, and support to those going through this difficult time in their lives.
How do doctrines of obedience and submission intensify inner conflict among LGBTQ+ believers, and what cognitive or emotional coping strategies are adopted?
The doctrine of obedience and submission can have profound effects on LGBTQ+ individuals who may already feel alienated from their religious community due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Many people who identify as LGBTQ+ struggle with feelings of guilt, shame, and self-doubt related to their faith, particularly if they grew up in conservative religious communities that reject homosexuality or transgenderism.