Communal Worship, Prayer, and Ritual in LGBTQ Spiritual Identity
How do gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, pansexual, polyamorous, nonbinary, agender, genderqueer people experience their spiritual identities through communal worship, prayer, and ritual? This is a complex question that deserves careful consideration. In this article, I will explore how these practices shape the lives of LGBTQ individuals and how they can contribute to a more just world for all people.
It's important to understand what 'communal worship' means in this context. Communal worship refers to religious ceremonies and traditions that bring together members of a community to express their faith. These may take many forms, including traditional services like Mass, prayer meetings, or sabbath gatherings; contemporary offerings like drum circles, labyrinth walks, or chanting; and even informal events like potluck dinners or game nights.
Let's consider the ways in which participation in communal worship shapes LGBTQ spiritual identity. Many LGBTQ people feel marginalized or excluded from mainstream religious communities because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. They may have been taught by family, friends, or society at large that their sexuality or gender expression is sinful or wrong. Participating in communal worship gives them an opportunity to find acceptance, belonging, and support within a welcoming community. It also provides a platform for challenging those beliefs and creating new understandings of faith.
Some LGBTQ people may use communal worship as a way to affirm their own sense of self-worth and dignity. By singing hymns, reading scripture, or participating in rituals that celebrate diversity and inclusion, they can reclaim their place in the church or temple and assert their right to be fully human and divine. This can lead to greater confidence and self-esteem, as well as a stronger sense of connection with others who share similar experiences.
Communal worship can help shape moral reasoning by providing role models and examples of ethical behavior. By seeing how other LGBTQ individuals navigate difficult moral questions and decisions, participants can learn to apply their values to real-world situations. They may also be inspired to live out those values more intentionally in their everyday lives.
Communal worship can play a crucial role in shaping relational ethics. When people come together to pray, sing, dance, or eat, they form relationships based on mutual respect and care. These relationships can transcend differences of race, class, religion, and sexuality and create a space for true equality and unity. As people engage in acts of love and service together, they model what it means to treat all humans with compassion and kindness.
Participation in communal worship, prayer, and ritual can have profound effects on the spiritual identity, moral reasoning, and relational ethics of LGBTQ individuals. It provides an opportunity to find community, challenge harmful beliefs, and embody justice and love.
How does participation in communal worship, prayer, and ritual shape LGBTQ spiritual identity, moral reasoning, and relational ethics?
Research on LGBTQ spirituality and religious practice suggests that participating in communal worship, prayer, and rituals can be an important aspect of shaping one's spiritual identity, moral reasoning, and relational ethics (Sarah & Rambukkana, 2016).