In the world, people experience all kinds of emotions, thoughts, and actions; some are positive while others are negative. People have different backgrounds that determine their behaviors and beliefs. Religious affiliation is one significant aspect that influences an individual's character. It helps them understand how to live life and what happens after death. One characteristic that defines religion is faith, whereby believers show trust towards a higher power they believe exists.
There exist religions that do not accept certain groups of individuals. In particular, queer individuals face challenges because many religious leaders and members do not accept them. How does this affect their understanding of divine justice and mercy? This essay will explore how religious exclusion shaped queer individuals' understanding of divine justice and mercy.
Queer individuals identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, pansexual, nonbinary, intersex, questioning, or any other sexual orientation that differs from society's norms. They also feel romantic attraction to persons of similar sex or gender rather than opposite sex. Unfortunately, such individuals often face discrimination in various sectors due to lack of awareness of diversity. Their relationship with God changes drastically depending on the religious group they belong to.
When one belongs to a community that accepts them, they feel free to express themselves without fear of judgment.
If they find themselves in a religion that rejects them, they become confused about their purpose on earth and future life. The main issue here is that most people associate themselves with spirituality, which dictates everything they do. According to studies, more than half of American adults identify as Christians who uphold conservative values that exclude LGBTQ+ communities (Lee et al., 2018). Therefore, queer individuals struggle to understand their role in life and whether God loves them. They wonder why God created them as they are if He hated them so much to reject them. Thus, some choose to live in secrecy while others abandon their faith altogether.
Religious leaders believe that God created man and woman to procreate; thus, homosexuality goes against His will. Some have even argued that it is an abomination in His sight. Religions that hold this view see LGBTQ+ individuals as sinners deserving punishment (Murphy & Brewster, 2017). This understanding makes many queer individuals lose hope in God's mercy. On the other hand, there are those who believe that queer persons were born that way and should not be discriminated against. They argue that God made everyone differently but accepted by Him. Such groups may welcome them with open arms but still advise them to remain celibate or marry someone from the opposite sex. These mixed signals create confusion for these individuals regarding divine justice and mercy.
Religious exclusion affects queer individuals' relationship with God. It means that they cannot confess their struggles or ask for help because they feel rejected.
If a gay person faces challenges related to their sexual orientation, they cannot seek spiritual guidance since no one is willing to listen. They become isolated and depressed due to lack of support systems. Moreover, those who leave religion find themselves struggling to trust in God due to past experiences. Others who stay endure criticism and judgment that make them question whether they deserve God's love and mercy. Therefore, such people experience mental health issues like anxiety and depression due to the fear of being judged, shunned, or rejected. In summary, religious exclusion shapes queer individuals' perception of divine justice and mercy. They struggle to understand why God created them only to reject them.
They have limited access to support from fellow members and leaders.
It creates conflicts within the community between those who accept and those who do not accept queer individuals.
How does religious exclusion shape queer individuals' understanding of divine justice and mercy?
Religious exclusion can shape queer individuals' understanding of divine justice and mercy in several ways. Firstly, it can lead them to question their worthiness and deservingness of God's love and forgiveness. This can be especially true if they have been raised in a religion that views homosexuality as sinful or wrong, making them feel guilty for who they are.