The term "queer" has been used to describe people who identify outside of traditional gender roles and sexual orientations. Queer people have faced discrimination, marginalization, and violence due to their identities. Interreligious solidarity is the practice of working together across religious differences for common goals. It can create new perspectives on life, including those related to sustainability and hope. Can interreligious solidarity among queer believers generate new cosmologies of hope and sustainability?
Definition of Terms
Queer - The term "queer" has been used to describe people who identify outside of traditional gender roles and sexual orientations. For some, this includes being transgender, nonbinary, lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, polyamorous, kinky, or asexual. In recent years, it has also been reclaimed as an empowering identity by many LGBTQ+ communities.
Interreligious Solidarity - Interreligious solidarity is the practice of working together across religious differences for common goals. This may include advocating for social justice, environmental protection, or public health. It seeks to bridge divides between different religions and create alliances based on shared values.
Cosmology - A cosmology is a worldview that explains how the universe works. It often includes beliefs about the origin and purpose of existence, as well as how humans should relate to each other and the environment. Cosmologies can be religious, scientific, philosophical, or cultural.
Hope - Hope is a positive emotion that anticipates future success or happiness. It can motivate action and inspire resilience in difficult situations. Sustainability - Sustainability refers to meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This includes protecting natural resources, reducing waste, and promoting fair economic practices.
Exploring Interreligious Solidarity Among Queer Believers
Interreligious solidarity among queer believers can provide new perspectives on life, including those related to sustainability and hope. By coming together with others who share similar identities and faith traditions, queer people can build supportive networks and challenge traditional norms.
Some queer Muslims have formed organizations to promote LGBTQ+ rights within Islamic communities. They have worked together to challenge homophobia and transphobia, educate others about gender diversity, and advocate for marriage equality. By doing so, they have generated new cosmologies of inclusivity and social justice.
Queer Hindu activists have also worked across religious lines to fight casteism, patriarchy, and environmental degradation. Through interfaith dialogue, they have found common ground in their beliefs about nonviolence and respect for all living beings. Their work has inspired new ways of understanding the world and creating change.
Other queer believers may find solidarity through spiritual practices such as meditation, prayer, or ritual. These activities can help create a sense of community and empowerment, while also promoting personal growth and self-care. They can generate new cosmologies that prioritize love, compassion, and connection over competition or materialism.
Interreligious solidarity among queer believers can help us reimagine our relationships to each other, our environment, and our spiritual journeys. It can create new possibilities for action, joy, and collective transformation.
Can interreligious solidarity among queer believers generate new cosmologies of hope and sustainability?
Although interfaith communities have existed for centuries, research suggests that the concept of "queering" religious spaces is relatively recent, with many emerging only within the last few decades. One such community is the Queer Interfaith Coalition (QIC), founded by Dr. Reverend Elder Patrick S. Cheng in 2014.