SPIRITUALITY: Should gay men have a relationship with God?

THE WILL DEAN SHOW asked a few spiritual teachers and community leaders: Is it important for gay men to acknowledge spirituality as part of their lives and practice a faith/spiritual belief? 

Here are some of their answers (in no particular order):

"Spirituality is an important component of every person's life. … As gay men, it is a part of our reclaiming the role and gift that we have historically held as shaman, healer, teacher and twin-spirited person.

"A denial of our spirit is a denial of the integral humanity/spirit that we are and disables our full embodiment as co-creators in the world.

"A person's spirituality is something that has to be practiced in order to have its fullest effect.

"For many, this spirituality is exercised through some ‘organized’ practice or faith tradition. I am a practicing Christian in the progressive community and have come to a faith in Jesus who teaches values, not dogma.

"For me, the importance is to recognize our spiritual capacity and to spend time in building that practice. It is the inner work that connects us with our spirituality or spirit.

"We have allowed too many to rob us of our spirituality and it is time to reclaim our faith, our spirit and to see how the world begins to change when we do.”

Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas, senior pastor at Metropolitan Community Church in Los Angeles, CA, http://www.mccla.org/

“I don't think there is anything beyond this life--no gods, spirits,  supernatural beings or forces, etc.--so I would not recommend acknowledging spirituality or practicing a faith to anyone, gay or straight, young, middle-aged, or old. I would strongly recommend thoughtful consideration of ethics, adopting moral principles and following them, treating your fellow human beings with care and respect, and reading and thinking widely. While there is no credible evidence of a life beyond this one or of any ultimate, externally created purpose for our lives,  this life (the only one any of us have) matters. Kindness and graciousness matter. Creating and then fulfilling our own human purposes are worthwhile for our own sakes. How we live and treat each other affects them and us, and life, though inevitably unbearable at times and sure to end, should be as rich, interesting, and satisfying as possible while we live.”

Dr. Ed Buckner, retiring president of American Atheists Inc. based in Cranford, NJ, http://www.atheists.org/

 “Lots of gay men have a strong spiritual connection and longing. But ‘spiritual’ is vague, it can mean anything. To me the vital question is: Is there a God? I can argue that this is the most important issue of all time, any time. And if there is a God, does that God have attributes, characteristics, a personality? The answer to these questions shapes everything. If there is no God, we’re all random products of the universe. If there is a God, has that God tried to reveal Him or Itself to us? Are we God’s creation, what does God want from us? It’s up to us, if we choose to, to explore this issue and try to separate our responses from all the stuff we’ve learned before. It has to be a personal discovery or it’s pretty meaningless. If there is a God and that God has tried to reach us, it’s profoundly meaningful.”

Dr. Nick Warner, counselor and pastor/co-founder of Desert Oasis Chapel in Palm Springs, CA, http://www.desertoasischapel.com/

WHAT DO YOU THINK? 

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ARTS & BOOKS: 'Blackbird' author dispels myths

One of the perks of living in Southern California is the opportunity to meet amazingly talented people whose work I’ve admired and enjoyed. After moving to Palm Springs about three years ago I looked up novelist Larry Duplechan.

I had read Larry’s novel “Blackbird” when I was in college.  The story of Johnnie Ray Rousseau, a black gay teen, was unlike any other I had read.  I was enthralled and devoured three of Larry’s other books: “Tangled Up In Blue,” “Captain Swing” and “Got ‘Til It’s Gone.” (Larry won a  2009 Lambda Literary Award in the Gay Romance category for the latter.)

I found Larry through Facebook last year.  It turns out, he lives in L.A. We e-mailed back and forth a couple of times, then he mentioned he planned to spend the Fourth of July in Palm Springs.

Our meeting in the desert city didn’t happen as expected. While dancing at a local hangout that holiday weekend, I noticed this attractive, energetic couple tearing up the dance floor only three feet away. One of the guys looked like Larry’s Facebook photo, so I introduced myself. That’s right, I finally met Larry Duplechan on the dance floor in Palm Springs – where else, right?

He definitely has some good moves, but like his characters, Larry isn’t one to dance around an issue or the point he wants to make. Here,  he tells THE WILL DEAN SHOW about the realities of being a published author, which writers inspire him and why the gay “community” just may be a myth.