An introduction and a request for advice

[Sweetpickle (imported)]

Would you be willing to explain what you mean by "communing" with Jesus?

And why testosterone prevents it?

Is there a specific church that you think takes that position?

The most "fundamental" churches I am familiar with seem to think that

nearly any sexual activity is forgiveable. Why do you feel so out of

bounds?

[999C-Mo999 (imported)]

I think it's really sad that your beliefs force you to deny who you are.

[jab (imported)]

Dear Friends:

What this has to do with is my ability or inability to "commune" with Christ and that is the only motivation that has ever driven me.

Art

The unsolicited advice: stay in the church, but not necessarily the fundamentalist denomination you're in.

There are many ways to stay in line with the teachings of Jesus, without embracing the intractable rules of the Southern Baptists, the Pentecosts, the Seventh Day Adventists, and so on. Many of those denominations are about control of the masses by poorly taught ministers who control their congregations with fear and veiled hatred.

Find a nice Episcopal church that has good pot lucks, likes you for who you are, not who you make yourself out to be, and get to the heavy lifting of feeding the poor and tending to the sick.

Ditch the fundamentalists who tell you that you're damaged. If you truly believe that you're one of God's creations, why sacrifice part of yourself to live within the made-up hatred that the fundamentalists use to keep each other in line?

[graylayer02 (imported)]

The unsolicited advice: stay in the church, but not necessarily the fundamentalist denomination you're in.

There are many ways to stay in line with the teachings of Jesus, without embracing the intractable rules of the Southern Baptists, the Pentecosts, the Seventh Day Adventists, and so on. Many of those denominations are about control of the masses by poorly taught ministers who control their congregations with fear and veiled hatred.

Find a nice Episcopal church that has good pot lucks, likes you for who you are, not who you make yourself out to be, and get to the heavy lifting of feeding the poor and tending to the sick.

Ditch the fundamentalists who tell you that you're damaged. If you truly believe that you're one of God's creations, why sacrifice part of yourself to live within the made-up hatred that the fundamentalists use to keep each other in line?

I couldn't have said it better myself. Anybody can become a fundamentalist minister and selectively read his own prejudices into the Bible. At least the Episcopalians, Catholics, Lutherans, etc. have some quality control, and they're a bit more "big tent", though the Catholics have a split personality on the gay stuff. If you want a strict application of tribal law from a desert tribe, well...you have that option too...but I don't know why you'd put yourself through that. Me, I like my shrimp and bacon.

[mrt (imported)]

Maybe I'm too simple but I ask myself if Jesus was here would he say "FUCK you! Your Gay!" I just don't see it. There is a lot of sin in this world. And none of us is Sin free. I think the bigger picture of morality are things like Adultry and rampant fornification. Breaking up families and such. Maybe your idea of being gay is really bad like breaking up homes of couples that have kids and such?

Anyway, I think the idea that castration or any type will bring you closer to God goes again what (I think?) every christian outfit is saying. I applaud the idea that you want to have a closer relationship to God and to be a better person. But here is the baggage you buy with this. Most of us who are in this boat will admit that serious depression comes with low or near zero testosterone levels. And its not just a "switch" that turns you sex drive off. You can also expect difficulty with mood, thinking clearly and much more. I know we hear that some people reach some sort of Eunuch Calm state but its not that many and even most of these folks admit some kind of mental health crisis or two along the way. It seems to me you trade some anguish over homosexual feelings for serious mental health issues and thats just not good. Why not speak to a therapist now? Talk to her/him about your conflicts and what sorts of things you thinking about. If you have TRICARE you have a mental health policy correct? Get out some of that paper work and figure out how to put it to work.

PLEASE do not attempt to band yourself. This is a device that works with Farm Animals and they can't tell you how much this hurts or how removing the bands at the wrong time can cause serious health issues. *Its NOT worth drying over.

If you follow Bobbies advice and try Chemical Castration you may (Quickly) understand why this is not a solution to what your doing and it would be far better that you give it a short try and quit then to damage yourself, end up in the ER (or WORSE) and have to be committed in a mental health ward for being self destructive.

I'm not as good a Biblical expert as others but are not all the "anti gay" stuff old Test? And if you decide to go by the old covenant are you not also obligated to be fully Kosher (For example) and many many many MANY other things? Talking to your minister and asking them about this would (I think) be of great value. Have them spell out exactly whats wrong with being Gay *And I would be curious what they say.

[jemagirl (imported)]

I usually don't comment on threads where the motivation for castration involves wanting a closer relationship with Christ. The reason is that since I am not Christian, I can't really understand that motivation. Being an outside observer I hesitate to comment.

Having said all that, in this case I do feel the need to chime in. I have known many people throughout my life who have struggled with their gender and/or their sexual identity. I can see a clear difference between being motivated out guilt and shame, verses the need to become physically the person you are mentally and spiritually.

To put it bluntly there is no surgical procedure to remove shame of one's sexual desire or guilt over sexual orientation... It is far easier to find a more accepting environment than it is to have one's sexual identity surgically removed. If you were to become a eunuch because you find being gay incompatible with your chosen religion you would not have accomplished anything but going from being a gay man to a gay eunuch.

To put it another way... Who you are is not in your balls

Although I am not Christian I do feel somewhat safe in saying that any truly loving God would not condemn you for something as immutable and intrinsic as your sexual identity.

In the same way that you have reached out to the eunuch community for support I think you should also reach out to others who have struggled with the same issues as gay christians as you are now.

Please take a look at MCC Church of the Cross Roads. I found this result when I searched "Gay" on their website. (http://www.mccchurch.org/AM/Template.cf ... isplay.cfm)

http://www.mccchurch.org/AM/Template.cf ... isplay.cfm