From: Interfaith Working Group Subject: IWG Honolulu Religion and Orientation Date: Thu, 3 Jun 1999 23:46:14 -0400 (EDT) June 3, 1999 Honolulu Star Bulletin PO Box 3080 Honolulu, HI 96802 Dear Editors: Mike Gabbard's May 31 letter was extremely misleading. First of all, belief in a Supreme Being does not predetermine certain beliefs about sexual orientation. There are those who believe that heterosexuality and homosexuality are morally and ethically equivalent, and people who believe they aren't; people who believe each of these things may worship one or more deities, belong to religious traditions that don't worship deities, or may not be religious or religiously observant. Second, there are many disagreements over what scriptures in many different religious traditions say about a lot of things. Certainly most Christians currently believe that there are passages in the Bible that clearly condemn same-gender sexual behavior. That, however, is a matter of interpretation. There are also many Christian scholars, clergy and laity who do not believe any such thing, and are quickly increasing in number; among Jews there is also little consensus on the question. Third, the wording of Mr. Gabbard's last sentence strongly implies that the same Supreme Being is responsible for writing "the Bible, Koran, Torah and the Vedas." While there are certainly people who believe that all religions really revere the same God, it is hardly a position held by a "vast majority of people," and given that the scriptures of the world's major religions are very different documents, and their messages are debated daily, most people who hold that belief are not scriptural literalists. Sincerely, Barbara Purdom Christopher Purdom Interfaith Working Group Coordinators The above letter went out on IWG letterhead listing 17 congregations and organizations and 65 clergy from 15 religious traditions. If you are in the general Philadelphia area and represent a congregation or religious organization or are clergy, let us know if you want to be added - all faiths are welcome. We will also be happy to help start similar organizations in other areas. -- Interfaith Working Group Religious organizations, congregations http://www.libertynet.org/iwg and clergy supporting gay rights, iwg@libertynet.org reproductive freedom, and the voice: 215-235-3050 fax: 232-0829 separation of church and state.