| Learn About The Practices Of Gay Spirituality. |
| Written by Howie Holben | |
| Wednesday, 28 April 2010 | |
|
Gay spirituality is gaining popularity in tandem with all types of spirituality. It seems that many people are dissatisfied with the material world and organized religions and are seeking other ways to live. There are many types of spiritual practice and this is no different for gay people.
Gay spirituality is gaining popularity in tandem with all types of spirituality. It seems that many people are dissatisfied with the material world and organized religions and are seeking other ways to live. There are many types of spiritual practice and this is no different for gay people. Nobody knows exactly why the growth in spirituality is happening but there are some theories. Some think that individuals are seeking a deeper connection with the world beyond what is material because they find the material world unsatisfying. They feel compelled to search for answers to the mysteries in the world which science has not been able to understand yet. Also many people are turning away from religions because of the problems in churches and the negative aspects of many faiths which preach fear. For the gay community there are also problems with religion due to the condemnation of the homosexual lifestyle. The Christian denunciation of homosexuality has caused many problems for gay people. The legal and moral framework of many western societies was based on the Christian understanding of the world. This has led to a history of persecution at worst and at least difficulties in acceptance of the lifestyle. The result of this for gay individuals has been difficulty accepting their own nature. Some have suggested a similarity between coming out and spiritual searching as both require introspection and acceptance of the self. Some people have suggested that gay spirituality is following on from the tradition of gay people entering the caring professions. There has always been a high proportion of the gay population choosing careers such as nursing, social work and ministry. This may be because the majority of homosexuals choose not to have a family and so have more time and freedom to care for others. Following a spiritual path is another manifestation of this phenomenon. Another cause of the rise in spirituality among gay men especially could be the suffering the community has undergone as a result of AIDS. It has meant that many gay men of all ages have cared for and lived with people who are dying. Historically faith and spirituality have had an intimate relationship with the idea of death. Clearly spirituality is a complicated subject and there are many reasons why people gay or straight choose to follow a spiritual path. There are many practices and ways of doing that. One of the most popular ways for gay people is through the practice of tantra. This perhaps stems from the fact that homosexuals do not practice sex for procreation but for pleasure and to show love. It is not a big step from this into the world of tantra which fosters greater intimacy between partners. It also teaches meditation and living in the moment, both important aspects of spiritual practice. There are many workshops for gay tantra but also for energy work, shamanism, meditation, healing, Reiki and drumming, for example. Searching on the internet will offer you many groups and ways to explore your spirituality. Even if there are no workshops or groups where you live there are online communities where you can communicate with people who are exploring the same issues. There is also plenty of literature about the philosophical issues for gay people. There are a myriad of reasons why gay spirituality is increasing in popularity. People have so many motivations for trying a spiritual way of life. If you want to explore that aspect of yourself there are many ways to do so. The Article Author: Howie Holben, the author, is the owner of Spirit Journeys, a gay weekend getaway organization that focuses on spiritual travel. Howie has travelled the world learning from indigenous peoples. You can learn more about Howie, his work and gay adventure travel with a spiritual concentration at Spirit Journeys website. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
