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Fickle faith in rainbows of the world

As Mumbai celebrates its annual Queer Azaadi March on Saturday, we look at how different religions across the world view homosexuality

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Members of the LGBT community mark the first anniversary of a court’s ruling decriminalising gay sex between consenting adults, in Mumbai
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Hinduism:

While no Hindu religious text has directly addressed homosexuality, there are many instances of male gods taking female avatars and consummating with other men. One such example is Mohini, who was actually Vishnu. After Sagar Manthan, Shiva was besotted by Mohini, he pursued her, and the result of their union was Lord Ayyapaa.  

It is interesting to note that marriage in Hinduism is defined as a union of two individuals (note, it doesn’t say one man and one woman). The Hindu Marriage Act (1955) states: ‘A marriage may be solemnized between any two Hindus’ subject to certain conditions. While none of these conditions state that the union has to be with a member of the opposite sex, one condition is that a person cannot be suffering from any mental disorder that renders him unfit for marriage or procreation. But given two mentally sound and sane men with a healthy sperm count are technically fit for procreation (just not with each other), this is a delightful loophole.

Christianity:

While homosexuality is frowned upon in the Bible, different Christian denominations have different views on the subject. According to a passage from the Old Testament book Leviticus, “If a man lies with another man as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination”. This is the reason why homosexuality is viewed as sinful. However, liberal churches have been reviewing other passages and are now of the opinion that perhaps a more sensitive approach is required.

While the United Church of Canada, Church of Sweden, Church of Norway, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Presbyterian Church (USA), Church of Denmark, Protestant Church of Netherlands and many others openly support homosexuals, some other churches that have been traditionally opposed to homosexuality are also gradually opening up.

Pope Francis was quoted as saying, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” Cardinal Oswald Gracious, the Archbishop of Mumbai, is in support of decriminalisation of homosexuality. He feels that the Church should embrace homosexual people and help them integrate into society. However, so far the Catholic Church hasn’t changed its stand on gay marriage and maintains that a marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

Islam:

According to the Holy Quran and the Hadiths, homosexuality is a sin. It is a crime punishable under the Sharia law. In many Islamic countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Brunei and Yemen, homosexuality is punishable by death. However, homosexual intercourse is legal in many other Muslim-majority nations like Bahrain, Lebanon, Turkey, Tunisia, Chad, Djibouti, Jordan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sikhism:

There are no written references to homosexuality in Sikhism, though a few senior spiritual leaders have expressed their displeasure on the subject. In Sikhism, marriage is seen as a union of two souls. Also, souls are seen as genderless. Leaving enough room for interpretation.

Wicca:

Wicca or modern witchcraft is one of the world’s fastest growing religion. The text, Charge of the Goddess, states: “All acts of love and pleasure are my rituals.” While in many traditional forms of Wicca, such as Gardenian and Alexandrian, the ‘Great Rite’ is a sexual act performed between a priest and priestess. However, homosexuals are not excluded explicitly.

Satanism:

Yes, there are people who worship the Devil and they are not evil. Satan worshippers believe that Satan is just a misunderstood angel. Satanism is open to all forms of sexual expression and has never condemned homosexuality.  

Unitarian Universalism:

This is not a religion in the traditional sense, but is a broad philosophy or a way of life, much like Hinduism. It supports full equality for LGBT individuals and supports their right to marry.

Zoroastrianism:

According to the Vendidad, a religious text written after the Gathas of the Avesta, “The man that lies with mankind as man lies with womankind, is a man that is a daeva (demon), a worshipper of daevas, a male paramour of the daevas”. This passage is interpreted to mean homosexuality is a form of demon worship. Apart from the Vendidad and the Pahlavi scriptures, and later Persian texts considered sacred by Zoroastrians, they strongly forbid sodomy.

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