9781422283806

12 L I V I NG WI TH RE L I G I ON AND FA I TH

But Lauren isn’t sure how she feels anymore. As a teenager, she’s realized she is a lesbian—and her church has no place in its pews for homosexuals. She can either deny the reality of her sexual orientation or she can leave her church, condemned as a sinner living outside Christ’s salvation. Lauren feels angry and confused. In many ways, she still believes the way she always has, and wants to continue worshiping God. Evangelical Christianity is a part of who she is—but so is being a lesbian. She wants to believe that God does not condemn her for her sexual orientation, but at the same time, she doesn’t really know how to think about God anymore. Does God believe she is a sinner, the way her church does? “You can’t be a Jew and be gay.” That’s what Joel’s older sister Kate told him when he confided in her that he thought he was more attracted to boys than he was to girls. “So you better get over that right now,” Kate continued, “because if Mom finds out, she’ll be really upset.” Joel knew his mother wanted all her kids to get married and give her grandchildren. But his oldest sister Judy was thirty-f ive and still didn’t have any children, although she was married. Judy was a lawyer and said she didn’t have time for children. Their mother disapproved, fretted, and complained—but it wasn’t that big of a “Strugglers” with Sexuality and Faith