Find Religion

With people in the gay community like Elton John vehemently expressing dissatisfaction with organized religion, one is often left to wonder, is there a place in religion for gays who still want to go to church and be a part of an organized community.

The answer is yes. Recently, the Episcopal Church again made a statement to open their arms to the gay community.

“We wish to reaffirm to our lesbian and gay members that they remain a welcome and integral part of the Episcopal Church,” the council said, then offered “prayerful concern” for those who consider gay relationships sinful. “We wish to reaffirm that they too remain a welcome and integral part of the Episcopal Church,” the council said.

You can read the rest of the articles here.

With recently press surrounding gay hatred, like the Grey’s Anatomy fiasco when a leading star Isaiah Washington made gay slurs toward another cast member, this kind of outpouring is important. The church made headlines in the past in 2003 when they consecrated the first openly gay bishop. It has been speculated that a number of ministers, priests, and other religious leaders are secretly homosexual, but for the first time the Episcopal Church took a step towards acceptance. Hopefully other organized religious groups can do the same.

Episcopal Church, gay, gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, Grey’s Anatomy, Isaiah Washington, gay slurs

As reported by beliefnet.com, Michael Jackson recently shared his thoughts on religion. He reflects that he especially loves Sundays, the day of worship, because it put him on an equal playing field as everyone else. He saids:

Church was a treat in its own right. It was again a chance for me to be “normal.” The church elders treated me the same as they treated everyone else. And they never became annoyed on the days that the back of the church filled with reporters who had discovered my whereabouts. They tried to welcome them in. After all, even reporters are the children of God.

He also admits that he used to pioneer for the Jehovah’s Witnesses with his family, wearing a fat suit, wig, and glasses…So if you were in an LA mall or lived in the city up until about 1991, you might have bought a magazine from the famous singer!

Check out the rest of what Michael has to say here.

Michael Jackson

Warning: Spoilers below for those who didn’t see the show yet!

Last night on Grey’s Anatomy, the lead character of the show briefly died. She went to…I’m not sure…Heaven? Purgatory? In any case, she was in the empty hospital with Denny (Izzie’s dead finance), a girl they couldn’t save from an earlier episode, and the leader of the bomb squad who blew up in season 2. Later, her mom dies and shows up. You can read more about the episode on Amy’s blog.

Of course, they couldn’t very well kill off the main character, so she came back to life after almost dying, but it raises some important questions about what heaven is like. Personally, I didn’t like this episode of the show at all, because I thought their ideas about the afterlife were ridiculous.

Poor Denny, he still loves and misses Izzy and only gets to feel her presence when he’s in the exact same spot that she’s standing in. It’s like the dead hospital is another dimension, but the worlds can’t see one another. It was a cute concept and played well for the show, but consider that for a second–it would be pure torture for eternity to walk around an empty hospital, thinking about your love in the other world and being teased by her presence every once in awhile if you’re lucky.

I’m not trying to say that I know what heaven is like, but this afterlife seemed more like hell.

In any case, it made me think about heaven and what I hope it’s like. My idea of heaven is a stress-free world where I can just sit and hang out with my best friends all the time. Because really, that’s what heaven is for me now–those times when I just forget about work and responsibilities and hang out with my best friends.

What is heave like for you?

Grey’s Anatomy, heaven

Welcome to Celebrity Tuesday…errr…Wednesday. I’m a day off, sue my. It’s been a trying week already!

Anyway, today, I just wanted to talk about how much cash celebrities have been dropping in the name of God. It’s kind of cool that some are willing to spend so much money on worship. In some cases, like with Madonna, who spent a reported $30 million so far opening Kabalah centers around the world, the money is going to benefit some really great people.

In other cases, I’m simply left wondering “Couldn’t they be using the money to benefit others instead of just themslves?”

For example, Kanye West, who a celebrity that loves to talk about religion, spent $350,000 to hire an artist to paint his very own Sistine Chapple. I’m sure it’s beautiful…but is it necessary? If you really loved art and God that much, why would you paint it in your home where only you can see it instead of having it painted at a local public church for all worshippers to enjoy?

Anothe example: David Beckham and his wife Victoria (the former spice girl) spent $192,000 building their own chappel on their own land so their children could be baptised in privacy. I understand that privacy, especially for children, is important, but I’m not sure it should cost that much for an alter, a few pews, and a baptismal font. Couldn’t most of the money have gone somewhere else?

Some have priorities straight, some do not, but celebrities are at least interesting to watch and try to understand!

Madonna, Kanye West, David Beckham

It’s celebrity Tuesday, and this week, I thought I’d share with you a great celebrity quotes (and my two cents)!

“But I would never steal anyone’s boyfriend. It’s bad karma, and I’m a big believer in karma—hence the fact that I’ve studied kabbalah. I’m very true to the “Treat people the way you want to be treated” sort of thing.” - Lindsay Lohan, Elle, September 2006

So I guess you’d like to be disrespected, because according to recent reports, your fellow AA members are pissed that you’re bringing camera crews and photographers to the secret meetings. Just what does AA stand for, Lindsay? Hmmm….

celebrity quotes, karma, Lindsay Lohan

Last week, I featured football playes in prayer, because of the playoff season. The pictures were quite touching, and honestly, I think that seeing celebrities pray brings them back down on the “human” level–they are not gods and godesses, they are just talented folks who are human like you and me. I want to continue on with that spirit, so here are some more great shots of celebrities praying.

Pink and her band, before concert, 2002

Josh Gracin and Lisa Bascom, along with the rest of the attendees at a Nascar race, 2006

Orlando Hudson before a 2006 game

J Boog, B2K, before a concert, 2003

The President and first lady, honoring the victims of 9/11

Last week, I talked a little bit about celebrities that practice scientology. Today, let’s talk about those Catholic celebs in the news! Can you name ten Catholic Celebrities. Keep reading to find some of my answers…

It’s a new year, so it’s time to change thigns up a bit. This site is gonna be organized a bit differently from now on, so hopefully you’ll find it easier to visit and find out about specific things. Check back every day at 9:30 am (EST) for a new post.

Tuesdays will be devoted specifically to a celebrity religions watch. With some many great spiritual celebs out there, like Angelina, TomKat, and Mel, it’s hard not to notice their impact on the world of religion!

And now for those Catholic celebs. How did you do at naming ten? Here’s a few you may or may not know about:

Christina Aquilera

Kobe Bryant

Nicolas Cage

George Clooney

Tony Danza

Mel Gibson

Melisaa Joan Hart

Nicole Kidman

Mandy Moore

Al Pacino

Anne Rice

Andy Warhol

Owen Wilson

celebrities, Catholic, Christina Aquilera, Kobe Bryant, Nicolas Cage, George Clooney, Tony Danza, Mel Gibson, Melisaa Joan Hart, Nicole Kidman, Mandy Moore, Al Pacino, Anne Rice, Andy Warhol, Owen Wilson