subject: Gay Spirituality And Spiritual Growth [print this page] Research has shown that spirituality is increasingly popular with more people turning away from organized religions. Gay spirituality is also following this trend. The internet has a large and ever growing number of groups and websites dedicated to gay spirituality.
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.
Organized religion causes problems in the minds of some gay people because of its condemnation of the lifestyle. Religious forces are an important factor in shaping moral beliefs and even laws in many places. This has led to societies where gay people can be ousted and threatened or at least suffer disapproval. This often translates into self hatred and denial in homosexual individuals. Some people feel there are similarities between spiritual practice and coming out as they both require self knowledge and lead to self acceptance through introspection.
For many people it is no surprise that gay spirituality is popular as gay people have often entered professions which involve caring for others. Many have become nurses, charity workers, ministers and priests. Often homosexuals choose not to have children and so have more time and more emotional energy for helping others.
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.
Gay spirituality manifests itself in as many practices and types of belief as all spirituality. As homosexual relations are not about procreation but the giving and receiving of pleasure and expressions of love gay tantra is one of the most popular practices. It increases consciousness through meditation and intense focus on the present moment. To compliment this there are also workshops which focus on other ways to achieve intimacy besides sex. Other types of spirituality practiced by gay people include shamanism, healing such as Reiki, paganism, meditation, working with nature and drumming and singing.
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.
Gay spirituality is a growing phenomenon and you can be part of it easily by using online resources. Whatever aspects of spirituality interest you there are many opportunities to join with other to explore them.
