| Summary: | 碩士 === 真理大學 === 宗教學系碩士班 === 94 === Christianity devotes itself to caring for the disadvantaged minority. Its religious belief is “Love God” and “Love People”. Some Christian groups devote themselves to providing assistance for the disadvantaged minority, such as the “Single Mother’s Home”, “Children’s Home”, “Drug Rehabilitation Centre”, “Assistance for Disabled Groups”, “Assistance for Underage Prostitution”, “Poverty Relief and Disaster Rescue”, etc. These disadvantaged minorities in turn are willing to devote themselves to the world in a belief that “God loves the world”.
Recently, a new alternative charity in Taiwan’s Christian community has appeared. On May 5th, 1996, the first homosexual church, Tong-Kwang Light House Presbyterian Church, was established and that caused uproar within the traditional Christian community. Subsequently, the first homosexual pastor was ordained on May 1st, 2004, and sparked a conflict over the religious doctrine and social care of traditional Christians. Also, traditional Christian opposition of homosexuality church resurfaced.
Though both parties follow the same Bible, the traditional Christian Church and the Tong-Kwang Light House Presbyterian Church hold completely different views. Whether or not the conflict between both parties is rooted in different interpretations of classic religious doctrines, and the Bible, or by “prejudiced impressions” of homosexuality, both parties have their own explanations which can be supported or opposed by the Bible to reinforce their beliefs and attitudes. The individual standpoint of both parties is worthy of discussion.
In recent years, Taiwanese society has started to place increased importance on human rights, and social values have become diversified. The homosexual groups start to come out of the closet, and bravely face heterosexual society. Although their situation has improved, homosexuals in Taiwan are still the target of much discrimination from the rest of society. Therefore, homosexuality in Taiwan is still an invisible group. In addition, the homosexual Christian believer has to face more discrimination and challenges.
The traditional Church uses “dogma”, “interpretation of scripture” to explain the Bible. Traditional Christianity regards “homosexual tendency” or “homosexual behavior” as a crime against religion. Homosexuals cannot become church followers without changing their behavior and sexual tendency. Traditional Christian beliefs produce an attitude toward the homosexual religious believer which is unfriendly and unacceptable, and that make homosexual believers and clerics suffer from oppression and multiple difficulties. The homosexual believers have to face religious ethical pressure from traditional mainstream Christianity and discrimination from traditional heterosexual society. The external pressure and internal revolt make the homosexual believers’ mind and body suffer a great deal.
So far, the traditional Christian Church and the homosexual Christian Church cannot find a balance, and probably never will. Both parties have different explanations and interpretation of scripture. Confrontation between both parties is inevitable. After all, the influence is accumulated with time due to the historical transmission, cultural transition, and customary change. Furthermore, when society is open up to certain extent and the acceptance and tolerance will increase. Can the traditional Christian ethics stand the test of time? Will the homosexual believer follow traditions or deviate from them? This issue deserves long-term observation.
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