Homophobia Scale
April 26, 2001
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
We spent two weeks exploring homophobia — within and without — using a scale prepared by a committee one of our members worked on. At our meetings and through phone calls in between we determined where each of us and our environs stand on the scale and worked in Science to eliminate error. For instance one member, very reluctant to share his orientation freely was able to come out to his trainer at the gym. Another engaged a Christian Science lecturer in a mind-expanding discussion about her failure to include references to the community — including Gay and African American people — in the midst of which she had just delivered her talk.
The second meeting on our subject included descriptions of the experiences of two people, not present, indicating approaches to overcoming homophobia:
1) One member has a friend whose spiritual practice — he's not sure what it's called — gives her the poise and insight to convert problems into opportunities for tapping into pre-existent harmony and community. He told of watching her accomplish a no-charge exchange of airline tickets, normally quite expensive, by framing the situation as a problem facing both herself and the agent, for which she was sure they could evolve a solution. Of course, they did. (Another member immediately thought of the passages in the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson this week from John. They are in Section VI: John 15: 1-5, 7-9).
2) Another member told of a new friend's experience growing up in the Bible Belt as a Christian Science kid. He was daily harassed and threatened. When he was an adult he resolved to do all in his power to prevent prejudice so that others would not have to suffer in this way. He became an active member of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Later his homosexuality emerged and he left his marriage to follow his true orientation. His ministry now includes confronting and overcoming discrimination against Gay, Lesbian and Transgender people as well as the groups he has long been active with.
Members felt it is essential to see homophobia as a sin, not merely a matter of someone's opinion or political incorrectness. Sin was defined as an attempted rupture of the basic reality of being: the oneness and allness of God as man and the universe. We are all one and this is not only the standard against which to discern sin but also the means for its rapid destruction.
Here is a summary of major points made at the two meetings:
1) Coming out is a super-charged concept. While it usually refers to making others aware of one's sexual orientation, we could see the strong underlying drive of everyone to be and to operate on the basis of who they really are. The Christian Science of this process is to come out from one's God-Self rather than one's temporary ego "take"on things.
2) We had problems with the notion of valuing someone's race, sex, sexual orientation etc. Yes people and organizations should help each of us in the journey towards our divinity — and this would include finding who we are on the belief level — but mightn't this involve a subtle sorting of people by stereotypes when we say we value her Lesbianism or his Hispanic nature? Should a WASP male heterosexual exult in his status?
One member mentioned Reggie White, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, who advocated valuing groups in the country based on their gifts to the whole. African Americans could contribute sports and jazz; whites could handle finance, and so on. Even Gay people could act as fodder for the starving hordes of religious zealots.
The answer in Science to valuing one's human attributes is to make sure we're seeing first and foremost everyone's divine nature, whatever that may look like in belief at any moment.
3) We noted how the focus of our group, originally strictly a protest organization, has broadened over time to include caring for the survivors of church and association pogroms as well as setting a higher standard for the study and practice of Christian Science. Such multi-tasking implies not only maturity and steadiness in Science but also a lifting of internalized homophobia in the group.
4) One way to neutralize homophobia and other sinful prejudices is to find the common basis or root from which we all spring. A member read us some passages from page 508 of Science and Health which address this issue. Here are a couple of quotes: "The seed within itself is the pure thought emanating from divine Mind,"(lines 14-16), and, "The intelligent individual idea, be it male or female, rising from the lesser to the greater, unfolds the infinitude of Love."(lines 23-25)
5) The paranoia today about privacy impacts homophobia. Think of all the people who try to keep their orientation and much else secret. One suggestion for handling this is to live the fact that everyone as divine idea is an open book to everyone else. It's all one Mind knowing all about Itself as each and all.
6) As mortals, we're always threatened and troubled, but as divine idea we are not liable to any risks. Living out from our divinity is the key to destroying homophobia.
These healings were reported.
1) A member, greatly agitated in dealing with clients, found that by asking the questions "What would I say if God called?"and "If God called, what would He say?"the tension was reduced and calm, sometimes holy, exchanges ensued.
2) Another member noting that his desire for a civil appointment was prayer (see Science and Health, p. 1: 11) approached a federal official and now appears on his way to a job where his talents can be well used.
3)Another member had a humiliating experience at his dance class as he seemed unable to master some dance steps. His teacher's attempts to help him only added to his chagrin. As he left the class he rationalized the situation as being "knocked off my high horse"— a much needed kick in the pants to correct an inflated sense of himself. He thought of St. Paul on the road to Damascus and is now much humbler in self-estimation and ready for fresh inspiration.
Next week we'll look at Gratitude.
Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast. How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
To obey the Scriptural command, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate," is to incur society's frown; but this frown, more than flatteries, enables one to be Christian.
Unimproved opportunities will rebuke us when we attempt to claim the benefits of an experience we have not made our own, try to reap the harvest we have not sown, and wish to enter unlawfully into the labors of others. Truth often remains unsought, until we seek this remedy for human woe because we suffer severely from error.
Attempts to conciliate society and so gain dominion over mankind, arise from worldly weakness. He who leaves all for Christ forsakes popularity and gains Christianity.
The divine Principle, or Spirit, comprehends and expresses all, and all must therefore be as perfect as the divine Principle is perfect. Nothing is new to Spirit. Nothing can be novel to eternal Mind, the author of all things, who from all eternity knoweth His own ideas. Deity was satisfied with His work. How could He be otherwise, since the spiritual creation was the outgrowth, the emanation, of His infinite self-containment and immortal wisdom?
The divine image, idea, or Christ was, is, and ever will be inseparable from the divine Principle, God. Jesus referred to this unity of his spiritual identity thus: "Before Abraham was, I am;" "I and my Father are one;" "My Father is greater than I." The one Spirit includes all identities.
When thought dwells in God, — and it should not, to our consciousness, dwell elsewhere, — one must benefit those who hold a place in one's memory, whether it be friend or foe, and each share the benefit of that radiation. This individual blessedness and blessing comes not so much from individual as from universal love: it emits light because it reflects; and all who are receptive share this equally.
Mistaken or transient views are human: they are not governed by the Principle of divine Science: but the notion that a mind governed by Principle can be forced into personal channels, affinities, self-interests, or obligations, is a grave mistake; it dims the true sense of God's reflection, and darkens the understanding that demonstrates above personal motives, unworthy aims and ambitions.
I recommend that Scientists draw no lines whatever between one person and another, but think, speak, teach, and write the truth of Christian Science without reference to right or wrong personality in this field of labor. Leave the distinctions of individual character and the discriminations and guidance thereof to the Father, whose wisdom is unerring and whose love is universal.
It is true that the mistakes, prejudices, and errors of one class of thinkers must not be introduced or established among another class who are clearer and more conscientious in their convictions; but this one thing can be done, and should be: let your opponents alone, and use no influence to prevent their legitimate action from their own standpoint of experience, knowing, as you should, that God will well regenerate and separate wisely and finally; whereas you may err in effort, and lose your fruition.