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COURTESY OF REX OGLE   Rex Ogle in 1998. #Disowned #Family #Gay #LGBTQ #Rejection #Religion #LALGBTCenter By Rex Ogle Guest Writer We were on the back porch, smoke rolling up from the nearby barbeque grill, the smell of chicken roasting in the air. My father was more silent than usual.  He took a hard swig from his beer bottle. I asked, “You okay?” Out of nowhere, my father says, “If you choose to be gay, then you’re no longer part of this family. You want to live that lifestyle? Then do it somewhere else.” His gaze drifted toward the woods. He didn’t want to look at me. The thought of me, of what I was, sickened him. Shame overwhelmed me. Sweat soaked through my shirt as I held back the bile in my throat. I asked how he knew. My stepsister had outed me.  Stuttering, I tried to explain it wasn’t a choice. But at 18 years old (and caught completely off-guard), I had no defense. Not that it would have mattere...

#Bible #Christian #Gospels #Christianity #TheGospels #NewTestament #Religion Christians have a habit of trying to harmonize the discrepancies found in the Bible. Yet this practice contributes to stripping the Bible of what makes it interesting, and what can make it speak powerfully. Harmonizing involves eliminating differences, usually by pretending they aren't there or by forcing incongruous pieces into a clumsy agreement. It's like trying to explain to children why it's no big deal that the poem "The Night before Christmas" doesn't mention Rudolph, whom a certain song has led them to expect when the reindeer are named. At first, they'll let you contort the stories, but soon they figure out you're playing tricks. We do this all the time with the Bible, especially by combining distinctive elements from different Gospels into a composite narrative. Sometimes we have to do it, to keep track of all the pieces available to us for envisioning the big ...

#KanyeWest #Narcissism #KimKardashian #Religion Kanye West  was once thought of as a musical visionary. While some believe he is still a genius, these days,  West supporters  are becoming few and far between. West’s new journey as a religious leader has earned a lot of criticism, from those who believe that he is not qualified to speak for the religious community. Of course, there is also the issue of West’s undeniable narcissism. Keep reading to learn how West could possibly be the most narcissistic artist in the music business and why people could soon stop paying attention to him. Kanye West has a history of narcissism Kanye West | Scott Dudelson/FilmMagic West rose to fame in the early 2000s, with his breakout album  The College Dropout . West’s catchy rhymes and innovative rap beats endeared him to the musical community and it definitely seemed as though he had a bright future ahead of him. West has pioneered the way for many other rap...