Let’s talk about religion and sexuality: An introduction

Logan Field is a freshman at Maryville College and shares her experience with her religion and sexuality. Photo by Clair Scott.
Logan Field is a freshman at Maryville College and shares her experience with her religion and sexuality. Photo by Clair Scott.

Hello, I’m Logan. I’m a freshman here at Maryville College. I’d like to introduce a column on something not often covered, sexuality and religion.

Our school is probably one of the most progressive on both of those fronts, but I feel as though there still isn’t enough acknowledgement for things that are outside the norm. For instance, sexuality and gender are much broader than people give those two words credit for.

Allow me to get a bit more personal: I identify as gender neutral. This means that I don’t identify with any gender.

Some people in my position choose to use the pronouns they, them and/or their. That is perfectly okay, too. To me, pronouns don’t really matter.

Gender neutral is one of a few interchangeable, or flexible, terms, but I’ll get to those at a later date. After all, this is only the first column.

Gender isn’t about sexuality, either. In fact, they’re not the same thing at all. We’ll get into that later. I’ll just keep it simple, for now.

There are many different sexualities. Straight, gay and bisexual are well known, but not everyone falls into one of those categories.

Not everyone stays in a category they’ve chosen, either. People are changing and evolving constantly both personally and spiritually.

When I first realized that I also liked women, I identified as bisexual. Four years later, the term pansexual popped up.

No, this doesn’t mean I’m sexually attracted to pans. Pan is Greek and means all. So really, I’m attracted to anyone regardless of gender identity. I fall for a person’s personality, not what’s going on between their legs.

Now for the other focus of this column, a touchy subject: religion. In this area especially, Christianity, in one form or another, is the predominant religion.

However, that isn’t the only religion on campus.

Take myself for example: I’m pagan, or more specifically, wiccan. Many people I meet have no clue what that is beyond the than the term “modern” witch. While this is technically true, there’s so much more meaning to it than that.

There have been many interpretations of my faith in the media. Practitioners of my faith have been twisted and displayed in an unrecognizable manner.

I have yet to find a movie or TV show that accurately portrays any aspect of my religion, but that’s just fine by me. I don’t need media representation to know that what I believe is real.

Although, there are similarities. I celebrate solstices, hold rituals on full moons, read tarot cards and use various objects as representations of deities. And, yes, I also burn candles and incense.

Before I go into more detail, I’d like to set something straight: I do not worship the devil.

Devil worship is actually called Lucifarianism, which is often mistaken for Satanism. There will be more on that later, too.

In fact, in my faith, there is no belief of the devil. How can I worship something I don’t believe in? In accordance to not acknowledging Satan, I also don’t believe in heaven or hell.

When a person passes on, I believe they live out the rest of eternity in Summerland, an everlasting party, so to speak.

There’s plenty more to that, I promise, but, for now, I’ll just leave it at this. This first column is an introduction to give a taste of what’s to come. I’m still working on many ideas. However, good things do come to those who wait.

5 thoughts on “Let’s talk about religion and sexuality: An introduction

  • September 28, 2016 at 3:13 pm
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    Thank you for this insightful perspective. I look forward to future posts fleshing out this subject matter. I have a family member who is gender neutral. I am expanding my awareness of the idea.

    Reply
  • September 28, 2016 at 3:14 pm
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    Awsome start.

    Reply
  • September 28, 2016 at 3:17 pm
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    I can’t wait to read future columns Logan!

    Reply
  • October 20, 2016 at 5:35 pm
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    Well done. Always leave them wanting to find out what’s next. I can’t wait to see what else I will learn from one of my children.

    Reply
  • October 20, 2016 at 10:47 pm
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    Great start to the column. I look forward to reading more. I am sure it will be a big hit.

    Reply

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