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Rabbi Barry Weinstein spoke to a room of University students Wednesday evening and told them people must interpret the scriptures in context.
"There are all kinds of rules [in the scriptures], and it is easy to take it out of the text and use it to mean something else," said Weinstein, who is the former leader of the Temple B'nai Israel and co-founder of ONE BATON ROUGE.
Four religious leaders spoke to University students about the stances of their respective religions on homosexuality. The Gays, Bisexuals, Lesbians, Supporters United hosted the interfaith panel Wednesday evening in the University Student Union.
Weinstein said people are brothers and sisters in God's kingdom, and there is no room for pushing someone out in the community.
Don Meeks, reverend of the Wesley Foundation, said the United Methodist Church follows the position that they are people with open hearts, open minds and open doors.
Meeks said every mainline denomination is searching for clarity within their organization about their stance on homosexuality.
"We realize all the writings in the scripture are influenced by the culture of the time," Meeks said. "Knowing that, we've come forward and know that life in the world is different."
The Rev. Keith Mozingo of the Metropolitan Community Church said the struggles he faced between his own sexuality and religion hindered him and held him back.
"[Faith] is more about common sense, not a list of dos and don'ts," Mozingo said.
Velvet Rieth, archpriestess of the Covenant of the Pentacle Wiccan Church, said doctrines do not mean anything if people who do not have an Earth to stand on.
"You cannot debate with a brick wall," Rieth said.
In the face of "all kinds of venom," wish them well, and walk away, Rieth said.
"These battles against people because of their particular sexual orientation have no place," Weinstein said.
---- Contact J.J. Alcantara at jalcantara@lsureveille.com.
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