In the year 2003 the Black Eyed Peas, a hip-hop/rap group, burst on to the scene with their energetic beats and songs. Yet underneath their chart topping hits were songs mixed in between the glitz and glamour; songs that were filled with words calling for human and spiritual redemption. “Do you really think Muhammad has a problem with Jehovah? Imagine if every prophet was alive in current days amongst you and I. Do you think they would view life like you and I do, or would they sit and contemplate on why do we live this way, act and behave this way; because we are still living primitive today (Union, 2005).” Or, “People killing and people dying, children hurt and hear them crying. When you practice what you preach, would you turn the other cheek? Father, Father, Father help us and send some guidance from above. Because people got me, got me questioning where is the love (Where is the Love, 2003)? The Black Eyed Peas have sold almost 10 million albums since their debut in 2003. Do you think there are 10 million young people, the same young people that buy their albums and listen to their music every day, are also listening to the word of the Creator? How strange is it that a hip-hop/rap group can have a larger mainstream cultural, philosophical and religious impact than the actual religion itself?!

I cannot help but continually look around at the pluralistic nature of our surroundings and wonder how we, as a spiritual and loving people, can be so easily fractioned off into our own belief systems and thought processes: denomination vs. denomination; brother and sister vs. brother and sister; church vs. state. This theme has never been more apparent to me until just recently when I realized how intertwined that same detached sense of belonging from the broader community really is. This past week I taught both Track #1 (our Wholistic Spiritual Training and Education Classes to the GLBT community) and Track #2 (the classes for the straight community). A gay male named Chris and a straight female named Jill provided a priceless summary of the unique perspective that is held within each of their own larger community’s general thinking towards the other. Throughout the classes, I always bring up the opposite community’s feelings, thought processes and beliefs in order to best acculturate each side to the other as a whole, tangible entity. As I was speaking about a Greek translation in the New Testament and its applications from both the progressive and fundamental religious communities, Chris and Jill made the exact same comment within their classes four days apart. “I would just love to be invisible and sit in the back of the room and watch the faces and the reactions when you go through all of this. What do they say? Do they understand? Is it weird? You would have to tape my mouth shut because I would want to get my point across!” Everyone in the room both times got a big laugh out of the comment, even I did. But the more I thought about the comments afterward, the more I began to realize those comments are like someone who goes to a zoo to look at the animals behind the plexiglas. The person is intrigued by what is on the other side, and as the person leans closer and touches the plexiglas, the rush of excitement comes because they know their hand is only inches away from the animal; yet still a safe enough distance to not have to worry about anything.

The GLBT and straight communities, especially within the context of religion, seem to only be willing to touch the glass and stay safely bordering the intense possibility of doing something most others would not even think of. Yes, reaching inside might be dangerous; it might be weird at first, it might even make you shift your belief system regarding something that you have generally accepted as truth! But the point is that in order to understand a people, you must first understand your neighbor. A large schism currently exists within the GLBT, straight, and religious communities; and it is time to stop thinking that someone else should handle the pressing issue. We need to step up as leaders within our respective communities and make the first move in reaching out to our neighbors, our countrymen/women, and our brothers and sisters in God as we strive to bring unity and honor and glory to our Creator.

Thank you and God Bless,

Andrew Marin