The offices of Common Ground, Counseling and Psychological Services and the Chaplaincy sponsored a discussion called Sexuality & Spirituality: Student Stories of Faith & Struggle March 31 in Adams Auditorium.

A panel of four students from various Christian traditions shared personal experiences about the differing relationships between their religious beliefs and human sexuality. Speakers included Alex Witt, Westhampton College 14, Brittany LaBelle, WC 15, Zach Kerr, Richmond College 15, and Natalie Shaw, a student at the T.C. Williams School of Law.

While Shaw was the only student on the panel who is gay, all students talked about their internal struggle with the Bibles condemnation of homosexuality as a sin, and its message to love all people.

Jesus said the greatest commandment was to love the Lord and other people to the utmost extent, Kerr said. For God as man to say this means every human, every person, deserves this love, indiscriminately.

It has been the fallacy of man in the last two millennia to claim that hatred of any group or person is a biblical command.

Ted Lewis, associate director of Common Ground for LGBTQ campus life, said the event was sponsored for the second year in a row because many students at University of Richmond struggle with questions of faith and sexuality.

These discussions provide an opportunity for us, as a community, to engage in dialogue around difference, questions of faith, and ways to build better community, Lewis said.

Students from the Rev. Craig Kochers first-year seminar, Faith and Differences in America: Learning to Live Together, were also in attendance.

I am really glad he brought this talk to light, Amy Alexander, WC 17, a member of the class, said. I dont think I would have known about it otherwise.

Kocher said there had been a group of multi-faith panelists last year at the event.

Originally posted here:

Richmond hosts discussion on spirituality and sexuality