Looking back at the case study presentation from the past two weeks, I have found that many of the books cover the idea of breaking from the tradition in some way or another to meet one’s religious/spiritual needs. One idea of this that I found in the news is the common tradition of Ash Wednesday, the marking of the first day of Lent, repentance and fasting before Easter which is commonly recognized with plain black ash on the forehead. However, with the growing discrimination between the LGBT community and the religious community, a religious advocacy group in New York has decided to start bridging the gap between the two communities, by asking members who identify with the LGBT community as well as the Christian community, to wear glitter ash as a recognition for Ash Wednesday. Since many religious denominations do not officially recognize the presence of lesbians, gays, and other sexual orientations and gender identities in the church, this is a way for them to express both of their identities while still adhering to all the rules. This was something similarly seen in a Shared Parish where there was a mixing of religious customs in order to accommodate both groups. All in all, I think that there is a common practice in society today for people to take their religious identity and mold it to whatever their own specific needs are, further pushing the idea of spirituality within oneself, but also within the religious institution
‘Glitter Ash Wednesday’ sparkles for LGBT Christians and others