What the Bible Says - And Doesn't Say - About Homosexuality

[SacredCow]

(not sure if this has ever been posted, but it's worth repeating)

by Rev. Mel White, co-founder of Soulforce

http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christian

Many good people build their case against homosexuality almost entirely on the Bible. These folks value Scripture, and are serious about seeking its guidance in their lives. Unfortunately, many of them have never really studied what the Bible does and doesn't say about homosexuality.

We gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Christians take the Bible seriously, too. Personally, I've spent more than 50 years reading, studying, memorizing, preaching, and teaching from the sacred texts. I earned my master's and doctoral degrees at a conservative biblical seminary to better equip myself to "rightly divide the word of truth." I learned Hebrew and Greek to gain a better understanding of the original words of the biblical texts. I studied the lives and times of the biblical authors to help me know what they were saying in their day so I could better apply it to my own.

I'm convinced the Bible has a powerful message for gay and lesbian Christians -- as well as straight Christians. But it's not the message of condemnation we so often hear.

I'm not expecting you to take my word for it, though. I ask only that you'd consider what my research has taught me about the passages used by some people to condemn God's gay and lesbian children. Then decide for yourself...

The article is subdivided into the following premises:

1. Most people have not carefully and prayerfully researched the biblical texts often used to condemn God's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender children.

2. Historically, people's misinterpretation of the Bible has left a trail of suffering, bloodshed, and death.

3. We must be open to new truth from Scripture.

4. The Bible is a book about God -- not a book about human sexuality.

5. We miss what these passages say about God when we spend so much time debating what they say about sex.

6. The biblical authors are silent about homosexual orientation as we know it today. They neither approve it nor condemn it.

7. Although the prophets, Jesus, and other biblical authors say nothing about homosexual orientation as we understand it today, they are clear about one thing: As we search for truth, we are to "love one another."

8. Whatever some people believe the Bible says about homosexuality, they must not use that belief to deny homosexuals their basic civil rights. To discriminate against sexual or gender minorities is unjust and un-American.

Full article is at the link.

[PeaceNikki]

1. Wow! Great article! Thanks!

K&R

[roguevalley]

14. this is great. a religion that is stuck in place is a religion that is doomed

to die. religions like languages grow or die.

[gratuitous]

2. I read his book Stranger at the Gate

He's a real interesting guy. I'm rooting for him on The Amazing Race.

[FreeState]

12. he has impressed me on the Amazing Race

he seriously is what I would consider a true Christian. He actually thinks about how is words and actions effect the people around him, even when he is in a competition.

[MineralMan]

3. What the Bible does or does not say is completely

irrelevant to two thirds of the world's population. Here in the USA, we do not live by biblical rules, since we are a nation with citizens of every religion on the planet, and of no religion at all.

Biblical rules apply only to those who follow that scripture, and to nobody else.

Any time someone brings up "Well the Bible says," I simply answer, "So what? If you follow biblical rules, that's OK with me. I don't follow such rules, as I am neither a Jew nor a Christian. Leave me alone!"

That is the only answer that can be given.

[SacredCow]

4. That's pretty much the point of the 8th premise... n/t

[Critters2]

6. You didn't read the OP, did you?

Your blood pressure just started climbing at the word "Bible", did it?

[rhett o rick]

9. Not speaking for mineralman but for myself, I pretty much shut down at the mention of Bible.

In my opinion, the Bible was written by humans. I don't believe it was divinely inspired. If you do, fine with me. Just, please don't try to convince me. The Bible has been written and rewritten, edited and re-edited, translated and the translations re-translated, over and over. Then it is interpreted a thousand different ways. To say you know what it means is a little arrogant (no offense intended) in my opinion. It has been interpreted to do good as well as terrible harm. I believe we can live a wonderful life, treating each other with love and respect without the need of the Bible. If it helps you, that is wonderful. Please don't speak down to those of us that don't follow your belief.

[MineralMan]

18. I did, and I expanded on its points.

The Bible doesn't bother me at all. I have several copies in different translations right here in the bookshelf over my desk, along with a couple of concordences to make finding stuff in them easy.

What about my post do you disagree with?

[TexasObserver]

17. The topic is understanding what the Bible says about homosexuality and what it doesn't say.

That's a matter of cultural interest, irrespective of one's religion, or lack thereof.

Those who believe in the Bible include Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Each has their variation on the stories told and their meaning, but they all share a common history. Of course, Muslims trace their lineage to the same Abraham Jews and Christians do.

Understanding what the Bible says does not mean one believes it is controlling. This isn't about the opinions of those who don't believe in the Bible, but about dealing with the misconceptions and prejudices of those who cite the Bible as authority for their own present day biases against homosexuality.

Being able to talk to Christians in their language, using their authorities, is valuable. It doesn't mean one has to embrace the Bible or any religious concept, but it does mean one can learn the thought processes, the rationales, the belief systems, the logic, and the glaring holes in all that.

The Bible influences the entire world, directly or indirectly. The wise person wants to know how and why. The wise person wants to know how to best rebut the biases of Christians with their own scriptures.

[MineralMan]

19. OK. I got that. Then I expanded on one of the points in the

article. As for being familiar with the Bible, I'm very familiar with it, and have read the whole thing, cover to cover, several times.

My point, and my only point, is that the matter of what the Bible says or does not say about homosexuality is irrelevant to how we legally treat people in this country. What part of that do you disagree with?

[TexasObserver]

21. I stated very clearly ...

This isn't about the opinions of those who don't believe in the Bible, but about dealing with the misconceptions and prejudices of those who cite the Bible as authority for their own present day biases against homosexuality.

[MineralMan]

22. Oh, I see. I didn't realize that you were the arbiter of

what constitutes proper discussion on this thread. I thought SacredCow began the thread. Indeed, that first post mentioned the very thing I expanded on in my post.

However, since you are clearly the authority on what may or may not be posted, I'll shut up now.

[TexasObserver]

23. Thank you.

Perhaps if you would read a post more carefully before you respond to it, you wouldn't respond based upon incorrectly perceived notions. Thanks for acknowledging your mistake, upon a more careful reading.

[sam sarrha]

5. the bible is inconsistent, the New Testament has several different renditions of what Jesus meant,

because Jesus says none of them actually understood what he was talking about.

if one believes the bible is the unquestionable word od god, and they actually do a studt of it they will be sorely dissapointed

i have TREMENDOUS reservations about conjuring up faith in what illiterate bronze age goat herders misunderstood..

Jesus.. lived at the crossroads of the old Silk Road, it is quite possible he came into contact with travelers from Buddhist countries with teachings if the Buddha, Dharma.

what it is said he taught is essentially Buddhism, compassion/forgiveness, and compassion for enemies, and compassion for those who harm you.. these elements were sorely missing in his culture.. where people stoned to death family and friends, neighbors for absolute trivial religious bullshit.

when i was little i asked my mother why there was Red letter printing in her bible. she said that is what jesus actually said, the rest is what others said about him. i replied.. he didn't really say much did he.. later when i was a little older, i could read at 3, i read just the Red. it seemed a lot different than the rest/disjointed. then i started being forced to attend a fundamentalist splinter group of the Free Holy'ness Pentecostal Church.

i was just 6 but even a at that age i knew what Bat Shit Crazy was, they tortured children mostly, or some poor abused wife who didn't like abuse.. preacher would make them "Pray Thru", one of the most frightening traumatic torturous hideously humiliating things done to people i have ever witnessed, pure Evil. i became a Devout Atheist at age 5.

later when i became interested in Buddhism in 1970 my first impression was that this was what Jesus was trying to teach.. only there were obviously some chapters missing..

if Christianity is the only thing that inspires you to be a more compassionate loving person.., go for it..

i cant say the same for Islam. i studded Islam once having been inspired by a Sufi Community, i was really hoping to find it something to grasp and convert to. but, i was shocked by the lack of continuity.. it was disjointed and riddled with harsh references to violence and separatism. i was a research Biologist at the time, and one of little faith to give out. i have since discovered why there was no continuity
http://users.skynet.be/sky50779/mohammed.htm
"...These indications suggest that he suffered from acromegaly. This hypothesis allows to explain almost all details found in the hadith..".

and remember the murderous flap about a published image of the Prophet.. there are numerious illistrations if him in print in Muslem litrature. http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/ it seems that Acromegaly can severely disfigure the face in later stages.. thus the covered images

i researched and practiced many faiths in my investigation of Religion, metaphysics and spirituality.. mostly motivated from growing up in a family of Clairvoyants and being clairvoyant myself.. i did not pursue my study casually.

[timtom]

7. Thanks for sharing!

A very intelligent and wise article.

[tuvor]

8. Recommended reading: "What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality"

By Daniel A. Helminiak, who happens to be a priest.

http://www.amazon.com/What-Bible-Really-About-Homosexuality/dp/188636009X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238193263&sr=8-1

[rhett o rick]

10. With respect, it doesn't matter what you or someone else thinks the Bible says

about homosexuality. Those that use the Bible to justify their positions, one way or the other, are most likely not the type to change their minds. YOu say one thing they say another. Personally I think hating gays isn't Christian, but then neither was the Inquisition.

[Gregorian]

11. I was hoping someone would post this.

I guarantee Jesus wouldn't have given a shit about whether someone loved a person of the same sex or not.

Having grown up with a father who used to be a minister, I have always been aware of the idiocy around us that claims to be righteous in the name of religion.

The New Testament supercedes the Old. Many don't even get that basic bit.

They'll never get it. I don't expect to see fundies thinking outside of their tiny box.

[paulsby]

13. it never mentions lesbianism whatsoever

fwiw.

regardless of what one thinks about the bible's stance on homosexual behavior, it never even MENTIONs lesbianism, fwiw.

[chollybocker]

15. I get that religion + gay = volatile issue for many

...but on a personal basis, the bible has ZERO influence on my decision-making process in this (or any other) issue.

[progressoid]

16. Ah, that's the beauty of the bible - you can have it mean what ever you want.

Wanna kill people? There's a passage for that.

Wanna be a pacifist? There's a passage for that.

etc etc etc.

How about we just use common sense instead of a book written for people living two millennia ago. :shrug:

[The Straight Story]

20. That's the beauty of our constitution as well, and political speeches

people read into them what they want often.

bush says we need to stay in afghan and people are suspect, obama says it and we find reasons to agree with what he is doing.

Folks tend to twist things, not just the bible, to make themselves feel about their choices, condemn others for theirs, and find a way to back their team even when they make the same plays as the other team.

:)

[TWiley]

24. Doesn't the bible allow me to own a few slaves too? How about a Saturday afternoon Human Sacrifice?

[sarcasmo]

25. Fuck that book.