Interfaith
Religion
and
Beliefs
for an
Internet
Generation
http://members.aol.com/porchfour/features/hoandbib.htm -- Homosexuality and the Bible.
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Interfaith Religion and Beliefs for an Internet Generation |
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The following articles appeared in PorchNus for June/July, 1998. Please see the file describing
PorchNus and its purposes on the PorchNus Menu: http://members.aol.com/porchnus/index.htm
Following this letter we provide links to information available on the Internet that may be of
interest to those who seek to broaden their understanding as to the origin of some cultural and
religous biases directed against sexual orientation.
The Editors
I am moved to write in response to a personal letter of apology from one of you, for "offending" me one night on the Porch. The topic in question was one of our more incendiary ones: gay rights, which becomes, as surely as night becomes day, the topic of homosexuality as "sin."
or those who do not know me,
this topic is very personal to me,
not because I am homosexual,
but because my brother, Chris,
was. "Was," because he died
15 months ago of AIDS, and yes, he contracted
it through unprotected homosexual sex. I would like to introduce all of you to my brother's life-
partner, Ron, whose mother has been taught to believe that, according to Jesus, he is going to hell.
(Ron is at left in photo, with Chris, at right)
Chris and Ron met in the summer of 1988. Chris was a bit leery of relationships, having been somewhat scarred by a long-term relationship gone bad, but within a few months, he knew it was the real thing. A few months later, they moved in together. In December, he found out that he was HIV positive, and that he had contracted it in the months before he met Ron. He wanted to break with Ron; Ron was virus-free, and Chris didn't want to put him at risk, or put him through the inevitable heartbreak to come. Ron wouldn't hear of it. As far as he was concerned, he was married for life, he loved Chris, and he was in it for better or for worse.
Everything was fine for the next four years. Then, in the summer of 1993, Chris started noticing a numbness in his legs, which slowly but surely spread upwards through his body. He came very close to dying, then, because they couldn't find what was causing the problem. Ron took care of him, carrying him everywhere like a beloved child, doing everything for him, supporting him physically and emotionally. Eventually, he became almost completely paralyzed, and as it started to affect his respiration, he was hospitalized. At the eleventh hour, his condition was finally diagnosed as the chronic form of Guillain-Barre syndrome. It was treatable with months and months of human immuno-globulin therapy. The bills started rolling in. Ron worked longer and longer hours, coming home to care for Chris, encouraging him in his physical therapy, loving him completely. By late summer of 1994, Chris was able to go back to work, and life went back to normal.
ut not for long. That fall, Chris had his first hard bout of pneumocystic pneumonia.
His weight plummeted, and again, Ron nursed him around the clock. And although
drug therapy eventually quashed the pneumonia, Chris never completely regained
his health. However, by summer, he did manage to go back to work part time,
and to gain a little weight back. We hoped against hope for a breather.
It was not to be. That fall, 1995, Chris had another bout with pneumonia, and his health and T-cell count went down so drastically that his doctor gave up, saying he'd be lucky to make it through the winter. Not Ron, though. Ron was there, 24/7, taking care of him, encouraging him to eat, take his medicine, carrying him upstairs to bed, still working extra time to pay the bills, and finding another doctor.
By spring of 1996, Chris' mind was beginning to go. Chris could no longer work at all. Ron did the paperwork to get disability for him, dealt with the insurance companies and Chris' employer and continued to work long hours to support them. Ron did all the cooking and cleaning and yardwork and laundry, as well as round-the-clock nursing care for Chris. He would call me in the middle of the night, crying because he was losing him, and never let Chris see his despair for a minute. But the new doctor was showing his stuff, with aggressive treatments of new drugs, and by summer, it seemed possible that things would actually get better.
And then, suddenly, everything was worse. Chris' mind started deteriorating fast, and he started having fevers and chills, and sleeping so hard he couldn't be awakened. The doctor put him in the hospital for tests. He was found to have contracted toxoplasmosis, possibly from the cats. This was the illness from which he would not recover.
e wouldn't eat, no matter what Ron fixed for him. He didn't sleep in any sort of
normal increments of time, so Ron was up all night, night after night. He finally had
to quit his job -- which meant ending a career, as he was slated for a promotion into
regional management. Money was more than tight, and the bills kept coming in. He
did whatever was necessary to save the house, and to keep Chris out of a nursing home, which Chris had always been afraid of. He worked with Chris tirelessly and always lovingly. By now, there were diapers to change, constant vomit to clean up. A feeding tube was inserted to Chris' stomach, and a cocktail of 20 medications was put through it, several times a day. Still Ron would hold him, and love him, and tell him how wonderful he was, and then, carry him to the bathroom, bathe him, dress him, feed him. Chris wanted him with him all the time. The only time Ron would allow us to spell him, or hire in help, was when he could no longer stay awake; Chris didn't let him sleep at night, or in the day either.
And when he died, Ron was holding him.
I didn't mean that to be so long; I really did have a point to make:
I don't care what you think about homosexuals, or any other subset of the human race. I care even less for the opinion of those who glibly say you "hate the sin, but love the sinner." I find it unbearably sad that Jesus' message of love has been so divisively misinterpreted.
hat I'd like you to keep in mind is this: by your words, you tell me who your God is.
You tell me that he is such that creates beings that are unacceptable to him. You
tell me that he is one who is more concerned that we follow the rules set out by
men than that we treat each other with love and compassion. Basically, you set
this choice before me: either become one of you, and spend eternity with you and that God, or spend eternity with the likes of Ron, whose love alone is grand enough to hold the universe in its arms.
Not a difficult decision.
Wendy
endy's letter calls to attention several issues in American life bearing on religion and
It is possible that chatrooms on America Online, especially those catering to religious interests, present an abnormal view of attitudes in American society as a whole. It is my contention that the voices of religious fundamentalists are most often heard in these chatrooms, far out of proportion to their representation in society, because they drive off coreligionists who hold more liberal and accepting attitudes with respect to human sexuality. They accomplish this by attacking, as heretical and spiritually impure, any viewpoint that is not grounded in a literal reading of Scripture.
There is a mounting body of evidence, in the form of scholarly analysis of the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible, that refutes these literalist viewpoints. There is also a great deal of professional research into human sexuality that refutes the claims of some religionists that sexual orientation is a matter of choice or nurture rather than a matter of human nature. From the vast amount of information on these subjects available on the Internet, I have selected a number of websites to recommend as sources of sound information.
he first section below reproduces a webpage offered by the Ontario Centre for
Religious Tolerance. Under the heading of Homosexuality and Bisexuality it covers
a broad range of topics, careful definitions, and astute analyses. Below the OCRT
material I list a number of other websites that I have found worthwhile. Some of
these websites duplicate some of the OCRT material, but much of the content approaches the topics from slightly different viewpoints and is well worth reading. If time available for reading is limited, I commend especially What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality.
This presentation is obviously and purposefully biased toward liberality and acceptance of persons cast out from and discriminated against by fundamentalist religious fellowships. PorchNus will consider presenting, in a future issue, brief opposing viewpoints.
One final comment. Some of the websites listed here are, in many ways, rather fundamentalist regarding other aspects of Christian belief. The inclusion of them here is not an endorsement of any doctrinal statement. The spectrum of Christian doctrines and beliefs is very broad and no one (that I know of) subscribes to all of them. Caveat lector, skeptical inquiry, is always prudent.
Homosexuality and Bisexuality
"Because families are defined by love not gender. Because hatred is not a family value. Because equal rights are not special rights."
Anonymous comment picked up from a gay web site.
"The fact is that more people have been slaughtered in the name of religion than for any other single reason. That, THAT my friends, is true perversion."
This section is dedicated to the memory of Harvey Milk, who spoke the above words at the 1978 Gay Freedom Day Rally. He was killed that year by a fanatic.
Topics covered in this page are:
"It was for very different reasons that I wrote What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality. I had been following the scholarship on the Bible and homosexuality for some years. At a certain point -- when Bill Countryman published his Dirt, Greed and Sex -- I realized that all the questions were answered. None of the Bible texts really condemns homosexuality per se. And the Fundamentalists still control the air waves and public opinion, leading people to think that God is against gays. So I decided that a popularization of the scholarly material was needed. People needed to know what the scholars are saying. So I wrote that book, and spent six years trying to get someone to publish it, and it has become a best seller. It makes me feel very good that it is serving the purpose for which I wrote it". [ from an interview at www.amazon.com ]
elminiak is a former Catholic priest with a private practice in pastoral counseling.
He holds Ph.D.s in systematic theology and educational psychology and has
authored several books and many articles dealing with spirituality and religion. In
What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality, Helminiak examines the
relatively few Biblical verses that serve to support the views of those who hold that homosexuality is a sin. He examines the Hebrew and Greek words and statements in the context of the time in which they were written, and discusses the differences between sin and abomination.
What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality contains a foreword by Bishop John. S. Spong and is an easy and rewarding read for those who wish to have the Bible demystified. I found a copy at Barnes and Noble, and it is easily obtained at Amazon Books (www.amazon.com).
List price is $9.95 (Amazon discounts 20%), ISBN 0-9624-7519-x, Alamo Square Press, 1994, 120pp., Pbk.
Portions of What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality may be read online by visiting Helminiak's website, elements of which are displayed here:
Additional Gay/Bible Issues Websites
Sexuality, Marriage, and Christian Values: http://student-www.uchicago.edu/users/mbaldwin/homo.html
"This multi-faceted argument, which has been conveniently separated into "pages" for the sake of clarity. The argument may be read in sections, which are somewhat independent, or straight through. Buttons which connect the sections are located at the bottom of each page." Contact: Rev. Matthew C. Baldwin by E-mail at: MBaldwin
Interweave (Unitarian): http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/orgs/uua/uu-interweave.html
"Mission statement of the Interweave Continental, Inc.: Interweave is a membership
organization affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association, dedicated to the
spiritual, political, and social well-being of Unitarian Universalists who are confronting
oppression as lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender persons, and their hetero-
sexual allies; and facilitates the celebration of the culture and lives of its members."
Gay Theological Journal: http://www.pubpartners.com/gaytheojrnl.html
Gay Theological Journal/Homosexual Perspectives on Religion & The Scriptures is a printed journal dedicated to re-examining and interpreting the Bible's teaching on homosexuality and homosexual practices, as well as current thinking among leaders from a broad spectrum of religions, backgrounds and theological perspectives committed to making today's congregations more inclusive and welcoming. Annual subscription price is $20 for individuals and $30 for organizations, institutions, seminaries and libraries. Canadian subscription rate is $30 (U.S.) per year; international subscriptions are $35 (U.S.) per year.
Of particular note on this website is a long list of organizations which have been established in many religions and denominations around the world to promote inclusion and acceptance of gays and lesbians. These are "official" and non-official religious and non-denominational organizations that gay men and lesbians of faith can reference for information and/or support. See: Accepting Groups: http://www.pubpartners.com/lgbtresources.html
Gay & Lesbian Jewish Organizations: http://www.dircon.co.uk/wcgljo/
"The World Congress of Gay and Lesbian Jewish Organizations currently has over 65 member organizations (many of which are themselves umbrella bodies). These extend across North America, Latin America, Eastern and Western Europe, South Africa, Australia and Israel. WCGLJO mounts conferences and workshops and represents the interests of lesbian and gay Jews around the world at national, continental and global contexts."
Queer Masjid for Muslims: http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Heights/8977
The Queer Masjid for Muslim Homosexuals website covers a broad array of topics of interest to gay Muslims. In addition to articles and opinion pieces it offers a bulletin board and links to other websites such as the QueerNet GayMuslims moderated mailing list maintained at: http://www.queernet.org/lists/gay-muslims.html
Integrity Episcopalians: http://members.aol.com/natlinteg/
ntegrity is a group of gay and lesbian Episcopalians and their friends. We are a
family within the church, a place to find close community and support. We offer
an opportunity to find growth, education and prayer. We work with each other in
service to the church and to the gay/lesbian community. We call the church to
greater faithfulness to the Gospel through the full inclusion of lesbians and gay men in the life of the church.
The Evangelical Network: http://www.psn.net/~ten/home.html
"A network of Bible believing churches, ministries, Christian workers and individuals bound together by a common shared faith united in purpose and witness. This website has been established as a positive resource and support network for Christian gays and lesbians."
Whosoever: http://www.whosoever.org/
is an online news journal for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Christians that gives you a first hand look at how these Christians look at the world. Every other month, Whosoever offers articles and commentaries suggesting how they can respond to the world with the love of Christ. Whosoever was inspired by John 3:16, and strives to assure gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons that they are included in the saying "whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."
Whosoever's website contains another complete listing and discussion of those Bible verses used to support discrimination against gays. See the webpage entitled: Bible and Homosexuality: http://www.whosoever.org/bible/index.html . All back issues are available online.
More Light Churches Network (Presbyterian): http://www.mlcn.org/
"We are a movement within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) focused on a very specific concern: the equal treatment of persons regardless of their sexual orientation. In 1992, More Light congregations formally organized as the More Light Churches Network. The steering committee meets several times during the year to facilitate communication among More Light churches between conferences and provide resources and models for ministry."
Dignity (Catholic): http://dignityusa.org/
"We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-
gendered Catholics in our diversity are members of
Christ's mystical body, numbered among the People
of God. We have an inherent dignity because God created us, Christ died for us, and the Holy Spirit sanctified us in Baptism, making us temples of the Spirit, and channels through which God's love becomes visible. Because of this, it is our right, our privilege, and our duty to live the sacramental life of the Church, so that we might become more powerful instruments of God's love working among all people."
"We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons can express their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ's teaching. We believe that we can express our sexuality physically, in a unitive manner that is loving, life-giving, and life-affirming. We believe that all sexuality should be exercised in an ethically responsible and unselfish way."
[ This website contains a wealth of information, much of it not "Catholic" in viewpoint. ]
Lutherans Concerned/North America: http://www.lcna.org/
e help people reconcile their spirituality and sexuality in an uplifting way. We also
seek to lead the church by example. We cannot wait for everyone in the church to
understand how acute the need is. We are called to minister to people now. Even
as we continue to nurture worshipping communities that proclaim the Gospel while
affirming sexual diversity, we are called to do more.
Our vision is to take the lead in creating new ministries for those the institutional church is ignoring. Through our understanding of the Gospel, we believe that reaching out first and helping others helps each of us grow in our faith and understanding of God's grace.
Mel White's Justice Net: http://www.melwhite.org/
Mel White was once the ghostwriter for such leaders of the Religious Right as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. He has come out of the closet of silence to confront the homophobia these men engender and to issue a clarion call for justice and freedom. Dr. White is the author of Stranger at the Gate - To Be Gay and Christian in America. He is also the Minister of Justice for UFMCC (Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches): http://www.ufmcc.com
Affirmation (Mormon): http://www.teleport.com/~affadmin/
ffirmation is a fellowship of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, their family and friends who
share the common bond of the Mormon experience. Its purpose is to provide a
supportive environment for relieving the needless fear, guilt, self-oppression and
isolation that LDS gays and lesbians experience in an era where willful ignorance
about human sexuality is too often a reality. We believe that a same-gender orientation and same-gender relationships can be consistent with and supported by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We affirm that we are children of Heavenly Parents who love us the way they created us and will judge us, as they do all, based on what we make of our lives here and how we have treated our sisters and brothers.
[ This website contains an excellent, academic discussion of the Biblical texts. ]
Why Fundamentalism is Wrong: http://www.pe.net/~bidstrup/religion.htm
"Fundamentalism is variously described by various authors, [but to the author of this website] it really boils down to a rather simple test: a fundamentalist religion is a religion, any religion, that when confronted with a conflict between love, compassion and caring, and conformity to doctrine, will almost invariably choose the latter regardless of the effect it has on its followers or on the society of which it is a part".
"Fundamentalist religions make this choice because they uniformly place a high priority on doctrinal conformity, with such force that it takes higher priority than love, compassion and service. Indeed, many fundamentalists are so caught up in doctrinal seriousness, that love, service and compassion seem scarcely to even be a part of their thinking."