Biblical arguments
Submitted by maggie on June 22 2000 21:01:17
In reply to Being gay - the heart of the matter submitted by F.O.D. on June 20 2000 14:54:31
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Most websites addressing the Biblical question promote one view or the other, but not both. The Bridges-Across Faith Page has the best links on the web presenting both sides of the biblical argument. (full disclosure: I'm the webmaster for BA.) For me, the "Problem of Authority" argument presented by Walter Wink in his booklet "Homosexuality and the Bible" (online at http://www.bridges-across.org/ba/wink.htm) is a very significant one.. Here's the description of the articles to which the Faith Page of Bridges-Across links. For live links to these articles, surf to our Faith Page to which I offer a live link at the end of this post. ============== Faith Communities and Homosexuality edited by Heather Elizabeth Peterson http://www.bridges-across.org/ba/faith_communities.htm ---- Christian Debate Gene Chase: 117 Questions most asked by gay Christians http://www.messiah.edu/hpages/facstaff/chase/h/apologet/index.htm Q. My experience of holiness as a gay or lesbian Christian is no different from yours. As best I can reason, it matches what God wants for me. God has confirmed this for me by His loving acceptance of me, by gifting me with spiritual gifts, and by the way the Bible speaks to me about being faithful to my gay lover. How can you be so presumptuous as to say that I am wrong? R. A.This is actually the hardest question of all. It conflates experience, revelation, and reason. In that respect, it is the question that all of the answers on these pages are designed to address. Jeramy Townsley: Paul, The Goddess, and Homosexuality http://php.iupui.edu/~jtownsle/papers/paulcybl.html Augustine's account is very similar, including a description of their emasculated state: "There are sacred rites of the mother of the gods, in which the beautiful youth Atys, loved by her, and castrated by her through a woman's jealousy, is deplored by men who have suffered the like calamity, whom they call Galli. ... And certainly they themselves have seen what they transact in secret through the agency of mutilated and effeminate men." (note: both Gene Chase and Jeramy Townsley are BA participants) Tony & Peggy Campolo ("Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?") http://www.bridges-across.org/ba/campolo.htm "We have very, very divergent views on this issue. I for instance believe that the Bible does not allow for same gender sexual marriage. I do not believe that same gender sexual intercourse is permissible if you read the Bible as I do. Peggy believes in monogamous relationships. In short, she would hold to a belief that within the framework of evangelical Christianity, gay marriages are permissible and she will try to make her point." (Mrs. Campolo gave B-A a copy of this video for transcription and upload ) Wink-Mauser Debate : "Homosexuality and the Bible" http://christianity.miningco.com/religion/christianity/library/weekly/aa091597.htm "Not since slavery, in my estimation, has there been an issue that has as much potential to divide the religious communities as this one." (off-site link) Herzog-Brauch Debate; "The Bible and Homosexuality" http://www.bridges-across.org/ba/herzog-brauch.htm "Although these two highly regarded academics have very different viewpoints on the subject, they are and will remain friends and brothers in Christ." (our transcription of an American Baptist video) Ontario Consultants on Relious Tolerance: "The Bible and Homosexuality" http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibl.htm "We explain Biblical references to homosexuality from both a conservative and liberal Christian perspective. Topics covered are: Summary & Caution, Biblical References to Same-Sex Activity, People's beliefs about the Bible, Verses in the book of Genesis, Verses in the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), Verses in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament), Same-sex relationships in the Bible, Conclusions, Internet & published references." (offsite link) H.N.Miller: The Bible on Homosexuality: http://members.aol.com/GayMatter/h-issue.htm The Church must always ask, "What does the Bible Say?" "Many Christians wonder what the fuss is all about, why this issue is not settled quickly, since the Bible is so clear on the subject. It's obvious homosexual behavior is wrong. Because, simply, the Bible says it is! However, other Christians make a case that the Bible does not condemn all homosexual practice. The passages which mention same-sex relations are not as straightforward as they appear." (offsite link) Harold Miller, a Mennonite, runs a Gay Issues Discussion Board. His report on the March, 1999 Mennonite consultaton is posted on the Bridges-Across webforum. Jeramy Townsley: "Search for God's Heart and Truth" " http://www.bridges-across.org/ba/faith/jt_sfgh.htm First, let me say that I am an Evangelical Christian, committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, his death, burial and resurrection, and our absolute need for Him for the forgiveness of our sins. Along with this is a commitment to the integrity of Scripture--realizing the need to try to understand the original intent of the author as s/he was inspired by the Holy Spirit, rather than trying to dismiss passages that don't conform to what I happen to want to believe. Joe Dallas: "Responding to Pro-Gay Theology" http://www.leaderu.com/jhs/dallas.html "When God is reputed to sanction what He has already clearly forbidden, then a religious travesty is being played out, and boldly. Confronting it is necessary because it (the pro-gay theology) asks us to confirm professing Christians in their sin, when we are Biblically commanded to do just the opposite." (offsite link) Royce Buehler: "A Defense Theory: An Analysis of Six Critical Texts Used to Condemn Homosexuality" http://www.whosoever.org/v2i5/defense.html "Then came a post that, as I thought, brought my whole pro-gay house of cards tumbling down. It was drawn from Joe Dallas, and it concerned the much-disputed word in 1 Corinthians 6:9, and in 1 Timothy 1:10.. " Loren L. Johns: "Homosexuality and the Bible: A Case Study in the Use of the Bible for Ethics" http://bc.bluffton.edu/~johnsl/Homosexuality.htm "Christians agree on many of the ethical issues surrounding homosexuality. The single issue around which most of the difference remains is, 'Is a loving, committed, monogamous homosexual relationship among Christians (including sexual intercourse) tolerated or blessed by God today?' (offsite link) Walter Wink: "Homosexuality and the Bible" http://www.bridges-across.org/ba/wink.htm "We in the church need to get our priorities straight. We have not reached a consensus about who is right on the issue of homosexuality. But what is clear, utterly clear, is that we are commanded to love one another." (onsite - available as a low-cost print publication) Bob Davies: What Does the Bible Say?" http://www.messiah.edu/hpages/facstaff/chase/h/articles/art7.htm "The latest findings of science and and individual's personal experiences are treated as higher authorities than the Scriptures." (off-site link) Rankin and LaFountaine Debate: " Does the Bible Object More to Homophobia than to Homosexuality?" http://www.bridges-across.org/ba/rankin_lafountaine_part1.htm LaFountaine: "The irony is the church wants to kick us out. We are already in the church. We have been in the church for centuries, serving the church faithfully." Rankin: "My interest in argument tonight is not to be negative against homosexuality or homosexuals, it is to be positive in favor of the image of God the way God ordained it." (onsite, audio transcription provided to B-A) |
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