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Question Two:
In
your opinion, do the Scriptures object to homosexuality?
Baptist: Dr. Stayton - There is nothing in the Bible regarding homosexual
orientation. In fact, the Bible does not concern itself with sexual orientation.
It does speak out probably against gang rape, male prostitution for religious
purposes, and pederasty (sex between an adult and youth). I lead Bible study
programs on this subject and am convinced that the Bible does not address the
issue of a person's sexual orientation.
Episcopalian: Bishop Spong - There are few biblical references to
homosexuality. The first, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, is often quoted to
prove that the Bible condemns homosexuality. But the real sin of Sodom was the
unwillingness of the city's men to observe the laws of hospitality. The
intention was to insult the stranger by forcing him to take the female role in
the sex act. The biblical narrative approves Lot's offer of his virgin daughters
to satisfy the sexual demands of the mob. How many would say, "This is the
word of the Lord?" When the Bible is quoted literally, it might be well for
the one quoting to read the text in its entirety.
Leviticus, in the Hebrew Scriptures, condemns
homosexual behavior, at least for males. Yet, "abomination," the word
Leviticus uses to describe homosexuality, is the same word used to describe a
menstruating woman.
Paul is the most quoted source in the battle to
condemn homosexuality (in Rom. 1:26-27 and in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). But
homosexual activity was regarded by Paul as a punishment visited upon idolaters
by God because of their unfaithfulness. Homosexuality was not the sin but the
punishment.
In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul gave a list of
those who would not inherit the kingdom of God. That list included the immoral,
idolaters, adulterers, sexual perverts, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers
and robbers. Sexual perverts is a translation of two words; it is possible that
the juxtaposition of malakos, the soft, effeminate word, with arsenokoitus,
or male prostitute, was meant to refer to the passive and active males in a
homosexual liaison.
Thus it appears that Paul would not approve of
homosexual behavior. But was Paul's opinion about homosexuality accurate, or was
it limited by the lack of scientific knowledge in his day and infected by
prejudice born of ignorance? An examination of some of Paul's other assumptions
and conclusions will help answer this question. Who today would share Paul's
anti-Semitic attitudes, his belief that the authority of the state was not to be
challenged, or that all women ought to be veiled? In these attitudes Paul's
thinking has been challenged and transcended even by the church. Is Paul's
commentary on homosexuality more absolute than some of his other antiquated,
culturally conditioned ideas?
Three other references in the New Testament (in
Timothy, Jude and II Peter) appear to be limited to condemnation of male sex
slaves in the first instance, and to showing examples (Sodom and Gomorrah) of
God's destruction of unbelievers and heretics (in Jude and II Peter
respectively). That is all that Scripture has to say about homosexuality. Even
if one is a biblical literalist, these references do not build an ironclad case
for condemnation. If one is not a biblical literalist there is no case at all,
nothing but prejudice born of ignorance, that attacks people whose only crime is
to be born with an unchangeable sexual predisposition toward those of their own
sex.
Episcopalian: Bishop Wood - I am aware of the concern for certain
homosexual acts and see no addressing of the condition or orientation [in the
Scriptures].
Judaism: Rabbi Lazar - The Bible, in my opinion, is very clear in its
objection to homosexuality.
Judaism: Rabbi Marder - I believe that the Hebrew Bible strongly condemns
homosexuality. While it is part of my tradition, I do not regard all Biblical
laws as binding on me. The Biblical condemnation of homosexuality is based on
human ignorance, suspicion of those who are different, and an overwhelming
concern for ensuring the survival of the people. Since the Bible regards
homosexuality as a capital crime, it clearly assumes that homosexuality is a
matter of free choice, a deliberate rebellion against God. We have learned from
modern science that people do not choose to be gay or straight; hence it is
neither logical nor moral to condemn those whose nature it is to be gay or
lesbian.
Judaism: Rabbi Dr. Teutsch - The Scriptural references to homosexuality
make no comment on lesbianism. They object to male homosexuality on three
grounds: cultic prostitution, unnaturalness, and "spilling seed" or
Onanism. Homosexuality has been shown to be natural in animals and humans. Gay
men today are not involved in cultic acts. And the spilling of the seed through
heterosexual, or masturbatory acts is not an issue for me. Thus I take this
prohibition no more seriously than many others, such as that against lending
money at interest, that do not make sense in this time and place.
Judaism: Rabbi Wilson - Only insofar as that at that time homosexual
behavior was a manifestation of abusive sexual practices associated with
idolatry and fertility cultism, and thus "abomination" because of the
association, not because of the intrinsic "relationship." Also,
because it was "unnatural," that is non-procreative, understandably in
tribal times when procreation was of highest priority.
Lutheran: Bishop Olson - Biblical scholars are busy restudying the few
verses which have often been regarded as anti-homosexual. One thing is clear,
these few verses do not refer to homosexuality as we understand and use that
term today. The Biblical texts do speak against sexual exploitation and rape
whether committed by persons with a heterosexual or homosexual orientation. The
great message of Scripture is of a God of unbounded love for the human family.
If God has any preference at all, it is for "the least," "the
lost" and "the last." God's amazing grace, compassion, and
salvation is open to everyone. Jesus is very clear in placing his gospel beyond
the limitations of churches and denominations. He says, "I have other sheep
that are not of this fold; I must bring them also. So there shall be one flock,
one shepherd." (John 10:16) Here is a partial list of verses that has every
right in being equally addressed to homosexual or heterosexual Christians: John
3:16, Galatians 3:27, Ephesians 2:8,9, Romans 3:21-24, Acts 10.
Former Mormon: Dr. McGrath - The Scriptures of my religious tradition
include the Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl
of Great Price. There are five references in the Bible that I grew up
believing to be Scriptural proof against homosexuality. However, I now believe
it would be a mistake to rely upon these references in forming my conclusions
about homosexuality. However, I now believe it would be a mistake to rely upon
these reference in forming my conclusions about homosexuality for the following
reasons:
 | What I have learned from living my life is
that those references in the Bible are not speaking to the truth I have
experienced in relation to how God views homosexual love.
| Although the General Authorities of my Church
have expressed strong negative opinions about homosexuality, none of our
latter day Prophets have proclaimed revelation from God on this issue,
including President Spencer W. Kimball who has probably been the most
outspoken on this topic.
| None of the words we attribute to Christ make
any reference to homosexuality
| None of the latter-day Scriptures make any
reference to homosexuality. |
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Presbyterian: Dr. Edwards - The Scriptures are very important because
they teach us God's love for all, gay or straight. But the Scriptures are old,
thousands of years old, written even before the word "homosexual"
existed. Same sex acts involving the genitals - we call these "homogenital"
- seem in Scripture to be thought of as the result of idol worship. See, for
example, Romans 1:18-27. Nor do the Scriptures seem to understand what we mean
today by "sexual orientation." Sexual acts which are injurious,
disrespectful, or unloving toward the other person are wrong. So I believe that
the Scriptures approve of homosexuality and even homogenital acts that are kind,
generous, loving, and respectful of the other person, just as in the case of
heterosexuality and heterogenital acts.
Presbyterian: Rev. Holfelder - A careful and sensitive reading of the
Scriptures does not lead to the automatic conclusion that homosexuality is a
sin. There are passages, especially in the "holiness literature" that
suggest this conclusion. However, the overall message of Scripture in this
matter is far more positive than negative. Biblically, the issue is the goodness
of human sexuality and the use of that gift in covenant relationship. For me a
more important question is that of the relationship of God in Christ to a human
being. In that relationship I see no barriers, even sexual ones.
Roman Catholic: Sister Ford - Contemporary Biblical scholars are
indicating that the idea of homosexual orientation was unknown to the writers of
the Sacred Scripture. Certainly they had no knowledge of the Kinsey research
which established the existence of a continuum along which all of us are
somewhere between the end points of totally heterosexual through bisexuality to
exclusively homosexual. Many of the oft-quoted "condemnatory passages"
may assume that heterosexuals are acting out of violation of their
"nature." There also is question as to whether words which appear in
our English texts refer in some cases in the original languages not to
homosexuals but to male prostitutes which were used in pagan worship. Certainly,
nowhere does the Bible legislate on the matter of loving sexual activity between
consenting adults in committed relationships.
Roman Catholic: Sister Gramick - When read at face value, the Scriptures
have nothing positive to say about homogenital behavior. However, most
Christians do not interpret the Bible literally; they try to understand the
Scriptures in their historical and cultural context and see what meaning the
Scriptures have for us today.
The Scriptures were written approximately 2,000
or more years ago when there was no knowledge of constitutional homosexuality.
The Scripture writers believed that all people were naturally heterosexual so
that they viewed homosexual activity as unnatural.
Women today are pointing out that the inferiority
of women expressed in the Scriptures was a product of the culture of the times
in which the Bible was written; it should not be followed today, now that we are
beginning to appreciate the natural and God-given equality of men and women.
Similarly, as we know that homosexuality is just
as natural and God-given as heterosexuality, we realize that the Biblical
injunctions against homosexuality were conditioned by the attitudes and beliefs
about this form of sexual expression which were held by people without benefit
of centuries of scientific knowledge and understanding.
It is unfair of us to expect or impose a
twentieth century mentality and understanding about equality of genders, races,
and sexual orientations on the Biblical writers. We must be able to distinguish
the eternal truths the Bible is meant to convey from the cultural forms and
attitudes expressed there.
Roman Catholic: Rev. Nugent - Catholicism uses four major sources for
principles and guidance in ethical questions like homosexuality: scripture,
tradition (theologians, church documents, official teachings, etc.), reason and
human experience. All are used in conjunction with one another. Scripture is a
fundamental and primary authoritative Catholic source - but not the only source.
Biblical witness is taken seriously, but not literally. An individual scriptural
text must be understood in the larger context of the original language and
culture, the various levels of meanings, and the texts' applications to
contemporary realities in light of the role of the community's and its official
leadership role in providing authoritative interpretations. Both Jewish and
Christian scriptures do speak negatively of certain forms of same-gender
(generally male) sexual behavior (not same-gender love), especially when
associated with idol worship, lust, violence, degradations, prostitution, etc.
Whether scriptures condemn all and every form of same-gender expression in and
of itself for all times, places and individuals in the topic of serious
theological and Biblical discussion and debate. Same-gender expressions of
responsible, faithful love in a covenanted relationship between two truly
homosexually oriented people not gifted with celibacy is not something
envisioned by scriptures. Whether this form of homosexuality violates biblical
or anthropological principles of sexuality and personhood - especially in light
of current scientific knowledge and human experience about the homosexual
orientation - is a key issue facing the churches and religious groups today.
Unitarian Universalist: Dr. Schulz - While the Old Testament (Hebrew
Scriptures) certainly condemns what it refers to as sodomy, it also condemns a
whole host of other practices (e.g., sleeping with a menstruating woman) which
have long been accepted as reputable. Most of the Old Testament is surely not an
appropriate resource from which to obtain guidance regarding contemporary
ethics! Turning to the New Testament, we discover that Jesus has nothing
whatsoever to say regarding homosexuality. Inasmuch as he frequently condemned
others of whose behavior he disapproved (e.g., the money-changers in the
temple), it is significant that he makes no reference to homosexuals or their
practices.
United Church of Christ: Dr. Lebacqz - Yes and No. Yes, in the same sense
that the Scriptures object to wearing clothes of different fabrics, eating pork
or other kinds of meat, and women speaking in church. That is to say, the
Scriptures are a human product which reflect the cultural limitations of their
time. Thus, they speak negatively about a number of practices that are routinely
accepted today, including certain sexual practices. Some of these sexual
practices are engaged in by both heterosexually and homosexually oriented
people.
No, in the same sense that the Scriptures do not
speak clearly to the phenomenon that we today call "homosexuality."
That is, Scripture speaks negatively about certain behaviors, most notably
temple prostitution, not about basic orientation or about loving and committed
gay/lesbian relationships (A possible exception here is the praise of the
relationship between David and Jonathan.)
United Church of Christ: Dr. Nelson - The Scriptures actually say nothing
about homosexuality as a psycho-sexual orientation. Our understandings of sexual
orientation are distinctly modern ones that were not present in the minds of
Scriptures writers. A few passages of Scripture (seven at the most) object to
certain types of same-sex expressions or acts. The particular acts in question,
however, are sexual expressions which are exploitative, oppressive,
commercialized, or offensive to ancient purity rituals. There is no Scriptural
guidance for same-sex relationships which are loving and mutually respecting.
Guidance for these relationships should come from the same general Scriptural
norms that apply to heterosexual relationships.
United Methodist: Dr. Cobb - Certainly some of the Biblical writers
objected to homosexual acts, but there is surprisingly little attention to this
topic. The opposition of the church comes from other sources much more than from
scripture. There are more scriptural reasons to oppose homophobia than to oppose
homosexuality.
United Methodist: Bishop Wheatley - The Scriptures at no point deal with
homosexuality as an authentic sexual orientation, a given condition of being.
The remarkably few Scriptural references to "homosexuality" deal
rather with homosexual acts, not with homosexual orientation. Those acts are
labeled as wrong out of the context of the times in which the writers wrote and
perceived those acts to be either nonmasculine, idolatrous, exploitative or
pagan. The kind of relationships between two consenting adults of the same sex
demonstrably abounding among us - relationships that are responsible and mutual,
affirming and fulfilling - are not dealt with in the Scriptures. Dealing with
those relational realities is one of the tasks we are about in our time.
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