Recommend resources for studying Christian views on homosexuality.

[Macrina]

This thread is for people to post books, articles, links, etc. which they find useful in illuminating discussions amongst Christians regarding homosexuality.

I, personally, am most interested in reliable scholarly sources which discuss the interpretation of Romans 1. Please let me know if you have particularly good resources for this.

But also feel free to post references to other material relevant to the conversation. I don't think any of us should fear the search for truth, and reading solid biblical and theological scholarship can be quite helpful.

These are three relevant books which I own:

Homosexuality and the Bible: Two Views is a very short summary of "for" and "against" arguments, and I found it helpful to get an overview of the conversation.

The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Text and Hermeneutics is very heavy, very detailed, and focuses on biblical arguments against same-gender sex as a morally acceptable behavior (orientation is considered distinct from whether one chooses to be celibate or sexually active).

Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis traces the parallels and differences in analyzing three issues from scripture: Slavery, the role of women in marriage and the church, and the morality of same-gender sex. Very helpful in looking at similarities and differences in method, given that these three issues are sometimes associated in debates.


I'm looking forward to seeing what other people add.



ETA: PLEASE STAY ON TOPIC. THERE ARE OTHER THREADS TO DEBATE THE MORALITY OF HOMOSEXUALITY. THIS THREAD IS INTENDED TO BE A CLEARINGHOUSE OF RESOURCES. PLEASE START YOUR OWN THREAD RATHER THAN DERAILING MINE. THANK YOU.

 

[AlAyeti]

This thread is for people to post books, articles, links, etc. which they find useful in illuminating discussions amongst Christians regarding homosexuality.

I, personally, am most interested in reliable scholarly sources which discuss the interpretation of Romans 1. Please let me know if you have particularly good resources for this.

But also feel free to post references to other material relevant to the conversation. I don't think any of us should fear the search for truth, and reading solid biblical and theological scholarship can be quite helpful.

These are three relevant books which I own:

Homosexuality and the Bible: Two Views is a very short summary of "for" and "against" arguments, and I found it helpful to get an overview of the conversation.

The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Text and Hermeneutics is very heavy, very detailed, and focuses on biblical arguments against same-gender sex as a morally acceptable behavior (orientation is considered distinct from whether one chooses to be celibate or sexually active).

Slaves, Women, and Homosexuals: Exploring the Hermeneutics of Cultural Analysis traces the parallels and differences in analyzing three issues from scripture: Slavery, the role of women in marriage and the church, and the morality of same-gender sex. Very helpful in looking at similarities and differences in method, given that these three issues are sometimes associated in debates.


I'm looking forward to seeing what other people add.

Here you go:

Talking Points (Pro-Gay Theology)

 

[brightmorningstar]

The debates beteen Gagnon and Wink are very good as well.

ie Robert Gagnon vs Walter Wink on the Bible and Homosexual Practice

However there is one crucial point to realise. The case against same sex relations cites a dozen or more scriptures from OT and NT, the case for doesnt cite scriptures, it merely disputes scripture.
So one might well say there is no question or debate.

 

[AlAyeti]

And:

Desert Stream Ministries

Courage

JONAH, Jews Offering New Alternatives to Homosexuality

Home

Welcome

NewDirection.ca - Home

NEA Ex-Gay Educators' Caucus

Love Won Out

And, etc., etc., etc..

 

[Macrina]

I agree with you AlAyeti
Amen

Well, I appreciate you both posting resources. It may be that there are others like me who are willing to test their positions, and the resources you provide might help them to arrive at what you and I would call a more biblical interpretation. Information can't hurt, right?

 

[brightmorningstar]

To Macrina

While I tend to agree that scripture speaks clearly on the issue, I also know that there are intelligent and faithful people who think it isn't so clear.

In what way could they be faithful? (or intelligent for that matter) faithful to what if not what the scriptures say.

 

[Criada]

Thanks for thinking of doing this, Macrina, I've been trying to collect such resources for some time. I'll post some later, got to go out now!

 

[Macrina]

To Macrina
In what way could they be faithful? (or intelligent for that matter) faithful to what if not what the scriptures say.

Well, I know some people who hold orthodox theology and who have shown that, in other areas, they are very concerned with understanding scripture. These are people who, in other areas, show that they can reason and use sense to discern moral truths. Therefore, even though I think they are quite wrong, I try to do them the justice of considering them honestly wrong.

Granted, there are some people who seem to be deliberate about wanting to disregard parts of the Bible, but I don't believe that describes everybody who disagrees with my interpretation.

Imagine I'm in conversation with someone who disagrees with me about the morality of homosexuality. One of us is right, and one of us is wrong, but it may be that we both value scripture. If we both agree to study the issue, look at the Bible, and try to understand it, then won't at least one of us come out of it with a better understanding? If someone honestly doesn't care what scripture says, then I have little basis for discussion with them; but I think there are those out there who do indeed care and are willing to consider their positions more deeply. I respect them greatly for that.

 

[Criada]

http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality

Whosoever Magazine

Resolving differences in beliefs about homosexuality, reparative therapy, etc.

http://books.google.com/books?id=f6oBJq4lI-kC&dq=homosexuality+and+the+bible (This is only a preview of the book)

The Church and the Homosexual-John-J-McNeill (Haven't read this one yet, though I've heard it recommended.)

 

[David Brider]

One book that I've found incredibly useful is A Theology of Gay and Lesbian Inclusion - Love Letters to the Church by Donald Hanway. It's written more from a pastoral perspective than a scholarly one, but nevertheless you may find it useful.

David.

 

[AlAyeti]

A very good perspective:

Homosexuality: Nature, Nurture and Compassion

 

[Texas Lynn]

Ten Wrong Things I Learned from a Conservative Church, Rev. Dr. John Killinger

God's Politics, Rev. Jim Wallis

Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?: Another Christian view by Letha Scanzoni and Virginia Ramey Mollenkott

A New Religious America: How a "Christian Country" Has Become the World's Most Religiously Diverse Nation by Diana L. Eck

Stealing Jesus: How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity by Bruce Bawer

The Lord Is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay: The Autobiography of the Reverend Troy D. Perry by Troy D. Perry and Charles L. Lucas

 

[one11]

THIS IS THE OP:

I just watched a movie on the Sundance Channel called: "For the Bible Tells Me So".

You could check the schedule of the Sundance Channel to see if it will be playing again (they usually play movies several times).

It was a documentary on the gay and lesbian issues in regards to the Bible, and I would recommend it as worth watching.

(Actually, the above movie I cited is on Sundance Channel right now as of 1:48 p.m. p.t.)

 

[Zebra1552]

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This thread is to post resources and a summary of those resources, not bicker over the resources, not debate homosexuality, and not to insult each other!
Let me interpret what that means:

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[ParanoidAndroid]

I haven't got a link, but I've typed out an entry from my Bible dictionary under the heading "Homosexuality". I think it is most appropriate and fairly approaches the material. Hope it's of some help:

The Bible says nothing specifically about the homosexual condition, but its condemnation of homosexual conduct are explicit. The scope of these strictures must, however, be carefully determined. Too often they have been used as tools of a homophobic polemic which has claimed too much.

The exegesis of the Sodom and Gibeah stories (Genesis 19:1-25; Judges 19:13-20, 48) is a good case in point. We must resist D.S Bailey's widely-quoted claim that the sin God punished on these occasions was a breach of hospitality etiquette without sexual overtones (it fails to explain adequately both the double usage of the word "know" (Hebrew yada) and the reason behind the substitutionary offer of Lot's daughters and the Levite's concubine); but neither account amounts to a wholesale condemnation of all homosexual acts. On both occasions the sin condemned was attempted homosexual rape, not a caring homosexual relationship between consenting partners.

The force of the other Old Testament references to homosexuality is similarly limited by the context in which they are set. Historically, homosexual behaviour was linked with idolatrous cult prostitution (1 Kings 14:24; 15:12; 22:46). The stern warnings of the levitical law (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13) are primarily aimed at idolatry too; the word "abomination" (Hebrew tô‛êbah) for example, which feature in both these references, is a religious term often used for idolatrous practices. Viewed strictly within their context, then, these Old Testament condemnations apply to homosexual activity conducted in the course of idolatry, but not necessarily more widely than that.

In Romans 1, Paul condemned homosexual acts, lesbian as well as male, in the same breath as idolatry (v23-27), but his theological canvas is broader than that of Leviticus. Instead of treating homosexual behaviour as an expression of idolatrous worship, he traces both to the bad 'exchange' fallen man has made in departing from his Creator's intentions (verse 25). Seen from this angle, every homosexual act is unnatural, not because it cuts across the individuals natural sexual orientation (which, of course, it may not) or infringes Old Testament Law, but because it flies in the face of God's creation scheme for human sexual expression.

Paul makes two more references to homosexual practice in other Epistles. Both occur in lists of banned activities and strike the same condemnatory note. In 1 Corinthians 6:9, practising homosexuals are included among the unrighteous who will not inherit the kingdom of God (but with the redemptive note added, "such were some of you"); and in 1 Timothy 1:9, they feature in a list of "the lawless and disobedient". The latter is especially important because the whole list represents an updated version of the Ten Commandments. Paul parallels the 7th commandment (on adultery) with a reference to "immoral persons" and "sodomites", words which cover all sexual intercourse outside marriage, whether heterosexual or homosexual. If the Decalogue is permanently valid, the significance of this application is heightened still further.

It has been suggested that the meaning of "sodomites" (Greek arsenikoites) in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10 may be restricted to that of "male prostitute". Linguistic evidence to support this view is lacking, however, though the word itself is certainly rare in literature of the New Testament period. it seems beyond reasonable doubt that Paul intended to condemn homosexual conduct (but not homosexual people) in the most general and theologically broad terms he knew. His three scattered references fit together in an impressive way as an expression of God's will as he saw it. As Creator, Law-Giver and King, the Lord's condemnation of such behaviour was absolutely plain.

(Quoted from the New Bible Dictionary, 21st Century edition, pp. 478-479; Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester, England)

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

That said, a particular book I have found to be most interesting in dealing with this issue is titled - What some of you were: stories about Christians and homosexuality | Matthias Media (this website also provides a link to a free download of the opening couple of chapters of the book, if you want to preview what it's like).

This book is essentially a collection of testimonies of Christians who identify themselves as homosexual, but because of their love for God have chosen to reject the homosexual lifestyle (contrary to the popular media, there are many Christian homosexuals who do not want to embrace the homosexual lifestyle).

 

[David Brider]

http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality

That's a really fascinating article - thanks for posting it. I think I may have to print it out so I can read it in more depth.

David.

 

[Zebra1552]

MOD HAT ON

This thread has been cleaned. It will be reopened shortly.

MOD HAT OFF​

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

MOD HAT ON​

This thread is to post resources and a summary of those resources, not bicker over the resources, not debate homosexuality, and not to insult each other!
Thread is re-opened, but remember that means:
If you continue making off topic remarks, this thread will be permanently closed.

MOD HAT OFF​

 

[Texas Lynn]

http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality

I have alwyas been impressed with the Speaking of the Truth to Power that comes from Soulfource.

That said, Soulfource's founder, Rev. Mel White, also has an excellent book, Stranger at the Gates.