The Gay Faith: Christ, Scripture, and Sexuality
Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Gender Studies, Gay Studies, Religion & Spirituality, Christianity, General Christianity
| Author: | M.W. Sphero | ISBN: | 9780955944086 |
| Publisher: | Herms Press | Publication: | April 2, 2012 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition | Language: | English |
| Author: | M.W. Sphero |
| ISBN: | 9780955944086 |
| Publisher: | Herms Press |
| Publication: | April 2, 2012 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition |
| Language: | English |
What does the Bible really say about homosexuality? The answer may very well surprise you. Did you know:
* The Old Testament does not prohibit homosexuality as we see it today. Don't believe it? The Torah never forbids homosexuality when
examining original language and historical context; the Hebrew word "Toevah" does not in fact mean "abomination" but rather "ritualistic
uncleanliness"; and Sodom and Gomorrah had nothing whatsoever to do with homosexuality, but rather with arrogance, idolatry, and a society's blood-thirst for violence. Likewise, all verses in both the Old and New Testaments referring to these two cities consistently state the same...without ever linking homosexuality in
any way whatsoever.
* The Old Testament speaks of a homosexual affair. The story of David and Jonathan describes this in detail in I Samuel, and climaxes with David saying of Jonathan: "Your love to me was more wonderful than the love of women" in II Samuel 1:26...the chosen Hebrew word for love used herein - "ahabah" - referring almost exclusively to a romantic form of love throughout the Bible.
* Christ said that some people were meant to be born gay. Matthew 19:12 - an important verse that many often miss, ignore, or simply misunderstand - quotes Christ clearly stating that "there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb". He goes on to give three definitions of what a eunuch is, including the above. Furthermore, the Greek word "eunoûchos" was historically used to include homosexual people, and Christ's listeners knew it.
* Christ seems to have blessed a gay relationship between a Roman Centurion and his lover. In the Gospels of both Matthew and Luke, a
Centurion humbly asks Christ to come and heal his dying "entimos duolos", or "special servant", as translated from the original Greek. It was common in the Roman Empire for some homosexual men to take on a legally-binding relationship to provide rights and legal protection to their same-sex partner. The Gospel writers realised what connotation this phrase carried in reference to a gay relationship, and used it anyway.
* Paul never condemned homosexuality. Unbelievable? The Greek term used by Paul - arsenokoit - has consistently meant "trader of homosexual slavery" in both religious and secular texts - not simply "homosexual" as most scholars now agree. Could Paul have actually been defending homosexuals against Greek cult-related slavery?
Organised religion has become a hindrance to a genuine personal faith in God due to its often times lack of understanding or overt misuse of scripture. To misuse the Bible by quoting a mere handful of so-called "clobber passages" that do not actually state what they are commonly claimed to say is to lie about what scripture affirms, and to become a stumbling block to millions of homosexual people who yearn to have a
personal relationship with Christ with guilt-free assurance, inner peace, and self-acceptance - as He Himself accepts them.
Many more issues on how the Bible is accepting of homosexuality are examined herein. The Gay Faith explains - in clear, verifiable, and easy-to-read detail - just how scripture supports homosexuality as a birthright and lifestyle. In order to avoid distraction from the
primary concepts within each chapter - cited scripture, recognised scholarly sources, explorations into historical contexts, detailed
linguistic analysis to original language, and authoritative sources in respective fields of study cleanly branch off from the main text and
into more complex endnotes and cross-references. Heterosexual-related topics such as premarital sex, chastity, and more, are also shown to
have likewise been misused by religion to make many stumble in their faith, and are examined in separate appendix sections. Printed version
additionally includes exhaustive index.
What does the Bible really say about homosexuality? The answer may very well surprise you. Did you know:
* The Old Testament does not prohibit homosexuality as we see it today. Don't believe it? The Torah never forbids homosexuality when
examining original language and historical context; the Hebrew word "Toevah" does not in fact mean "abomination" but rather "ritualistic
uncleanliness"; and Sodom and Gomorrah had nothing whatsoever to do with homosexuality, but rather with arrogance, idolatry, and a society's blood-thirst for violence. Likewise, all verses in both the Old and New Testaments referring to these two cities consistently state the same...without ever linking homosexuality in
any way whatsoever.
* The Old Testament speaks of a homosexual affair. The story of David and Jonathan describes this in detail in I Samuel, and climaxes with David saying of Jonathan: "Your love to me was more wonderful than the love of women" in II Samuel 1:26...the chosen Hebrew word for love used herein - "ahabah" - referring almost exclusively to a romantic form of love throughout the Bible.
* Christ said that some people were meant to be born gay. Matthew 19:12 - an important verse that many often miss, ignore, or simply misunderstand - quotes Christ clearly stating that "there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb". He goes on to give three definitions of what a eunuch is, including the above. Furthermore, the Greek word "eunoûchos" was historically used to include homosexual people, and Christ's listeners knew it.
* Christ seems to have blessed a gay relationship between a Roman Centurion and his lover. In the Gospels of both Matthew and Luke, a
Centurion humbly asks Christ to come and heal his dying "entimos duolos", or "special servant", as translated from the original Greek. It was common in the Roman Empire for some homosexual men to take on a legally-binding relationship to provide rights and legal protection to their same-sex partner. The Gospel writers realised what connotation this phrase carried in reference to a gay relationship, and used it anyway.
* Paul never condemned homosexuality. Unbelievable? The Greek term used by Paul - arsenokoit - has consistently meant "trader of homosexual slavery" in both religious and secular texts - not simply "homosexual" as most scholars now agree. Could Paul have actually been defending homosexuals against Greek cult-related slavery?
Organised religion has become a hindrance to a genuine personal faith in God due to its often times lack of understanding or overt misuse of scripture. To misuse the Bible by quoting a mere handful of so-called "clobber passages" that do not actually state what they are commonly claimed to say is to lie about what scripture affirms, and to become a stumbling block to millions of homosexual people who yearn to have a
personal relationship with Christ with guilt-free assurance, inner peace, and self-acceptance - as He Himself accepts them.
Many more issues on how the Bible is accepting of homosexuality are examined herein. The Gay Faith explains - in clear, verifiable, and easy-to-read detail - just how scripture supports homosexuality as a birthright and lifestyle. In order to avoid distraction from the
primary concepts within each chapter - cited scripture, recognised scholarly sources, explorations into historical contexts, detailed
linguistic analysis to original language, and authoritative sources in respective fields of study cleanly branch off from the main text and
into more complex endnotes and cross-references. Heterosexual-related topics such as premarital sex, chastity, and more, are also shown to
have likewise been misused by religion to make many stumble in their faith, and are examined in separate appendix sections. Printed version
additionally includes exhaustive index.
