UbuntuCat

Several years ago, I wrote an essay called A Christian Perspective on “Homosexuality,” in which I tried to put forth what I viewed as a balanced view of Biblical truth and sociological realism and compassionate understanding.

I think about 90% of me still believes in that essay’s ideas.

There is that 10% that isn’t too sure, though. Maybe I’ve lived in San Francisco too long or heard too many of my pastor’s sermons (he and I disagree theologically on the topic of sexuality). I will say that one of the major reasons I’m questioning my earlier position is the reading of The Good Book by Peter Gomes. It had some interesting questions about how we read and interpret the Bible—as believers, as scholars, as literature readers.

While I had (for other topics) heard, read, and even made arguments in favor of reading the Bible with historical context and inaccurate or misleading translations in mind, I had always taken for granted the traditional interpretation of gay behavior as sin and hadn’t really explored opposing Christian interpretations (anti-Christian interpretations, of course, don’t believe the Bible to be true to begin with, so they’re irrelevant to this discussion). Gomes’ book, however, made me see sexuality as potentially just one of many misinterpreted issues when it comes to theology. And his argument style seems sound (not a desperate attempt to justify what he knows is wrong).

I’m in a very Malcolm X place right now—in the middle of questioning—not quite sure yet where exactly I stand… but still outspoken about the topics I am sure of.