Biblical Commentary


24
Apr 10

When Two Women Marry

Today, I’m headed to a bridal shower for two of my closest friends, Brenda and Harriet. I’m not sure either really want a shower- it was their kid’s idea- but I know they are both excited about getting married. They have been together since.,.. I can’t remember that far back. Why is is that gays and lesbians get blamed for trying to destroy the institution f marriage? Aren’t we the ones that live our lives together, in committed relationships? We simply want all the legal trappings that marriage allows a couple. but really, it is more than that. A marriage is a way of naming a relationship as real and meaningful and valid in front of a community of friends and family, and before the whole of creation. It isn’t that we don’t know our relationships are real, for we do. But it is another layer of coming out of the closet to name it so, in such a public and definitive way.

There is a Bible passage on the card I got for the shower (as per my assignment). Matthew 19:6, a common passage to suggest or encourage a long lasting joining of two individuals into one new being, a couple.

So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.

It almost creeps me out to put that inside of a wedding card. LOL. And without getting too political (how can I help myself?) but why is it that the Religious bigots are so intent on keeping our relationships apart?

Brenda and Harriet have years of experience exploring the path of togetherness that works for them and makes them an amazing couple  in front of the Divine as well in front of all who stand as witness. Long Live Love!


20
Sep 09

Marriage Requirements

This is an especially interesting passage, considering how the Bible is used as justification why gays and lesbians should not be allowed to marry. Imagine our society if every woman who was not a virgin was stoned to death, in front of her parent’s home. Is that what the radical Christian right is meaning when they want to protect the sanctity of marriage? There is little alternative to the interpretation: a requirement for marriage is that the woman is a virgin, and the Bible offers the punishment for a man who falsely accuses his wife as well as punishment for the wife is isn’t a virgin.

Why isn’t the National Organization for Marriage on top of this? They could be handing out the stones if they are so intent on protecting marriage.

Deuteronomy 22:13-21 (New International Version)

Marriage Violations

13 If a man takes a wife and, after lying with her, dislikes her 14 and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find proof of her virginity,” 15 then the girl’s father and mother shall bring proof that she was a virgin to the town elders at the gate. 16 The girl’s father will say to the elders, “I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he dislikes her. 17 Now he has slandered her and said, ‘I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.’ But here is the proof of my daughter’s virginity.” Then her parents shall display the cloth before the elders of the town, 18 and the elders shall take the man and punish him. 19 They shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver [a] and give them to the girl’s father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.

20 If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the girl’s virginity can be found, 21 she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death. She has done a disgraceful thing in Israel by being promiscuous while still in her father’s house. You must purge the evil from among you.

Dan Leveille.


2
Sep 09

The Bible is Not About Beating LGBT People Up

Michael Jones is one of my favorite bloggers, and today writes about the  HRC project, “Out in Scripture.” Here is a quote from the book’s editor:

As editor Sidney Fowler said, ‘The Bible is not about beating you up, but lifting us all up.  It includes the seeds of liberation and justice.’ Be prepared to be transformed as well.”

It’s kind of like a week-by-week look at the Bible with a lens on LGBT spirituality.  And it highlights an ongoing trend between religiousity and LGBT rights.

Sounds perfect for anyone following my podcast.

The Bible is Not About Beating LGBT People Up (Gay Rights – Change.org).


12
Jul 09

Gay bashing in the Holy Bible

If we asked many queers what the Bible had to say when it comes to gay bashing, most might point to the well known scriptures such as Leviticus that are condemning of homosexuality. but there is a New Testament scripture that gives a whole new perspective to it. Matthew 5:22.

I found this when I was looking up the wikipedia definition of “gay bash.”  The entry there talks about an idea presented in Byrne Fone’s book, Homophobia: A History:

The word Raca is often translated as “fool”, and sometimes refers to one who deserves to be spat upon, or was sometimes used to insult homosexuals. If this is the case, then Jesus is warning of hell fire for those who engage in verbal gay bashing as part of the Sermon on the Mount, and the warning is even harsher than Jesus’ pronouncement about murder in Matthew 5:21. The most common view is that Raca is a reference to the Aramaic word reka (see also Aramaic of Jesus), which literally means empty one, probably referring to empty headed, or foolish. The word translated as fool is Moros which has a similar meaning to the Aramaic reka, but it can also be used to mean godless, and so was a much stronger term. Some writers[who?] have argued that raca can mean effeminate and moros referring to a homosexual aggressor, and so Jesus could here be seen to be condemning homophobia. Halsall repeats this argument but concedes that it is less than conclusive.[1] Dr. Ralph Blair discounts this theory writing, “Biblical scholars say that the term probably means “empty headed” (Argyle, deDietrich, Filson, Gundry), “hollow head” (Luz), “blockhead” (Jeremias), “imbecile” (Hill) “brainless idiot” (Barclay), “idiot” (Guelich).” He goes on to write, “The editors of the New Revised Standard Version call it “an obscure term of abuse” and elect to render the text: “if you insult a brother or sister”.”[2]

This is interesting for numerous reasons. We know that there is no scripture where Jesus addresses homosexuality at all. This lack of any condemnation by Jesus can’t really be understood as an affirmation of homosexuality, but it is telling none the less. That Biblical scholars have denied that this passage could have anything to do with homosexuality isn’t the least bit surprising. People tend to see in scripture what they want to see.

Gay bashing – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.


12
Jul 09

Sunday, July 12, 2009 Bible Reading

Welcome to a Queer Look at the Bible!

This week’s lectionary readings:

This week’s QP:

  • Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures (Christian Old Testament) 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19:1Rainbow (A very little bit Gay)
  • Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 24 or Psalm 85:8-13 1Rainbow
  • Reading from the Epistles: Ephesians 1:3-14: 1Rainbow (Not Gay at all!)
  • Reading from the Gospels: Mark 6:14-29: 21Rainbows (Not Gay at all!)

Overall QP: 1Rainbow. Not very Gay overall

Notes or References:

Book: Jonathan Loved David, by Thomas Horner

Book: What the bible Really Says about Homosexuality, by Daniel Helminiak

? Both of these books have been around for a while and are good resources. I have met Daniel Helminiak and he is a great guy.

Next Week’s Readings:

Play

9
Jul 09

Sunday June 28, 2009 Bible Reading

Welcome to a Queer Look at the Bible!

This week’s lectionary readings:

This week’s QP:

Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures (Christian Old Testament) 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27: 3Rainbows (Very Gay!)

Reading from the Epistles: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15: 1Rainbows (Not very Gay at all!)

Reading from the Gospels: Mark 5:21-43: 2Rainbows ( A little bit Gay)

Overall QP: 3Rainbows!

The amount of Gay in the 2 Samuel Reading is so over the top that it outweighs all the other readings.

Notes or References:

Book: Jonathan Loved David, by Thomas Horner

Book: What the bible Really Says about Homosexuality, by Daniel Helminiak

  • Both of these books have been around for a while and are good resources. I have met Daniel Helminiak and he is a great guy.

Website: Gay Christian 101

Same-Sex Couples in the Bible

The rest of the Jonathan and David story

  • I have stuck to just the lectionary text this week, but there is far more to the story, and this is a good beginning to that.

Conservative and Liberal Interpretations

  • If you decide to follow only one link this is an excellent choice. does a great job of describing the scripture at hand from both the conservative perspective as well as a liberal one.

Next Week’s Readings:

Play

25
Jun 09

Queer Look Podcast to Return Soon!

It’s a long story why I stopped producing the queer Look at the Bible Podcast, but the short answer is that it is about to return! Each week, I’ll look at the week’s lectionary readings from the QP (the queer Perspective, and assign each a QP ranking. That is, just how “queer” is the scripture on a scale of 1 bible (not at all queer) to 5 bibles (way way queer!). Most consider that the Bible is condemning of homosexuality, but I think what we are going to find is that the vast majority of it has absolutely nothing to do with homosexuality, and will score a 1bible ranking. The passages that appear to be about homosexuality will be few and score a 5bible ranking. There is just the question about what to do with the issue of passages that appear pro-homosexual, and those which appear as anti-homosexual. In terms of my QP ranking, I won’t make any distinction/ for or against, it is still queer. but I will talk about each to see what we can learn about how pro- or anti the passages might actually be.

A Queer Look at the Bible isn’t intended only for the religious, but for everyone, even those who see themselves as atheists or agnostics. But I’m not trying to convert you. You are welcome here, no matter what your faith (or lack of faith) tradition. and here is why. If you are a gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, or transgendered person, the Bible impact your life today, here in 2009. Doesn’t matter if you are a believer or not. The Bible serves as the foundation of all of the opposition to GLBTQ rights, as well as many of the conservative movements, such as to deny a woman’s right to choice. The growing battle cry of this radical right movement, is Religious Liberties, as if they own the Bible, and everything in it is on their side. but they don’t, and it isn’t. and the more everyone knows about that the easier it is to see through the fallacious arguments that they put forth.

Let me say, as straight (ha ha) forwardly as I can. I am not anti-God. I am not anti-Bible. I am not anti-Faith. I just think that the Bible has been co-opted by the radical right, and t is time to take it back and put it out there for anyone to pick up and consider. And the best way to do that it to take a new look at it- a Queer Look. If I can rightfully be accused of anything, it may be that I can come across as anti-religious. Like many theologians since the beginning of the Judeo-Christian story, I ask that rather than simply wearing “religious” as an adjective to describe oneself, consider it a journey to be traveled. Consider it a puzzle to be pondered. consider it a question to be asked rather than answered. I am fairly anti- those who self-righteously think they have all the answers. I certainly don’t have them. But I have and can ask and explore questions. I think that when we are willing to ask, and see where the question takes us, we can find things we never anticipated. That for me, is about hearing God.

I’m going to start by producing an audio podcast in the iTunes enhanced podcast format, but there will also be an MP# file to download for other brands of players. Each week’s podcast will be a part of a blog post that has notes and stuff I want to share. Feel free to comment here, but please be warned. I have no patience for folks who can;’t do any more than tell me I’m going to hell, or can’t say anything except to quote scripture, or issue some blanket generalized statement with out anything backing it up. I will only accept comments from real people (no anonymous postings) who register for the site. If you don’t have the guts to have a name and an email, I don’t have the time for you. But feel free to disagree with me- just be man or woman enough to represent yourself authentically.

So you ready for a Queer Look! Great! Glad to have you along!


17
Jun 09

God will make you gay?

YouTube – God will make you gay?.


31
May 09

Faith and the Question “What if you’re wrong?”

Saw this posted to Facebook, by Patrick Yaeger who maintains the GCRM Media Center on Facebook, an unbelievably wonderful resource.

Dawkins is asked at a lecture, what if he is wrong, and the video is of his reply. This is where I think most contemporary Christians, and all far right religious zealots and bigots have it all wrong. They are so sure that they are right. Faith isn’t about “knowing you are right.” Faith is about trusting God without knowing you are right.

Abraham is the Father of Faith, and the most basic Biblical story of Faith is the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac. If Abraham took Isaac to the mountain and wasn’t afraid of what would happen- in other words, on the way up the mountain, his mind was full of the thoughts “God won’t let my son die,” Then he really had no faith. He would know everything, and would in essence, be God. If Abraham had gone up the mountain believing it was God’s will to kill his son, he really had no faith. He would have been a murderer, who thought that murder was justified. But the truth is that Abraham made his way up the mountain, not knowing what would happen, and he had the strength to do that precisely because he had faith. He had no idea what would happen. But he knew his job was to trust God. God gave Abraham specific instructions and Abraham followed them.

Most important to the story is that Abraham says nothing to anyone about what is about to happen. This too is a part of having faith. This is where today’s Christians get it all wrong. They don’t stay with the not knowing and following God’s directions because that is very difficult, and they have too little faith to sustain them. So they move to a place of knowing they are right, and trying to push that on everyone else, to create a self-fulfilling prophesy.

YouTube – Richard Dawkins – “What if you’re wrong?”.


11
May 09

Blogging the Bible — a Nadder!

When I imagined starting “Queer Look at the Bible: I didn’t think it was, my any means, a unique idea, yet, I didn’t really see it happening all that much. Now, you can’t turn around without knocking into someone reading and discussing the Bible! :-)

I haven’t ready any of this yet, but the premise is interesting to me, a Jewish Atheist blogging the Bible. Just finished AJ Jacob’s “The Year of Living Biblically” which is a very good read. Enjoy!

Blogging the Bible — a Nadder! .