Queer Look at the Bible » lectionary

Sunday, July 12, 2009 Bible Reading

admin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:37:22 +0000

Welcome to a Queer Look at the Bible!

This weekâ€™s lectionary readings:

2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 or Amos 7:7-15
Psalm 24 or Psalm 85:8-13
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:14-29

This weekâ€™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 Weekâ€™s Readings:

Queer Look Podcast to Return Soon!

admin — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:25:54 +0000

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!

Lectionary Reading for March 5, 2009

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:16:51 +0000

Waiting for the California Supreme Court Ruling on Prop 8

Gospel
Mt 7:7-12

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone
when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets.”

Why I Use the Lectionary

admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:21:56 +0000

Gayest Jesus Ever

So, I Â want to say something about why Iâ€™m using the lectionary. Â First of all the lectionary, is a set of prescribed scripture readings that follow a three year calendar, and were intended to be used by all churches. Â Theoretically, people who attend a Catholic service, and a Methodist service and an Episcopalian service on any particular Sunday, would all hear a sermon based upon the same scriptures. Â Now, in reality, this doesnâ€™t happen exactly- not all preachers/ministers/priests stick to the lectionary, but some do.

My reason for using it is three-fold: First of all, because it s easy. Â I donâ€™t have to work very hard to decide what Iâ€™m going to talk about each week. And by following it, I have scriptural references that align to the general church calendar, and all of the Bible is basically covered over three years. Â Secondly, I can potentially be less often criticized for selecting only those scriptures that â€œfitâ€ my agenda. Â Now, in all honesty, I expect Iâ€™ll receive this criticism anyway, but it isnâ€™t as applicable as if I hand picked only a few scriptures that easily fit the category of â€œgay friendly.â€ And lastly, what appeals to me most, is offering a new and different perspective upon a scripture that many people think they already know. Â If at least one person looks at a scripture and realizes that there may be more in it that they had previously considered, then Iâ€™ve been successful. Â So, it is a good thing, if someone sat in church on Sunday and heard one interpretation of a scripture, and then they listened to my podcast and were prompted to consider something new in the same scripture! Â Agree with me or not-but be willing to consider the possibilities.

There are many problems with using the lectionary, and most if not all are quite valid. Â There may be times where looking at scripture NOT a part of the lectionary would be useful. Â So, it isnâ€™t a hard and fast rigid rule. Â Just a starting place. Â The composition of the lectionary, like the entire Bible itself, was human (male specific) determined . Â In that sense the lectionary, is one male-centered editorial decision based upon an deeper male dominated editorial decision. Â

I donâ€™t mean to suggest (well, Iâ€™m open to discuss this…) that the Bible is human authored. Â I know for many people of faith it is a critical cornerstone of their faith to believe that the Bible is the literal Word Â of God. It may or may not be. Â But either way, men, at differing times in history have made choices about which of those words were to be included and which were to be kept out. Â Men (human and biologically male) decided which were valid and which were not, even if all were the Word of God in the first place.

What are your thoughts on the lectionary?