> > Is homosexuality a sin? > >by Parents and Friends of Lesbian and Gays > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >Question 1 - In your opinion, does God regard homosexuality as a sin? > >Question 2 - In your opinion, do the Scriptures object to homosexuality? > >Rev Dr William R Stayton (Baptist -- minister, certified sexologist, >associate professor of psychiatric and human behaviour, servant >on faculty of LaSalle University's graduate department of >religious studies, holder of master of divinity from Andover >Newtown Theological School and a Th.D. in psychology from Boston >university): > > Q1: Absolutely not! There is nothing in the Bible or in > my own theology that would lead me to believe that > God regards homosexuality as sin. God is interested > in our relationships with ourselves, others, the things > in our lives, and with God (MAT 23:36-40). There is > nothing in the mind of God that could be against a > loving, sexual relationship, freely entered into, > without coercion, among sincere adults whether gay, > bisexual or straight. > > Q2: There is _nothing_ in the Bible regarding homosexual > orientation. In fact, the Bible does not concern > itself with sexual orientation. It does speak out > probably against gang rape, male prostitution for > religious purposes, and pederasty (sex between an > adult and youth). I lead bible study programs on this > subject and am convinced that the Bible does not > address the issue of a person's sexual orientation. > > >Bishop John S Spong (Episcopal -- bishop, most published >member of the Episcopal house of bishops, author to 11 books and 50 >published articles, phi beta kappa graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, >holds masters in divinity and an honorary doctorate in divinity >from Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary, received honorary >doctorate in divinity from St Paul's College): > > Q1: Some argue that since homosexual behaviour is "unnatural" > it is contrary to the order of creation. Behind this > pronouncement are stereotypical definitions of > masculinity and femininity that reflect rigid gender > categories of patriarchal society. There is nothing > unnatural about any shared love, even between two of the > same gender, if that experience calls both partners to a > fuller state of being. Contemporary research is > uncovering new facts that are producing a rising > conviction that homosexuality, far from being a sickness, > sin, perversion or unnatural act, is a healthy, natural > and affirming form of human sexuality for some people. > Findings indicate that homosexuality is a given fact in > the nature of a significant portion of people, and that > it is unchangeable. > > Our prejudice rejects people or things outside our > understanding. But the God of creation speaks and > declares, "I have looked out on _everything_ I have made > and `behold it (is) very good'." (GEN 1:31). The word of > God in Christ says that we are loved, valued, redeemed, > and counted as precious no matter how we might be valued > by a prejudiced world. > > Q2: There are few biblical references to homosexuality. The > first, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, is often quoted > to prove that the Bible condemns homosexuality. But the > real sin of Sodom was the unwillingness of the city's men > to observe the laws of hospitality. The intention was > to insult the stranger by forcing him to take the female > role in the sex act. The biblical narrative approves > Lot's offer of his virgin daughters to satisfy the sexual > demands of the mob. How many would say, "_This_ is the > word of the Lord"? When the Bible is quoted literally, > it might well be well for the one quoting to read the > text in its entirety. > > Leviticus, in the Hebrew Scriptures, condemns homosexual > behaviour, at least for males. Yet, "abomination", the > word Leviticus uses to describe homosexuality, is the > same word used to describe a menstruating woman. > Paul is the most quoted source in the battle to condemn > homosexuality (ROM 1:26-27 and 1 COR 6:9-11). But > homosexual activity was regarded by Paul as a punishment > visited upon idolaters *by* God because of their > unfaithfulness. Homosexuality was not the sin but the > punishment. > > In 1 COR 6:9-11, Paul gave a list of those who would not > inherit the Kingdom of God. That list included the > immoral, idolaters, adulterers, sexual perverts, thieves, > the greedy, drunkards, revilers, and robbers. Sexual > perverts is a translation of two words; it is possible > that the juxtaposition of _malakos_, the soft, effeminate > word, with _arsenokoitus_, or male prostitute, was meant > to refer to the passive and active males in a homosexual > liaison. > > Thus, it appears that Paul would not approve of > homosexual behaviour. But was Paul's opinion about > homosexuality accurate, or was it limited by the lack > of scientific knowledge in his day and infected by > prejudice born of ignorance? An examination of some of > Paul's other assumptions and conclusions will help answer > this question. Who today would share Paul's anti-Semitic > attitude, his belief that the authority of the state was > not to be challenged, or that all women ought to be > veiled? In these attitudes Paul's thinking has been > challenged and transcended even by the church! Is > Paul's commentary on homosexuality more absolute than > some of his other antiquated, culturally conditioned > ideas? > > Three other references in the New Testament (in Timothy, > Jude and 2 Peter) appear to be limited to condemnation of > male sex slaves in the first instance, and to showing > examples (Sodom and Gomorrah) of God's destruction of > unbelievers and heretics (in Jude and 2 Peter > respectively). > > That is all that Scripture has to say about > homosexuality. Even if one is a biblical literalist, > these references do not build an ironclad case for > condemnation. If one is not a biblical literalist there > is no case at all, nothing but prejudice born of > ignorance, that attacks people whose only crime is to > be born with an unchangeable sexual predisposition > toward those of their own sex. > > >Bishop R Stewart Wood Jr (Episcopal -- graduate of Dartmouth >College, masters degree in counselling from Ball State >University, masters and doctorate degrees in divinity from >Virginia Theological Seminary): > > Q1: No. Our sexual orientation is a given, something > we discover about ourselves -- some might say "a > gift from God". How one relates to others -- > caring or exploiting -- is the source of sin. > > Q2: I am aware of the concern for certain homosexual > acts and see no addressing [in the Scriptures] of the > condition or orientation. > > >Rabbi Jeffrey Lazar (Reformed Judaism -- educator at Temple Sinai >in Atlanta, holds bachelors degree from Syracuse University, >bachelors and masters degree in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union >College, member and trustee of the National Association of Temple >Educators): > > Q1: First of all, I do not know what God thinks. In my > opinion, homosexuality is not a sin, but an alternate > lifestyle. In my opinion, homosexuality by itself is > not immoral. When sex is used to corrupt, for > prurient and/or exploitative purposes or selfish > reasons or to hurt someone else, this is immoral. > > Q2: The Bible, in my opinion, is very clear in its > objection to homosexuality. > > >Rabbi Janet R Marder (Reformed Judaism -- associate director for >the Union of American Hebrew Congregations Pacific Southwest >Council, graduate of University of California at Santa Cruz, >co-chair of Nechama, an AIDS/HIV education program for the Jewish >community): > > Q1: The God I worship endorses loving, committed, monogamous > relationships, regardless of the gender of those > involved. > > Q2: I believe that the Hebrew Bible strongly condemns > homosexuality. While it is part of my tradition, I do > not regard all Biblical laws as binding on me. The > Biblical condemnation of homosexuality is based on human > ignorance, suspicion of those who are different, and an > overwhelming concern for ensuring the survival of the > people. Since the Bible regards homosexuality as a > capital crime, it clearly assumes that homosexuality > is a matter of free choice, a deliberate rebellion > against God. We have learned from modern science that > people do not choose to be gay or straight; hence it is > neither logical nor moral to condemn those whose nature > it is to be gay or lesbian. > > >Rabbi Dr David Teutsch, PhD (Reconstructionist Judaism -- >executive vice president and director of contemporary >civilisations at Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, holds >bachelors in general studies from Harvard University and masters >degree in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College and PhD in >social system science from the University of Pennsylvania): > > Q1: Homosexuality -- as is true of heterosexuality -- is > a naturally occuring sexual orientation that can be > expressed in more ethical and less ethical ways. In > itself homosexual love making is not sinful. > > Q2: The Scriptural references to homosexuality make no > comment on lesbianism. They object to male homosexuality > on three grounds: cultic prostitution, unnaturalness, > and "spilling seed" or Onanism. Homosexuality has been > shown to be natural in animals and humans. Gay men today > are not involved in cultic acts. And the spilling of > seed through heterosexual, homosexual or masturbatory > acts is not an issue for me. Thus I take this > prohibition no more seriously than many others, such as > that against lending money at interest, that do not > make sense in the first place. > > >Rabbi Marc H Wilson (Independent Traditional Judaism -- holds >bachelor degree in sociology from DePaul University and a >bachelor degree in Hebrew Literature, holds a Hebrew Teacher and >Principal licence from Hebrew Theological College, columnist in >nine newspapers and via one wire service): > > Q1: No, not so long as the behavior is: > a) not obsessive (as would be true, likewise, > of heterosexuality) > b) responsible and safe (ditto as above) > c) non-abusive (ditto as above) > d) the manifestation of a loving, respectful > relationship (Jewish Bible, Old Testament) > > Q2: [It was sin] only insofar as that at _that [biblical] time_ > homosexual behaviour was a manifestation of abusive sexual > practices associated with idolatry and fertility cultism, > and thus an "abomination" because of the association, not > because of the intrinsic "relationship". Also, because it > was "unnatural", that is non-procreative, understandably in > the _tribal_ times when procreation was of highest priority. > > >Bishop Stanley E Olson (Lutheran -- holds undergraduate degree >from Wittenberg University, seminary trained at >Luther-Northwestern Seminary, holds an honorary doctor of >divinity from California Lutheran University): > >Q1/Q2: Biblical scholars are busy restudying the few verses > which have often been regarded as anti-homosexual. One > thing is clear, these few verses do not refer to > homosexuality as we understand and use that term today. > The Biblical texts do speak against sexual exploitation > and rape whether committed by persons with a heterosexual > or homosexual orientation. The great message of > Scripture is of a God of unbounded love for the human > family. If God has any preference at all, it is for "the > least", "the lost" and "the last". God's amazing grace, > compassion and salvation is open to everyone. Jesus is > very clear in placing his gospel beyond the limitations > of churches and denominations. He says, "I have other > sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also. > So that there shall be one flock, one shepherd" > (JOHN 10:16). Here is a partial list of verses that has > every right in being equally addressed to homosexual > or heterosexual Christians: John 3:16, Galatians 3:27, > Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:21-24, Acts 10. > > >Dr Carl O McGrath, PhD (Former Mormon -- was a member of church >for 50 years, past Stake high councillor, resigned from church >over church's position on homosexuality in 1989, holds a PhD from >the University of Washington and currently serves there as a >clinical assistant professor): > > Q1: My sexuality is a God-given state of being which includes > natural erotic attractions and desires. In moving from > infancy to adulthood, part of my work is to allow myself > to experience my eroticism in ways that enable me to > discover who I actuall am, not who society says I should > be. I believe that the Creator of our natural erotic > attractions, whether they are for opposite or same-sex > persons, views our eroticism as an intrinsic and > beautiful part of who God intended us to be. God did > not intend that there would be one way of being sexual. > Even among heterosexual people, there is no one "right" > way to be sexual. Our uniqueness comes from the > creativity of God at the most basic level. I believe > God is please when we respond to our unique form of > sexuality in ways that are life-giving. I believe that > it is life giving when sexual relationships reflect a > high degree of mutuality, love, and justice. > > Q2: The Scriptures of my relgious tradition include the > _Holy Bible_, _Book of Mormon_, _Doctrine and Covenants_, > and _Pearl of Great Price_. There are five references in > the Bible that I grew up believing to be Scriptural proof > against homosexuality. However, I now believe it would > be a mistake to rely upon these references in forming my > conclusions about homosexuality for the following reasons: > > a) What I have learned from living my life is > that those references in the Bible are not > speaking to the truth I have experienced > in relation to how God views homosexual love. > > b) Although the General Authorities of my church > have expressed strong negative opinions about > homosexuality, none of our latter day Prophets > have proclaimed revelation from God on this > issue, including President Spencer W Kimball > who has probably been the most oustpoken on > this topic. > > c) None of the words we attribute to Christ make > any reference to homosexuality. > > d) None of the latter-day Scriptures make any > reference to homosexuality. > > >Rev Dr George R Edwards, PhD (Presbyterian -- professor emeritus >of new testament theology at Louisville Presbyterian Theological >Seminary, holds masters in diviinty from LPTS and a PhD from Duke >University, taught new testament theology studies at LPTS from >1958-1985, member of Society of Biblical Literature): > > Q1: God does not regard homosexuality as a sin any more than > heterosexuality. Sin is lack of respect for God; it is a > lack of love or respect for other persons. Whether gay > or straight, therefore, one _may_ sin against God or > others. But God forgives us when we sin and strengthens > us in resisting sin. We are led by God's forgiving love > to become more respectful and loving toward God and > towards others, even those we don't _"like"_. > > Q2: The Scriptures are very important because they teach us > God's love for all, gay or straight. But the Scriptures > are old, thousands of years old, written even before the > word "homosexual" existed. Same sex acts involving the > genitals -- we call these "homogenital" -- seem in > Scripture to be thought of as a result of idol worship. > See, for example, Romans 1:18-27. Nor do the Scriptures > seem to understand what we mean today by "sexual > orientation". Sexual acts which are injurious, > disrespectful, or unloving toward the other person are > wrong. So I believe that the Scriptures approve of > homosexuality and even homogenital acts that are kind, > generous, loving, and respectful of the other person, > just as in the case of heterosexuality or heterogenital > acts. > > >Rev Harry L Holfelder (Presbyterian -- chair of AIDS Interfaith >Network of Baltimore and is senior pastor of local church, is >active with the Maryland Interfaith Legislative Committee): > > Q1: No, I do not think that God regards homosexuality as a > sin. I believe that one's sexual preference is first > and foremost a matter of biology (creation) and only > secondarily a matter of choice (responsibility). Since > I also believe that all God creates is good, I conclude > that human sexuality (not a matter of choice for anyone) > is good, whether that sexual expression be heterosexual > or homosexual. > > Q2: A careful and sensitive reading of the Scriptures does > not lead to the automatic conclusion that homosexuality > is a sin. There are passages, especially in the > "holiness literature" that suggests this conclusion. > However, the overall message of Scripture in this matter > is fare more positive than negative. Biblically, the > issue is the goodness of human sexuality and the use of > that gift in covenant relationships. For me a more > important question is that of the relationship of God in > Christ to a human being. In this relationship I see no > barriers, even sexual ones. > > >Sister Mary Ann Ford (Roman Catholic -- member of Sisters, >Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for 39 years, holds >masters degree in mathematics and in pastoral ministry, has >taught in mathematics and religious instruction in high schools >and later colleges, chaplain of the Detroit chapter of Dignity >for the past 15 years): > > Q1: Two truths are especially relevant in thinking this > through. First we have a theological point. God, > the one who has made all of creation, loves and > cherishes all creatures without exception. Second, > modern psychology shows us that homosexual orientation > is set by age five or six. Most psychologists agree > that that it is not a matter of choice, whether > orientation is inborn as some think or acquired very early > as other say. How then could an all-loving God possibly > violate Divine nature and regard homosexuals as "sinners"? > > Q2: Contemporary Biblical scholars are indicating that the > idea of homosexual orientation was unknown to the writers > of the Sacred Scripture. Certainly they had no knowledge > of the Kinsey research which established the existence of > a continuum along which all of us are somewhere between > the end points of totally heterosexual thorugh bisexuality > to exclusively homosexual. Many of the oft-quoted > "condemnatory passages" may assume that heterosexuals > are acting out of their violation of their "nature". > There also is question as to whether words which appear > in our English texts refer in some cases in the original > languages not to homosexuals but male prostitutes which > were used in pagan worship. Certainly, nowhere does the > Bible legislate on the matter of loving sexual activity > between consenting adults in committed relationships. > > >Sister Jeannine Gramick, PhD (Roman Catholic -- member of School >Sisters of Notre Dame since 1960, holds PhD in education from >University of Pennsylvania, was assistant professor of >mathematics and education at the College of Notre Dame Maryland, >conducts theological, sociological and ministerial workshops >nationwide on the dimensions of homosexuality): > > Q1: God has created people with romantic and physical > attractions to the same sex, as well as those with > attractions to the opposite sex. Many, if not most, > people, we are now discovering, have both kinds of > attractions in varying degrees. All of these feelings > are natural and are considered good and blessed by God. > These feelings and attractions are not sinful. > Most Catholic moral theologians now hold that homogenital > behaviour, as well as heterogenital behaviour, is good > and holy in God's sight when it is an expression of a > special and unique love which one person has for another. > Both homosexual and heterosexual genital expression can > be sinful if they are manipulative, dishonest, or > unloving actions. > > Q2: When read at face value, the Scriptures have nothing > positive to say about homogenital behaviour. However, > most Christians do not interpret the Bible literally; > they try to understand the Scriptures in their historical > and cultural context and see what meaning the Scriptures > have for us today. > > The Scriptures were written approximately 2000 or more > years ago when there was no knowledge of constitutional > homosexuality. The Scripture writers believed that all > people were naturally heterosexual so that they viewed > homosexuality activity as unnatural. > Women today are pointing out that the inferiority of > women expressed in the scriptures was a product of > culture and the times in which the Bible was written; > it should not be followed today, now that we are > beginning to appreciate the natural and God-given > equality of men and women. > > Similarly, as we know that homosexuality is just as > natural and God-given as heterosexuality, we realise > that the Biblical injunctions against homosexuality were > conditioned by the attitudes and beliefs about this form > of sexual expression which were held by people without > benefit of centuries of scientific knowledge and > understanding. > > It is unfair of us to expect or impose a twentieth > century mentality and understanding about equality of > genders, races and sexual orientations on the Biblical > writers. We must be able to distinguish the eternal > truths the Bible is meant to convey from the cultural > forms and attitudes expressed there. > > >Rev C Robert Nugent (Roman Catholic -- co-editor of "The Vatican >and Homosexuality", holds degrees from St Charles College, St >Charles Theologate, a degree in library science from Villanova >University and a Masters of Sacred Theology from Yale University >Divinity School): > > Q1: I do not believe that God regards homosexuality as a > "sin" if homosexuality means the psychosexual identity > of lesbians or gay persons, which we know from > contemporary scientific studies is within the boundaries > of healthy, human psychological development, and which > seems to be as natural for some people as heterosexuality > is for others. If homosexuality means the emotional, > intimate bonding in same-gender relationships of love and > friendship, I believe that since God is love, where there > is authentic love, God is present. > > Where god is present, there can be no sin. If > homosexuality means same-gender erotic, physical > expressions of union and pleasure, the possiblity of > personal sin exists in homosexuality -- as it does in > heterosexuality -- depending on the interplay of three > factors including the physical behaviour itself and its > meaning for the person, the personal motives and intents > of the person acting, and the individual and social > consequences or results of the behaviour. For many > people, sexual behaviour which is exploitative, coercive, > manipulative, dishonest, selfish or destructive of human > personhood is sinful; for all people "sin" means freely > acting contrary to one's deeply held moral or ethical > convictions, whether these come from organised religion > or a personally developed value system. In speaking of > the "sinfulness" of same-gender genital expressions, the > Roman Catholic Bishops of Washington say that "...no one > except Almighty God can make certain judgements about the > personal sinfulness of acts (_The Prejudice Against > Homosexuals and the Ministry of the Church_, Washington > State Catholic Conference, 1983). > > Q2: Catholicism uses four major sources for principles and > guidance in ethical questions like homosexuality: scripture, > tradition (theologians, church documents, official > teachings, etc), reason, and human experience. All are > used in conjunction with one another. Scripture is > fundamental and primary authoritative Catholic source -- > but not the _only_ source. Biblical witness is taken > seriously, but not literally. An individual scriptural > text must be understood in the larger context of the > original language and culture, the various levels of > meanings, and the texts' applications to contemporary > realities in light of the role of the community's and > its official leadership role in providing authoritative > interpretations. Both Jewish and Christian scriptures > do speak negatively of certain form of same-gender > (generally male) sexual _behaviour_ (not same-gender > _love_), especially when associated with idol worship, > lust, violence, degradation, prostitution, etc. Whether > scriptures condemn all and every form of same-gender > sexual expression _in and of itself_ for all times, > places and individuals is the topic of serious > theological and Biblical discussion and debate. > > Same-gender expressions of responsible, faithful love in > a convenanted relationship between two truly homosexually > oriented people not gifted with celibacy is not something > envisioned by scriptures. Whether this form of > homosexuality violates biblical or anthropoligcal > principles of sexuality and personhood -- especially in > light of current scientific knowledge and human > experience about the homosexual orientation -- is a key > issue facing the churches and religious groups today. > > >Rev Dr William F Schulz, DD (Unitarian Universalist -- president >of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, a phi >beta kappa graduate of Oberlin College, holds masters in >philosophy from University of Chicago and doctorates in ministry >and divinity from Meadville-Lombard Theological School, >boardmember of numerous organisations including People For the >American Way and Americans United for the Separation of Church >and State, author of numerous books and articles, appears on >national radio programs and in nationally-distributed newspapers, >listed in Who's Who of America): > > Q1: I do not believe that God regards homosexuality as a sin. > In the first place, of course, I do not believe in an > anthropomorphic God who defines or delineates sinful > behaviour. But even if I did, I cannot believe such a > God would reject any of His/Her children on the basis of > their affectional orientations. If He/She did, such a > God would not be one to whom I would want to pay homage. > > Q2: While the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) certainly > condemns what it refers to as sodomy, it also condemns > a whole host of other practices (e.g., sleeping with a > menstruating woman) which have long been accepted as > reputable. Most of the Old Testament is surely not an > appropriate resource from which to obtain guidance > regarding contemporary ethics! Turning to the New > Testament, we discover that Jesus has nothing whatsoever > to say regarding homosexuality. Inasmuch as he > frequently condemned others of whose behaviour he > disapproved (e.g., the money-changers in the temple), > it is significant that he makes no reference to > homosexuals or their practices. > > >Dr Karen Lebacqz, PhD (United Church of Christ -- professor of >Christian ethics at Pacific School of Religion, holds bachelor >degree in Biblical history from Wellesley College and masters and >PhD in religion and society from Harvard University, phi beta >kappa member and past president of the Society of Christian >Ethics): > > Q1: What God *does* regard as sin is oppression, injustice, > persecution, disrespect for person. This sin, then, is > homophobia, gay-bashing, discriminatory legislation > toward lesbians and gays, refusal to include > lesbian/gay/bisexual people into our churches and > communities. To force *any* people, whether for reasons > of race, age, or sexual orientation, into a "ghetto" -- > this is a sin. > > Q2: Yes and No. Yes, in the same sense that the Scriptures > object to wearing clothes of different fabrics, eating > pork or other kinds of meat, and women speaking in > church. That is to say, the Scriptures are a human > product which reflects the cultural limitations of their > time. Thus, they speak negatively about a number of > practices that are routinely accepted today, including > certain sexual practices. Some of these sexual practices > are engaged in by both heterosexually and homosexually > oriented people. > > No, in the same sense that the Scriptures do not speak > clearly to the phenomenon that we today call > "homosexuality". That is, Scripture speaks negatively > about certain _behaviours_, most notably temple > prostitution, not about basic _orientation_ or about > loving and committed gay/lesbian _relationships_. (A > possible exception here is the praise of the > relationship between David and Jonathan.) > > >Rev Dr James B Nelson, PhD (United Church of Christ -- professor >of Christian ethics at the United Theological Seminary of the >Twin Cities, holds bachelor degree from Macalester College and a >bachelor and masters and PhD in divinity from Yale University, >visiting scholar at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and >visiting professor at numerous other institutions, consulting >editor of "Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality", honorary doctor >of Sacred Theology from Dickinson University and award-winning >educator for the United Church of Christ): > > Q1: I am convinced that our sexuality and our sexual > orientations, whatever they may be, are a gift from > God. Sexuals in does not reside in our orientations, > but rather in expressing our sexuality in ways that > harm, oppress, oruse others for our own selfish > gratification. When we express ourselves sexually in > ways that are loving and just, faithful and responsible, > then I am convinced that God celebrates our sexuality, > whatever our orientation may be. > > Q2: The scriptures actually say nothing about homosexuality > as a psychosexual orientation. Our understandings of > sexual orientation are distinctly modern ones that > were not present in the minds of Scripture writers. A > few passages of Scripture (seven at the most) object to > certain types of same-sex expressions or acts. The > particular acts in question, however, are sexual sexual > expressions which are exploitive, oppressive, > commercialised, or offensive to ancient purity rituals. > There is no Scriptural guidance for same-sex > relationships which are loving and mutually respecting. > Guidelines for these relationships should come from the > same general Scriptural norms that apply to hetersoexual > relationships. > > >Rev Dr Professor John B Cobb Jr, PhD (United Methodist -- >recently retired from Ingraham Professor of Theology at the >School of Theology at Claremont and an Avery Professor at >Claremont Graduate School, holds masters and PhD from the >University of Chicago Divinity school): > > Q1: Surely being attracted to persons of the same sex is not, > as such, a sin. But of course how we act in our > attractions, towards whichever sex, is often sinful. The > ideal is to be responsible and faithful rather than > self-indulgent. Unfortunately, society does not > encourage responsible and faithful relations with persons > of the same sex. That makes the situation of the > homosexual very difficult. > > Q2: Certainly some of the Biblical writers objected to > homosexual acts, but there is surprisingly little > attention to this topic. The opposition of the church > comes from other sources much more than from scripture. > There are more scriptural reasons to oppose homophobia > than to oppose homosexuality. > > >Bishop Melvin Wheatley Jr (United Methodist -- ordained elder of >the United Methodist Church who retired in 1984 after 33 years as >pastor and 12 years as bishop, honorary PFLAG director due to >services to gay and lesbian people in the church): > > Q1: Of course not! The preponderance of evidence now > available identifies homosexuality to be as natural a > sexual orientation for a significant percentage of > persons as heterosexuality is the natural sexual > orientation for the majority of persons. Homosexuality > is an authentic condition of being with which some > persons are endowed (a gift from God, if you please), not > an optional sexual lifestyle which they have willfully, > whimsically or sinfully chosen. Certainly one's > sexuality -- heterosexual or homosexual -- may be acted > out in behaviours that are sinful: brutal, exploitative, > selfish, superficial. But just as surely, one's > homosexual orientation as well as another's heterosexual > orientation may be acted out in ways that are beautiful: > tender, considerate, mutual, responsible, loyal, profound. > > Q2: The Scriptures at no point deal with homosexuality as an > authentic sexual orientation, a given condition of being. > The remarkably few Scriptural references to "homosexuality" > deal rather with homosexual acts, not with homosexual > orientation. Those acts are labelled as wrong out of the > context of the times in which the writers wrote and > perceived those acts to be either nonmasculine, > idolatrous, exploitative, or pagan. The kind of > relationships between two consenting adults of the same > sex demonstrably abounding among us -- relationships > that are responsible and mutual, affirming and fulfilling > -- are not dealt with in the Scriptures. Dealing with > those relational realities is one of the tasks we are > about in our time. >