I have a question, but that's not it. That was just a trick to get Glee fans to read my blog. But in all seriousness, I really am curious what people think about the issue I'm about to discuss. Of course I have an agenda--don't we all?--but we can still converse and learn from each other. I'll go ahead and give my disclosures for the hypothetical readers who don't know me, or those who have managed to interact with me without learning my stance: I am a humanist. To clarify, as there are many different humanisms, the humanism I speak of is secular and rejects supernatural explanations of the world.
Now, my question concerns the holy text of the three major monotheisms. If I were to read the whole Bible, I'm sure I would generate an enormous list of passages that trouble me, but for now I will focus on Leviticus 20:13. (That's right, Jews. You are not exempt from this question. This shit is in the Torah.) Leviticus 20:13 is the verse that says that sex between two men is an abomination punishable by death. My question is, what does one do with such a statement? It's kind of a big issue, but I haven't been able to find an adequate answer. As I see it, there are four ways to go:
1. Uphold the holy word and sentence gay men to death. Lesbians, too, if you think that was implied. In this case, I would have to respectfully disagree. Scratch that--disrespectfully disagree.
2. Say that this is a misinterpretation; the real meaning of the verse is x. In which case I say, speak up!!! Tell me what it means! Tell everyone what it means! Stop the hate!
3. Reject this verse, but keep the rest. Which, of course, brings me to my preferred solution...
4. Reject the whole book. If you reject one verse because it doesn't fit in with your values, why do you even need the Bible? Clearly you are able to derive your values from other sources. Also consider, for a moment, creation myths. Why trust a source that has so much false information and hatred? If modern science and ethics shape your interpretation of the Bible, I don't see why the Bible is necessary. Some of the teachings of religion might turn out to be true, or good, but given how much we've already disproved or rejected, we know its methods are flawed. Allow science and your instincts to shape your understanding of the world. That's my two cents. But I want to hear yours.
as a beginning reconstructionist jew, i can report that our new lesbian rabbi gave a yom kippur sermon on this very topic. she was able to continue calling herself jewish, she said, once she found reconstructionism. the
ReplyDeleterecons welcome atheists, agnostics, humanists and skeptics. it specifically rejects a supernatural version of "G-d." it rarely uses that word, preferring the unknown or 'oneness.' in fact, the Shema is reinterpreted to be all about Oneness. kinda buddhist, kinda new age, and all jewish.
Of course I'm glad to hear that reconstructionism is so welcoming. I still don't understand, though, why it doesn't just outright reject the Bible. I guess that wouldn't be very Jewish. As for me, I'm okay with losing the "Jewish" label. I've found other ways to be part of a community. And it leaves no question as to where I will get my values--from progressive thinking rather than ancient, dogmatic works of fiction.
ReplyDeleteSo, I'm still looking for feedback on this issue. This is especially important given the recent suicides of LGBT youth, and the radical Christian groups coming out against the LGBT anti-bullying agenda... and then Christians getting upset because these hate groups are giving Christianity a bad name. But it says in their holy book that homosexuality is bad, does it not? Can someone please explain to me and to these hate groups why living by the Bible does not entail hating gay people?
My rebuttal? Here goes. Leviticus 20:13 is in the old testament, pre-Jesus. According to the Bible (and the Torah) homosexuality is, in fact, a sin. But guess what? So is pretty much everything else we do. People are messed up... that's why God sent His Son to live the perfect life we should have lived and die the horrible bloody death we all deserve. In that act, God forgave us for all of our sins. ALL of them: homosexuality included.
ReplyDeleteA lot of "Christians" seem to forget the very basis of our faith is our salvation by God's grace, and grace alone. Thanks to His sacrifice, God sees us as perfect. We totally don't deserve it... none of us do. People who think they have the right to look down on gay people need to take a look in the mirror and see their own sin. It makes me really sad that people use the Bible as a basis for hate and condemnation when the whole point of it is how we all deserve to be hated by God and yet He forgave us. If Almighty God can redeem us from condemnation for all of our junk, what gives us the right to condemn others with whom we are on equal ground? Nothing.
Whoa. My google account is actually letting me reply on blogs now! Epic win.
ReplyDeleteEpic win indeed. Thanks for commenting. I definitely learned something new.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for blogging about stuff that makes me think!
ReplyDelete