Author Makes the Christian Case for LGBT Rights

[Shana A]

Author Makes the Christian Case for LGBT Rights
C.S. Pearce's new book seeks to convince conservative Christians to evolve in their view of LGBT people — something she had to do as well.
BY Trudy Ring
December 24 2012 7:01 AM ET

http://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2012/12/24/author-makes-christian-case-lgbt-rights

If you hear homophobic remarks from a relative, especially a conservative Christian one, during a holiday gathering, there's a new book you can recommend to that person: This We Believe: The Christian Case for Gay Civil Rights by C.S. Pearce.

In the book Pearce discusses and deconstructs the Bible-based arguments that conservative Christians use against LGBT people, arguments that Pearce calls "myths." She goes on to use the Bible to show that Christianity does not require followers to be antigay, and she examines the harm done to LGBT people in the name of religion.

Several aspects of Pearce's background put her in a good position to address the topic. She is director of media relations for the Claremont School of Theology, an ecumenical Christian seminary, and Claremont Lincoln University, an umbrella institution for the seminary and its Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain equivalents. She describes her workplace, in Claremont, Calif., as "a very intellectually and spiritually stimulating environment." She is a straight, married woman, something that she acknowledges makes her more acceptable to readers "who may still believe gay people are 'perverts.'" Most important, though, is that she's made the same journey she's asking readers to make.

[seebs]

My experience has been that it is very hard to convince people that they are misreading the Bible on sexuality, even if the arguments seem persuasive to people who agree with the conclusion. However, I've had quite good results arguing in terms of basic decency to other people and what behaviors do and don't turn out to be "loving".

[Anna]

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."?  That seems quite clear to me.  I fail to understand why what I am born with should make me an exile from the Church whilst other things that people commit voluntarily on a daily basis can be forgiven. 

[gennee]

If someone has made up their mind about something nothing will change it.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

"Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up"

[StellaB]

The funny thing to me about anti-gay Christians is that they all believe we all descended from Adam and Eve despite them having two sons.

[Vicky]

The funny thing to me about anti-gay Christians is that they all believe we all descended from Adam and Eve despite them having two sons.

Excellent point!!  I have a use for that type of information in my own family!!

[gennee]

What I see is that this book may challenge someone's belief systems. Unfortunately, many folks hold onto their systems as a matter of survival, even if it is flawed. There are folks who are in mental institutions because their belief systems weren't entirely correct. Belief systems are not infallible as some may erroneously believe.

Over the years I have had to change some thoughts I had about some topics. It forced me to dig deeper into the scriptures. Couple that and the willingness to be open to other opinions and facts and it did much to clarify what is right and what is wrong.

[Sarah Louise]

While the author is making a good effort, but it will only succeed in certain branches of Christianity.

The arguments will only apply if you interpret the Bible in the same way.  And many Churches will not agree with her interpretation of scripture.

This will not go away.

[spacial]

"Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up"

Faks Smaks, You Can Prove Anything With Facts That's Even Remotely True.

Homer Simpson, though I so wish I'd thought of it. 

[thevaliantx]

Excellent point!!  I have a use for that type of information in my own family!!

Incorrect.  Genesis 5:4 clearly states they had both girls and boys.

[ana]

Any book is subject to interpretation, and that include the passages in the Bible. We have so many variations of Christianity and so many radical fringes that we can't agree on anything that is written in it. The old testament had 10 commandments and that was amended to one commandment in the new testament. I believe many religious zealots against the LGBT community forget this commandment and that is the sadness for me.

"Love one another; Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another."

I'm pretty sure those words do not talk about hate. There really isn't anything else that needs to be said.

[Shantel]

The lady is cool! She deserves credit for her efforts, it's about time someone in the Conservative Christian community addressed it. There are plenty of conservative Christian and conservative non-Christian families that have GLBTI members and create hell on earth for them. I used to harbor low opinions of LGBT types and now I are one, so we can clearly agree that anything that is learned can be unlearned. And I am a conservative Christian as well.

[Jess42]

The whole thing about the Bible is man's effort to try to make sense in a world that is, for lack of a better word, nonsensical and mysterious. If there was Adam and there was Eve and Eve was made from Adam's rib bone and Adam was made from mud or the earth and that was truly the first man human and woman human, what about Lillith? Lillith in some texts was Adam's first wife. HMM, another great mystery. If Adam and Eve had boys and girls, wouldn't the gene pool be corrupted? Yes I know all the arguments about it but I think the whole story of Adam and Eve is the very beginning of mankind and socially interacting on levels somewhat higher evolved than most other animals. Of course I could be wrong but that's my opinion. As for LGBT issues and the bible, I think it will take way more than a book to change ages old ideals.

[Shantel]

Lillith   Wasn't she the woman in "Cheers?" 

[thevaliantx]

Any book is subject to interpretation, and that include the passages in the Bible. We have so many variations of Christianity and so many radical fringes that we can't agree on anything that is written in it. The old testament had 10 commandments and that was amended to one commandment in the new testament. I believe many religious zealots against the LGBT community forget this commandment and that is the sadness for me.

"Love one another; Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another."

I'm pretty sure those words do not talk about hate. There really isn't anything else that needs to be said.

Correct me, with scripture, if I am wrong, but Christ also stated that he had not come to abolish the old laws.

[sneakersjay]

The thing that drives me the most crazy is that they (meaning those religious people who use scripture against the LGBTQI community) pick and choose which verses to follow. ie they quote Leviticus but ignore the other things Leviticus prohibits (shellfish, mixed fabrics, women unclean during their periods, etc) and also ignore the fact that Jesus himself never spoke out against homosexuality, but he had a lot to say about divorce and adultery.  Heck, the Bible says incense is an abomination!

Some scholars (who are smarter than I am) believe that the passages that appear to be anti-homosexuality are actually against male prostitution and not committed same sex relationships.  But even if you believe that it is meant to be anti-homosexuality, my take on that is they forbid what they did not understand.  And as science and knowledge grew, lots of things forbidden in the Bible were ignored.  And pretty much now we know that we are born this way, it's biological, even if we haven't figured out exactly how, but it's a variation of normal and not a disease, and it's definitely not a sin. But some people just can't wrap their heads around that part.

I believe God loves us all, and there is a place for us in houses of worship, and in heaven.

I am not an abomination.

[Shantel]

I believe God loves us all, and there is a place for us in houses of worship, and in heaven.

I am not an abomination.

Amen to that!

[ana]

Correct me, with scripture, if I am wrong, but Christ also stated that he had not come to abolish the old laws.

oh Gosh I am no expert on scripture, but I do know that it is all open to interpretation, including the old laws. Infact I was raised as a Christian but I am now an athiest leaning agnostic so I am probably not the best person to ask about scriptures.

My religion is Live and let live in search of individual spirituality that is not subject to human judgement. Anything else only leads to moral indignation imho.

[DriftingCrow]

Just a reminder, this original post is over a year old.


It seems like this was revived NOT to discuss the article, but to bicker about religion.

For future reference, there's the Spirituality/Christianity board for religious discussion.