From: sienna@yabbs
To: all@yabbs
Subject: More Winds of Change
Date: Thu Jul 28 12:51:30 1994
There is so much to be said on this topic....however, I am trying to be as 
brief as possible.


Point of reference:  James B. Nelson's "Embodiment: An Approach to 
Sexuality and Christian Theology"


There are four theological positions toward homosexuality in the 
contemporary religious community: (1) a rejecting-punitive attitude 
(homosexuality should not be accepted and should be punished), (2) a 
rejecting-nonpunitive attitude (homosexuality is seen as forbidden by 
scriptures, but homosexual persons should be treated with forgiving 
grace), (3) a qualified acceptance position (homosexuality is tolerable if 
it is deemed irreversible and if the relationship is monogamous), and (4) 
full acceptance (homosexuality should be placed on a par with 
heterosexuality and the same ethical principles should be applied to 
both). 



THE REJECTING-PUNITIVE ATTITUDE
-------------------------------

        "So God created man in His own image; in the image of
         God He created him; male and female created He them...
         and God said unto them "Be fruitful and multiply."
         Genesis 1:27, 28


To many readers of the Bible this passage offers scriptural proof that 
God's natural design for humans is heterosexual union. For them, this 
proves that any sexual expression other than heterosexuality is unnatural 
and sinful.

Isolated passages from the Bible are quoted by biblical literalists to 
establish this position.

        "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman, it is an 
         abomination."
         Leviticus 18:22

        "If a man lie with a male as with a woman, both of them 
         have committed an abomination; they shall be put to 
         death, their blood is upon them."
         Leviticus 21:13

But it also says in Leviticus:

        "If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor,
         both the adulterer and adulteress shall be put to death."
         Leviticus 20:10

While it is clear that these scriptures are important to those who adopt a 
rejecting-punitive attitude, it is strange how they pull back from the 
literal punishment prescribed.

It is also interesting to note how scriptural passages are unfairly 
selected to bring homosexuality under attack. We are told that gays are 
going to be sent to hell. Rarely are we told that the same fate awaits 
those who are greedy for money (99.9% of the population), who are heavy 
drinkers (alcoholism is an epidemic here in the US), or who have sex 
outside of marriage (I myself can be included in that bunch). Nor do these 
same bible-thumping do-gooders mention passages from Leviticus which 
forbid the eating of rabbit, oysters, clams, shrimp and pork.

More to come on the Rejecting-Punitive issue........

Dee