The purpose of this miniblog is to serve as a clearinghouse for my blogosphere musings on Scripture, sin, and homosexuality. Much of the highly charged invective against same sex relationships claims to have deep roots in Christian scriptures and teachings. Those claims are often repeated but rarely tested.

For those who find the fundamentalist approach to this issue inadequate and want scriptural and theological tools to articulate a more gracious and inclusive faith...well...take a look around. I hope you find things that are helpful. If you'd like to leave a comment, you can do so on the posts themselves.

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Scripture and Same-Sex Relationships

In order to seriously address this issue from a Christian standpoint, you have to look at scripture. Progressives who argue for inclusion have the unfortunate tendency to cede scripture to those who would exclude and condemn. This is a mistake. In the blog-posts below, I address every text in the Bible that deals..or seems to deal..with the issue. It's far more complex than just bellowing "Adam and Eve! Not Adam and Steve!" But explorations of the complexity and depth of Scripture are not the friends of literalism.

Dr. Strangelove: Genesis and the Sodom/Gomorrah Story

What Happens in Sodom, Stays in Sodom: How the Bible Itself Interprets the Sodom Story

Leviticus? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Leviticus: How Christians Approach the Law

Arseno-what? Malaka-who?: Looking at Pauline Theology

Beavis and Butthead Snicker When They Interpret This Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:9

Will and Grace are Pauline Theological Concepts: Romans Chapter 1

Therefore...: The Rhetoricial Purpose of Romans 1

Time to Move On: Wrapping it Up.

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Scriptural Interpretation

But...but...you stammer, after reading the above...how can you possibly read scripture and imagine that something that is proclaimed sin can ever be acceptable? It's right there, you cry, munching on your BLT. So how to approach scripture? You can declare it to be an empirical system, whose truth lies in our ability to prove they are true in the same manner as an equation. Or you can use this:

The Doctrine of Differential Authority

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Sin and Same-Sex Relationships

Christian fundamentalism wants to make the claim that same-sex relationships are inherently sinful. So it would seem reasonable to ask: What is the orthodox Christian understanding of the nature of sin? Let's do that, why don't we:

Sin, Part 1: I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up.

Sin, Part 2: Will You Will or Will You Won't Be Mine?

Homosexuality as a "Lifestyle"

Both fundamentalists and "Queer" activists insist that having same sex orientation is something you choose. Here's my perspective:

Homosexuality, Orientation, and Choice