Re: Gay Marriage/Homosexuality

This is a subject that you will learn, Mike, I have done some thinking and
writing about. One of my pieces is posted on Burgy's web pages on the
subject of homosexuality: "Sodom and Gomorrah: What is this Story Really
About." One of the best pieces I have read recently deals with the
interpretation of biblical passages dealing with same-sex relations in the
light of the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson in the Episcopal Church,
and all of the turmoil that the approval of this act has created in the my
Church over the past several months.

The title of this address is "The Biblical Case in Favor of Gene Robinson's
Election, Confirmation and Consecration," by the Rev. Gray Temple at Holy
Innocents Church, Atlanta, GA, 3/11/03. The URL for this address is
http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/dojustice/j164.html, and requires Acrobat
Reader. It's a long piece but well worth the reading. Fr. Temple's
dissection of biblical passages used by opponents against recognizing
faithful same-sex relations in their historical contexts, and his larger
reflections on biblical interpretation and the invocation of Tradition are
well worth the reflection.

Bob Schneider

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Tharp" <mtharp@exammaster.com>
To: "'John W Burgeson'" <jwburgeson@juno.com>
Cc: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 3:00 PM
Subject: Gay Marriage/Homosexuality

> Hello Burgy,
>
> Thank you for the reply. I will peruse the information available on your
> website (probably during the weekend) before I reply in any detail. I
> suspect, however, that my conclusions will differ from yours and that we
> will disagree on this issue. I do very much enjoy your "Today's quips",
> though. :-)
>
> In Christ,
> Mike
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John W Burgeson [mailto:jwburgeson@juno.com]
> Sent: Monday, June 07, 2004 4:43 PM
> To: mtharp@exammaster.com
> Cc: asa@calvin.edu
> Subject: Re: Shapes of a Wedge
>
> >>How can any Christian advocate gay marriage when the Bible (both old
> and new testament) so clearly speaks out against it? I understand that
> you are not personally advocating that position, but you don't seem to
> see such a position as contradictory to the Word of God. Please explain.
> >>
>
> Lots of material on my website, page 2, section 10, on all sides of the
> issue. Some people here get bent out of shape when I mention this stuff,
> so I will not go over already plowed ground.
>
> The issue (#1) of whether ALL same-gender intimacy is sin is one issue.
> The issue (#2) of Gay marriage is another issue. I have a position
> statement on the first issue on my website, written after a several years
> study in 2001; it is still my position.
>
> I have not (yet) taken a position on #2, Gay Marriage, although I think
> the arguments for permitting it are strong ones -- yes, "conservative"
> strong ones. There is at least one argument against it which still gives
> me pause; it is a variation of the so-called "slippery slope" logic.
> Briefly stated, if I can approve Gay Marriage, on what grounds can I
> still oppose polygamy? I have not (yet) worked through this.
>
> In any event, the Bible does not speak at all to either issue, except by
> strained interpretations. The material on my site will explain why I do
> not see scripture as speaking "clearly" on either issue. There are quite
> a number of Christian scholars, clerics and lay people who argue this
> point quite better than I can. Is Paul, in Romans 1, speaking of ALL
> same-gender intimacy, or only of the kind he clearly knew about, acts
> which took place in a pagan temple between men and children?
>
> One of the neatest example of this is a debate between Tony Compolo and
> his wife, who hold differing views on issue #1. A link to this debate is
> on my website.
>
> Scholars Wink and Mauser have written position papers on issue #1, each
> on a different side. Worth reading them both; links on my site.
>
> The issues are not easy. The temptation to just "believe what one has
> always believed" is great. I started there; I know.
>
> Best
>
> Burgy
>
> Today's quip: They told me I was gullible -- and I believed them.
>
> www.burgy.50megs.com
>
>
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Received on Wed Jun 9 08:05:07 2004