Homosexuals are an abomination before God! Homosexuals have an agenda to destroy society, to destroy marriage, to destroy the family! Homosexuals are nothing more then drugged out sex crazed hedonists only interested in their own pleasure. Homosexuals choose to live a homosexual lifestyle. God showed his wrath toward homosexuals in no uncertain terms in
If one repeats lies often enough, it becomes truth. Homophobes can make the same argument. We humans have many needs, physical, mental, emotional, even spiritual. One deep need is to be loved, to be accepted, to be wanted and needed. When society has determined a certain way of life needed to perpetuate itself, for whatever reason, it will create powerful messages to “keep people in line” and it will not hesitate to abuse those who step out of line with some of the cruelest brain washing messages.
As a former Christian fundamentalist, I am very familiar with the legalistic approach to Scripture. For a fundamentalist, there are two colors – black and white. Not only is the Christian Bible the sole Word of God, but their interpretation of that human writing is the obvious truth.
As mentioned in my “Queer People” article, the real victims of religious fundamentalists are those the patriarchy are threatened by, women and queer people. They are so quick to point out their viewpoint is supported by God as shown in the Word of God. Never mind the fact the Bible was written by like-minded men who wished to maintain their power in society. But it is possible to look at even the Christian Bible in a different light.
The Christian Bible is full of great advice on living and the Christian Gospel as espoused by Jesus Christ is a message of love and harmony. Who can argue with that? What religious fundamentalists cannot accept is the Bible was written by fallible men with their own biases and cultural conditioning.
Jesus was a real revolutionary! He turned the patriarchal Jewish society on it’s head. He was history’s first feminist, engaging women as equals. It was the women who appeared to have the greater faith, especially during the dark days of the crucifixion and beyond. But Jesus also dined and wined with society’s “degenerates”, because they were open to his healing touch. Yes, Jesus preached of sin, but his most scathing criticism was made to the self-righteous religious hypocrites of the day. I admire Jesus’ message. Funny thing is he never discussed homosexuals.
Then there was Paul, a former legalistic Pharisee. Paul tried hard to humble himself before God, but it was difficult for him to totally let go of his legalistic chauvinist past. Many of his writings are used against women, gays and even former black American slaves.
What’s ironic is the one explicit reference to homosexuals in the New Testament, Romans Chapter 1:26-27, which is used by most Christian fundamentalists to hit homosexuals over the head with is contained in the Letter that Paul most humbles himself in. While Christian fundamentalists get so haughty about Romans 1:26-27, they overlook Paul’s admonition that we are all sinners, himself chief among them, and that by the grace of God alone are we saved.
But does the Christian Bible really condemn homosexuality? The Christian Bible talks a whole bunch about loving God, loving your neighbor, giving to the poor and outcast, not judging one another, being humble, being generous and kind and thoughtful. And how many political campaigns are being waged by Christian fundamentalists for these priorities? How many Christian fundamentalists even know about or truly care about these things?
Doubtless there are some Christian fundamentalists who live a loving humble life not judging one another and quietly praying for their neighbors. They may believe the Bible says homosexuality is a sin, but they are not pompous about it. I respect such people.
But just as Jesus warned about the rich man who ignored the poor man Lazarus, a rich man who went to the fires of hell while Lazarus tasted the cool water of angels, there are self-righteous holier-then-thou selfish materialistic Christians going around condemning a sensitive gay man who wishes to tenderly kiss his male lover.
My partner, Rich and I had the pleasure of playing host to a humble Christian pastor and teacher, Dr. Rembert Truluck. Dr. Truluck grew up in the Southern Baptist Church, one of the most homophobic Christian denominations. He went on to be a professor at a Southern Baptist seminary and wrote Sunday School material for the entire Southern Baptist Convention.
But Dr. Truluck had been living a lie. He was gay and he was deeply closeted. When he was outed by someone, he immediately lost every thing he had in his fundamentalist Christian life. He was asked to resign his teaching job. He was expelled from the clergy of the Southern Baptist Church. He was persona non-grata.
Dr. Truluck became an alcoholic and a recluse as he faced the pits of rejection and lonliness. But slowly, but surely, he crawled out of this hell hole and decided to fight back. He knew he was not gay by choice and he was not going to let some terrorist organization like the fundamentalist Christian church terrorize him into perpetual self-hatred and self-loathing. He believed God loved him as God loves all God’s children.
He went unto to write a fantastic website where he uses his great Biblical research skills to help debunk some of the most prevalent lies about gay people and the Bible. One can honestly disagree with his analyses if they so choose, but one should at least give his arguments a fair open-minded shake.
At the very least, Dr. Truluck's site can become a site of personal liberation for those queer people who have been victimized by religious militancy.