Posted on 01/31/2010 12:52:05 PM PST by GonzoII
As the debate rages over the legality and morality of same sex marriages, many Christians rely on the Bible as their guide. Many believe that the Bible clearly condemns homosexuality, and they provide specific passages to back up their claim. We decided to give the other side of the debate a chance to answer. So, we interviewed Dr Reverend Cheri DiNovo, a United Church Minister who has performed a dozen same-sex marriages in Canada. She has also written a Ph.D. thesis on the subject of how Christianity deals with the outcasts of society.
In this interview, we asked Dr Reverend DiNovo to explain her perspective on three often-quoted biblical passages that seem to condemn homosexuality.
THE TURNING: Well, let’s go through the Bible and take a look at some of the passages which people often quote when condemning homosexuality. Starting in the beginning with Genesis 19, we have the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, where Lot invites two men into his home, not knowing that they are really angels. Soon, a crowd forms outside the house, demanding that the strangers be sent out so they can be raped. Lot refuses, and offers his virgin daughters instead. How do you read this in terms of an attitude towards homosexuality?
DiNovo: Well, first of all it’s important to remark that this passage is not about homosexuality. In fact, it has nothing to do with homosexuality. It’s about welcoming, it’s about the theology of hospitality, which is the great theology, biblically speaking, from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelations. So, always and everywhere, the bible tells us to be welcoming and hospitable to strangers, especially strangers who are not like us.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicintl.com ...
Excellent response in the full post. My take on this was that he offered his daughters to highlight the fact that they wanted the MEN for sex. Lot knew they would refuse this offer, second of all the homosexuals in this case were acting exactly like they do today. Any pictures or videos of street fairs in SF, will show this “gnawing hunger” to debase themselves that is hinted at with the story in the Bible. “Kneeling” for all comers, is not exactly an enlightening experience, and the actions at Mormon churches because they supported a measure to keep marriage laws current, are but two examples of this uncontrolled rage and appetite.
Absolutely interesting counter points. I want to email this article to my lib parish who keeps lecturing’ (not a sermon anymore) the gay Gospel to parishioners.
Continuing to call homosexual shacking up ‘marriage’ is what is losing us the debate. Marriage is only between a man and a woman - there is no alternative definition.
Interesting take...he could have been trying to buy some time.
Thanks for the input.
The book of Jude clearly confirms the sin of Sodom was sexual sin not hospitality sin.
ping
Why do so many Christian apologists not got straight to (it couldn’t be clearer):
Romans 1:18-32 - 18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
He had to meet this lady where she was at...distorting certain verses...then responding.
All nations were subject to minimal laws and these included bans on sexual immorality. Homosexuality was one of these but unmarried sex with an unmarried female was not banned. According to the bible, apart from Moses there are laws each nation is responsible to keep. These are sometimes called the Noahide laws.
Having sex with the daughters would not have resulted in the death penalty.
However, having sex with the men would have resulted in the death penalty for the men and possibly for the guest.
Also, God held entire nations responsible for the sins of its members.
This is actually correct, although not the way the rev probably meant it.
The idea that a person is "gay" or "straight," presumably born that way, as an unchangeable "sexual orientation," has actually become popular only within the last few decades. Especially that this " gay orientation" is separate but equal to the straight type.
Prior to that an enormous variety of attitudes towards homosexual behavior had existed in many different cultures, but none of them, AFAIK, lined up with the modern idea.
I really would have to go back and read the OT on the punishment for raping a virgin...i don’t know it off hand
Unfortunately for this popular theory, the heyday of Greek glory also coincided in time with the heyday of their attachment to homosexuality.
In the Hellenistic period sex with women made a comeback in popularity.
Yeah, but if I could reach through my screen and slap those commenters who drag out that “It’s Adam & Eve, not Adam & Steve” line, I would.
‘Because when they knew God...they did not glorify Him..neither were they thankful,but they became vain in their imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Professing themselves to be WISE...they became FOOLS.’
(hellooooo??? Dr.DiNovo...your in this Bible read about yourself... in Romans 1st chapter)
even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,..God gave them over to a reprobate mind(rejected and castaway).
They changed the truth of God into a lie!! so they could do those things that were not proper.
Mr. Sungenis does and excellent job totally destroying the pro-gay arguments. Booked marked the article for future reference
This is an excellent piece. I am glad to see the refutation of the whole “Judge not lest ye be judged” abuse be put into an easy-to-understand context.
I was thinking of getting a PHD. Evidently they give them out to anyone who asks for it. If this woman got one, anyone can.
Excellent read ! I am saving it for my ...shhhhh... liberal daughter to read...
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