Daniel A. Helminiak

This has a lot of detail and discussion on the topic of homosexuality within the Church itself. I found this detail and context behind various passages to be incredibly helpful, and overall liked this book. It does make some presumptions on what the reader already believes, which means that there will be some people who don't fall into the intended audience even if they are Christian and queer (I felt this way at times). It also references people being transgender but does not discuss it, and while that was not the premise of the book, some added discussion on that topic would have been nice.… (mer)

I purchased this book in the late 90's, early 2000s at my first Gay Pride event. It is an author signed book (you can guess how I feel about those!!) and I can't imagine why it took me so long to read it. I read most of this with Lisa as devotional reading. I couldn't keep her awake with the descriptions of the original Greek, Hebrew, Latin meanings of words and the original intent of the Scriptures, but it was fascinating reading for me. I'm sure NO ONE who isn't already on the correct side of the debate would choose to read this one, but if they would read it, it is compelling.

I didn't bring the book with me (on my business trip) so I could reference, so I'm using my memory (God forbid). But Helminiak breaks the books into chapters based on the major passages that are used by right wing and the religious element to preach against homosexuality. Then he takes each passage, examines the original language used to explain the actual meaning THEN goes further to explain the social setting of the time to further describe what the Scriptures likely meant in that time -- NOT through the 21st century lens that the religious factions of our day use.

I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in seeing what the original language in the Bible intended to read from this scholar priest who has done a great deal of research, rather than the arguments we (me and my GLBTQ peers) are often pounded with.

For this Christian lesbian who has struggled with the juxtaposition between her faith and her personal life for over 20 years, this book resonated strongly with me.… (mer)

One of the most honest examinations of the Bible and homosexuality I've read yet.

The book doesn't try to define exactly what the Bible does say on homosexuality, but rather what it doesn't. Sometimes Helminiak will come right out with his criticism of bad exegesis, i.e., in helping put to rest that useless myth about Sodom being destroyed for it's homosexual populace. It wasn't; only the more virulent anti-gay lynch mobs out there still insist it was. Other times, the author recognizes uncertainty, as in the translation of two Greek words found in, and oddly only ever in, the N.T.

Surely, a lot of people might mistake this as being in favor of a gay-positive Christianity. I don't think the book tries to go quite that far. What I took from it, is that the question of homosexuality in scripture is hardly worth mentioning, and that conservative movements to define it as a key moral issue are hopeless (Biblically speaking.)… (mer)