Book Club Discussion--Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Adventist Perspectives
Posted September 2nd, 2008 by Steve Parker
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Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Adventist Perspectives is a collection of essays dealing with the increasingly significant issues related to people who have a homosexual orientation and the way Christian churches relate to them.
The book is edited by David Ferguson, Fritz Guy, and David Larson and is the product of a collaboration between SDA Kinship, International (an support organization for gay Adventists) and the Kinship Advisory Board (a group straight Adventist leaders formed to advise and lead SDA Kinship).
The subtitle of the book is important. The writers all come from a Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) perspective. That does not mean they write from any official SDA position. In fact, much of the book may make the officials of SDAism somewhat uncomfortable. It is published by Adventist Forum--an independent SDA organization which fosters open communication and thinking amongst its members (and the parent organization of Spectrum).
Christianity and Homosexuality has an interesting structure (see the diagram).
I’d like to make a couple of comments about this structure because I think it is highly significant. Notice the location of the scriptural and theological perspectives. Most conservative Christians would want to place the Bible and theology at the beginning of the book and filter all other perspectives through its lens. However, the editors of this book perhaps recognize that placing the Bible at the beginning of the discussion would destroy any chance of an open inquiry into the subject of homosexuality.
I don’t think there is any doubt that the majority of Christians would make the assumption that the Bible condemns homosexuality outright. Beginning from this premise, a great deal of what this book discusses would be dismissed from the outset. However, by taking the approach they have, the editors lead us to the text after considering a whole range of extra-biblical material that makes us realize that the text needs, perhaps, to be read afresh and our traditional understandings rigorously critiqued. Let me lay out the journey the editors take us on—at least as I read it.
- Autobiographical perspective. At the very beginning of the book, we are introduced to real people who have had direct experience living with a homosexual orientation or who are related to someone who has. This first section of the book brings home the degree of pain and suffering experienced by an individual with a homosexual orientation. Whatever one may think about homosexuality, the reality is that the issue is not some abstract theological one that doesn’t affect real people. The person living with a homosexual orientation either has to keep their experience to themselves, struggling to come to terms with what the church generally labels as sin while suffering intense guilt for being different or not being able to "overcome" their "sin.” Alternatively the person with a homosexual orientation may "come out" and share their struggle with others. Often this results in isolation, exclusion, emotional (and often physical) abuse, or unsuccessful "reprogramming" by those who claim it can be cured. The person’s friends and family are also affected in various painful ways as they struggle to come to terms with what they often see as an abnormality, perversion, or sinful behavior. By situating the entire discussion within the context of personal experience, the reader is forced to personalize the issue. Theological debate is, in this case, about real people. Whatever we may believe about homosexuality, it is impossible to ignore the fact that Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
- We are then led on to the biomedical perspective. For those who are well informed, there are no surprises here. There is mounting evidence that there is a biological predisposition toward a homosexual orientation that has nothing to do with choice. Many Christians want to avoid this fact but it cannot be avoided. Many people make a lot of the fact that homosexuality was removed from the DSM (the psychiatric diagnostic manual) in response to political action. What they don’t realize is that homosexuality was originally included in the DSM without any scientific basis in the first place. There is a chapter in this section that tells this story and is a very interesting read.
- Part Three of the book surveys behavioural science perspectives. The chapters that make up this section discuss the psychological and social experiences of gay and lesbian Seventh-day Adventists as well as asking whether the SDA denomination lives up to the ideals it holds as a caring, welcoming church. The assessment is not good, to say the least.
- Only after dealing with the realities of experience and science does the book turn to scripture and theology. By now it is difficult not to be convinced that much of what we thought we knew about the homosexual experience has to go. But what does the Bible have to say on the subject and how should it be read? This section, in my view, is the most controversial of the book and is likely to provoke the most scrutiny. The most significant alternative understanding of the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality offered in this section is that the biblical writers knew nothing of what we know, in our time, about sexual orientation. Every reference to homosexual behavior in Scripture occurs in a context where immoral actions are performed and the relationships are distorted. (One author rather unconvincingly suggests that there are actually positive examples of homosexual relationships in the Bible. This author himself admits that his view is highly conjectural.) The argument is that homosexual acts in mutually beneficial, monogamous, long-term committed relationships are just not addressed in the Bible. Instead, we need to follow similar trajectories of interpretation as has occurred with slavery and the treatment of women. We need to accept that for a percentage of the population, homosexual orientation is normal. Rather than trying to "cure" them of that orientation, we need to accept it and focus on developing the moral foundations and parameters on which healthy partnerships can be formed between same-sex partners. Of all the responses at the end of each section, Richard Rice’s response in this section is probably the most critical. It is as if the other sections of the book present ideas that are basically indisputable - it is hard to argue with personal experience or science. But it is obvious that, when it comes to Scripture an enormous amount of work needs to be done to develop better, deeper, and broader understandings of the text than we have so far.
- The final section of the book turns to Christian social perspectives. Coming from the SDA perspective that underlies the whole book, this section asks how SDAs should relate to the development of public policy in relation to homosexuality. What does it mean to pastor a gay person in the church? How do we evaluate public policy? What does a biblical sexuality look like? How does the biblical teaching on love imply what a same-sex marriage might look like? These are just a few of the tough questions dealt with in this part of the book.
Reading through Christianity and Homosexuality is an enlightening, provocative journey. I learned a great deal by reading this book. And the responses at the end of each chapter provided sensitive counterpoints to the material in the previous chapters. This book probably raises more questions than it answers. But it is urgent that the questions be asked and discussed. So many Christian gay men and women are hurting deeply as a result of misunderstanding, prejudice, and demoralizing treatment.
Although Christianity and Homosexuality is clearly written from an Adventist perspective there is much of enormous value for any Christian considering this important issue. The best books bring greater understanding by challenging our thinking, pushing us beyond our present limited perspectives, generate discussion, and remind us that the freedom and grace of the gospel are the central tenets of our faith that should inform all that we do. If these are the criteria for a good book then Christianity and Homosexuality is a good book. But it is not just a good book—it is an urgent call to leave the pages and look out to our brothers and sisters who struggle to work out how to live out their faith while experiencing a sexual orientation they did not choose but defines much of who they are. It is up to all of us to love our gay brothers and sisters as Christ has loved us.
You can buy the book here.
Steve Parker reviews movies and books and comments on things of interest to Christians who are thoughtful about their faith on his blog, Thinking Christian, where this review was first published. He writes from Adelaide, Australia.
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We have been agitating and stirring the dirty bathwater for nearly 30 years now. Most babies would have perished in the cold water by now but this Baby has quietly stepped out of the bathtub and moved outside into the glorious warmth and light and freedom of the Gospel. He is gently saying: "Come unto Me and I will give you rest". Isn't it time we focussed on the "Living Water" rather than the residue in the bathtub?
Thanks for such an articulate review, Steve. I especially appreciate your comments about the structure of the book and how it works philosophically with the goal--indeed, starting with the contentious content would have meant very few would reach the end.
This is truly an important book, and I'm frankly proud that Adventism is leading the way. I've no doubt this book will prove helpful for other denominations as they examine long-held traditions and policies.
I'd love to hear from some of the editors about the responses they've gotten so far.
"..starting with the contentious content..."
Doesnt refering to the bible like that just grate on your soul at some level? Does me. Just something unsettling about it. What strange twist of circumstances we live in huh?
While I was not one of the editors for the book, I did write one of the responses. My assigned task was to respond to the personal stories at the beginning of the book. And as Steve has suggested in his review, this issue is about real people's lives not abstract concepts. Responding to real people is what is asked of each of us. How do we treat the gay or lesbian couple that comes to church on Sabbath morning and brings their child to Sabbath School? It takes each one of us being open and accepting to have an open and accepting church. In other words, this issue is about real people, and we are the real people that are needed to make a difference.
I too appreciate the thoughtful and very helpful review. I just purchased a copy of the book (acutally 2) and have been working through it chapter by chapter. It's a thick book, and fairly comprehensive in terms of covering all the bases (social, religious, ethical, biological...).
The personal stories in the book are at times horrifying and at other times encouraging. I read about a gay Adventist whose SDA parents said that if they had known ahead of time that their son would be gay, they would have had an abortion!
Another Adventist man relates a story of being baited by friends into a humiliating experience while attending an Adventist university. A "friend" told the man that he'd like to take their relationship to the next level and invited him into his dorm room. He created a dim-lit, romantic ambience in the room, and then when the gay man touched him, he yelled, and several other "friends" who had been hiding in the room jumped out.
There were other stories of Adventist professors, pastors and lay people who were accepting, welcoming and understanding.
One thing very clear from reading Christianity and Homosexuality is that there are still many misunderstandings in Adventism about the nature of homosexuality. This book is a great starting place for helping the church become acquainted with realities about homosexuality--realities that can create bridges between gay and lesbian Adventists on the fringes and the wider church body.
Every Adventist pastor and Administrator would gain a lot from reading this book, and certainly lose nothing (except perhaps for some pre-conceived notions about homosexuality).
Thank you to all the contributors and editors for gifting the church with such a thoughtful, timely and hopefully widely beneficial treatment of a topic that is finally coming out of the Adventist closet!
Michael,
I spoke with one of the contributors to this book, who described portions of Scripture as "clobber texts". I bet you can guess which ones.
When I put myself mentally on the other side of the conversation, imagining what it would be like to be on the receiving end of biblical texts widely perceived as condemning my very identity, to say that I would feel slighted and marginalized would be a supreme understatement.
The same contributor, a gay man, whom I refer to above said that he has had to leave church services because of abusive messages toward homosexuals. Why would it be acceptable that messages from the front of any Adventist church would be abusive to any group within the body of Christ?
If there is anything that grates on my soul, it is when Christianity abuses, maligns, or marginalizes human beings with Scriptural "authority".
There's another day breaking on the Eastern sky, and I hope to see the day when it shines brightly on my church!
I sincerely hope that those who comment on this book will do so only after reading it. Those who merely approach this subject from their long-held beliefs, without examining the information in this book, cannot really add to the discussion.
As author of the chapter about Adventist families of homosexual persons, it really saddens me to hear our sons and daughters referred to as the dirty residue in the bathtub.
Thank you, Steve, for your thoughtful review of the book.
Carrol--Just fyi, I personally think that the very first comment was accidentally made on this thread. I think it was meant for the review of the Des and Gillian Ford book which has baby and bathwater in the title. (At least, I'm going to think that way... ; )
As a follower of Jesus Christ, member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and homosexual male I can provide my own perspective on the recently published book, "Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Adventist Perspectives."
Reading through the chapters of this book has brought to light--out of the darkness of denial and outright willful ignorance of some in our collective community--the stories of gay and lesbian Adventists in an unparalleled way. The book provided a much needed "introduction" to homosexuals who happen to be practicing Seventh-day Adventists. For me and my family, it has been a resource for recovery, reconciliation, and reclaiming our Christian values from the unfortunate policies and doctrines of radical extremism.
Reading these stories has provided context to the debate within Adventism and the larger Christian community. For GLBT Adventists are our brothers and sisters in which we share a common purpose and spiritual heritage. The divisive nature of some who comment and debate this issue is precisely why we need these stories.
Stories that tell of a minister who answered a call to serve God and struggled with coming to terms with his reality as a homosexual male. The story of the lesbian daughter of an accomplished Adventist educator and administrator. The story of one mother's journey to understand the complexity of this issue and find freedom from the oppression of homophobia. Then there are also the theological, scientific, and social "stories" and scholarly research within the book.
All of this provides our community--the community of Adventist believers--with the opportunity to experience liberation from the destructive forces of homophobia--hate, oppression, ostracism, neglect, rejection, discrimination, etc.
"Christianity and Homosexuality: Some Adventist Perspectives" is one step in the right direction and, by the grace and leading of the Living God of Love, we, together, are to embark on the journey for our own Adventists liberation from homophobia. May God be our guide always.
Thanks for the insight, Daneen. I will also think of that comment as in the wrong place!
Raymond,
I find your comments perceptive and insightful. Hearing your point of view adds another important dimension to the conversation. Too much of what I hear comes from people who claim to understand the experiences of homosexuals based on having read this or that report.
I find the honest accounts told by members of the GLBT community most helpful because their accounts come from first hand knowledge and experience.
Thanks for sharing openly and honestly!
Has the incidence of homosexuality increased in recent times? Or is this impossible to determine? And are there any identifiable environmental or other factors that may have contributed to this? Perhaps the book addressed these questions.
Some commenters on Spectrum have opined that with the increasing openness of homosexuality, more people will become homosexual, suggesting that homosexuality is on the rise now that it is no longer "in the closet".
Such a position is indefensible and unsubstantiated by actual documentation. If anything is becoming more widespread, it is understanding of the nature of homosexuality and tolerance toward gays and lesbians, meaning that more homosexual individuals feel free to come out (which might make it seem as though incidence of homosexuality were on the rise). That homosexual indidividuals feel freer to be open about their homosexuality, in my view, can only be a good thing.
We have a family member who was in a lesbian relationship and she just decided that she was tired of being a lesbian and last week she entered into a heterosexual marriage. Evidently being a lesbian was a life choice for her and not an organic predisposition. I don't know.
I know that open homosexuality is on the rise, but is there any indication that across-the-board homosexuality is on the rise? And if so, what are the factors causing this rise?
Sorry if I haven't used the right terminology. I mean no disrespect, and I seek to treat all people well. It is good to have a place to better understand those who live with this issue.
If the Bible is not first and foremost, the *contrary* is indicated in the lead, then we are reading only man's devising. Pretty sad situation when personal views usurp the Scriptures.
"The God of power and glory, the Strength of Israel, is being put out of sight by man's glorification of human capabilities. A change must be brought about. There is no need of so much of man's devising." {LLM 222.4}
Sounds like a book for the church (& pastor's) library. When GLBT is so much a part of a person's self identity how can the church say we love you, be a member as long as you don't practice it? Recently two members of our congregation have spoken to me about their orientation. One has chosen to no longer attend; the other is going to try to keep attending. Other than their family I'm probably the only one, in the church, who knows. How do I protect them when other members want to lovingly know everything about them. Husband/wife/divorced/children etc. it's part of relationships that people build in the community. How do I advice them? I love them and want to see both of them continuing to be part of the church family. But as the one no longer attending says, “I have a personal problem with one of the churches doctrines,” and then won't talk about it. The Church members are concerned, but can't have a relationship when they feel pushed away without knowing why. Both of my examples are recent converts who didn't mention their personal orientation prior to baptism. I'm open to suggestions. Brother Michael
" How do I protect them when other members want to lovingly know everything about them?"
The problem is not with the homosexuals, but with the "nosy" members who are demanding and expecting they have a right to ask all about them? Is this church that small (minded)?
I mysteriously received this book in the mail from an unnamed source, but I picked it up and browsed through it. The first thing I noticed was the placement of the various chapters, and thought it was very clever that the biblical perspective was put towards the end. It not-so-subtly tells me that personal experience, science, etc., is valued more than a what the Bible says.
I know that this may reveal that I'm a "narrow-minded" conservative, but when I come to the Bible, I try to look at it objectively, without the influence of someone's personal experience - however right or wrong his or her experience may be. The same holds true for science. Although I value science, I don't let it "trump" God's word and try to convince me that the Bible is saying something that it is not saying.
Cyberkat:
I have seen research reported that suggests pollution and the heavy use of soy may have an effect of the production of prenatal hormones. Some pesticides have estrogen-like effects, and sewage containing urine from women who take birth control pills also can pollute drinking water. Quite a few years ago, a study was done on women giving birth in the Lake Michigan area during a time of heavy pollution and there was a considerably higher incidence of homosexual births. A woman I know, and her sister-in-law, were living there at the time and both had gay sons. Likewise, soy has estrogen-like effects, and today there is soy in so many foods. It has been suggested that the earlier menses of girls today may be due to the heavy use of soy. Aspirin has also been implicated in gay births.
Brother Michael:
A pastor once told me he had tried to befriend gay people but they seemed to have a chip on their shoulder. My answer was, "If someone has been denigrated, rejected, and condemned over and over, it takes more than a little effort to win them back and make them feel that they are really in a safe situation.
Cyberkat,
I'm a librarian. Would you care to cite your references about the "research" you mention, or are these possibly urban legends? I'll check them out in the Loma Linda University Del Webb Library, as it's the closest medical library to where I live. I'm sure if they're scientific, peer-reviewed journals, they will have them at such a fine medical library.
I'm wondering why my son, who was born near Lake Michigan "a few years ago," isn't gay, while I (who was not) am. Perhaps that research will help me understand. And perhaps there's also research that shows that SDAs, given their heavy use of soy products (at least in the the oft-cited "Loma Linda study") would have a much higher incidence of homosexuality than groups that eat little or non (maybe Inuit?). Surely there are such epidemiological studies that you can cite to support your assertions.
I'm feeling gutsy tonight. I'm 53. I've been a pastor a long time. I love the Bible. I have wonderful gay friends and relatives and a few straight ones too. :-)
And I'm going to predict that within 25 years, hopefully still in my lifetime, this issue is going to be largely settled among most of us. The younger generation of Adventists have learned to resolve this because they have never known a society when gay people were in the closet.
The second part of my "prophecy" is that they will read the Bible and take it quite seriously. They will understand that the "proof texts" about homosexuality aren't, and the Bible isn't even talking about the phenomenon we're talking about today.
The sky didn't fall when science busted up the notion of a flat earth with a dome over it. And it won't fall when the science of homosexuality is better known.
Chill. Love one another. Practice fidelity. And you won't be embarrassed later.
Harvey, I was the one who asked for the research, and it was Carrol Grady that responded. If anyone has any additional research, please post.
Here are some research results on estrogenetic effects of pesticides. These are just two of hundreds of such published research results showing an effect on aromatase activity. Aromatase is an enzyme that basically produces estrogens from androgens. The implications seem to be that excess estrogens would theoretically lead to feminization of males (leading to sexual and gender identity changes). It would also theoretically contribute to development of estrogen dependent cancers. I am using the term theoretically here in the scientific sense, meaning they are scientific questions.
Studies have shown that species with high levels of contact with contaminated water, such as fish and amphibians have been most affected. Two areas that come to mind is reduced spermatogenesis in frogs and intersexual fish such as genetic males with female phenotypes. The studies I am refering to are all from peer reviewed scientific journals and can be found by searching PubMed or another journal search engine.
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1: J Appl Toxicol. 2008 Apr;28(3):260-70.
Atrazine-induced changes in aromatase activity in estrogen sensitive target tissues.Holloway AC, Anger DA, Crankshaw DJ, Wu M, Foster WG.
Reproductive Biology Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Atrazine (ATR) is a pesticide used widely throughout North America. Although not directly estrogenic, ATR treatment has been shown to increase aromatase activity in tumor cell lines. Thus, it is suggested that ATR can increase local tissue estrogen levels in estrogen sensitive target tissues through increased aromatase activity. Therefore the effect of ATR on aromatase activity was measured in human granulosa-lutein cell cultures, cells that abundantly express aromatase, and endometrial stromal cell (ESC) cultures, cells that do not express aromatase. Aromatase activity was quantified by the tritiated water method and the specificity of the assay was confirmed by co-incubation with 4-hydroxyandrostenedione, an irreversible inhibitor of the catalytic activity of aromatase. Aromatase activity in ATR treated (1-10 microm) granulosa-lutein cells was increased more than 2-fold compared with control cultures. There were no treatment related changes in cellular protein and thus it is suggested that the ATR-induced change in aromatase activity was not due to an increase in cell number. ATR-treatment had no effect on ESC aromatase activity at any concentration tested. Similarly, there was no effect of ATR treatment on human recombinant aromatase activity in our cell-free test system. Therefore it is concluded that microm concentrations of ATR can increase aromatase activity of human granulosa cells but not ESC and this effect is not elicited at the enzyme level.
PMID: 17685393 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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1: Environ Health Perspect. 2001 Oct;109(10):1027-31.
Effects of chloro-s-triazine herbicides and metabolites on aromatase activity in various human cell lines and on vitellogenin production in male carp hepatocytes.Sanderson JT, Letcher RJ, Heneweer M, Giesy JP, van den Berg M.
Research Institute for Toxicology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, University of Utrecht, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands. t.sanderson@iras.uu.nl
We investigated a potential mechanism for the estrogenic properties of three chloro-s-triazine herbicides and six metabolites in vitro in several cell systems. We determined effects on human aromatase (CYP19), the enzyme that converts androgens to estrogens, in H295R (adrenocortical carcinoma), JEG-3 (placental choriocarcinoma), and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cells; we determined effects on estrogen receptor-mediated induction of vitellogenin in primary hepatocyte cultures of adult male carp (Cyprinus carpio). In addition to atrazine, simazine, and propazine, two metabolites--atrazine-desethyl and atrazine-desisopropyl--induced aromatase activity in H295R cells concentration-dependently (0.3-30 microM) and with potencies similar to those of the parent triazines. After a 24-hr exposure to 30 microM of the triazines, an apparent maximum induction of about 2- to 2.5-fold was achieved. The induction responses were confirmed by similar increases in CYP19 mRNA levels, determined by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. In JEG-3 cells, where basal aromatase expression is about 15-fold greater than in H295R cells, the induction responses were similar but less pronounced; aromatase expression in MCF-7 cells was neither detectable nor inducible under our culture conditions. The fully dealkylated metabolite atrazine-desethyl-desisopropyl and the three hydroxylated metabolites (2-OH-atrazine-desethyl, -desisopropyl, and -desethyl-desisopropyl) did not induce aromatase activity. None of the triazine herbicides nor their metabolites induced vitellogenin production in male carp hepatocytes; nor did they antagonize the induction of vitellogenin by 100 nM (EC(50) 17beta-estradiol. These findings together with other reports indicate that the estrogenic effects associated with the triazine herbicides in vivo are not estrogen receptor-mediated, but may be explained partly by their ability to induce aromatase in vitro.
PMID: 11675267 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
I preached this morning from 2 Tim. 3 1:5. Paul told Timothy that in the last days people will "have a form of godliness but denying its power." Basically a quasi Christianity that is Christian in name only. That's exactly what I see on this blog. Toss out the Bible, go with our own ideas, but still claim to follow Jesus. This attitude would have been totally foreign to Moses, Isaiah, Daniel, Peter, Paul and yes...to Jesus. It is not Biblical religion. Therefore it is not Christian but the quasi Christianity that Paul told us to expect in the last days.
I have not read the book and probably wont, but no-one should be mistreated for any sinful behaviors - we all have plenty of our own. But I cant see any Christian taking pride in the gay lifesyle or any other bad behavioral habit.
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