From poop jokes to same-sex marriage. We like to mix it up.
So my father, the 67 year old conservative Catholic, and I were having our weekly discussion about the relationship between Christianity and homosexuality.
Normally people quote good ol' Leviticus. You know, don't eat prawns, don’t wear polyester and don’t have gay sex. It's very important. You won't get into Heaven otherwise.
But generally no one can give me an example of it condemned by New Testament (and therefore Jesus himself). So I asked my father, who is not only a Catholic but is incredibly immersed and interested in theology, and he mentioned Paul. He couldn't give me a direct quote, so I Wikied it. Because Wikipedia never lies.
So Paul was this guy who said some things, some of which are in Corinthians. He said:
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
Fair enough, Paul. You ain't down with the kids. Whatevs.
And while we could sit here and argue about what gets lost in translation between the Ancient Greek and how "effeminate" could mean lots of things (one website described it specifically as "Jack, from Will and Grace". I lol'd)...what really made me happy was when I asked him about "fornicators". I had to make sure we were on the same page. It went down like this:
Me: "So 'fornicators' are people who have sex before marriage, yeah?"
Dad: "Yeah, pretty much."
Me: "Like you." (My father is an unmarried man).
Dad: ".....yes. [pauses] I don't want to talk about this anymore."
Then he sulked off to the kitchen. Oh snap.
I'm not into drunkards either, but the law doesn’t treat them as second class citizens. You can't pick and choose. It’s political opportunism and it’s corrupt. It’s using a tiny, easily debunked part of Christianity to back up a few crazed conservatives views. I don't mind what you believe. You can believe that being gay prevents you from going to Heaven, that's your choice. I'm completely for religious freedom. But it's when beliefs like that hurt other people that it's not right. Church and State are separated and we should remember this.
And not all Christians are like my Dad (who is actually a good guy, I swear. Just a little misguided. He wouldn't disown me if I brought Tegan home, “I don’t mind, as long as she’s cute”). I urge you to read the fabulous Hayley G Hoover, a pro-gay Christian, who is far more eloquent than I: http://hayleyghoover.blogspot.com/2009/11/why-christians-can-believe-in-gay.html
Other Various Linkage:
Obama’s stance (unfortunately): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73oZ_pe1MZ8
It’s funny, it’s true, it’s Kate McKinnon (look at that blonde hair, so cute), it makes me happy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE6UtcJtqE4
Is sexual orientation inherent? Russell Brand tests this theory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCjyAJc4oMg
If nothing else, same-sex marriage should be legal so I can marry Rachel Maddow (her on the Obama administration and gay rights): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXWlVYKTvNk
Love is love. And I'm pretty sure Jesus said something about loving one and other.
- Grace (is not gay but paid $300 for a chance to meet the cast of The L Word, so has enough lezzy points to know what she's talking about.)
Listening to: My Number by Tegan and Sara
