(RNS) — When one digs just beneath the surface of the Bible and engages its stories in their ancient culture and context, it becomes very clear the Bible is very queer.
The letter to Timothy is in response to particular people in a particular church at a particular time. Go research it.
I mean, this actually illustrates my point pretty well. What’s stopping others from using quotes out of context? Surely this won’t be abused, nor has it been abused in the past. /s
But the main point of the whole text is: the world is full of suffering, people are good and people are bad, but we should work to be better and lessen suffering.
Let’s start by **NOT **promoting the same book used to persecute LGBTQ, non believers, and believers of other religions. This is not a starting point for this community.
The Christian right are literally the kind of judgmental people Jesus criticizes. All good forces should work together, rather than creating strawmen that can split progressives.
I’m not going to back down on this or agree to work with the christian right. Treating people properly isn’t up for negotiation. I’ve seen this book and its followers hurt real people in real life repeatedly and I won’t stand for it being part of some LGBTQ movement. If this book teaches kindness and compassion, then why do its followers insist on acts of malice toward those who don’t align? You can’t put this book in a position of power and be picky and choosy and interprety about what parts are meaningful and how things should be construed.
FWIW Jesus as told was a good guy who treated people with kindness and compassion. But I will continue to condemn the countless past and ongoing atrocities carried out in his name as well as the book that encourages them. For me, for my family, and for my friends.
I mean, this actually illustrates my point pretty well. What’s stopping others from using quotes out of context? Surely this won’t be abused, nor has it been abused in the past. /s
Let’s start by **NOT **promoting the same book used to persecute LGBTQ, non believers, and believers of other religions. This is not a starting point for this community.
I’m not going to back down on this or agree to work with the christian right. Treating people properly isn’t up for negotiation. I’ve seen this book and its followers hurt real people in real life repeatedly and I won’t stand for it being part of some LGBTQ movement. If this book teaches kindness and compassion, then why do its followers insist on acts of malice toward those who don’t align? You can’t put this book in a position of power and be picky and choosy and interprety about what parts are meaningful and how things should be construed.
FWIW Jesus as told was a good guy who treated people with kindness and compassion. But I will continue to condemn the countless past and ongoing atrocities carried out in his name as well as the book that encourages them. For me, for my family, and for my friends.