Скачать или смотреть The Bible Isn’t Anti-Queer; It is Queer!

In an article for Religion News Service, Rev. Brandan Robertson argues that the Bible is a "complex queer text" that has been misappropriated by the Christian right to justify bigotry and political marginalization. He says that conservative Christians, emboldened by recent political shifts, use a weaponized version of "biblical values" to target LGBTQ+ individuals, despite the scholarship suggesting their interpretations are historically and linguistically flawed. Robertson highlights that the term "homosexuality" is a 19th-century invention, and its appearance in modern translations is inaccurate. He posits that the six biblical passages often used to condemn same-sex relationships actually address ancient practices of sexual exploitation, abuse, and idolatry, rather than consensual, loving relationships. Furthermore, he points to "queer" elements within the text itself, such as the intimate bond between David and Jonathan, Joseph’s gender-subverting attire, and the inclusion of the Ethiopian eunuch in the early church.
The author calls on LGBTQ+ people and their allies to "wrest the Bible from the grasp of the Christian right." He argues that conceding the text allows right-wing groups to claim divine authority for discrimination, which causes harm to LGBTQ+ youth in religious environments. Instead of dismissing Christianity as irrelevant to progressivism, Robertson urges activists to reclaim the Bible as a radical, subversive resource for justice. He notes that the Bible has historically motivated social reform and the pursuit of human dignity, from the prophets' calls for justice to the belief that everyone is made in the image of God. Ultimately, Robertson asserts that by reclaiming the Bible’s complexity, believers can expose the prejudice underlying the Christian right’s agenda. Reinterpreting these scriptures not only protects the vulnerable but also offers a more inclusive "gospel" that aligns with the values of pluralism, liberty, and equality.