[Note: I'm posting this article here, not because I agree with it, but to encourage informed thinking on this complex subject. Rowland].

Baptist: Dr. Stayton - There is nothing in the Bible regarding homosexual orientation. In fact, the Bible does not concern itself with sexual orientation. It does speak out probably against gang rape, male prostitution for religious purposes, and pederasty (sex between an adult and youth). I lead Bible study programs on this subject and am convinced that the Bible does not address the issue of a person's sexual orientation.

Episcopalian: Bishop Spong - There are few biblical references to homosexuality. The first, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, is often quoted to prove that the Bible condemns homosexuality. But the real sin of Sodom was the unwillingness of the city's men to observe the laws of hospitality. The intention was to insult the stranger by forcing him to take the female role in the sex act. The biblical narrative approves Lot's offer of his virgin daughters to satisfy the sexual demands of the mob. How many would say, "This is the word of the Lord?" When the Bible is quoted literally, it might be well for the one quoting to read the text in its entirety.

Leviticus, in the Hebrew Scriptures, condemns homosexual behavior, at least for males. Yet, "abomination," the word Leviticus uses to describe homosexuality, is the same word used to describe a menstruating woman. Paul is the most quoted source in the battle to condemn homosexuality (in Rom. 1:26-27 and in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). But homosexual activity was regarded by Paul as a punishment visited upon idolaters by God because of their unfaithfulness. Homosexuality was not the sin but the punishment.

In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul gave a list of those who would not inherit the kingdom of God. That list included the immoral, idolaters, adulterers, sexual perverts, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers and robbers. Sexual perverts is a translation of two words; it is possible that the juxtaposition of malakos, the soft, effeminate word, with arsenokoitus, or male prostitute, was meant to refer to thepassive and active males in a homosexual liaison.

Thus it appears that Paul would not approve of homosexual behavior. But was Paul's opinion about homosexuality accurate, or was it limited by the lack of scientific knowledge in his day and infected by prejudice born of ignorance? An examination of some of Paul's other assumptions and conclusions will help answer this question. Who today would share Paul's anti-Semitic attitudes, his belief that the authority of the state was not to be challenged, or that all women ought to be veiled? In these attitudes Paul's thinking has been challenged and transcended even by the church. Is Paul's commentary on homosexuality more absolute than some of his other antiquated, culturally conditioned ideas?

Three other references in the New Testament (in Timothy, Jude and II Peter) appear to be limited to condemnation of male sex slaves in the first instance, and to showing examples (Sodom and Gomorrah) of God's destruction of unbelievers and heretics (in Jude and II Peter respectively). That is all that Scripture has to say about homosexuality. Even if one is a biblical literalist, these references do not build an ironclad case for condemnation. If one is not a biblical literalist there is no case at all, nothing but prejudice born of ignorance, that attacks people whose only crime is to be born with an unchangeable sexual predisposition toward those of their own sex.

Episcopalian: Bishop Wood - I am aware of the concern for certainhomosexual acts and see no addressing of the condition or orientation [in the Scriptures].

Judaism: Rabbi Marder - I believe that the Hebrew Bible strongly condemns homosexuality. While it is part of my tradition, I do not regard all Biblical laws as binding on me. The Biblical condemnation of homosexuality is based on human ignorance, suspicion of those who are different, and an overwhelming concern for ensuring the survival of the people. Since the Bible regards homosexuality as a capital crime, it clearly assumes that homosexuality is a matter of free choice, a deliberate rebellion against God. We have learned from modern science that people do not choose to be gay or straight; hence it is neither logical nor moral to condemn those whose nature it is to be gay or lesbian.

Judaism: Rabbi Dr. Teutsch - The Scriptural references to homosexuality make no comment on lesbianism. They object to male homosexuality on three grounds: cultic prostitution, unnaturalness, and "spilling seed" or Onanism. Homosexuality has been shown to be natural in animals and humans. Gay men today are not involved in cultic acts. And the spilling of the seed through heterosexual, or masturbatory acts is not an issue for me. Thus I take this prohibition no more seriously than many others, such as that against lending money at interest, that do not make sense in this time and place.

Judaism: Rabbi Wilson - Only insofar as that at that time homosexual behavior was a manifestation of abusive sexual practices associated with idolatry and fertility cultism, and thus "abomination" because of the association, not because of the intrinsic "relationship." Also, because it was "unnatural," that is non-procreative, understandably in tribal times when procreation was of highest priority.

Lutheran: Bishop Olson - Biblical scholars are busy restudying the few verses which have often been regarded as anti-homosexual. One thing is clear, these few verses do not refer to homosexuality as we understand and use that term today. The Biblical texts do speak against sexual exploitation and rape whether committed by persons with a heterosexual or homosexual orientation. The great message of Scripture is of a God of unbounded love for the human family. If God has any preference at all, it is for "the least," "the lost" and "the last." God's amazing grace, compassion, and salvation is open to everyone. Jesus is very clear in placing his gospel beyond the limitations of churches and denominations. He says, "I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd." (John 10:16) Here is a partial list of verses that has every right in being equally addressed to homosexual or heterosexual Christians: John 3:16, Galatians 3:27, Ephesians 2:8,9, Romans 3:21-24, Acts 10.

Former Mormon: Dr. McGrath - The Scriptures of my religious tradition include the Holy Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. There are five references in the Bible that I grew up believing to be Scriptural proof against homosexuality.

However, I now believe it would be a mistake to rely upon these references in forming my conclusions about homosexuality. However, I now believe it would be a mistake to rely upon these reference in forming my conclusions about homosexuality for the following reasons: What I have learned from living my life is that those references in the Bible are not speaking to the truth I have experienced in relation to how God views homosexual love.

Although the General Authorities of my Church have expressed strong negative opinions about homosexuality, none of our latter day Prophets have proclaimed revelation from God on this issue, including President Spencer W. Kimball who has probably been the most outspoken on this topic.

None of the words we attribute to Christ make any reference tohomosexuality

None of the latter-day Scriptures make any reference to homosexuality.

Presbyterian: Dr. Edwards - The Scriptures are very important because they teach us God's love for all, gay or straight. But the Scriptures are old, thousands of years old, written even before the word "homosexual" existed. Same sex acts involving the genitals - we call these "homogenital" - seem in Scripture to be thought of as the result of idol worship. See, for example, Romans 1:18-27. Nor do the Scriptures seem to understand what we mean today by "sexual orientation." Sexual acts which are injurious, disrespectful, orunloving toward the other person are wrong. So I believe that the Scriptures approve of homosexuality and even homogenital acts that are kind, generous, loving, and respectful of the other person, just as in the case of heterosexuality and heterogenital acts.

Presbyterian: Rev. Holfelder - A careful and sensitive reading of the Scriptures does not lead to the automatic conclusion that homosexuality is a sin. There are passages, especially in the "holiness literature" that suggest this conclusion. However, the overall message of Scripture in this matter is far more positive than negative. Biblically, the issue is the goodness of human sexuality and the use of that gift in covenant relationship. For me a more important question is that of the relationship of God in Christ to a human being. In that relationship I see no barriers, even sexual ones.

Roman Catholic: Sister Ford - Contemporary Biblical scholars areindicating that the idea of homosexual orientation was unknown to the writers of the Sacred Scripture. Certainly they had no knowledge of the Kinsey research which established the existence of a continuum along which all of us are somewhere between the end points of totally heterosexual through bisexuality to exclusively homosexual. Many of the oft-quoted "condemnatory passages" may assume that heterosexuals are acting out of violation of their "nature." There also is question as to whether words which appear in our English texts refer in some cases in the original languages not to homosexuals but to male prostitutes which were used in pagan worship. Certainly, nowhere does the Bible legislate on the matter of loving sexual activity between consenting adults in committed relationships.

Roman Catholic: Sister Gramick - When read at face value, the Scriptures have nothing positive to say about homogenital behavior. However, most Christians do not interpret the Bible literally; they try to understand the Scriptures in their historical and cultural context and see what meaning the Scriptures have for us today.The Scriptures were written approximately 2,000 or more years ago when there was no knowledge of constitutional homosexuality. The Scripture writers believed that all people were naturally heterosexual so that they viewed homosexual activity as unnatural.

Women today are pointing out that the inferiority of women expressed in the Scriptures was a product of the culture of the times in which the Bible was written; it should not be followed today, now that we are beginning to appreciate the natural and God-given equality of men and women.

Similarly, as we know that homosexuality is just as natural and God- given as heterosexuality, we realize that the Biblical injunctions against homosexuality were conditioned by the attitudes and beliefs about this form of sexual expression which were held by people without benefit of centuries of scientific knowledge and understanding.It is unfair of us to expect or impose a twentieth century mentality and understanding about equality of genders, races, and sexual orientations on the Biblical writers. We must be able to distinguish the eternal truths the Bible is meant to convey from the cultural forms and attitudes expressed there.

Roman Catholic: Rev. Nugent - Catholicism uses four major sources for principles and guidance in ethical questions like homosexuality: scripture, tradition (theologians, church documents, official teachings, etc.), reason and human experience. All are used inconjunction with one another. Scripture is a fundamental and primary authoritative Catholic source - but not the only source. Biblical witness is taken seriously, but not literally. An individual scriptural text must be understood in the larger context of the original language and culture, the various levels of meanings, and the texts' applications to contemporary realities in light of the role of the community's and its official leadership role in providing authoritative interpretations. Both Jewish and Christian scriptures do speak negatively of certain forms of same-gender (generally male) sexual behavior (not same-gender love), especially when associated with idol worship, lust, violence, degradations, prostitution, etc. Whether scriptures condemn all and every form of same-gender expression in and of itself for all times, places and individuals in the topic of serious theological and Biblical discussion and debate. Same-gender expressions of responsible, faithful love in a covenanted relationship between two truly homosexually oriented people not gifted with celibacy is not something envisioned by scriptures. Whether this form of homosexuality violates biblical or anthropological principles of sexuality and personhood - especially in light of current scientific knowledge and human experience about the homosexual orientation - is a key issue facing the churches and religious groups today.

Unitarian Universalist: Dr. Schulz - While the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) certainly condemns what it refers to as sodomy, it also condemns a whole host of other practices (e.g., sleeping with a menstruating woman) which have long been accepted as reputable. Most of the Old Testament is surely not an appropriate resource from which to obtain guidance regarding contemporary ethics! Turning to the New Testament, we discover that Jesus has nothing whatsoever to say regarding homosexuality. Inasmuch as he frequently condemned others of whose behavior he disapproved (e.g., the money-changers in the temple), it is significant that he makes no reference to homosexuals or their practices.

United Church of Christ: Dr. Lebacqz - Yes and No. Yes, in the same sense that the Scriptures object to wearing clothes of different fabrics, eating pork or other kinds of meat, and women speaking in church. That is to say, the Scriptures are a human product which reflect the cultural limitations of their time. Thus, they speak negatively about a number of practices that are routinely accepted today, including certain sexual practices. Some of these sexual practices are engaged in by both heterosexually and homosexually oriented people.

No, in the same sense that the Scriptures do not speak clearly to the phenomenon that we today call "homosexuality." That is, Scripture speaks negatively about certain behaviors, most notably temple prostitution, not about basic orientation or about loving and committed gay/lesbian relationships (A possible exception here is the praise of the relationship between David and Jonathan.)

United Church of Christ: Dr. Nelson - The Scriptures actually say nothing about homosexuality as a psycho-sexual orientation. Our understandings of sexual orientation are distinctly modern ones that were not present in the minds of Scriptures writers. A few passages of Scripture (seven at the most) object to certain types of same-sex expressions or acts. The particular acts in question, however, are sexual expressions which are exploitative, oppressive, commercialized, or offensive to ancient purity rituals. There is no Scriptural guidance for same-sex relationships which are loving and mutually respecting. Guidance for these relationships should come from the same general Scriptural norms that apply to heterosexual relationships.

United Methodist: Dr. Cobb - Certainly some of the Biblical writers objected to homosexual acts, but there is surprisingly little attention to this topic. The opposition of the church comes from other sources much more than from scripture. There are more scriptural reasons to oppose homophobia than to oppose homosexuality.

United Methodist: Bishop Wheatley - The Scriptures at no point deal with homosexuality as an authentic sexual orientation, a given condition of being. The remarkably few Scriptural references to "homosexuality" deal rather with homosexual acts, not with homosexual orientation. Those acts are labeled as wrong out of the context of the times in which the writers wrote and perceived those acts to be either nonmasculine, idolatrous, exploitative or pagan. The kind of relationships between two consenting adults of the same sex demonstrably abounding among us - relationships that are responsible and mutual, affirming and fulfilling - are not dealt with in the Scriptures. Dealing with those relational realities is one of the tasks we are about in our time.

Ninure Saunders aka Rainbow Christian http://deaconninure.0catch.com