Hi 78 / Lo 55
|
Hi 78 / Lo 55 |
Student Publications
©1991-2007
Last modified:
Contact:
|
Volume 72, Issue 56,
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
News Bible talks take on myths Prof hopes that disparate views build tolerance by GABRIELLE LYONS
UH students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in "Exploding the Myths: What the Bible Really Says about Homosexuality" at 11:30 a.m. today in the University Center Satellite. The series, sponsored by United Campus Ministries and the United Methodist Wesley Foundation, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Tuesday in November. "There is a lot of controversy that we’re reading in the papers about what is considered right and what is considered a Christian position," Rev. Guinn Blackwell-Eagleson, director of United Campus Ministries, said. "What many people are unaware about is that there are Christians that take very divergent positions on the issue of homosexuality." Blackwell-Eagleson said the study will focus on eight Biblical texts often used to make arguments either for or against gay marriage and ordination of homosexual individuals in religious communities. "We’re just really going to look at those texts in-depth, and we’re going to explore some of the words that are ambiguous … in the original language and we’re going to look at the etymology of those words," she said. "We’re going to look at the historical context of the different texts. We’re going to look at the tradition of interpretation of those texts." Blackwell-Eagleson refers to the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and the destruction of Sodom as an example. "(It’s a) story that I have heard quoted with profound misunderstanding recently," she said. "What is an issue in that text is not homosexuality, which is made clear because the mob that threatened the visitors with homosexual rape is offered the daughters (instead)," she said. "If the issue had been homosexuality then it wouldn’t have made any sense to try to appease that mob by offering them women. The legal issue and the way that text is understood traditionally in ancient Christian tradition is that that was a violation of hospitality laws. The obligation to protect, care for and provide for those who have been invited into your home and shared a meal with was profoundly important," Blackwell-Eagleson said. "So when that story is used to justify legal or religious actions in reference to homosexual persons, it’s based on a misunderstanding of that text," she said. "I would hope that people who have every possible different opinion will come and be part of the discussion," she said. "We’ll challenge each other’s assumptions and we’ll have a better opportunity to learn if we are not simply reaffirming our own prejudices, and instead we are challenged in a community of people … with diverse perspectives to look at these texts," Blackwell-Eagleson said. She said, people should have the opportunity to understand the texts as someone else understands them. By viewing them in a different way than many traditionally have, they might understand each other better, Blackwell-Eagleson said. Leaders hope the program will clear up misunderstandings. "A whole lot of damage has been done in the name of God," Stacy Pever Anzick, director of United Methodist Wesley Foundation, said. "So I think ‘Exploding the Myths’ is a good way to let people know that the Bible has been abused and misinterpreted by all kinds of people for all kinds of purposes. "I hope that whoever attends gets the sense of the Bible is more than black and white. The Bible is much more alive than that, even if people study it and come to a different place than I come to. It’s not black and white, it’s not a literalism," Anzick said. "I mean there are places in the Bible that contradict each other. I would hope people walk away with an understanding that the Bible is much more alive and much bigger than we interpret it to be." Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu |
To contact the
To contact other members
of
 |