GotZoom
Senior Member
A Scripture-quoting hate crime directed at gay and lesbian students at Lane Community College has spawned a series of forums beginning next week that will examine what the Bible has to say about sexual orientation and gender identity.
The clergy-led panel discussions are in response to an incident last May in which someone scrawled hateful words - and a citation from Leviticus - on a banner at the offices of the Queer Straight Alliance, an LCC student group, said Susan Matthews, the college's Multicultural Center director.
The act of vandalism "was very frightening, and stressed the students tremendously," Matthews said. "It also raised questions about the Bible."
In seeking an appropriate response, Matthews said she met several times over the summer with members of the Religious Response Network, a local interfaith group that originally formed in response to anti-gay rights measures in Oregon.
The best response, participants decided, would be a series of free forums in which local clergy and others explore different perspectives on how the Bible should be interpreted in regard to human rights and homo- sexuality.
At the first forum next week, for example, two ministers and a rabbi will explore such questions as the Bible's social context, whether it was "God-written or God-inspired," and arguments for and against literal interpretation.
Jim Garcia, LCC's diversity coordinator, said the forums are a legitimate avenue for educational outreach. Last spring's act of vandalism, he said, "is not the vision of diversity we want to promote here."
"People are using the Bible to dehumanize LGBTQ folks," said Garcia, referring to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals. "The purpose of the forums is to bring an inclusive vision of what the Bible is stating."
Sally Sheklow, a Religious Response Network activist, said it can be very empowering for people to hear from religious scholars who don't view the Bible as condemning them on the basis of sexual orientation.
"There are people who've felt cast out of their faith tradition because of hateful interpretations," said Sheklow, a lesbian and Jew. "It's important to address things in biblical terms, because those are the weapons used against us."
Sheklow said the forums will include question-and-answer periods where a range of outlooks - including the view that the Bible condemns homosexuality - can be entertained.
"All perspectives are welcome, but we're making no bones about our human rights advocacy bent,"
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/11/01/d1.cr.sexbible.1101.p1.php?section=cityregion
The clergy-led panel discussions are in response to an incident last May in which someone scrawled hateful words - and a citation from Leviticus - on a banner at the offices of the Queer Straight Alliance, an LCC student group, said Susan Matthews, the college's Multicultural Center director.
The act of vandalism "was very frightening, and stressed the students tremendously," Matthews said. "It also raised questions about the Bible."
In seeking an appropriate response, Matthews said she met several times over the summer with members of the Religious Response Network, a local interfaith group that originally formed in response to anti-gay rights measures in Oregon.
The best response, participants decided, would be a series of free forums in which local clergy and others explore different perspectives on how the Bible should be interpreted in regard to human rights and homo- sexuality.
At the first forum next week, for example, two ministers and a rabbi will explore such questions as the Bible's social context, whether it was "God-written or God-inspired," and arguments for and against literal interpretation.
Jim Garcia, LCC's diversity coordinator, said the forums are a legitimate avenue for educational outreach. Last spring's act of vandalism, he said, "is not the vision of diversity we want to promote here."
"People are using the Bible to dehumanize LGBTQ folks," said Garcia, referring to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals. "The purpose of the forums is to bring an inclusive vision of what the Bible is stating."
Sally Sheklow, a Religious Response Network activist, said it can be very empowering for people to hear from religious scholars who don't view the Bible as condemning them on the basis of sexual orientation.
"There are people who've felt cast out of their faith tradition because of hateful interpretations," said Sheklow, a lesbian and Jew. "It's important to address things in biblical terms, because those are the weapons used against us."
Sheklow said the forums will include question-and-answer periods where a range of outlooks - including the view that the Bible condemns homosexuality - can be entertained.
"All perspectives are welcome, but we're making no bones about our human rights advocacy bent,"
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2005/11/01/d1.cr.sexbible.1101.p1.php?section=cityregion
I suppose me calling you a bitch COULD be sinful if I intended malice. Frankly, I am calling you a bitch because it's clear you want GOD to bend to YOUR rules of what is or is not sinful. It's simple, If you want to please God, live longer and healthier, STOP having sex with other women. (human/side note: unless you and they are all VERY hot, thin, and get pics.)
