tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post8229200488369922215..comments2016-01-08T09:15:12.690-08:00Comments on My Queer Scripture: The Gay CenturionTerencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07504439119402756448noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post-17511446931262995162012-09-22T00:33:22.391-07:002012-09-22T00:33:22.391-07:00@Beau, please accept my apologies for allowing thi...@Beau, please accept my apologies for allowing this rudeness to slip by without moderation. I have now adjusted my moderation settings.Terencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07504439119402756448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post-38418018153338618242012-09-22T00:31:05.053-07:002012-09-22T00:31:05.053-07:00The sexual reference does not exist in the English...The sexual reference does not exist in the English translation, but it does in the Greek, and with reference to the socio-historical context of the Roman military. There's more that could be said, but there's no point in presenting rational argument, when faced with one who's sole purpose appears to be to defend existing assumptions and prejudices.<br /><br />Furthermore, you are not only rude (to Beau), but you lack the courage to identify yourself with even a username - let alone your real name. Comments are useful for discussion of content, not for personal attacks on each other. I have now adjusted my comment settings to ensure that this insulting language does not again get published.<br />Terencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07504439119402756448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post-50548212301015867732012-09-21T23:15:19.003-07:002012-09-21T23:15:19.003-07:00Unknown,
Did I say that those were the "lead...Unknown,<br /><br />Did I say that those were the "leading" humanitarian issues? Of course not. Those are the humanitarian issues that religion institutions stand against in this country. Of course, if you go to the third world, the list gets much longer and more egregious.Beauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16231021323767556713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post-68904806799257015992012-09-21T22:34:39.551-07:002012-09-21T22:34:39.551-07:00Because your entire life revolves around your sexu...Because your entire life revolves around your sexual preference you take whatever opportunity no matter how absurd to try and justify your obsession. There is no suggestion of any sexual relationship in the story of the centurion other than than the suggestion in your own mind. A little personal growth and maturity would go a long way but sadly there isn't much hope of that.<br /><br />@Beau if your leading humanitarian issues are gay marriage, embryonic stem cell research and the alleged control of women's bodies you are one sick puppy.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10998666766925109121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post-78600624502822926072012-09-20T12:02:11.999-07:002012-09-20T12:02:11.999-07:00The bible may make an interesting study, as an anc...The bible may make an interesting study, as an ancient text that has exercised undue influence over human civilizations for thousands of years. But as a divine text or a text to "interpret" to gain moral values, I reject it utterly. "Interpreting" the bible to condone morality as we understand it today is not really an interpretation at all. You must reject large portions of what the bible clearly teaches about human relationships; otherwise we are left with human slavery and (really the same thing) the disenfranchising of half the population of the earth (the half with an XX chromosome). <br /><br />I haven't even mentioned the horrors of the OT genocides or the NT teachings on hell.<br /><br />We could certainly point to the golden rule as a good moral teaching in the bible; but we don't need the bible for the golden rule - the golden rule is taught by many schools of religion and philosophy throughout history, many predating and unconnected to Christianity.<br /><br />The moral failures of the bible (and they are many) show that it is hardly a divine text, much less a text to be used for moral guidance.<br /><br />The use of the bible for moral guidance is causing far too much pain and suffering in the world today, in the rejection of gay marriage, the rejection of stem cell research, the controlling of women's bodies, and in many other humanitarian issues.Beauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16231021323767556713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post-40548642077478430342012-09-19T23:37:12.579-07:002012-09-19T23:37:12.579-07:00You're absolutely right that the Bible condone...You're absolutely right that the Bible condones many things we would not condone today, including slavery and male domination over their wives - and you could add, condemned practices we approve, like charging interest on loans.<br /><br />This is not a reason to reject the Bible - just to use and interpret it with more care than the demagogues usually do. <br /><br /> Terencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07504439119402756448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post-4231296019084626392012-09-19T21:19:20.910-07:002012-09-19T21:19:20.910-07:00If we surmise from Matthew 8 and Luke 7 that gay r...If we surmise from Matthew 8 and Luke 7 that gay relationships are granted tacit approval by Jesus, then by the same logic, are we not missing a far more obvious interpretation of these passages: that SLAVERY is granted tacit approval by Jesus.<br /><br />Fortunately, human moral behavior is finally beginning to outgrow the need for "Biblical defense", although (if we begin counting from the spread of Christianity) it's taken us the better part of 2000 years to renounce the slavery of captives and all women.<br /><br />As humans begin to value loving, committed relationships without sexual prejudice, why look to the bible for moral defense? In the biblical view of marriage, the wife is the slave to the husband.<br /><br />You can argue that with both slaves and wives, the New Testament urges owners/husbands to "love" their slaves/wives, but loving relationships (especially sexual relationships) should always be suspect in the context of ownership.Beauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16231021323767556713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post-29169488348763853942012-04-13T11:09:51.867-07:002012-04-13T11:09:51.867-07:00I must say, this interpretation is about as intere...I must say, this interpretation is about as interesting as I have seen. The original language inflects none of what you say, though the cultural references are indeed accurate. I think you are pinning your desire for acceptance to this in your interpretation rather than a literal translation from the Greek. I take particular exception to the Luke reference. This is not an affirmation of gay lovers but an example of faith. An example is an example,,, nothing more nor less. For a clear depiction please read the woman at the well story. Using your prooftexting, you would say that by Jesus even speaking to her was an acceptance of her lifestyle. IMO.MainPainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02949123362905947108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post-31090638728051547742012-03-15T19:18:49.101-07:002012-03-15T19:18:49.101-07:00I'd love to see you in your centurion costume!...I'd love to see you in your centurion costume! Please send me a photo if you do work up the nerve to do it. And thanks for the link!Kittredge Cherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02617858676733169316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post-79968227017937711662012-03-15T12:03:50.342-07:002012-03-15T12:03:50.342-07:00Thanks, Kitt. I've now added your link to the ...Thanks, Kitt. I've now added your link to the post, too.<br /><br />I agree that this story needs to be better known. Every summer, as Pride day rolls around, I fantasize about dressing as a centurion, and carrying a placard with the words "Jesus healed my gay lover" - but I haven't found the nerve, yetTerencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07504439119402756448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029334471559741039.post-54925516087436791022012-03-15T11:34:01.028-07:002012-03-15T11:34:01.028-07:00Thanks for an insightful post on an important topi...Thanks for an insightful post on an important topic. The centurion’s story has gotten surprisingly little attention throughout history considering that Jesus himself was impressed by his faith. But the Roman soldier has always been an unlikely role model. Jesus’ contemporaries were probably shocked that the great healer would praise a military man who enforced Roman occupation of their land. Today people may find the centurion unappealing because he may have been gay, or a slave owner, or both. It was just like Jesus to take someone disreputable and praise them as holy.<br /><br />I included a link to your website in my post today about the gay Centurion at the Jesus in Love Blog.<br /><br />Gay centurion: Jesus heals a soldier’s boyfriend in the Bible<br /><a href="http://jesusinlove.blogspot.com/2012/03/gay-centurion-jesus-heals-soldiers.html" rel="nofollow"> http://jesusinlove.blogspot.com/2012/03/gay-centurion-jesus-heals-soldiers.html</a>Kittredge Cherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02617858676733169316noreply@blogger.com