Queer theory is a field of critical theory that emerged in the early 1990s out of the fields of gay and lesbian studies and feminist studies. It is a kind of interpretation devoted to queer readings of texts. Heavily influenced by the work of Michel Foucault, queer theory builds both upon feminist challenges to the idea that gender is part of the essential self and upon gay/lesbian studies' close examination of the socially constructed nature of sexual acts and identities. Whereas gay/lesbian studies focused its inquiries into "natural" and "unnatural" behavior with respect to homosexual behavior, queer theory expands its focus to encompass any kind of sexual activity or identity that falls into perverted, normative and deviant categories.
Have to agree with you Marcus, although for different reason, but I do not see how the Bible would support this method either. I do think it is important that those that the Bible marginalizes have the opportunity to voice their opinion, but sadly, in this case, I do not think that Queer Theory is a valid understanding of the Bible.
Sterling- These moments of agreement are increasing-what to make of this! :) I too do not see this as a valid response either; and I think that like you too the scripture would not uphold this either. I cannot assume however to really understand how some that are marginalized feel about the Bible, so I have a sense of sadness in that regard.
This question about language is important. queer can simply be used to mean anything non-normative, but in this context, it typically relates to sexual identity and practice. The advantage of a term like queer is that it is non-gendered, unlike gay and lesbian. As Traci noted in her summary, I think attention to the power dynamics related to social construction of gender and sexual identity is a major contribution offered to biblical studies by queer theory.
Sterling and Marcus, I am curious to hear more details about why you think the biblical text does not support such a theoretical approach? Does it seem too anachronistic? Does it seem to you that the bible is so heteronormative that it has no chance of supporting queer sensibilities?
I wonder if this is an example of language changing. Twenty years ago using the word "queer" would have been offensive to many gays/lesbians. I do see that "queer" is non-gendered and the concept that gender is socially constructed and not part of the essential is making me think. Thanks! Sue
I think your question might just be loaded, but I will bite. Yes, I do think the Bible shows much cruelty towards women and homosexuals. I do not think that it supports the liberation of the gay community, and I stand by that belief. That is one of my major issue with the Bible is the constant nay saying and negative stories, imagery and wording that we get from the translations in the old testament and some in the new.
To prove my point (in a manner of speaking) and to list some verses that apply to what I continually bring up (ie slavery, trafficking and cruelty and which relate to this) here are some verses (some verses pulled from "God is not Great", "The God Delusion", "Letter to a Christian Nation" and others from memory and from my own Bible)
Cruelty and jealousy of God can be seen in Deut 13, 8-15 (which I will only pull a portion of it out for times sake)
"If you hear in one of your cities, which the Lord your God gives you to dwell there, that certain base fellows have gone out among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of the city, saying, "Let us go and serve the other gods," which you have not known, then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently; and behold, if it be true and certain that such an abominable thing has been done among you, you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, destroying it utterly, all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword"
The cruelty of Christ and God in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
"God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the glory of his might..."
Adding to this with John 15:6
"If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned"
Slavery support from the "Creator" in Leviticus 25:44-46 (partially quote due to time)
"As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are round about you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their families that are with you, who have been born in your land; and they may be your property."
Sex Trafficking (of one's own daughters) supported in the Bible in Exodus 21:7-11 (fully written)
"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed; he shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt faithlessly with her. If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money."
St Paul telling slaves to be good to their master's in Ephesians 6:5
"Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ.."
Also take a look at 1Timothy 6:1-4 for more arguments for slavery in the Bible and how these slaves should act towards their God believing master's.
Quotes straight out of Richard Dawkins "The God Delusion" (this does not necessarily mean that these following ideas and quotes are not taking out of context in some cases but I do believe they are par for the Biblical course)
Dawkins states, "The attitude of the "American Taliban" towards homosexuality epitomizes their religious absolutism. Listen to the Revered Jerry Falwell, founder of Liberty University: 'AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals'" (p 327).
Dawkins quotes Pat Robertson stating, "[Homosexuals] want to come into churches and disrupt church services and throw blood all around and try to give people AIDS and spit in the face of ministers...." (p 328).
Dawkins talks about Gary Potter stating, "Gary Potter, President of Catholics for Christian Political Action, had this to say:'When the Christian majority takes over this country, there will be no satanic churches, no more free distribution of pornography, no more talk of rights for homosexuals" (p 328).
A few Bible verses that seem to be against homosexuality
Leviticus 18:22 "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination".
Leviticus 20:13 "If a man lie with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them".
Finally, Romans 1:26-27
"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. And likewise also the men left the natural use of the woman, and burned in their lust one toward another, and man with man wrought filthiness, and received in themselves such recompense of their error, as was meet."
While there are excuses and arguments against much of this, I think that the Bible seems to be somewhat outspoken and, in my opinion, somewhat clear about these issues.
I agree with you for the most part, Sterling. I have a tendency to view the Bible as Gomes does and make it nice when it isn't (I think Pam may have said that in our last discussion). However, in the case of homosexually (and women), I do not think the Bible supports a sensitive approach. I wish it did…However, the Bible does teach compassion, particularly in the New Testament, and I continue to hold onto that as a means of dealing with the insensitive and cruel texts that you referenced in your post. Jesus had enormous compassion towards people feeling marginalized.
It concerns me deeply that homosexual people do not feel accepted in many of our churches. It is my strong belief that God invites all of us to have a relationship with Him, and His love is all-inclusive. Proverbs 10:12 states "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses".
Sterling, I appreciate your perspective. It seems you are wondering how thoughtful, caring and intelligent people can continue to see the Bible as a foundation document when it contains such explicitly violent, cruel and demeaning material. We can dance around it with our different interpretations, putting it in historical context, analyzing it through a queer or feminist lens but there it is! This doesn't even get us into the history of the faith and all the brutality there. I'm glad you remind us to really look hard at these very difficult texts. Sue
My belief is not so much about what the Bible can handle, as I think God can handle anything, but it seems to me that this theory is more about changing the Bible and putting our presuppositions in a place where we are not open to what the scripture says itself. The Bible does have to be understood in our culture and interpretation and understanding is work, but I have always believed the Bible should change us and give us understanding (it reads us) than it should be about us trying to fix our misunderstandings of the Bible based on our own biases.
I am not trying to be adversarial here, I am trying to make people think. Just because these wonderful progressive and liberal ideas are thrown out (in relation to the Bible and how to read it) doesn't mean that they are true. On the flip side of the coin, I don't think the Pat Robertson's and Jerry Falwells of the world have it right either. While I do think that a progressive, understanding, and loving approach to reading and understanding the Bible and the followers of Christ is a wonderful thing, I have to be honest when I say that I just don't buy it. Some of these verses are pretty adamant it would seem, and can not simply be cast aside.
I really appreciate your point of view and am grateful you are challenging us to examine these texts. You are not being adversarial at all; please continue to challenge our thinking.
started by traci_shahan on 15 Feb 10
These moments of agreement are increasing-what to make of this! :)
I too do not see this as a valid response either; and I think that like you too the scripture would not uphold this either. I cannot assume however to really understand how some that are marginalized feel about the Bible, so I have a sense of sadness in that regard.
I, too, am having a difficult time relating to this theory.
Sterling and Marcus, I am curious to hear more details about why you think the biblical text does not support such a theoretical approach? Does it seem too anachronistic? Does it seem to you that the bible is so heteronormative that it has no chance of supporting queer sensibilities?
I think your question might just be loaded, but I will bite. Yes, I do think the Bible shows much cruelty towards women and homosexuals. I do not think that it supports the liberation of the gay community, and I stand by that belief. That is one of my major issue with the Bible is the constant nay saying and negative stories, imagery and wording that we get from the translations in the old testament and some in the new.
Cruelty and jealousy of God can be seen in Deut 13, 8-15 (which I will only pull a portion of it out for times sake)
"If you hear in one of your cities, which the Lord your God gives you to dwell there, that certain base fellows have gone out among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of the city, saying, "Let us go and serve the other gods," which you have not known, then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently; and behold, if it be true and certain that such an abominable thing has been done among you, you shall surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, destroying it utterly, all who are in it and its cattle, with the edge of the sword"
The cruelty of Christ and God in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
"God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you... when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the glory of his might..."
Adding to this with John 15:6
"If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned"
Slavery support from the "Creator" in Leviticus 25:44-46 (partially quote due to time)
"As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are round about you. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their families that are with you, who have been born in your land; and they may be your property."
Sex Trafficking (of one's own daughters) supported in the Bible in Exodus 21:7-11 (fully written)
"When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed; he shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt faithlessly with her. If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money."
St Paul telling slaves to be good to their master's in Ephesians 6:5
"Slaves, be obedient to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as to Christ.."
Also take a look at 1Timothy 6:1-4 for more arguments for slavery in the Bible and how these slaves should act towards their God believing master's.
Quotes straight out of Richard Dawkins "The God Delusion" (this does not necessarily mean that these following ideas and quotes are not taking out of context in some cases but I do believe they are par for the Biblical course)
Dawkins states, "The attitude of the "American Taliban" towards homosexuality epitomizes their religious absolutism. Listen to the Revered Jerry Falwell, founder of Liberty University: 'AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals'" (p 327).
Dawkins quotes Pat Robertson stating, "[Homosexuals] want to come into churches and disrupt church services and throw blood all around and try to give people AIDS and spit in the face of ministers...." (p 328).
Dawkins talks about Gary Potter stating, "Gary Potter, President of Catholics for Christian Political Action, had this to say:'When the Christian majority takes over this country, there will be no satanic churches, no more free distribution of pornography, no more talk of rights for homosexuals" (p 328).
A few Bible verses that seem to be against homosexuality
Leviticus 18:22
"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination".
Leviticus 20:13
"If a man lie with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them".
Finally, Romans 1:26-27
"For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. And likewise also the men left the natural use of the woman, and burned in their lust one toward another, and man with man wrought filthiness, and received in themselves such recompense of their error, as was meet."
While there are excuses and arguments against much of this, I think that the Bible seems to be somewhat outspoken and, in my opinion, somewhat clear about these issues.
It concerns me deeply that homosexual people do not feel accepted in many of our churches. It is my strong belief that God invites all of us to have a relationship with Him, and His love is all-inclusive.
Proverbs 10:12 states "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses".
My belief is not so much about what the Bible can handle, as I think God can handle anything, but it seems to me that this theory is more about changing the Bible and putting our presuppositions in a place where we are not open to what the scripture says itself. The Bible does have to be understood in our culture and interpretation and understanding is work, but I have always believed the Bible should change us and give us understanding (it reads us) than it should be about us trying to fix our misunderstandings of the Bible based on our own biases.
Well put my friend, well put. Especially the last sentence. Right on
I really appreciate your point of view and am grateful you are challenging us to examine these texts. You are not being adversarial at all; please continue to challenge our thinking.
Mary