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The Church and the Homosexual
by John J. McNeill
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Paperback
Publisher: Beacon Press
Fourth Edition
In this "brave and good book which shatters bad myths" (Commonweal), McNeill shows that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality, and argues that the Church must not continue its homophobic practices.
"The Church and the Homosexual is a major weapon for those who are fighting to change the Church."
-The Reverend Paul Moore, Jr.
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| Eisegesis |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
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Ultimately, the casuistry of defrocked Fr. McNeil exposes itself. If the Levitical Code of Holiness no longer applies in the new covenant, surely the Pauline epistle to the Romans does. And the text is not as ambiguous as McNeil's casuistry would have readers be deceived. The sin of idolatry of same-sex relations is unambiguous, and is archetypal of sin itself -- at least in Pauline anthropology and theology.
From the early Didache throughout Christian history, same-sex relations have not only been condemned, they've been regarded as demonic, an oracle of the evil one, as Louis Crompton's "Civilization & Homosexuality" documents.
The problem that homophiles refuse to acknowledge is in the Roman indictment itself. Those who appeal to wisdom are claimed to be fools (i.e., Greek philosophers and androphiles). Those who engage in same-sex erotica, have "already been given up" to debased minds and thinking. So, that an ex-priest's use of casuistry to make unsupportable claims would be self-validating of the Romans 1 indictment. Casuistry, whether Jesuitical or not, as Blaise Pascal observed, does not alter a tiger's spots.
Unfortunately, for homophiles, this primitive thinking has infected 15 centuries of Christian hegemony, and as long as Judaism, Christianity, and/or Islam are taken "at face value," for their claims, homophiles will be excluded from the Elect, Chosen, and Kingdom. As long as scriptures are thought to be articles of truth, rather than articles of obedience, the word of god will stand against casuists.
Biologists, who are not beholden to prove scriptures right or wrong, insist homophilia is biologically normal. Certainly, the Greeks and Romans thought so, which may explain why Paul indicts "the wise" as fools. Perhaps the fools are those who believe in ancient tales that have no credibility, not the ones who are erotically, emotionally, and physically attracted to their same sex.
If angels rape women, if women turn into salt, if the sun stands still, if virgins give birth, if water changes into wine, if the dead regain life, if apparitions ascend into heavens, perhaps the 300+ dreams and visions of the Bible are just that: dreams. Unfortunately, those dreams have caused immense suffering -- from sexism, racism, slavery, homophobia, and war in the middle east. All in the name of god.
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| Beginning of my Journey |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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At first I felt like this book was stretching what i knew as the truth of the Scripture, but as i started to open my mind and my heart i discovered what the purpose of the book was. it was to free gays and lesbians of the notion that the Bible and the church hates them. that there are other ways to intrepret the meaning behind the words. this was the first book pro-gay book i've read and it really did help me begin my journey of self discovery. i don't know if i am ready to step back into church as an openly gay christian, but one day i hope to. back by Scripture and by the love of God. the next book i hope to read is "Stranger at the Gate" by Mel White.
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| My minister recommended this |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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The minister at my local southern baptist church told me about this book, when my husband of 20 years began having an identity crisis problem. I found the information in this book to be helpful in dealing with his feelings of homosexuality. We did infact split in the end but the split was much cleaner than it might have been had I not found this book. There is an arizona resource helpline that also assisted me and recommended this book, they can be reached at 1-480-987-3979 or 1-480-831-6200, at the later number ask for Vicki.
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| Brave and challenging theology |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I find John McNeill's The Church and the homosexual a clear example of what I call "Brave Theology". Mc Neill does not write an unfounded claim, but establishes his arguments on grounds of a hard work of scholarship. To support his views, he appeals to bible theology, philosophy and human sciences. Thus, he forces moral theologist to take his book into account, whether they like it or not. I am firmly convinced that in the future John Mc Neill will be remembered as a pioneer who dared challenge The Church's unsuitable and unacceptable view on homosexuality.
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| Pro Gay, Pro Christain!!! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I am an ordained minsiter of the Gospel, who is gay. This book is superbly written and researched. It was a great help for my acceptance process. A must have for minsiters who work with the gay community. God Bless John J. McNeill.
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