Editorial: God Said It, I Read It, And That Settles It

Editorial: God Said It, I Read It, And That Settles It @ Washington Blade

Many of us recently observed religious holidays. No, not the release of "Liza With a Z" and "Brokeback Mountain" on DVD. Though the fact that the gay cowboy flick is sold at Wal-Mart may constitute a minor miracle.

Countless LGBT folks celebrate Easter and Passover. As New York Blade readers have no doubt noticed, many members of the community are forging allies at places of worship. It’s an ongoing and important story.

To be sure, we can change minds by showing people some of us are in loving, monogamous relationships—with children!—and we still believe in God.

But what about those of us who don’t follow a traditional Judeo-Christian faith or attend a church? What about Buddhists, atheists, Wiccas, Muslims, Hindus, Mormons, Native Americans and Neo-Pagans (yes, there is such a thing)?

Why not make a unified community effort to frame LGBT rights as matters of equality and democracy? After all, we do have a little paper called the Constitution. But that tact has failed—and it most likely always will. The reason is because the LGBT civil rights movement so often comes down to debating the scriptures of the Bible.

The Soulforce Equality Riders are currently traveling around the country via bus to visit military and academic schools that prohibit gays and lesbians from enrollment. Their goal is to end religious-based discrimination.

The group is an interfaith ensemble, but as co-founder Jacob Reitan said, they’re all comfortable debating biblical scripture. They have to be. Everywhere they go—and these are institutes of higher learning—students quote scripture as a rationale behind homophobia. Even at Texas A & M, the riders discovered that religious objections to homosexuality were the root of the military cadets’ concerns about openly gay service members.

Even a bibilical scholar would have trouble educating the lay person about homosexuality and the Bible. Why trouble yourself with the nuances of history, ancient culture, language and abstract truths when the words are printed in plain English in black and white to read today?

It’s so much easier and quicker to follow the bumper-sticker philosophy of "God Said It, I Read It, And That Settles It."

Thankfully, that lowest-common-demonimator way of thinking seems to be slowly dissipating, even if the remaining followers are a fervent, vocal bunch. The good news is everywhere, often hidden in the shadows of bad news. A Kentucky Baptist college recently expelled a student who came out. But friends of the student are donning "Jesus Loves Gay People Too" T-shirts.

The Episcopalian Church, like many denominations, faces a major rift over same-sex marriage. Yet a U.S. diocese elected Gene Robinson as an openly gay bishop.

Perhaps future events will lead to a more enlightened reading of the Bible. National Geographic just published "The Gospel of Judas," an ancient gospel that portrays the ultimate betrayer as Jesus’ favorite disciple. Wrap your head around that concept.

Next month, we can all finally watch the film version of "The Da Vinci Code." The action-packed mystery includes discussions on biblical interpretations and overlooked gospels. The movie headlines all-American everyman Tom Hanks.

Now, if he would debate the codes of Leviticus for us, we really might make some allies.