Hope College Scholar finds Biblical justification for Gay Marriage

In the book, Myers and coauthor Letha Dawson Scanzoni, take on Dobson in a step-by-step analysis of science, history and the Bible. They argue that attitudes toward gay people are changing, especially among those under age 30.

"The definition of marriage already has changed many times over the years," Myers said. "Back in Old Testament times, how many concubines and spouses did some of the men have? So, we've changed from polygamy to monogamy. We've changed from arranged marriages to marriages based on romantic choice. ... We've changed from the church rejecting people of divorce, to welcoming these people.

"And, people who first encountered interracial marriages said many of the same things we're now hearing about gay marriage."

http://www.freep.com/news/religion/hope24e_20050524.htm

I'd really like to read this. Thanks

what kind of college it was when I went to the graduation. Father and son graduated at the same time. I knew it was a religiously based school, but I wasn't sure what that meant. I heard some very positive talk from one of the professors about dreaming big dreams regarding alleviating poverty and other "good" and appropriate Christian values. I'm very pleased to hear this! Randi Rhodes said the other day that there is a war going on between christians and she's right about that.

said over the years---but glad to see it documented. Lets have more.

Hope scholar: Same-sex marriage OK

Turmoil adds twist to gay rights debate
May 24, 2005







BY DAVID CRUMM
FREE PRESS RELIGION WRITER



HOLLAND -- Out of western Michigan's evangelical Republican heartland, gay rights activists are expecting to hear a prophetic voice arise next week, calling on conservative Christians to reverse their opposition to homosexuality and welcome same-sex marriage.



That voice will take the form of a new book, "What God Has Joined Together? A Christian Case for Gay Marriage." Its lead author, David Myers, is a psychologist, elder in the Reformed Church in America and one of the most respected scholars at Hope College in Holland.


It's an unexpected place to find this debate simmering so vigorously that it already involves some big names, including Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, the DeVos family in their role as conservative Republican philanthropists in western Michigan and even the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants.


Now, even more major figures in religion and media are looking toward tiny, 3,100-student Hope.

http://www.davidmyers.org/Brix?pageID=23

What God Has Joined Together? A Christian Case for Gay Marriage

by David G. Myers & Letha Dawson Scanzoni
HarperSanFrancisco, May 2005

What God Has Joined Together? is an effort to bridge the divide between marriage-supporting and gay-supporting people of faith by showing why both sides have important things to say. By affirming marriage for all, What God Has Joined Together? concurs with conservatives' call for marriage renewal and a more marriage-supporting culture. And it concurs with liberals' affirmation of everyone's right, regardless of sexual orientation, to seal love with commitment and to participate fully in the church's life and ministry.

With its traditional defense of marriage and its progressive embrace of same-sex relationships, this book cannot be pigeonholed, and that in itself is refreshing.
—Publishers Weekly

Prepublication endorsements

TABLE OF CONTENTS
A personal letter to our readers

the ? mark in the title is great.

and from another website:

http://www.harpercollins.com/global_scripts/product_catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0060796359

Across the country, states have voted, courts have debated, and churches have divided over the legitimacy of same-sex marriage. Amid the uproar one perspective is decidedly missing: that of thoughtful, pro-marriage Christians who, informed by their faith, are struggling to make sense of this issue. What God Has Joined Together? is an effort to bridge the divide between marriage-supporting and gay-supporting people of faith by showing why both sides have important things to say and showing how both sides can coexist. Drawing on scientific research as well as on the Bible, the authors explain that marriage is emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually beneficial for everyone, not just heterosexuals.

They debunk myths about sexual orientation, assess claims of sexual reorientation, and explore what the Bible does and does not say about same-sex relationships. The book ends with a persuasive case for gay marriage and outlines how this can be a win-win solution for all.

There is a war going on between Christians. My family (we're Irish Catholic Democrats) had a discussion at the dinner table just last night about this. The fundamentalist wackos, and their right-wing, usually self-proclaimed, uneducated, dim-bulb "pastors" have done incredible damage to Christianity. I mentioned that the term "The Lord" just about makes me want to puke - and everyone agreed. And we are Christians!

Conservative priests and bishops are trying to turn the Catholic church into a wing of the Republican party, but a great many Catholics remain Democrat nonetheless. Many more are leaving in disgust. Christianity has been perverted and twisted by these demagogues, and we're seeing more people who are sickened by it.

This is an important fight. If every Democrat would vigorously attack (and make it personal - because it is) any priest, bishop, or minister who spouts right-wing crap from the pulpit, we could make a real difference. Just shutting these idiots up could turn some of these close elections. I have done this, and I think if enough people would do it, it could make a difference.

These are our churches! We are the church, and we have an opportunity to defend progressive ideals and Christianity simultaneously. The battle needs to be taken to many fronts - and this front is largely undefended.

He was always openly supportive of me and my partner and kids. He saw it as a FAMILY issue that stable families are good for the country and marriage supports stability. As a conservative, he felt people ought to be married. His words, which come from a hard core Republican, gave me hope. He died a year ago and he is missed.

Funny how those two never get brought up.

A good friend and I often discuss religion and gay marriage and I'd love to hear more about it.

Google is your friend.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=david+jonathan+homosexuality&btnG=Google+Search

Good luck!

I hope this is helpful to the cause of gay marriage, and I have to say Bravo! to the authors of this book.

I also hope that this is a sign that the tide is turning against the Fristians. True Christians are obviously 180 degrees from the neo-con evil empire that has pre-empted their voice. When they (BFEE) meet their "reward" I wish I could be there when they try to make their case for how they were trying to walk in Christ's footsteps. Uh, huh. Instant karma's gonna getcha.

She also co-authored a book back in the late 1970s with Virginia Ramey Mollenkott called "Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?" It's a crackerjack recounting of biblical texts and original source nuance that gets lost and overlooked (sometimes accidentally, sometimes all too apparently by design) by modern folks focused on "proof-texting" their own biases and prejudices. If you can find a copy of this book, it's well worth your money and time.

I had the opportunity to do a short textual study with Professor Mollenkott back in 2000, and she's nothing short of a prophet. I look forward to someday meeting Ms. Scanzoni as well.

below the fold.

Ottawa, southwest of Grand Rapids. I thought that it was much, much more conservative than this.

to be a turd in the punch bowl, but isn't the title of this thread at least a bit misleading? I mean, I know that one can pick apart the various versions of the bible and justify damn near anything, but this title had me mentally prepared for some obscure scripture that might have a double meaning to "justify" gay marriage.

All the underlying article (with its salient facts stated above) points out is the hypocracy of biblists, demonstrating correctly that the nature of marriage has changed since old testament times, and the fundies don't seem to be too upset about it. That's a great point to make in the debate, but it doesn't quite add up to being able to thump them over the head with something from their own book of fairy tales.

Call me disappointed!

-- of same-sex marriages in the early Catholic Church. And there is some evidence that Christ was tolerant of gays. I think.

Some Catholic author (a priest), I forget who, suggested that the letters to Corinthians are misinterpreted, and that the Corinthian group of Christians were a radical, pretty gay group, which was acceptable, but that the women should grow their hair and look like women, and the men should dress like men. Just sort of an admonishment to not be too crazy and draw attention to themselves.

but hard to believe anything that comes from that far back. I barely believe that Jesus even existed, I consider everything written about him in the bible to be oral legends that didn't get written down for many decades after they were supposed to have occurred. Hence, unreliable.

First Calvin College faculty, administration, students and alumni protest Bush's gig as commencement speaker last weekend, and now Hope College in uber-conservative Holland has a scholar "promoting" gay marriage.

What happened...did Betsy "Bitchy" DeVos's Kool-Aid source dry up or what? These brave squeaky wheels in conservative, fundamentalist Republikania are definitely not towing the propaganda line. KUDOS TO THEM!!