Christianity and sexual orientation

Christian denominations have a variety of beliefs about sexual orientation, including beliefs about same-sex sexual practices and asexuality. Denominations differ in the way they treat lesbian, bisexual, and gay people; variously, such people may be barred from membership, accepted as laity, or ordained as clergy, depending on the denomination. As asexuality is relatively new to public discourse, few Christian denominations discuss it.^[1][2] Asexuality may be considered the lack of a sexual orientation, or one of the four variations thereof, alongside heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality.^[3][4][5]

Beliefs and mythology

Biblical

The destruction of Sodom as illustrated by Sebastian Münster (1564)

Following the lead of Yale scholar John Boswell, it has been argued that a number of early Christians (such as Saints Sergius and Bacchus) entered into homosexual relationships,^[6] and that certain Biblical figures had homosexual relationships, despite Biblical injunctions against sexual relationships between members of the same sex. Examples cited are Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi, Daniel and the court official Ashpenaz, and, most famously, David and King Saul's son Jonathan.^[7]

The story of David and Jonathan has been described as "biblical Judeo-Christianity's most influential justification of homoerotic love".^[8] The relationship between David and Jonathan is mainly covered in the Old Testament First Book of Samuel, as part of the story of David's ascent to power. The mainstream view found in modern biblical exegesis argues that the relationship between the two is merely a close platonic friendship.^[9][10] However, a few have interpreted the love between David and Jonathan as romantic or sexual.^{[11][12][13][14]} Although David was married (to many women), he articulates a distinction between his relationship with Jonathan and the bonds he shares with women.

The story of Ruth and Naomi is also occasionally interpreted as one of romantic love and/or lesbian sexuality.^[15]

Another biblical hero, Noah, best known for his building an ark to save animals and worthy people from a divinely caused flood, later became a wine-maker. One day he drank too much wine, and fell asleep naked in his tent. When his son Ham entered the tent, he saw his father naked, and his son, Canaan was cursed with banishment and possibly slavery. In Jewish tradition, it is also suggested that Ham had anal sex with Noah or castrated him.^[16]

Anti-gay denominations interpret Romans 1 24-32^[17] as condemning homosexuality.

Saints

Saint Sebastian, considered by some to be the world's first LGBT icon.

While highly controversial, attempts have been made to hold up certain Christian saints as positive examples of homosexuality in Church history:

• Saints Sergius and Bacchus: Sergius and Bacchus's close relationship has led some modern commentators to believe they were lovers. The most popular evidence for this view is that the oldest text of their martyrology, in the Greek language, describes them as "erastai", or lovers.^[18] Historian John Boswell considered their relationship to be an example of an early Christian same-sex union, reflecting his contested view of tolerant early Christians attitudes toward homosexuality.^[18] The official stance of the Eastern Orthodox Church is that the ancient Eastern tradition of adelphopoiia, which was done to form a "brotherhood" in the name of God, and is traditionally associated with these two saints, had no sexual implications.
• Saints Cosmas and Damian^[19] A difficulty with this assertion is that most hagiographies list these saints as natural brothers or twins.^[20][21]
• Saint Sebastian has been called the world's first gay icon.^[22] The combination of his strong, shirtless physique, the symbolism of the arrows penetrating his body, and the look on his face of rapturous pain have intrigued artists both gay and straight for centuries, and began the first explicitly gay cult in the 19th century.^[22] Richard A. Kaye wrote, "contemporary gay men have seen in Sebastian at once a stunning advertisement for homosexual desire (indeed, a homoerotic ideal), and a prototypical portrait of tortured closet case."^[23][24]

Eunuchs

The extent and even the existence of religious castration among Christians, with members of the early church castrating themselves for religious purposes,^[25] is subject to debate.^[26] The early theologian Origen found scriptural justification for the practice in Matthew 19:12,.^[27] where Jesus says, "For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can." (NRSV)

In describing Jesus as a spado and Paul of Tarsus as a castratus in his book De Monogamia, Tertullian, a 2nd-century Church Father, used Latin words that denoted eunuchs^[28] to refer to virginity and continence.^[29][30]

The significance of the selection of the Ethiopian eunuch as being the first gentile convert has been discussed as representative of inclusion of a sexual minority in the context of the time.^[31]

Gnostic beliefs

Gnostic Christianity synthesized core Christian beliefs with other mythologies. This includes a belief in an androgynous God, who has a male aspect (sometimes represented as Adam), and a female aspect, associated with Greek or Egyptian goddesses such as Isis or Demeter. Gnostics also believe in lesser gods subservient to the omnipotent Christian god. Some of these gods are transgender or androgynous, including Naassenes. Gnostic beliefs also include the use of magic, such as homoerotic or lesbian love spells, that invoke gods such as Adonai or Abraxas.

Specific sexual orientations

Homosexuality

Male homosexuality

Christianity has traditionally regarded homosexuality, in the sense of human sexual behavior, to be an immoral practice (or vice) and sinful, and most major Christian denominations (containing the majority of Christians worldwide) continue to hold this view, including the Roman Catholic Church,^[32] conservative synods of the Lutheran Church (e.g., Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod^[33][34][35]), the Eastern Orthodox churches,^[36] most Evangelical Protestant churches, the Southern Baptist Convention, the LDS Church, the Brethren in Christ,^[37] and the Christian & Missionary Alliance.

Some Christians have come to believe that gay sex is not an inherently sinful practice. Denominations holding this position include the United Church of Canada, the United Church of Christ, the Moravian Church, the Metropolitan Community Church, and the Friends General Conference. Also in Europe the Lutheran Church of Sweden, the Lutheran Church of Denmark, the Lutheran Church in Norway, the Lutheran Church of Iceland, the Protestant Church of the Netherlands, the German Lutheran and United Churches in Evangelical Church in Germany and the reformed churches in Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches believe that gay sex is not an inherently sinful practice. The Metropolitan Community Church has been founded specifically to serve the Christian LGBT community.

The Presbyterian Church USA, the United Methodist Church, Methodist Church of Great Britain,^[38] and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, also after actively debate believe that gay sex is not an inherently sinful practice. The worldwide Anglican Communion has experienced ongoing debate and controversy over homosexuality both before and after the Episcopal Church ordained the first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, in 2003.

Lesbianism

Lesbians face different social and cultural preconception than gay men, making their experience in Christianity sometimes dissimilar to that of gay men, although lesbianism has also traditionally been considered a sin within Christianity. However, some contemporary Christian denominations do not agree with this and ordain openly lesbian women, perform same-sex marriages, and accept openly lesbian parishioners (for example, the United Church of Christ and the Metropolitan Community Church.)

In 1986 the Evangelical and Ecumenical Women’s Caucus (EEWC), then known as the Evangelical Women's Caucus International, passed a resolution stating: "Whereas homosexual people are children of God, and because of the biblical mandate of Jesus Christ that we are all created equal in God's sight, and in recognition of the presence of the lesbian minority in EWCI, EWCI takes a firm stand in favor of civil rights protection for homosexual persons." ^[39]

A survey of self-identified lesbian women found a "dissonance" between their religious and sexual identities. This dissonance correlated with being an evangelical Christian before coming out.^[40]

Bisexuality

Same-sex sexual relationships have traditionally been considered a sin within Christianity. However, some contemporary Christian denominations do not agree with this and ordain openly bisexual people, perform same-sex marriages, and accept openly bisexual parishioners (for example, the United Church of Christ and the Metropolitan Community Church.)

In 1972 a Quaker group, the Committee of Friends on Bisexuality, issued the “Ithaca Statement on Bisexuality” supporting bisexuals.^[41] The Statement, which may have been "the first public declaration of the bisexual movement" and "was certainly the first statement on bisexuality issued by an American religious assembly," appeared in the Quaker Friends Journal and The Advocate in 1972.^[42][43][44] Today Quakers have varying opinions on LGBT people and rights, with some Quaker groups more accepting than others.^[45]

For further reading about bisexual Christians, see: Swinging on the Garden Gate: A Spiritual Memoir, by Elizabeth J. Andrew, Skinner House Books, 2000.^[46] There are also pertinent pieces in Blessed Bi Spirit: Bisexual People of Faith, Continuum, 2000, including "A Word We Cannot Yet Speak - A Word We Must Now Speak: Bisexuality and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)", "Jesus, Bread, Wine and Roses: A Bisexual Feminist at the Catholic Worker", and "The Holy Leper and the Bisexual Christian".^[47] Also see "Affirmation: Bisexual Mormon", by Christopher Alexander, in Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out, Alyson Publications, 1991.^[48] The book Bisexuality: Making the Invisible Visible in Faith Communities, the first book of its kind (published in 2014), addresses Christianity as well as other faiths.^[49] It is by Marie Alford-Harkey and Debra W. Haffner.^[49]

Asexuality

As asexuality is relatively new to public discourse, few Christian denominations discuss it and the Bible does not clearly state a view on it.^[1][2] However, some Christians have recently made statements on the subject. In the Christian magazine Vision, David Nantais, S.J. and Scott Opperman, S.J. wrote in 2002, "Question: What do you call a person who is asexual? Answer: Not a person. Asexual people do not exist. Sexuality is a gift from God and thus a fundamental part of our human identity. Those who repress their sexuality are not living as God created them to be: fully alive and well. As such, they're most likely unhappy people with which to live.” ^[2][50]

Asexuality may be considered the lack of a sexual orientation, or one of the four variations thereof, alongside heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality.^[3][4][5]

See also

• Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches
• LGBT-affirming Christian denominations
• Queer theology

References

Specific

General

• Wilcox, Melissa M. (2003). Coming out in Christianity: religion, identity, and community. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-21619-9.