Reddit reviews Living in Sin?: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality
We found 2 Reddit comments about Living in Sin?: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
What about this thesis? United States Evangelical Christians have melded US culture with their perverted version of Christianity to an extent that things like The fruits of The Spirit, spiritual discernment, bearing fruit as demonstrated by good works & repentance are no longer pursued. As you unpack in your 2nd paragraph, American's are infatuated with quick fix thinking and tribalism. I contend that if every one of the R Voters were magically able to take a 2 week trip to a different part of the world, it would change most of their lives. It's isolation that remains a ball and chain on this group.
I am grateful that the Christian college i attended had a literature/writing professor who introduced the notion of "the myth of Christ" and had the audacity to assign Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth reading in his class. It took me a few years to digest Campbell. The notion of death followed by resurrection is a common myth among most religions in the world.
I have a gay brother and over time, have found it easy to dismiss the gay/lesbian dogma evangelicals hold near and dear. Living in Sin?: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality by John Shelby Spong helped me think outside of the evangelical box on this issue. The 4 gospels are silent on homosexuality, i.e. Jesus said nothing on this topic. Why? If Luther's concept of sola scriptura is applied, the Bible based cases against abortion and homosexuality are weak. Few in this group understand this. It's easier to be bigoted and lazy, which unfortunately is very American.
Check out a book called Living in Sin? by John Shelby Spong, an Episcopalian bishop. It takes a look at the passages in the Bible that seem to go against homosexuality and women in authority/power and discusses the historical contexts of why they're in the Bible and why Christians now cling to them. Lots to think about. Lots to make your family think about too.
Check out Metropolitan Community Churches. I attended a few when I was a believer. MCC is considered a "gay church" in that they serve a primarily LGBT population. They are generally positive, affirming places. I was an enthusiastic member of a couple of them and enjoyed them quite a lot.
Good luck!