Some time ago, there was another writeup that claimed that the Christian Bible was responsible for the mistreatment of minorities, in particular homosexuals, slavery, the crusades, and many other injusticies throughout history.
To
accuse one religion's
holy works for the ills of
society is quite unfair to those
works. If it was the case that the
interpretation
of the Bible was the cause of society's repression of some groups
then it should be a simple matter to move to another culture with
a different religion to free one's self from the repression.
Judaism?
Islam?
Buddhism?
Hindu? Is it true that people are
less oppressed under other religions and cultures?
The age of the works should not be an issue. Yes, they were written
in a different time, and that should be acknowledged. Does that
make them less applicable today? Greek mythology and philosophy
dates back before the new testament. There are lessons to be
learned from there despite its age. In ancient Greek society,
homosexuality was very accepted.
Every dominant religion has, at one time or another, used its
power to advocate some form of slavery - be it economic, military,
serfdom, or a caste system. With changing times, these systems
are slowly disappearing in the realization that all people are
equal. The religious works do not change - the interpretations
and cultures do. It takes time and persistence to do so though.
Within Christianity, there are a number of interpretations of the
same words: Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist,
Anglican, Baptist, and countless others. To prove that the Bible
oppresses gays will come as a startling revelation to the Gateway
Monastery of Los Altos which is described as a traditional monastery
for gay men practicing meditation and contemplative prayer.
I am certain that Martin Luther King, Jr. would argue the Bible's
interpretation of slavery and civil rights.
As to marriage, that is a question of society and what is acceptable
within it. With society as it is today, maybe we need a new definition
of partnership that does not specify the gender of the people? Or
maybe even the number? That is a matter of society. Look back on
history and see that for most of the time, marriage was an arranged
thing that did not deal with love (eros) but rather love (agape).
Non arranged marriages in the west is a relatively new twist on its
definition and it may be necessary for the legal and cultural systems
to catch up with this realization.
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me:
It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
--1 Corinthians 7:1