(Ir)religiosity

Tony Jones hits the nail on the head in this video.

If you follow his blog then you’re aware that Tony has been blogging about homosexuality lately and called for an open and honest discussion without reference to the six clobber verses that are all too often taken out of context.

The problem, of course, isn’t that Tony wants to abandon scripture and rigorous exegesis as he and others are accused of suggesting. The problem is that too many of us are limiting our hermeneutic to a handful of verses, the immediate context of which is either replete with other off the wall stipulations that we have long since abandoned, as in the Hebrew bible, or uses vocabulary which is ambiguous at best and more than likely refers to sexual behavior that is hardly analogous to those in long-term monogamous homosexual relationships in today’s context, as in the case of Paul’s letters. The problem is that we are guilty of a dangerous selective literalism that not only creates a highly myopic and repressive ‘canon-within-the-canon,’ (we are all guilty of our varying emphases) but that it blatantly ignores, as Tony points out, the overall trajectory of scripture — a trajectory of liberation, redemption, and restoration in which God’s interaction within humankind and all of creation is steeped with grace tempered with justice.

There is a meaningful, constructive debate to be had here. But until we find a way to mend this gap it seems that communication is at a standstill. We’ll just keep going around in circles rehashing the same old points and probably yelling louder and getting more emotional in the process. Most of the comments on Tony’s blog are a case point.

So, as far as I can tell (and I’ve read most of the comments) Tony’s question is still an open and unanswered one:

If you are one who thinks that homosexual sex is sinful, can you please explain to me WHY a gay or lesbian person who is in a long-term, monogamous relationship would not be able to wholeheartedly follow Christ?

My only stipulation is this: You may not quote one of the six verses in scripture that mentions homosexuality. Instead, you must use theological and/or philosophical arguments to attempt to convince me that when you have genital contact with someone of your own gender, it somehow inhibits your relationship with Christ.

I love this song. It’s so demonstrative of our human condition, I think.

Go ahead and hate your neighbor,
Go ahead and cheat a friend.
Do it in the name of Heaven,
You can justify it in the end.
There won’t be any trumpets blowing
Come the judgement day,
On the bloody morning after….
One tin soldier rides away.

(ht)

These words from Simon & Garfunkel are haunting to me.  I’m not sure what to do with them…I just let them sit…and simmer.

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, “The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.”
And whisper’d in the sounds of silence.

So the new Coldplay (Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends) has been out for just about a week now.  The whole record is great.  Here’s a video for the single “Violet Hill.”  I say “a video” because it’s not the official video, which is also good.  But, in my opinion this one is better.  [Ht. Phil]

I’m taking a break from trucker Frank this week.  I really wanted to post the video of Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe on the Daily Show last night, but it’s not up yet.  Well, actually it will probably be up by the time this posts, but whatever.  Anyway, the new Weezer album was released yesterday. Here’s the single “Pork and Beans.” I love the video.  

And here is Terry McAuliffe last night on the Daily Show. Too funny. Especially after the fact.

Coldplay is slated to release their newest album, “Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends,” on June 13.  I’m pretty excited.  They unveiled the first single (“Violet Hill”) on the album on BBC radio earlier today. You can listen to it here. [Ht. James Kingsley]

I haven’t listen to Steve Earle all that much, but this makes me want to:



~bh ><>