A Rabbi Takes Down Anti-Gay Bigotry Based on Bible Literalism

A reader in Washington, D.C., sent me a link to a Wall Street Journal op-ed written by Rabbi Boteach that displays a rational approach to the Bible and demonstrates the hypocrisy of the Christianists and others who selectively parse the Bible to condemn gays while ignoring the big picture and most certainly subverting the Gospel message of Christ. The column is particularly relevant as I cringe watching election returns confirming that more Christofascists will be walking the halls of Congress in the next session. Sadly, these individuals will not be embracing Rabbi Boteach's rationality when it comes to efforts to inflict their religious beliefs on other citizens. To me, the principal fruits of the Bible - at least as applied by the Christianists and similar ultra-conservatives - are hate, intolerance and misery to others. What's ironic is that the original basis in the Bible for the condemnation of gays is found in the Old Testament. That's right, the portion of the Bible that originated with the Jews, not Christians. St. Paul, a conflicted Pharisee who some speculate was a homosexual himself - and in Thomas Jefferson's view the worse thing to ever happen to Christianity - sadly cherry picked these Old Testament scraps into the Epistles. But in this column we have a rabbi telling the Christianists who have hijacked the Old Testament that they are wrong in their twisting and misapplication of selective passages. Here are highlights from the column:
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Some people of faith insist that homosexuality is gravely sinful because the Bible calls it an "abomination." But that word appears approximately 122 times in the Bible. Eating nonkosher food is an "abomination" (Deuteronomy 14:3). A woman returning to her first husband after being married in the interim is an "abomination" (Deuteronomy 24:4). Bringing a blemished sacrifice on God's altar is an abomination (Deuteronomy 17:1). Proverbs goes so far as to label envy, lying and gossip "an abomination to [the Lord]" (3:32, 16:22).
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As an orthodox Rabbi, I do not deny the biblical prohibition on male same-sex relationships. I simply place it in context. There are 613 commandments in the Torah. One is to refrain from gay sex. Another is for men and women to marry and have children. So when Jewish gay couples tell me they have never been attracted to members of the opposite sex and are desperately alone, I tell them, "You have 611 commandments left. That should keep you busy.
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I once asked Pat Robertson, "Why can't you simply announce to all gay men and women, 'Come to Church. Whatever relationship you're in, God wants you to pray. He wants you to give charity. He wants you to lead a godly life." He answered to the effect that homosexuality is too important to overlook, as it is the greatest threat to marriage and the family. Other evangelical leaders have told me the same. But with one of every two heterosexual marriages failing, much of the Internet dedicated to degrading women through pornography, and a culture that is materially insatiable while all-too spiritually content, can we straight people really say that gays are ruining our families? We've done a mighty fine job of it ourselves, thank you very much.
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Homosexuality is a religious, not a moral, sin. A moral sin involves injury to an innocent party. Who is harmed when two unattached, consenting adults are in a relationship? Homosexuality is akin to the prohibition against lighting fire on the Sabbath or eating bread during Passover; there is nothing immoral about it . . . gay marriage doesn't represent the end of Western civilization. The real killer is the tsunami of divorce and the untold disruption to children who become yo-yos going from house to house on weekends.
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The Bible says, "It is not good for man to be alone." All I ask from my religious brethren is this: Even as you oppose gay relationships because of your beliefs, please be tortured by your opposition. Understand that when our most deeply held beliefs conflicts with our basic humanity, we should feel the tragedy of the conflict, not find convenient scapegoats upon whom to blame America's ills.