This paper considers the fact that the academic resources of contemp orary biblical scholarship are employed by both sides in the Church debate on homosexuality. When historical and critical evidence has been marshalled, decisions continue to be made on the basis of prior commitments to deeply held theological convictions. This being the case it is important to consider the role that biblical scholars play in debate. It can no longer be considered adequate that they continue to supply supposedly objective knowledge concerning the texts while remaining silent concerning the ethics of interpretation. In the future queer theology will exercise a profound impact and queer readings that move beyond the current boundaries of 'legitimate' interpretations will proliferate. This will radically reshape the terrain on which debate takes place. However, at the present moment, there is an urgent need to question the ethics of interpretation within the academy itself.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Aichele, George1997Sign, Text, Scripture; Semiotics and the Bible (Interventions, 1; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press).
2.
Barton, John1998 'Historical-critical approaches' in J. Barton (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Interpretation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press): 9-20.
3.
Birch, Bruce C., Walter Brueggemann, Terence E. Fretheim and David L. Petersen1999A Theological Introduction to the Old Testament (Nashville: Abingdon).
4.
Brenneman, James E.1997Canons in Conflict. Negotiating Texts in True and False Prophecy (Oxford: Oxford University Press).
5.
Clark, J. Michael 1989A Place to Start Towards an Unapologetic Gay Liberation Theology (Dallas: Monument Press).
6.
1997Defying the Darkness: Gay Theology in the Shadows ( Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press).
1997The Bible and the Modern World (The Biblical Seminar, 51; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press).
9.
1998'The Postmodern Adventure in Biblical Studies' in David J.A. Clines and Stephen D. Moore (eds.), Auguries: The Jubilee Volume of the Sheffield Department of Biblical Studies (JSOTSup, 269; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press): 276-91.
10.
Davies, Philip R.1995Whose Bible Is It Anyway? (JSOTSup, 204; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press).
11.
Donfried, Karl P.1995 'Alien Hermeneutics and the Misappropriation of Scripture ', in Carl E. Braaten and Robert W. Jenson (eds.), Reclaiming the Bible for the Church (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark):19-45.
12.
Genovese, Eugene D.1995The Southern Front: History and Politics in the Cultural War (Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press).
13.
Glancy, Jennifer A.1998'House Readings and Field Readings: The Discourse of Slavery and Biblical/Cultural Studies', in J. Cheryl Exum and Stephen D. Moore (eds.), Biblical Studies/Cultural Studies (The Third Sheffield Colloquium Gender, Culture, Theory, 7; JSOTSup, 266; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press): 460-77.
14.
Goss, Robert E.1993Jesus Acted Up: A Gay and Lesbian Manifesto ( San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco).
15.
Hill, Jim and Rand Cheadle1996The Bible Tells Me So: Uses and Abuses of Holy Scripture (New York: Doubleday).
16.
Kader, Samuel1999Openly Gay Openly Christian; How the Bible Really is Gay Friendly (San Francisco: Leyland Publications).
17.
Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement 1993 The Church and Human Sexuality: A Lutheran Perspective (Evangelical Lutheran Church (USA): LGCM Press).
McGrath, Alister1995 'Reclaiming our Roots and Vision: Scripture and the Stability of the Christian Church', in Carl E. Braaten and Robert W. Jenson Reclaiming the Bible for the Church ( Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark): 63-88.
20.
Nissinen, Martti1998Homoeroticism in the Biblical World: A Historical Perspective (trans. Kirsi Stjerna; Minneapolis: Fortress Press ).
21.
Patte, Daniel P.1995Ethics of Biblical Interpretation ( London: Westminster Press).
22.
Rowland, Christopher1995'The "Interested" Interpreter', in M. Daniel, R. Carroll, David J.A. Clines and Philip R. Davies, The Bible in Human Society: Essays in Honour of John Rogerson (JSOTSup, 200; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press): 429-44.
23.
Sandys-Wunsch, John and Laurence Eldredge1980'J.P. Gabler and the Distinction between Biblical and Dogmatic Theology: Translation, Commentary, and Discussion of his Originality', SJT33:133-58.
24.
Scroggs, Robin1983The New Testament and Homosexuality ( Philadelphia: Fortress Press).
25.
Stuart, Elizabeth, with A. Braunston, M.Edwards, J. McMahon and T. Morrison1997Religion is a Queer Thing: A Guide to the Christian Faith for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered People (London: Cassell).
26.
Sweasey, Peter1997From Queer to Eternity; Spirituality in the Lives of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People (London: Cassell).
27.
Vanhoozer, Kevin J.1998Is There a Meaning in this Text? The Bible, the Reader and the Morality of Literary Knowledge (London: Apollos).
28.
Watson, Francis1994Text Church and World: Biblical Interpretation in Theological Perspective (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark).
29.
1996'Bible, Theology and the University: A Response to Philip Davies' , JSOT 71: 3-16.
30.
Webster, Alison R.1995Found Wanting: Women, Christianity and Sexuality (London: Cassell).
31.
White, Mel1994Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America (New York: Simon & Schuster )
32.
Wilson, Nancy1995Our Tribe: Queer Folks, God, Jesus, and the Bible (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco ).
33.
Wold, Donald J.1998Out of Order: Homosexuality in the Bible and the Ancient Near East (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books).
34.
Yoder, J.H.1984'The Authority of the Canon', in Willard M. SwartleyEssays in Biblical Interpretation: Anabaptist-Mennonite Perspectives (Text-Reader Series, 1; Elkhart, IN: Institute of Mennonite Studies).
