In The Beginning “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”(Gen. 1:1). From the very first sentence, the book of Genesis proclaims that, before there was anything, there was God, the creator. This is a being in whom… Continue Reading
Queer Grace is a continually growing collection of resources on what it means to be LGBTQ and Christian. As we work to add new entries, we offer this list of resources. Queer Theology, “What Leviticus Says–And Doesn’t Say–About Gay… Continue Reading
What about language for God? Many members of the Christian faith believe that language traditionally used for God, especially exclusively masculine language, is not useful in worship and faithful community. Drawing from Jewish opposition to physical images of God, which might become… Continue Reading
Do you find yourself picking up books about Christianity at used bookstores? Do you own more than one Bible, or perhaps have one that’s so worn it’s starting to fall apart? Are you the person taking notes during the sermon,… Continue Reading
What does Romans 1 say? Romans 1:18–27 contains the most apparently unequivocal condemnations of homosexuality in the New Testament. In this chapter, Paul says that when people have rejected the teachings of God, God in turn “gave them over to… Continue Reading
What does 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 say? 1 Corinthians 6:1–11 urges the Christians of Corinth not to sue each other in secular courts. Paul asks why legal disputes among believers cannot be settled internally. He reminds the Corinthians that the ranks… Continue Reading
What is biblical literalism? The term “biblical literalism” refers to a strain of conservative religious thought that assumes the literal truth of the Bible, not only in matters of doctrine and theology, but in history and science as well. In… Continue Reading
Who were David and Jonathan? King David of Israel needs little introduction. He is the larger than life figure who killed the giant Goliath, bedded Bathsheba, and is said to have written many of the Psalms. Even though he was… Continue Reading
What happens in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah? The story of Sodom and Gomorrah appears in Genesis 19:1–29. In the previous chapter of Genesis, God tells Abraham that there have been bad reports about Sodom and Gomorrah. Two angels will be… Continue Reading
What is Historical Criticism? Historical criticism (also known as historicism or higher criticism) refers to the study of literary texts, particularly ancient texts and especially the Bible, in terms of their historical origins and development within those contexts. It is… Continue Reading