Ehud and King Eglon – A Queer Reading

Judges 3:12-30 accounts for the triumph of a Ehud, a Benjaminite, over King Eglon of Moab through an act of deception. However, three distinct elements of this story appear providing a worthy queer hermeneutic.  First, Ehud is described as being left handed, a queer characteristic.  Second, the word “hand” (yad) itself is open to multiple interpretations including “penis.”  Finally, the […]

Read more

Leviticus 18:22 – A Queer Hermeneutical Analysis

This blog entry addresses the problematic translation of Leviticus 18:22, a verse commonly used as a “clobber passage” to justify prejudice against LGBTQIA people.  A hegemonic interpretation of Leviticus 18:22 posits a strict prohibition of male-on-male sexual activity. This interpretation is problematic because it conforms to idiomatic rules that do not exist in the original Hebrew.  Three problems discussed in […]

Read more

The UMC and Same Sex Marriage

I was walking across the campus of Southern Methodist University today.  On the sidewalk, I passed a mother pushing her young male child in a stroller.  The child looked at me with an expression of absolute joy and said “HI!!”  I waved back and said “HI” to him.  The happiness on his face at my acknowledgement of his greeting and […]

Read more

Rahab the Prostitute – A Postcolonial Perspective

Conservative interpreters present Rahab, a character in Joshua 2 as a celebrated figure of faith and conversion. A queer, postcolonial interpretation merits consideration.  Rahab is described as a prostitute living in the outer wall of the city of Jericho.  She assists two spies sent by Joshua to conduct some advance reconnaissance work prior to an attack on Jericho.  Rahab hides […]

Read more

Queering Hosea

Queering Hosea via Genesis – A Genderqueer discussion of the marriage metaphor This blog presents a genderqueer analysis of the marriage metaphor in Hosea by way of a discussion of female sexuality found in Genesis. The marriage metaphor in Hosea has deeply patriarchal roots originating in the early chapters of the book of Genesis.  Deryn Guest notes that Hosea’s view […]

Read more

Interpenetration – God did it first

Interpenetration provides a model to understand the Trinity more clearly.  The concept of a Triune God is complicated to grasp.  In systematic theology, we study at length the natures of God as Divine, human and spirit. I find that fully understanding the Trinity remains an elusive undertaking.  Patrick Cheng’s discussion in Chapter 3 of “An Introduction to Queer Theology:  Radical […]

Read more

Dancing Across Identities

Through the study of Queer Biblical Hermeneutics, I have found freedom from the heteronormative, imperialist, marginalizing and essentialist interpretation of the scripture which allow me to dance across the intersectionality of my identities. Coming out in the early nineties to my family and Christian community was a liberating and heart-breaking time. I was in college in California where one might […]

Read more

Deconstruction

It has been a week since the United Methodist General Conference in Saint Louis. The main debate was on human sexuality, with delegates voting to determine whether or not to allow people on the LGBTQ spectrum to be ordained and serve as clergy in The UMC. The other debate was whether clergy can officiate at same-gender weddings in their local […]

Read more
1 2