Skip to main content.
Related sites:
Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news
ReligionNewsBlog

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:
Web religionnewsblog.com
Home | Site Menu | About RNB | RNB Store | Cult FAQ | Cult Experts | Apologetics Index | Cult Information Search Engine
Homosexuality/Lesbianism/Bisexuality/Transg.:

KU professors say Bible often a political tool

Lawrence Journal-World, USA
Apr. 16, 2004
Dave Ranney
www.ljworld.com
  • Article Tools  • Share This Story

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 6798 • Posted: Friday April 16, 2004  

Click here... More articles on this topic: Homosexuality/Lesbianism/Bisexuality/Transg.

Americans are not above using the Bible to promote their politics, a Kansas University professor said Thursday.

In the 1950s, for example, the Bible was used to push the importance of mothers staying home to raise their children while, at the same time, making room in the work force for servicemen returning from World War II.

“Religion was used to promote a cultural value: in this case, the nuclear family,” said Robert Minor, a religious studies professor at Kansas University.

The fact that several passages in the Bible openly endorse polygamy was conveniently overlooked, he said.

Minor’s comments were part of “Religion and Oppression,” a panel discussion at the Kansas Union coordinated by Queers & Allies, an association representing gay, lesbian and transgendered students.

Abolitionists, too, used the Bible to attack slavery, Minor explained, adding that passages condoning slavery and calling on slaves to “obey their masters” were rarely mentioned.

It’s no surprise, Minor said, that the Bible today is being used to condemn homosexuality and gay marriage.

“There are seven passages in the Bible that are used against gay people,” Minor said. “But the debate among biblical scholars is not whether they are pro or anti (gay).”

He added: “The word homosexual does not appear in the Bible.”

Agreeing with Minor, fellow religious studies professor Daniel Breslauer said among biblical scholars the often-cited passage “Lie down with no man as you would a women” is thought to have more to do with gender — men’s power over women — than with homosexuality.

Tim Miller, another religious studies professor, encouraged the 25 students in the audience to recognize the differences among religion, politics and culture.

“I don’t think religion is inherently oppressive,” he said. “But I think people can be oppressive and are capable of using the Bible as a tool of oppression.”

Andrew Stangl, a Wichita freshman, asked why the nation’s mainstream churches have been less than outspoken in support of gay rights and in opposition to the Iraq war.

“Where is the outrage?” Stangl asked.

Breslauer replied: “The Vietnam War made (church leaders) realize their patriotism could be called into question.”

Miller added that many churches were “truly internally conflicted” over whether to extend an open door to gays and lesbians.



Religion News Blog RSS feed Subscribe: Religion News Blog RSS feed  |  Religion News Blog RSS feed Subscribe by topic: Homosexuality/Lesbianism/Bisexuality/Transg.

Like this story?

Today's Most Popular Articles

Share this

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:




Article and Site Tools

» PermaLink to: KU professors say Bible often a political tool
   Need a shorter link? You can remove everything after the final /
» More news articles + news archive on Homosexuality/Lesbianism/Bisexuality/Transg.
» More religion and cult news

Subscribe (RSS / Email) [What is RSS?]
» RSS News Feed - All Topics: Religion News Blog RSS Feed
» RSS News Feed - Single Topic: Homosexuality/Lesbianism/Bisexuality/Transg.
» Headlines by Email: Daily Religion News Blog Headlines

More Article Tools
• Bookmark / Tag: Del.icio.us
• Bookmark / Tag: Furl
Save this article
Email this article
Print this article [Temporarily out of order]

More Information
Books about Homosexuality/Lesbianism/Bisexuality/Transg.
Relevant books (and other goodies)

more religion news aboutmore Religion News Blog articles about

About Religion News Blog
Religion News Blog (RNB), published by Apologetics Index, highlights news items and other resources on world religions, cults, religious sects, alternative religions and related issues. RNB's non-profit news clipping service is used by - among others - Christian apologists, countercult professionals, anticult organizations, cult experts, teachers, religion professionals, reporters and other researchers.

Home
Latest Headlines
RSS news feed [?]
Headlines by Email
News Trackers
Free content for your site
About RNB
Privacy Policy
Contact RNB
Link to RNB
Advertise on RNB
Apologetics Index
Cult FAQ
Apologetics Search Engine
CounterCult Search Engine