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God vs. Gay?: The Religious Case for Equality
Does the Bible prohibit homosexuality? No, says Bible scholar and activist Jay Michaelson. But not only that: Michaelson also shows that the vast majority of our shared religious traditions support the full equality and dignity of LGBT people. In this accessible, passionate, and provocative book, Michaelson argues for equality, not despite religion but because of it.
232 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
36 people are currently reading
639 people want to read
About the author
Jay Michaelson
29 books56 followersRabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson is the author of ten books, most recently "The Heresy of Jacob Frank: From Jewish Messianism to Esoteric Myth." He is an affiliated assistant professor at Chicago Theological Seminary and holds a Ph.D in Jewish Thought from Hebrew University and a J.D. from Yale Law School.
Dr. Michaelson is also a regular contributor to New York, Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, and other publications. His journalistic work primarily focuses on the Supreme Court, religion, law, and sexuality. And he is a senior editor and podcast host at Ten Percent Happier, a meditation startup.
Dr. Michaelson is also a regular contributor to New York, Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, and other publications. His journalistic work primarily focuses on the Supreme Court, religion, law, and sexuality. And he is a senior editor and podcast host at Ten Percent Happier, a meditation startup.
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August 28, 2013
An alien anthropologist analyzing our early-21st century society in America, based solely on media coverage, would probably assume that the issue of gay rights popped instantly into existence sometime in the mid-1980s, around the time of the early AIDS epidemic, which was originally dubbed the “gay cancer”. Homosexuality was simply not something that was talked about in the mainstream media or in good company. One would assume---and many ignorant people probably have---that due to this lack of discussion, the issue was a non-issue invented and perpetrated by liberals to stir up the status quo, which, of course, is what liberals love to do. You know, just for shits and giggles.
The truth is, homosexuality has been a part of human existence as far back as the prehistoric times. That’s an assumption, of course, based on the fact that throughout all the rest of recorded history, homosexuality has been well-documented. Indeed, in many ancient cultures and even some more recent ones until a few centuries ago, homosexuality was not necessarily considered an “abomination” or a “sin”. In fact, homosexuality was not really considered an important issue. It was oftentimes even accepted with much more tolerance than it is today.
So, what changed?
The simplistic answer is: religion. Lest I be accused of fomenting anti-religious thoughts, however, I will say that it is probably much more complicated than that. In truth, religion does play a major part in how homosexuals have been mistreated and abused throughout the centuries, but author Jay Michaelson makes the point that religion also holds the key to creating a safer and better world for homosexuals.
Michaelson, a leading gay inter-faith activist for the LGBT community, helps to answer that question among many others in his book “God vs. Gay: The Religious Case for Equality”. Using Scripture, logic, and common sense, Michaelson argues that the Biblical support used for anti-gay legislation is based on misreading and misinterpretation of Scriptural verses, that the Bible clearly states WHY a pro-gay mentality is not only favorable but divinely mandated, and that accepting homosexuality is ultimately beneficial for the church and society.
Michaelson has a personal stake in this issue. He grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household, and he is gay. This was something he inherently knew at an early age, even if he didn’t understand it. Like many gay people growing up in conservative and religious environments, he was made to feel ashamed about it and frequently tried to deny that aspect of his life. It was only later in life that he began to realize that being gay wasn’t perverted or immoral. Today, Michaelson has made his peace with his God and himself. He is in a loving gay relationship, and he spends his time helping others like himself, teaching them that homosexuality is normal, healthy, and nothing to be ashamed about.
Michaelson tackles, and pretty much debunks, all the conservative-led anti-gay arguments out there in his book, starting with the erroneous argument that homosexuality is “unnatural”. It isn’t, assuming one is using the word in its proper sense: “against nature”. Science has pretty much disproven this argument, as homosexual relationships have been documented in over a hundred different animal species. Homosexuality does, apparently, serve some kind of purpose in nature, although it is difficult to discern what that purpose is. Gay opponents may counter by saying that humans are superior to other animal species, and that just because monkeys and birds exhibit homosexual tendencies doesn’t mean we should, but this denies the very simple truth that humans are merely highly evolved animals and we are neither superior or inferior to other animal species. Michaelson argues that since God created the universe, the world, and everything in it, including the Natural World (which includes us, whether we like it or not) and since homosexuality is a part of that Natural World, it can not be an abomination.
Granted, it’s difficult to use this argument against those conservatives who like to deny the facts of science. Homosexuality, to them, is an issue of morality. Much of that morality is founded on the principles of the Judeo-Christian Bible, the Old and the New Testament.
We’ve all heard the verses quoted from Genesis and Leviticus. Many Jews and Christians are well-versed in Scripture, able to spout Leviticus or the writings of Paul the Apostle. The oft-mentioned verses that appear to be about homosexuality or involving homosexual behavior are, indeed, damning. Yet, as Michaelson shows, much of the anti-gay rhetoric based on these Scriptural verses are based on very narrow, and in some cases, completely erroneous interpretations.
Take, for example, the story in Genesis about Lot inviting two angels (in the form of men) into his house on the night the angels are preparing for the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In this story, a mob of unruly (and horny) men surround Lot’s house and demand that Lot send the angels outside, because the men want to have sex with the angels. Many anti-gay conservatives use this story to illustrate, first, the disgusting behavior of homosexuals, and, second, that clearly God detests homosexuals because the angels, in the end, smite the men, rightfully. To conservatives, God is clearly punishing the men for the “crime” of homosexuality. Michaelson, however, argues that they are missing the point. The real crime that these men are guilty of is rape: the men want to forcefully have sex with the unconsenting angels. The sexual orientation of the rapists is irrelevant.
Michaelson is thorough in his examination of the most commonly-used (and most commonly-misinterpreted) verses by conservatives. The most telling and significant point Michaelson makes is what is NOT said in the Bible about homosexuality.
Jesus Christ, in the New Testament, never once raises the issue of homosexuality. This is significant for the simple fact that homosexual behavior was quite prevalent in Christ’s time. If it was so widespread, and if Christ found it abhorrent, he would have logically said something about it. One of the four authors---Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John---would have recorded at least some statement from Christ about it. It seems logical because Christ makes many proclamations about issues he found abhorrent, both verbally and non-verbally (his actions, which often spoke louder than words---as was the case with his angry disruption of the vendors using the church as a marketplace---spoke volumes about how abhorrent he found money and wealth to be a distraction from God), and his silence on the issue of homosexuality is, in itself, a statement.
As Michaelson says,
“We cannot simply pass over this silence, or attribute it, as some have done, to a tacit acceptance of the Old Testament’s existing rules. Jesus wasn’t tacit about the values that mattered most. If regulation of homosexual behavior were one of them, the Gospels would not be silent. On the contrary, the silence indicates supercession. The Old Testament’s proscriptions on male anal sex are connected to prohibitions on idolatry; they are about ritual purity, not ethical law. For Christians, the distinction is central. While the Hebrew Bible remains authoritative for moral teachings, it is not binding on Christians for ritual ones---if it were, Christians would have to avoid shrimp and lobster, wear fringed garments, and perhaps offer sacrifices instead of hymns. (p. 74)”
Thankfully, Michaelson doesn’t spend the majority of his book talking about Biblical misinterpretations. He spends much of his book on Scriptural verses that actually support a pro-gay and pro-equality argument. These chapters (which comprise the first part of the book) should be inspirational for anyone who believes in tolerance and social justice. Regardless of whether one believes in God or not, the verses that Michaelson cites are ones that even secularists would agree are ones that support peace, love, and tolerance. There is, in other words, no way to misinterpret these verses to fit a hateful agenda.
My favorite, and the one verse that I personally try to live my life by is Matthew 22: 37-39: “ Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Jesus never qualifies that statement by adding, “Unless your neighbor is Muslim, gay, mentally handicapped, unemployed, Hispanic, or has different political views as you.”
This point brings us to Michaelson’s last part in his book, in which he discusses how religious communities are improved by opening their hearts, minds, and arms to the gay community. He simply points to history to validate his point.
When churches started changing their rigid, conservative stands on issues such as slavery, woman’s suffarage, and civil rights, the church only became stronger, despite many predictions that doing so would destroy the church. Such is the case, Michaelson argues, with homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
Michaelson claims that “accepting sexual diversity is good for religious communities because it is precisely the flexibility of religious values that enables them to survive and adapt. In stretching ourselves to reflect on our values, refine our assumptions, and in so doing grow as religious individuals and communities. (p. 131)”
Michaelson’s eloquent, compassionate, and intelligent examination of the issue of homosexuality is a breath of fresh air to those who are disheartened and disgusted by the hateful, ignorant rhetoric of those people on the extreme Right, people like Rick Santorum, who claims to be a Christian, but I have yet to hear him say or do anything Christ-like.
Sadly, while this book will be preaching to the choir for intelligent readers, it will most likely go unread by the majority of the conservative contingent to which Michaelson addresses his arguments. So be it. Michaelson’s argument is valid, and hopefully it will help to change the minds and hearts of some of the more intelligent conservatives out there who will lead the pro-equality revolution within the church.
The truth is, homosexuality has been a part of human existence as far back as the prehistoric times. That’s an assumption, of course, based on the fact that throughout all the rest of recorded history, homosexuality has been well-documented. Indeed, in many ancient cultures and even some more recent ones until a few centuries ago, homosexuality was not necessarily considered an “abomination” or a “sin”. In fact, homosexuality was not really considered an important issue. It was oftentimes even accepted with much more tolerance than it is today.
So, what changed?
The simplistic answer is: religion. Lest I be accused of fomenting anti-religious thoughts, however, I will say that it is probably much more complicated than that. In truth, religion does play a major part in how homosexuals have been mistreated and abused throughout the centuries, but author Jay Michaelson makes the point that religion also holds the key to creating a safer and better world for homosexuals.
Michaelson, a leading gay inter-faith activist for the LGBT community, helps to answer that question among many others in his book “God vs. Gay: The Religious Case for Equality”. Using Scripture, logic, and common sense, Michaelson argues that the Biblical support used for anti-gay legislation is based on misreading and misinterpretation of Scriptural verses, that the Bible clearly states WHY a pro-gay mentality is not only favorable but divinely mandated, and that accepting homosexuality is ultimately beneficial for the church and society.
Michaelson has a personal stake in this issue. He grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household, and he is gay. This was something he inherently knew at an early age, even if he didn’t understand it. Like many gay people growing up in conservative and religious environments, he was made to feel ashamed about it and frequently tried to deny that aspect of his life. It was only later in life that he began to realize that being gay wasn’t perverted or immoral. Today, Michaelson has made his peace with his God and himself. He is in a loving gay relationship, and he spends his time helping others like himself, teaching them that homosexuality is normal, healthy, and nothing to be ashamed about.
Michaelson tackles, and pretty much debunks, all the conservative-led anti-gay arguments out there in his book, starting with the erroneous argument that homosexuality is “unnatural”. It isn’t, assuming one is using the word in its proper sense: “against nature”. Science has pretty much disproven this argument, as homosexual relationships have been documented in over a hundred different animal species. Homosexuality does, apparently, serve some kind of purpose in nature, although it is difficult to discern what that purpose is. Gay opponents may counter by saying that humans are superior to other animal species, and that just because monkeys and birds exhibit homosexual tendencies doesn’t mean we should, but this denies the very simple truth that humans are merely highly evolved animals and we are neither superior or inferior to other animal species. Michaelson argues that since God created the universe, the world, and everything in it, including the Natural World (which includes us, whether we like it or not) and since homosexuality is a part of that Natural World, it can not be an abomination.
Granted, it’s difficult to use this argument against those conservatives who like to deny the facts of science. Homosexuality, to them, is an issue of morality. Much of that morality is founded on the principles of the Judeo-Christian Bible, the Old and the New Testament.
We’ve all heard the verses quoted from Genesis and Leviticus. Many Jews and Christians are well-versed in Scripture, able to spout Leviticus or the writings of Paul the Apostle. The oft-mentioned verses that appear to be about homosexuality or involving homosexual behavior are, indeed, damning. Yet, as Michaelson shows, much of the anti-gay rhetoric based on these Scriptural verses are based on very narrow, and in some cases, completely erroneous interpretations.
Take, for example, the story in Genesis about Lot inviting two angels (in the form of men) into his house on the night the angels are preparing for the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In this story, a mob of unruly (and horny) men surround Lot’s house and demand that Lot send the angels outside, because the men want to have sex with the angels. Many anti-gay conservatives use this story to illustrate, first, the disgusting behavior of homosexuals, and, second, that clearly God detests homosexuals because the angels, in the end, smite the men, rightfully. To conservatives, God is clearly punishing the men for the “crime” of homosexuality. Michaelson, however, argues that they are missing the point. The real crime that these men are guilty of is rape: the men want to forcefully have sex with the unconsenting angels. The sexual orientation of the rapists is irrelevant.
Michaelson is thorough in his examination of the most commonly-used (and most commonly-misinterpreted) verses by conservatives. The most telling and significant point Michaelson makes is what is NOT said in the Bible about homosexuality.
Jesus Christ, in the New Testament, never once raises the issue of homosexuality. This is significant for the simple fact that homosexual behavior was quite prevalent in Christ’s time. If it was so widespread, and if Christ found it abhorrent, he would have logically said something about it. One of the four authors---Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John---would have recorded at least some statement from Christ about it. It seems logical because Christ makes many proclamations about issues he found abhorrent, both verbally and non-verbally (his actions, which often spoke louder than words---as was the case with his angry disruption of the vendors using the church as a marketplace---spoke volumes about how abhorrent he found money and wealth to be a distraction from God), and his silence on the issue of homosexuality is, in itself, a statement.
As Michaelson says,
“We cannot simply pass over this silence, or attribute it, as some have done, to a tacit acceptance of the Old Testament’s existing rules. Jesus wasn’t tacit about the values that mattered most. If regulation of homosexual behavior were one of them, the Gospels would not be silent. On the contrary, the silence indicates supercession. The Old Testament’s proscriptions on male anal sex are connected to prohibitions on idolatry; they are about ritual purity, not ethical law. For Christians, the distinction is central. While the Hebrew Bible remains authoritative for moral teachings, it is not binding on Christians for ritual ones---if it were, Christians would have to avoid shrimp and lobster, wear fringed garments, and perhaps offer sacrifices instead of hymns. (p. 74)”
Thankfully, Michaelson doesn’t spend the majority of his book talking about Biblical misinterpretations. He spends much of his book on Scriptural verses that actually support a pro-gay and pro-equality argument. These chapters (which comprise the first part of the book) should be inspirational for anyone who believes in tolerance and social justice. Regardless of whether one believes in God or not, the verses that Michaelson cites are ones that even secularists would agree are ones that support peace, love, and tolerance. There is, in other words, no way to misinterpret these verses to fit a hateful agenda.
My favorite, and the one verse that I personally try to live my life by is Matthew 22: 37-39: “ Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Jesus never qualifies that statement by adding, “Unless your neighbor is Muslim, gay, mentally handicapped, unemployed, Hispanic, or has different political views as you.”
This point brings us to Michaelson’s last part in his book, in which he discusses how religious communities are improved by opening their hearts, minds, and arms to the gay community. He simply points to history to validate his point.
When churches started changing their rigid, conservative stands on issues such as slavery, woman’s suffarage, and civil rights, the church only became stronger, despite many predictions that doing so would destroy the church. Such is the case, Michaelson argues, with homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
Michaelson claims that “accepting sexual diversity is good for religious communities because it is precisely the flexibility of religious values that enables them to survive and adapt. In stretching ourselves to reflect on our values, refine our assumptions, and in so doing grow as religious individuals and communities. (p. 131)”
Michaelson’s eloquent, compassionate, and intelligent examination of the issue of homosexuality is a breath of fresh air to those who are disheartened and disgusted by the hateful, ignorant rhetoric of those people on the extreme Right, people like Rick Santorum, who claims to be a Christian, but I have yet to hear him say or do anything Christ-like.
Sadly, while this book will be preaching to the choir for intelligent readers, it will most likely go unread by the majority of the conservative contingent to which Michaelson addresses his arguments. So be it. Michaelson’s argument is valid, and hopefully it will help to change the minds and hearts of some of the more intelligent conservatives out there who will lead the pro-equality revolution within the church.
August 4, 2017
If only I belonged to a faith community willing to read and discuss this book together.....
Just a few quotes:
"It may seem like strength to hold fast to unchanging religious beliefs, and there are times where steadfastness is an act of heroism. Bt it takes even more strength to heed the demands of our faith traditions to introspect, discern, and reflect on what we thought we knew." p. 139
"We learn to stop trusting gut reactions that are based on falsehoods we've been taught....This is an invitation to be uncomfortable, because discomfort is a sign of growth; it's a sign that you've reached your learning edge, where assumptions may be challenged and difficult lessons may be learned....At first, and maybe for a while, these corrections along the course of moral conscience may not feel right. Bt they are the defining marks of our humanity. Love demands them." pp.140-141
"My most cherished tale of this kind of religious evolution is in Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". For me, it perfectly epitomizes the kind of shift, motivated by conscience and experience, that is of so much religious value, and that is invited by the question of sexual diversity...Huck is still troubled by his conscience, because he has been taught that if he helps an escaped slave, he will go to hell. One night, racked by guilt and indecision, he tries to decide what to do...." p. 142-143
"Mixing politics and religiion is a two-way street. If we want religion to dictate political rules, then we must be prepared for politics to dictate religious ones." p. 151
"Power corrupts, and political power corrupts in a particularly insidious way. It may seem like victory for a religious sect when its views are imposed on everyone in the country. In fact, it is a sign of its demise." p. 153
"Whatever fears we may have about change or transformation, they are but ripples on the ocean of truth. Or of love. Or of God. p. 162.
Just a few quotes:
"It may seem like strength to hold fast to unchanging religious beliefs, and there are times where steadfastness is an act of heroism. Bt it takes even more strength to heed the demands of our faith traditions to introspect, discern, and reflect on what we thought we knew." p. 139
"We learn to stop trusting gut reactions that are based on falsehoods we've been taught....This is an invitation to be uncomfortable, because discomfort is a sign of growth; it's a sign that you've reached your learning edge, where assumptions may be challenged and difficult lessons may be learned....At first, and maybe for a while, these corrections along the course of moral conscience may not feel right. Bt they are the defining marks of our humanity. Love demands them." pp.140-141
"My most cherished tale of this kind of religious evolution is in Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". For me, it perfectly epitomizes the kind of shift, motivated by conscience and experience, that is of so much religious value, and that is invited by the question of sexual diversity...Huck is still troubled by his conscience, because he has been taught that if he helps an escaped slave, he will go to hell. One night, racked by guilt and indecision, he tries to decide what to do...." p. 142-143
"Mixing politics and religiion is a two-way street. If we want religion to dictate political rules, then we must be prepared for politics to dictate religious ones." p. 151
"Power corrupts, and political power corrupts in a particularly insidious way. It may seem like victory for a religious sect when its views are imposed on everyone in the country. In fact, it is a sign of its demise." p. 153
"Whatever fears we may have about change or transformation, they are but ripples on the ocean of truth. Or of love. Or of God. p. 162.
April 29, 2015
A great book about how God really is not against gays. About how homosexuals strengthen the Church and how inclusion of homosexuals in organized religion is a great thing. Written by a strongly religious Jewish man who is now happily married after coming out of the closet. He was closeted for 10 years. He thinks closeting breeds bad sexual behavior and perpetuates shame and sin.
October 8, 2022
If you’ve ever questioned what the Bible really says about the LGBTQ+ community or if you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community or if you’ve grown up believing that homosexuality is a sin, please read this book. Christians have historically misinterpreted the Bible to say that God is against LGBTQ+ people, but that’s simply not true. God is for all people and celebrates diversity in all its forms.
This book is approachable and easy to read. It explains why God is for and not against the LGBTQ+ community, it goes in depth about the verses that Christians use as weapons against this community, and it talks about how the religious community will benefit from truly accepting & loving all people.
If you’ve ever been hurt by the Christian community over this issue, I am so sorry. You are loved, you matter, and God loves you exactly as you are.
This book is approachable and easy to read. It explains why God is for and not against the LGBTQ+ community, it goes in depth about the verses that Christians use as weapons against this community, and it talks about how the religious community will benefit from truly accepting & loving all people.
If you’ve ever been hurt by the Christian community over this issue, I am so sorry. You are loved, you matter, and God loves you exactly as you are.
August 27, 2020
Wow. This book is everything I have been struggling with as a Catholic who realized I am bisexual. I wrestled with the idea that God is okay with differing sexuality, simply because that is what my church taught me. (In Catholic faith, acting upon being gay is a mortal sin aka going to hell). While I dated a girl, I couldn't help but feel guilty... Simply because that's what was thrown at me (once in the form of a high school religion class that explained why the Catholic church believes gay is wrong.. It is not procreative and not prounitive - the author even addresses this in the book!!!).
This book hit me hard. It took me so many months to finish because I wanted to take it all in slowly. Finally, someone sees it the way I do. But he actually supports his thesis with ample evidence, reasoning, and from the words of the Bible. I feel I can finally move on from the internal battle of God Vs. Me. While I may not be able to support the Catholic Church for its views on the matter, I can now re-build my relationship with God.
I suggest any person who is in the LGBTQ+ community and struggling with religious identity should read this book. And the families should too. It opens a lot for discussion and thought.
This book hit me hard. It took me so many months to finish because I wanted to take it all in slowly. Finally, someone sees it the way I do. But he actually supports his thesis with ample evidence, reasoning, and from the words of the Bible. I feel I can finally move on from the internal battle of God Vs. Me. While I may not be able to support the Catholic Church for its views on the matter, I can now re-build my relationship with God.
I suggest any person who is in the LGBTQ+ community and struggling with religious identity should read this book. And the families should too. It opens a lot for discussion and thought.
September 12, 2016
In the debate about gay rights, one side invokes scripture while the other side typically dismisses it. In God vs. Gay, Jay Michaelson is unusual because he’s a proponent of gay rights who also takes the Bible seriously.
Unlike his counterparts on the Religious Right, however, Michaelson concludes that the Hebrew and Christian scriptures do not condemn same-sex love and intimacy, but actually command an acceptance of them. This is a difficult thesis for most evangelicals to accept, yet any who read this book will be compelled to reconsider their premises thanks to the author‘s felicitous writing style and his deep respect for faith as an Orthodox Jew.
“Religious people should support equality inclusion and dignity for sexual minorities,” Michaelson writes, “because of our religious traditions, not despite them.” The half dozen verses addressing same-sex behavior are “ambiguous, limited and widely misunderstood.” Meanwhile, there are hundreds of other verses that teach us about the importance of love, justice, and sacred relationships.
Unlike Martin Luther King, Jr, the LGBT civil rights movement has not responded with the language of Scripture, even though they face Scriptural arguments. The lesson from Dr. King is to engage with religious values, because political questions are ultimately religious ones as well. In making the religious case for equal rights, this book examines the fundamental values of Christians and Jews and it interprets the handful of verses about same-sex relations in light of those values.
Those fundamental Biblical values that support equality are these:
* “It is not good for a person to be alone.” Loneliness is the first problem of creation, and love comes to solve it.
* “Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8) “If God love us,” Michaelson writes, “then God could never want the closet. God could not wish for human beings to lie, to repress their emotional selves, and to distort that aspect of the soul which leads to the highest of human satisfactions into a dark force of evil.
* “The whole of the Law is summarized in a single commandment: love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal. 5:14 ) “As yourself” means how you yourself would like to be loved if you were your neighbor. Thus we are told to be empathetic, to overcome our impulse toward focus on self, to imagine what I would want if I were standing in this person’s shoes. We are commanded to cultivate compassion. As applied to GLBT people, this command means rising above our own preferences to see from the perspective of the other. “Unless we are willing to be open to the truth of another person’s experience, we cannot progress past the childlike opinion that what is right for us is right for everyone.”
* Love demands that we read the half dozen verses about homosexuality narrowly, just as we read verses prescribing the death penalty for rebellious children. Jesus often chose compassion over the law, by healing on the Sabbath, by eating with the unwashed, by not stoning the adulteress. “Leviticus does not shape the boundaries of compassion; compassion shapes the boundaries of Leviticus…The Golden Rule demands reciprocity and compassion and basic equality.”
We have science today about sexual diversity that our forbears didn’t, so we can and should reinterpret old positions in light of the new information, Michaelson argues, just as happened (eventually) when science proved the earth was a sphere instead of a pancake.
We understand today that sexual diversity is part of the fabric of nature. Same-sex behaviors are found in over 100 species from apes to elephants, guppies to macaques. “Nature loves diversity, including sexual diversity.” Conformity is a human invention.
“Religious life has never meant sticking your head in the ground or pretending that the world is still flat…Religion lives when it grows, when it is able to maintain its core values while adapting to new facts and understandings.”
Scripture depics a love story between David and Jonathan. It’s non-debatable that the two men had an intense emotional love that transcended friendship and had erotic overtones, whether or not it blossomed into sexual activity. Their love proved essential for David’s survival and for his eventual ascension to the throne.
The early Church did not single out homosexuality as a particularly egregious sin worse than the others. That’s a more recent phenomenon associated with the rise of the Religious Right in the 1980s.
“Hate the sin, love the sinner” doesn’t work when they are one in the same – homosexuality – which is both an identity and an activity. Sexuality is not just sex; sexuality is at the essence of who we are as human beings. “To hate an essential part of the person is to hate the person.”
As the reader can tell by now, this book is full of compelling insights. Michaelson examines the half dozen verses about homosexuality and demonstrates that they are not quite so black-and-white as religious conservatives may assume. Suffice it to say that Christians who believe Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because its men were gay does not have an accurate understanding of scripture.
Opponents of marriage equality are genuinely concerned about undermining marriage. Like Britain’s Conservative Party, which supports gay marriage, Michaelson contends that same-sex marriage encourages conservative family values. The record shows that where same-sex marriage has been legalized, there has been a decrease in promiscuity among gays, and there has been no upsurge in divorce.
It’s fair to say that gays are not the source of instability in modern marriage: they aren’t responsible for heterosexual rates of cohabitation, divorce and out-of-wedlock pregnancy.
Less than a century ago, religious conservatives opposed women’s suffrage. Half a century ago, conservatives resisted civil rights for African-Americans. Today they resist civil rights for gays. Some day, they will support gay rights, just as they now support equality for blacks and women.
###
Unlike his counterparts on the Religious Right, however, Michaelson concludes that the Hebrew and Christian scriptures do not condemn same-sex love and intimacy, but actually command an acceptance of them. This is a difficult thesis for most evangelicals to accept, yet any who read this book will be compelled to reconsider their premises thanks to the author‘s felicitous writing style and his deep respect for faith as an Orthodox Jew.
“Religious people should support equality inclusion and dignity for sexual minorities,” Michaelson writes, “because of our religious traditions, not despite them.” The half dozen verses addressing same-sex behavior are “ambiguous, limited and widely misunderstood.” Meanwhile, there are hundreds of other verses that teach us about the importance of love, justice, and sacred relationships.
Unlike Martin Luther King, Jr, the LGBT civil rights movement has not responded with the language of Scripture, even though they face Scriptural arguments. The lesson from Dr. King is to engage with religious values, because political questions are ultimately religious ones as well. In making the religious case for equal rights, this book examines the fundamental values of Christians and Jews and it interprets the handful of verses about same-sex relations in light of those values.
Those fundamental Biblical values that support equality are these:
* “It is not good for a person to be alone.” Loneliness is the first problem of creation, and love comes to solve it.
* “Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8) “If God love us,” Michaelson writes, “then God could never want the closet. God could not wish for human beings to lie, to repress their emotional selves, and to distort that aspect of the soul which leads to the highest of human satisfactions into a dark force of evil.
* “The whole of the Law is summarized in a single commandment: love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal. 5:14 ) “As yourself” means how you yourself would like to be loved if you were your neighbor. Thus we are told to be empathetic, to overcome our impulse toward focus on self, to imagine what I would want if I were standing in this person’s shoes. We are commanded to cultivate compassion. As applied to GLBT people, this command means rising above our own preferences to see from the perspective of the other. “Unless we are willing to be open to the truth of another person’s experience, we cannot progress past the childlike opinion that what is right for us is right for everyone.”
* Love demands that we read the half dozen verses about homosexuality narrowly, just as we read verses prescribing the death penalty for rebellious children. Jesus often chose compassion over the law, by healing on the Sabbath, by eating with the unwashed, by not stoning the adulteress. “Leviticus does not shape the boundaries of compassion; compassion shapes the boundaries of Leviticus…The Golden Rule demands reciprocity and compassion and basic equality.”
We have science today about sexual diversity that our forbears didn’t, so we can and should reinterpret old positions in light of the new information, Michaelson argues, just as happened (eventually) when science proved the earth was a sphere instead of a pancake.
We understand today that sexual diversity is part of the fabric of nature. Same-sex behaviors are found in over 100 species from apes to elephants, guppies to macaques. “Nature loves diversity, including sexual diversity.” Conformity is a human invention.
“Religious life has never meant sticking your head in the ground or pretending that the world is still flat…Religion lives when it grows, when it is able to maintain its core values while adapting to new facts and understandings.”
Scripture depics a love story between David and Jonathan. It’s non-debatable that the two men had an intense emotional love that transcended friendship and had erotic overtones, whether or not it blossomed into sexual activity. Their love proved essential for David’s survival and for his eventual ascension to the throne.
The early Church did not single out homosexuality as a particularly egregious sin worse than the others. That’s a more recent phenomenon associated with the rise of the Religious Right in the 1980s.
“Hate the sin, love the sinner” doesn’t work when they are one in the same – homosexuality – which is both an identity and an activity. Sexuality is not just sex; sexuality is at the essence of who we are as human beings. “To hate an essential part of the person is to hate the person.”
As the reader can tell by now, this book is full of compelling insights. Michaelson examines the half dozen verses about homosexuality and demonstrates that they are not quite so black-and-white as religious conservatives may assume. Suffice it to say that Christians who believe Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because its men were gay does not have an accurate understanding of scripture.
Opponents of marriage equality are genuinely concerned about undermining marriage. Like Britain’s Conservative Party, which supports gay marriage, Michaelson contends that same-sex marriage encourages conservative family values. The record shows that where same-sex marriage has been legalized, there has been a decrease in promiscuity among gays, and there has been no upsurge in divorce.
It’s fair to say that gays are not the source of instability in modern marriage: they aren’t responsible for heterosexual rates of cohabitation, divorce and out-of-wedlock pregnancy.
Less than a century ago, religious conservatives opposed women’s suffrage. Half a century ago, conservatives resisted civil rights for African-Americans. Today they resist civil rights for gays. Some day, they will support gay rights, just as they now support equality for blacks and women.
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October 21, 2019
Though organized religion holds no appeal for me and hasn't for more than 30 years, this was the October book for the campus LGBTQ book club. I felt it was compelling. Perhaps because his main argument is that if you truly believe in God and God's love, then you cannot exclude any group of people or individuals from same. If you believe you are to emulate God's love, then you cannot discriminate but hold each person in the same regard of unconditional acceptance and hopefully appreciation. I skipped the section where he dissects each of the seven Bible verses commonly used to exclude or even deny the existence of homosexuals or gender diverse people. This has no meaning for me since I do not believe in the Bible or religion. I think this would prove to be an eye-opening or at least thought-provoking read for "Christians," Jews, etc.
April 8, 2019
4.75 ⭐️s
Everything I have grown up hearing and life events I have experienced have led me to this place of rejecting the church and its teachings. After reading this book and really hearing and understanding the words, I have gained a whole new perspective.
Thank you Jay Michaelson for this wonderful glimpse into your life experiences and lessons learned. You have really opened my eyes to a greater truth and understanding of the Bible and what it has to offer. We all have a lot to learn about acceptance of ourselves and each other.
If it weren’t for the large amount of name dropping and lists of other sources stuffed into the second to last chapter it would have been 5 ⭐️s from me.
Everything I have grown up hearing and life events I have experienced have led me to this place of rejecting the church and its teachings. After reading this book and really hearing and understanding the words, I have gained a whole new perspective.
Thank you Jay Michaelson for this wonderful glimpse into your life experiences and lessons learned. You have really opened my eyes to a greater truth and understanding of the Bible and what it has to offer. We all have a lot to learn about acceptance of ourselves and each other.
If it weren’t for the large amount of name dropping and lists of other sources stuffed into the second to last chapter it would have been 5 ⭐️s from me.
March 10, 2012
While it presents an uncompromising position, this is a fairly gentle book that could be used to start a discussion with someone who was merely open to its message. The intended audience seems to be those who have qualms about sexual diversity and who may be repressing their own feelings. When Michaelson writes, "The love a straight woman feels for her husband, I feel for mine. It may be hard to believe or understand, without knowing me and my partner, but it is the case," he probably isn't speaking to other self-accepting gay people for whom this is an underwhelming revelation. There are, however, people who want and need to hear such basic truths.
For people who are just permitting themselves to hear this message of love and acceptance for the first time, Michaelson's book might be the first that helps them shift into a new paradigm. His analysis of Jewish and Christian religious texts and history, accompanied by the names of a slew of gay-friendly theologians, makes a clear and convincing argument that one can be genuinely religious and openly gay. He neatly disposes of "ex-gay" dissenters and hypocritical politicians without allowing them to dictate the terms of debate.
Some of the aforementioned self-accepting gay people might feel that Michaelson's arguments are not radical enough. He is certainly capable of intra-gay critique, as when he writes that "the very notion that 'homosexuality' can mean both an orientation toward romantic connection and a physical sex act is part of the problem. It reduces love to sex, and reduces gay people to what we do with our genitals." Disappointingly, despite this acknowledgment of the limitations of concepts like "homosexual" and "heterosexual," he nevertheless uses these terms throughout the book. He is also quick to endorse the socially conservative idea promoted by Andrew Sullivan that same-sex marriage is a social boon because it will "tame" gay people. This, of course, may imply that gay sexuality itself endangers the individual or society without proper social containment.
The book will have achieved its mission if it helps some religious communities to justify their acceptance of gay people and if it helps some gay people out of feeling suicidal. Today there are unfortunately still many suffering people who need to hear this message. One may also hope that some of these friendly, even-handed approaches to Biblical interpretation will become integrated in mainstream religious sermonizing.
For people who are just permitting themselves to hear this message of love and acceptance for the first time, Michaelson's book might be the first that helps them shift into a new paradigm. His analysis of Jewish and Christian religious texts and history, accompanied by the names of a slew of gay-friendly theologians, makes a clear and convincing argument that one can be genuinely religious and openly gay. He neatly disposes of "ex-gay" dissenters and hypocritical politicians without allowing them to dictate the terms of debate.
Some of the aforementioned self-accepting gay people might feel that Michaelson's arguments are not radical enough. He is certainly capable of intra-gay critique, as when he writes that "the very notion that 'homosexuality' can mean both an orientation toward romantic connection and a physical sex act is part of the problem. It reduces love to sex, and reduces gay people to what we do with our genitals." Disappointingly, despite this acknowledgment of the limitations of concepts like "homosexual" and "heterosexual," he nevertheless uses these terms throughout the book. He is also quick to endorse the socially conservative idea promoted by Andrew Sullivan that same-sex marriage is a social boon because it will "tame" gay people. This, of course, may imply that gay sexuality itself endangers the individual or society without proper social containment.
The book will have achieved its mission if it helps some religious communities to justify their acceptance of gay people and if it helps some gay people out of feeling suicidal. Today there are unfortunately still many suffering people who need to hear this message. One may also hope that some of these friendly, even-handed approaches to Biblical interpretation will become integrated in mainstream religious sermonizing.
August 23, 2020
It took me a few (4) days, amidst fatigue and grief, to get through this book.
I love language. I love undertones.
I love when words and the tone in which it is conveyed can tell me clearly what the writer was feeling at the time it was written. This tone of this book was not as graceful as the other three that I have read on the same topic. Nevertheless, the tone was very much needed. It was clear. It was direct. It was assertive. I particularly loved how Jay drew from both secular, religious, ancient, modern, and academic texts alike to form well-rounded and intellectual arguments. Unlike the other books I have read which the rebuttals for them were something along the lines of “I cannot be swayed by your emotions,” it feels dishonest for me to believe that this book will get the same rebuttal because it simply doesn’t care to garner sympathy nor emotions in the first place. Compassion or not, audience or not, Jay Michaelson had a message, and he was hell-bent on sending that message across. A compelling, insightful, engaging read.
I love language. I love undertones.
I love when words and the tone in which it is conveyed can tell me clearly what the writer was feeling at the time it was written. This tone of this book was not as graceful as the other three that I have read on the same topic. Nevertheless, the tone was very much needed. It was clear. It was direct. It was assertive. I particularly loved how Jay drew from both secular, religious, ancient, modern, and academic texts alike to form well-rounded and intellectual arguments. Unlike the other books I have read which the rebuttals for them were something along the lines of “I cannot be swayed by your emotions,” it feels dishonest for me to believe that this book will get the same rebuttal because it simply doesn’t care to garner sympathy nor emotions in the first place. Compassion or not, audience or not, Jay Michaelson had a message, and he was hell-bent on sending that message across. A compelling, insightful, engaging read.
November 19, 2021
I enjoyed hearing his perspective and his story, and I am thankful he shared his experience. However, I disagreed with his starting point “one of our deepest shared values is that it is not good to be alone” and where he ended. It did not give much hope to single friends I know who do long for a mate, but God has yet to provide that. Are they missing out on a full life? Simply put my deepest shared value is not the fulfillment of sexual/relational intimacy, and since that seems to be the foundation of his argument, we part ways there.
He also says that sexuality is our identity and the essence of who we are as human beings, which I wholeheartedly disagree with. So it’s hard to continue on with his reasoning when from the get go we differ in very large ways.
The author is Jewish which is not a criticism at all, but since we do not have the same foundational beliefs, it was not as helpful of a book to me, as I had anticipated.
January 25, 2018
Though I felt the writing was a bit repetitive and seemed somewhat desperate in places--his passion for his subject did come through. I've heard most of these arguments in bits and pieces before but never quite all laid out like this. It's a fascinating subject, and I think it would do well if more evangelical Christians were to approach with an open mind towards loving others.
February 1, 2018
This book was crucial for my coming out process. Jay Michaelson does an excellent job at explaining myths and flat-out lies that Christianity and Judaism tell LGBT people. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is currently in the closet, especially those that are afraid to come out for fear of religious rejection.
July 23, 2024
“And these assumptions are culturally determined: show a picture of a dog to someone born into a Western society, and they may think "pet," and possibly feel affection. Show the same picture to someone born into some Asian societies, and they think "food," and feel hungry.”
For a book aiming to dismantle prejudices, was this really necessary.
For a book aiming to dismantle prejudices, was this really necessary.
January 24, 2020
In 'God vs. Gay' Michaelson does something different: rather than argue about beliefs and values, he presents an etymology of Jewish and Christian text itself to make the case for LGBT equality. The book was written pre-marriage equality in the U.S., but still holds significant relevance today.
July 14, 2017
Thoughtful, comprehensive, deeply compassionate and personal, Michaelson handles his subject with the utmost seriousness and respect. Very well constructed and a very good read.
February 12, 2022
Recommended by a friend. Worth the read.
September 16, 2023
Very good book. Gave me a lot to think about. The writing was a bit academic at times, but I thought he had many good ideas to share.
November 25, 2024
I'm not crying, you're crying....
July 23, 2022
Yes! All the right words that say all the right things. Clearly articulating truth and linking life, religion, politics, society, and history together into an eye-opening and need-to-read book. It was researched and written in a way that still allowed the reader to critically think through what they believe and why.
November 22, 2013
God vs. Gay, by Jay Michaelson, delves deep into the widely debated issue that is the religious argument against homosexuality. Each chapter is packed with religious values and examples that go directly against the aforementioned argument. The book is organized in three parts, dotted here and there with personal anecdotes. The first part explains the everyday values that we live and how they refute God's supposed opposition to homosexuality. The second smoothly dismantles any argument that can be made using the verses in the Bible that allegedly condemn homosexuality. The third explains how sexual minorities improve, not detract from religion.
One thing I loved about this book was how Michaelson, armed with an educated interpretation of the Bible, the values of society today, and his own experiences, was able to not only deflate the religious points against homosexuality, but did so while using those very arguments against them (the example of David and Jonathan, for example). In addition, the ending gave a beautiful conclusion to his argument, but that's just my appreciation for his style.
One thing, however, that I thought detracted from the book - or rather, wasn't there to enhance it - was that Michaelson didn't address the popular "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" argument. As ridiculous and unfounded as the argument is, it still is an argument, and one as popular as that one should have been addressed easily in the book.
I generally favor fiction over nonfiction, but this is a book I in no way regret opening, both as a strongly opinionated person in general and a member of the LGBTQIA community.
One thing I loved about this book was how Michaelson, armed with an educated interpretation of the Bible, the values of society today, and his own experiences, was able to not only deflate the religious points against homosexuality, but did so while using those very arguments against them (the example of David and Jonathan, for example). In addition, the ending gave a beautiful conclusion to his argument, but that's just my appreciation for his style.
One thing, however, that I thought detracted from the book - or rather, wasn't there to enhance it - was that Michaelson didn't address the popular "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve" argument. As ridiculous and unfounded as the argument is, it still is an argument, and one as popular as that one should have been addressed easily in the book.
I generally favor fiction over nonfiction, but this is a book I in no way regret opening, both as a strongly opinionated person in general and a member of the LGBTQIA community.
November 14, 2013
An interesting blend of logic, linguistics and speculation that lays out the case for gay equality based on Judeo-Christian religious values, and a re-reading of scripture. I realize that it's a non-fiction book, and the author has points to make, but that doesn't mean it couldn't have been written in a far more interesting manner. It's basically pretty pedantic. And, despite that I think that his overall point is a good one, some of his analyses fall flat - he lays out the case that lesbians are excluded from many religious proscriptions because the original language of scripture uses masculine forms of words and not feminine. But anyone who has spent any time studying languages knows that most languages that have gender specific forms use the masculine when referring to both men and women in the aggregate. He also looks specifically at the languages that the Old (or as he puts it, Hebrew) Testament and New Testament "were written in". Problem is, the old testament was written in a combination of Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek and the new was written entirely in Greek - so in some, if not all of the cases, certainly in his references to the new testament, he's working off of a version that was already a translation. Regardless, it's a worthwhile read, and certainly far easier than some of the weightier tomes that have tackled the same subject at length.
June 26, 2012
Do you find yourself surrounded by people who constantly reference the Bible when talking about gay people? I often do and because I haven't read it from cover to cover I often feel my responses are inadequate. Jewish author Jay Michaelson presents a well-written religious discussion for supporting and acknowledging the LGBT community. He makes solid assertions about sexuality, Adam and Eve and probably most importantly takes apart the 7 Bible versus which are commonly referenced to demote gays. I find myself more equipped for an intelligent and maybe vigorous discussion about how our sexuality is more than just sex, the 10 Commandments and the New Testament make no reference to homosexuality and the common bible verse Leviticus 18:22 when read in context does not present a clear case for prohibiting homosexuality. Most importantly Michaelson confirms what I have long believed; our God is a loving God who accepts everyone. Thank you for a relevant book! Bravo!
August 13, 2016
This is a pretty comprehensive look at the troublesome biblical verses that are commonly believed to condemn homosexuality. I've read the arguments before, but this author s more complete in his exigesis and otherwise takes an interesting approach. He argues that scriptural admonitions to love others and be kind trump any strictures in the Old and New Testament, that we need to read scripture and tradition broadly. His background is in the Jewish tradition and he uses a Talmudic approach in his analysis. I had already studied this are pretty fully, and I recommend this book for anyone who is either struggling with their own understanding of scripture in this regard, or for a deeper look at the issues to enable one to discuss the real meanings of these scriptures more fully. The point of view from a gay Jew is new for me, and enriched the book.
August 12, 2015
An excellent reinterpretation of the accepted belief that religion and LGBTQ life in incompatible. While I don't agree with all of the points the author makes (like many non-fiction books), I found many passages and arguments convincing. A worthwhile read. After considering for a couple of days one of the criticisms I have, though, is the author's opinion that most religious people are naturally conservative. Yes, this is the case but rather than explore why a religion, especially Christianity, whose founder was very anti-establishment and expressed what would today be considered socialist ideals he seems to argue that this is just the way it is and drops any exploration as to why this came about. Perhaps this is out of the scope of the book, but I found it a bit awkward in the avoidance of the issue.
March 8, 2012
Well written. Michaelson makes a very solid argument. He goes to the primary source--the Christian Bible and looks at the verses commonly thought to condemn homosexuality and he looks at other scripture. His analysis is insightful and, I believe, the sort of reading of the Bible that Jesus himself would approve of. Love, forgiveness, charity: these are the important lessons we should glean from the Bible. I would also point out that this a good book for Christians who support gay rights, Christians who don't, and non-Christians who just want to understand what all the hoopla about religion and gays is all about--and whether it hold any water.
October 27, 2012
It took me a few months to get through this book, not because I thought it was boring, but because I wanted to let the information sink in and have time to apply and reflect before I read more. I found this book very helpful in both my sexuality and spirituality and helping me become more confident with who I am. There is fear about giving gay people rights, or even including them in our churches,"Whatever fears we may have about change or transformation, they are ripples on the ocean of truth. Or of love. Or of God."-Jay Michaelson
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July 5, 2019Genre: nonfiction
Notes: While I found this book incredibly dry and difficult to read, it was also very informative. Because it was written by a Jewish man, I learned more about the verses used to oppose homosexuality and why this application is inaccurate than I knew from solely Christian sources. This book mentions differences between the experiences of gay and lesbian Christians, but is not meant to delve into that. A very good resource for learning about gay Christians and a convincing argument for equality of sexualities in Christianity.
Notes: While I found this book incredibly dry and difficult to read, it was also very informative. Because it was written by a Jewish man, I learned more about the verses used to oppose homosexuality and why this application is inaccurate than I knew from solely Christian sources. This book mentions differences between the experiences of gay and lesbian Christians, but is not meant to delve into that. A very good resource for learning about gay Christians and a convincing argument for equality of sexualities in Christianity.
August 10, 2016
This is a book that everyone should read, regardless of their beliefs. The central theme is that we should be for queer tolerance FOR religious reasons instead of despite them.
September 11, 2016
I reviewed God vs. Gay? here.
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