Thou Shalt Not Love August 12, 2010

Wow.  This is one of the most well researched books I’ve ever read.  That doesn’t mean I necessarily agree with all of the authors conclusions, because I don’t.  There is plenty here I do agree with.

In “Thou Shalt Not Love” – What Evangelicals Really Say to Gays,” Patrick M. Chapman, Ph.D., covers the subject matter from every conceivable angle.
The sociology – It’s there.
The psychology – It’s there.
The Anthropology – It’s there.
The Theology – It’s there


Written from a gay Christian anthropologist point of view, this book includes:
Scientific findings.  Biblical culture.  Biblical history.  The Evangelical mindset.  What the Bible does, and does not, say about homosexuality.  There’s a discussion of what Dr. Chapman believes is the difference between biological sex, and gender.  He talks of “reparative therapy” and the so-called “ex-gay” movement.  There’s information on varying views of marriage.

All in all, there is a wealth of information here.  Information that, agree with it or not, is vital in one of the most divisive discussions of our time.

– df


From the back cover:

“When dealing with the homosexual issue, many of us in the Evangelical community have made assumptions and assertions that are being called into question.  No one … has called them into question as seriously and as carefully [as Chapman]” –  Tony Campolo

“As a member of an evangelical church, he underwent reparative therapy; it’s failure led him to investigate scientific and biblical evidence about homosexuality.  Distilled from his experience, this critique of evangelical views broadens the debate with insights drawn form disparate cultures, zoology, genetics, evolution, psychology, Bible studies, and the current controversy over gay marriage.” — Walter Wink


Some Quotes


“Many evangelical leaders refuse to accept any responsibility for the violent treatment of homosexuals, even though their comments, teachings and sermon sometimes fuel the fires of hatred.”  (I actually heard Jimmy Swaggart say “If a man ever looked at me that way, I’d kill him and tell God he died!”  This was part of HIS SERMON!  Yeah, no responsibility there. – df)


“The Religious Right didn’t grow out of a love for God and one’s neighbor – it grew of of racism, pure and simple.”


“Based on Jesus’ teaching, the debate should not be whether a homosexual can be a Christian but whether a rich person can be a Christian.”


Buy the book.  Click HERE.