A Question of Truth, Christianity and Homosexuality by Gareth Moore OP
Continuum Religious, ISBN 0826459498. Rrp $39.95
Reviewed by Philip Russell
This is a book which every Christian should read, for no Christian today can be unaware of the discussion and concern which surrounds its subject. It should be regarded mandatory reading for any Christian whose sermons, addresses or public prayers in any way influence others’ thinking.
Firstly Fr Moore reminds us of the basic requirements needed for anyone to claim “the Bible says…” I do not believe that anyone can quarrel with what he has written in this respect.
Secondly, it is important to see the conclusions he comes to as he examines “key texts”. This he does with clarity, conviction and charity.
Fr Moore states, “The social, political, cultural and religious contexts within which these texts were written are not ours, and are often very foreign to us. It is often the context of a text—not only the literary context, in which the text is embedded, but also and more importantly the culture which author and reader share and which enables so much to be left unsaid—which makes it readily intelligible to its original audience, and the lack of that context that makes its original meaning difficult for us to grasp.
“Even if the meaning seems fairly obvious, we can still get it wrong. One reason why the meaning of a text might seem obvious to us is that we as readers have our own social, political, cultural and religious contexts, which may make a certain way of reading a text appear natural, even compelling. But in view of the huge gulf between biblical times and our own age, this impression can be very deceptive.” (Page 59)
So it is very difficult to get to the real meaning of text. Ordinary ‘tools’ such as biblical commentaries, dictionaries, even those full of references to etymological origins, are of limited help. And in the sheer nature of things, none of this helps us get to an understanding of why the text in question condemns, or approves a particular activity. We can, after much digging around, get a reasonably coherent understanding, but we have to have the humility to recognise even then that we might be wrong.
It is helpful to listen to Fr Moore as he applies this canon of understanding to some of the texts which are often used in discussions about the subject of homosexuality (Genesis 2 and 19.1-11, Leviticus 18.22 and 20.13, Romans 1, I Corinthians 6.9-10, 1 Timothy 1.10).
I shall not make any attempt to summarise the points that Fr Moore makes. One has to read slowly and carefully through all 100 pages for scriptural references, and then 40 more of the chapter ‘Aquinas, Natural Law and Sexual Natures’.
I quote Fr Moore’s own comment— “If we summarise the results of our investigation, the conclusions are simple to state and substantiate the thesis put forward in the preface: if we look for cogent biblical or natural arguments against homosexual relationships and acts in general, we will not find them: there aren’t any. There are plenty which look faithful to scripture and compelling in their logic, but none which actually are.” (Page 281)
So where do we go from here? I believe that the last thing in the world that Fr Moore would want would be militant shouting that he is right and that all the others are wrong.
On the other hand, those of us who are deeply concerned about this whole matter cannot just be silent, virtually suggesting that all that he has said does not warrant further thought and action. It clearly does—but what?
My suggestion is that groups of concerned people should meet as theologians, biblical scholars, recognising the virtual impossibility of being free from prejudice, to see what that next step should be.
Philip Russell is a former Archbishop of Cape Town, now living in Adelaide.