Understanding and Using the Bible
Summary
To say the Bible condemns lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people, and that such condemnation should be followed today, is to oversimplify a complex issue. Parts of the Bible do appear superficially to condemn us but, when compared with other, equally problematic and often sexist passages, it is clear that the phrase, "the Bible says..." is not a sufficient argument for anything.
When dealing with the Bible we need to be aware of what it says about itself - especially in the story of Sodom and also to see how it has been used over the ages. We need to develop, what feminist theologians call, 'an interpretation of suspicion' which questions how texts either affirm or condemn women, lesbians, gays and other minorities.
