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Paperback
Publisher: Westminster John Knox
ISBN13: 9780664233976
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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In this revised and expanded best seller, evangelical theologian and former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Jack Rogers makes a biblical case for equal rights for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). Throughout history, he observes, Christianity has moved towards ever greater openness and inclusiveness. Today's church is led by many of those who were once excluded: people of color, women, and divorced and remarried people. He argues that when we interpret the Bible through the lens of Jesus' redemptive life and ministry, we see that the church is called to grant equal rights to all people. Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality describes Rogers' own change of mind and heart on the issue, charts the church's history of using biblical passages to oppress marginalized groups, argues for a Christ-centered reading of Scripture, debunks stereotypes about people who are LGBT, refutes the conventional wisdom about the texts that are often used against people who are LGBT, and presents ideas for how the church can heal itself and move forward again. A fascinating combination of personal narrative, theology, and church history, this book is essential reading for all concerned with the future of the church and the health of the nation.
The revised and expanded edition also includes:
* A new preface with 'stories from the road' as a result of Rogers's two year book tour in support of the first edition,
* Updates on recent developments within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),
* A new chapter that examines God's radical welcome for all who have faith as revealed in Scripture,
* A new appendix that maps the recent progress toward LGBT equality in major U.S. denominations, and
* A study guide for group or personal reflection.
"The book is masterful at describing how the church can learn from its past struggles in moving forward beyond the current divide. Rogers issues a prophetic and persuasive call for a more inclusive and more faithful church." —Jeffrey S. Siker, Professor & Chair, Department of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University
"A valuable book has gotten even better in this new revised edition. Rogers's new prefatory relating of particular stories is compelling, the appendix draws important information together from other denominations, and the new chapter 8 will be useful to many. I strongly recommend this book." —J. Philip Wogaman, Professor Emeritus of Christian ethics, Wesley Theological Seminary, and former senior minister at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C.
"Searching Scripture even more widely, sharing the progress towar d equality across a broad range of denominations and describing his encounters with so many devout LGBT folk, Jack shows us how we can biblically and truthfully include all our children in the gospel promise, 'Jesus loves me, this I know.'" —Rev. Janet Edwards, Parish Associate, Community of Reconciliation, Pittsburgh, PA
"Rogers is more than a professor. He is one of the great evangelists of our time. He has heard the good news of God's love for all people, and he has given his life to sharing that news with others. This is a book that saves lives." —Ted A. Smith, Assistant Professor of Ethics and Society, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Praise for the Revised and Expanded Edition
"Rogers offers both a rigorous yet accessible theological study and a model of spiritual discernment that is essential reading for anyone struggling to reconcile their faith with the needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community." —Harry Knox, Director, Religion and Faith Program, The Human Rights Campaign
"The compelling biblical and theological case Jack Rogers makes for the full acceptance of gay couples is simply impossible to ignore." —William Stacy Johnson, Princeton Theological Seminary, author of A Time to Embrace: Same-gender Relationships in Religion, Law, and Politics.
"Rogers's biblical scholarship, humane love, and openness to evidence helps us discern what Jesus would do, and what we, his people, should do." —David G. Myers, Hope College, co-author, What God Has Joined Together: The Christian Case for Gay Marriage.
"I'm overflowing with gratitude for this work. Jack Rogers continues 'to equip the saints for the work of ministry,' directing his gifts as prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher to building new understandings and relationships in the church." —Rev. Deborah A. Block, Pastor, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Milwaukee, WI
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| Learning from the Past, Moving to the Future |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Rogers, Jack. "Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality" Explode the Myths, Heal the Church", Westminster John Knox, 2009 (revised edition)
Learning from the Past, Moving to the Future
Amos Lassen
"The times they are a-changing" and it is about time that the church changes with them. Jack Rogers gives a prophetic call for a church that is more inclusive and more faithful. Equality is something that we must strive for and for religion to discount the homosexual population is a grave mistake. The Bible which in many cases is cited for the reason of GLBT exclusion is shown here to be erroneously misinterpreted and Rogers shows us how to get over that and realize the good in the entire population. His work is rigorous yet totally accessible and is a model of "spiritual discernment" that should be compulsory reading for everyone but even more so for those who consider themselves to be children of God. For those who are trying to reconcile their faith and are attempting to reconnect to religion, this is a way to do so.
This book can save lives and can save faith and face. We can no longer ignore the GLBT presence and this book shows how we can correct the errors of the past and make the faith community a safe haven for our gay brothers and sisters. Rogers is an evangelical theologian and here he makes a case for equal rights for members of the GLBT community. He shows that throughout history, Christianity has moved toward openness and exclusivity and that today's church in many cases is led by many who were once excluded--women, people of color, divorced and remarried people. When the New Testament is viewed through redemption and ministry, the old interpretations fall by the wayside and the church is called to grant equal rights to all people. He shows us how he changed his own mind and then looks at the Biblical passages which have been used to oppress marginalized groups and argues for a new reading of the scriptures by putting Christ at the center and thereby debunking the stereotypes about the gay community. He further reputes the traditional conventional wisdom about the texts--those interpretations that have been used against homosexuals and gives ideas for the healing and movement forward for the church.
The book combines theology, personal narrative and church history. Rogers meticulously researched his material yet it remains crystal clear and it is thoroughly Biblical. (It is, however, written from a Presbyterian perspective but that does not harm its ideas and I mean that positively). It is thoughtful and affirming as well as eye opening as it looks at man's interpretation of the sacred texts. Above all, it is fresh. It bothers me when people use the Bible as a way of trying to keep us out of religion and I am very much over all of the mistaken interpretations that have been given to the holy words. How is it possible that a book based on the idea of love could be so grossly misinterpreted? How is that people not only listen to but accept those misinterpretations?
The revised edition contains a new preface that contains stories that Rogers heard while promoting his book, updates that have occurred since the book originally came out, a new chapter that looks at God welcoming all who have faith and a new appendix that shows recent progress. There is also a wonderful study guide. If you read no other book about homosexuality and religion, make sure this is the one you do read.
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| Flawed exegesis and hermeneutics |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
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I have read widely on both sides of this debate and this book is both flawed and predictable. Rogers uses the tired argument that the texts in Scripture that condemn homosexual practice only refer to hedonistic and exploitative forms of homosexual practice--an argument that has been rejected by most biblical scholars. Additionally, Rogers leans heavily on analogical reasoning (comparing homosexual practice to women and slaves). This argument can be rejected for at least two reasons: 1) A trait that is 100% congenital and immutable (being a woman) is not a good analogy to compare to a trait that is primarily behavioral (homosexual practice); 2) While the Bible's attitude toward women and slaves has a counter-cultural trajectory toward more inclusion, the Bible's attitude toward homosexual practice has a counter-cultural trajectory toward less tolerance and more restriction.
Those who already agree with Rogers will like this book, but those who want to look at the debate critically will see the fatal flaws in his arguments.
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| Buy this compassionate book! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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The Rev. Jack Rodgers is not only a remarkably compassionate human being, but also a gifted writer.
This book is as remarkable as the author.
Buy it! Read it! Pass it on!!!
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| Bigoted scholarship |
| Customer Rating: 1 out of 5 |
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Rogers is a typical victime of his own countries' propaganda. At no point in this work was he objective or even care to acknowledge another possibility. He was out to justify homosexuality and he twisted every biblical passagae he could . It is one of the worst cases of bigoted scholarship I have ever read.
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| Homosexuality is not a sin |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Homosexuality is not a sin, and GLBT persons should have the same rights as any other church member and citizen including the right to marry. Dr. Jack Rogers' newly revised and expanded book, Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church, makes a compelling biblical case to support these beliefs. It is all the more so, coming from a conservative evangelical, who once condemned GLBT persons as sinful and supported their marginalization in the church.
The author clearly states a biblically valid viewpoint shared by a growing number of Christians not often heard in the media on homosexuality and same-sex marriage. I purchased several copies to send to my state and national representatives and senators embroiled in the same-sex marriage debate and GLBT equal rights. It is a readily accessible book, which allows those untrained in biblical and theological studies to understand why homosexuality is not a sin, and GLBT persons should be allowed to marry. The appendix contains an excellent study guide, which may serve as an outline for the uninitiated as well as an excellent resource for older youth and adult Christian education classes.
Although the book targets Presbyterians in particular and Protestant audiences generally, Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church offers non-Christians, too, a well-researched and easy-to-follow resource. Dr. Rogers' latest work serves the church and nation with a timely antidote to the fear, hysteria, and hate generated by some well-publicized and funded fundamentalists and evangelicals over the issues of homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
With gratitude,
Rev. Janet Arbesman, Ph.D.
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