Five Uneasy Pieces: Essays on Scripture and Sexuality

by Michael Kirby

The uneasy pieces of this book are well-written, challenging and stimulating. They come from the pen of Australian biblical scholars within the Anglican communion, who are skilled in both exegesis and hermeneutical theory. Each essay addresses the question of homosexuality in the Bible, looking at passages in the Old Testament and the New Testament which are often used as a basis for rejecting homosexuality in Christian ethics. Each essays argues, on the contrary, that there is no biblical warrant for condemning either a homosexual orientation or a faithful and committed homosexual relationship. The book, as a whole, makes it crystal clear that both sides of the debate take seriously the Bible as the inspired word of God, and both are seeking to discern the Scriptures in order to hear Gods voice speaking to us today.

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 19, 2011

About the author

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Reviews

[Avril · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short book, less than 100 pages, that addresses the 'clobber texts', those parts of the Bible that appear to condemn homosexuality, or anal sex, or something like that.

Written by five Australian Anglicans, there isn't a great deal that is new in here (although I don't think I've previously come across the suggestion that the sin of Sodom was man seeking to have sexual intercourse with divine beings) but it's still a very worthwhile read for the seriousness with which the authors address the biblical text and the clarity with which they explain their interpretive strategies.

As a minister in the Uniting Church I'm delighted with and grateful for this work by my ecumenical siblings. This book won't convince those who are determined that homosexuality is evil, sinful, unnatural, and must be condemned, but I imagine that it would be extremely helpful for the many people who experience their gay and lesbian friends and relations as good people, or identify as GBLT themselves, and puzzle as to how their lives can be reconciled with the Bible.

Well done, Megan Warner, Richard Treloar, Peta Sherlock, Alan Cadwallader and Gregory C Jenks, and thank you.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps I was more positively disposed to the ideas in this book because they are consistent with my own beliefs. My beliefs, however, are based more on an intuitive response developed through my informal Christian education and my secular academic education, together with my own friendships with people of diverse sexual preferences. What I appreciated was that the essays widened my understanding not only of the content of the relevant verses, but also of how to read the Bible critically myself. Each essay challenged the reader to think and come to their own (informed) conclusion, and that must surely be a step in the right direction.

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In some ways I didn't find the theology in this book exactly ground-breaking (but scarily enough some people might). It was careful, detailed, nuanced and all in all provided powerful (though not always accessible) argument for not jumping to the conclusion that the bible bans homosexuality.

The usual pseudo-biblical arguments against homosexuality are examined, the oft-quoted passages exegeted with close attention to the original greek as well as the history of the text since.

I'll be keen to see if the next book in the series adds to or develops the thinking of the first. If you still think God "hates gays" then you should read this book very carefully.

[Anthony VENN-BROWN OAM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful for those in traditional and more liberal christian backgrounds who want understanding about sexual orientation and how that relates to faith and scripture. For those from fundamentalist/more bible than tradition based backgrounds you might find this lacking. But don't let my comment turn you off in your quest for knowledge and understanding. The enemy is not individuals, churches, 'ex-gay' organisations or political parties; the enemy is ignorance. We overcome by putting our energies into changing the latter not attacking the former.