For the Bible Tells Me So
Just finished watching For the Bible Tells Me So, a documentary that “examine[s] the ways in which conservative Christian groups have used — and sometimes exploited — holy Scripture to deny basic human rights to gays and lesbians around the world.” (Netflix summary)
There’s a quote at the end of the movie that sums it up fairly well:
I can’t for the life of me, imagine that god would say:
I will punish you because you are black, you should have been white.
I will punish you because you are a woman, you should have been a man.
I will punish you because you are a homosexual, you should have been heterosexual.
I can’t for the life of me believe that is how God sees things.
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
While the documentary was biased against those that condemn homosexuality, it presented both sides of the story frequently enough that even those opposed to homosexuality could gain something from its viewing. My review continues below…
Perhaps the most interesting points in the documentary highlight the scripture itself and call into question the interpretation of frequently called on verses. Leviticus is often referred to when the question of homosexuality and religion is brought up.
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Leviticus 18:22
Seems fairly cut and dry, right? Don’t get into bed with another man like you would a woman. It’s immoral. The film argues (by calling on various biblical scholars) that “abomination” as translated from the time in which the Bible was written doesn’t necessarily translate to what we know as “abomination” today. In contrast, “abomination” was used to describe the disobedience or breaking of traditional rules set forth by the religious institutions of the time. Thus, homosexuality isn’t an “abomination” in the sense of an immoral act, but a breaking of the rules of the time, created to forbid any wasted “seed”. Procreation was essential, and wasting seed your seed was an abomination. The film contains many of these examples (six key verses are frequently used to “quote” the bible as saying homosexuality is a sin) but I’ll leave you to hear them for yourself.
All in all For the Bible Tells Me So was definitely a worthwhile viewing whether you’re opposed to or in support of homosexuality in America.
My Rating: 9/10