Christianity
Q&A for committed Christians, experts in Christianity and those interested in learning more
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According to Christianity is being a part of the LGBTQ+ wrong
Can you be a Christian while also being a part of the lgbtq+ community or supporting the community.
Can you be a Christian while also being a part of the lgbtq+ community or supporting the community.
Ellis
(27 rep)
Feb 21, 2025, 03:16 PM
• Last activity: Feb 21, 2025, 04:03 PM
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How do liberal Protestants reconcile support for transgenderism with scripture?
The Bible does not strike me as welcoming to transgenderism: > The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God. -- [Deuteronomy 22:5][1] And it is not hard to find knowledgeable Christia...
The Bible does not strike me as welcoming to transgenderism:
> The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God. -- Deuteronomy 22:5
And it is not hard to find knowledgeable Christian leaders (of various denominations) denouncing transgenderism via a web search. Incompatibility between transgenderism and Christianity seems like the norm. AthanasiusOfAlex , 2015, writes "transgenderism is deeply problematic" explaining that:
- God created man and women (Genesis 1:27 ), and that
- "[a person's] body is just as much a part of his being as his soul".
However, Wikipedia explains that (liberal) Protestantism accepts transgender people:
> Within mainline, or more specifically liberal, Protestantism, several denominations or regional bodies within denominations have grown increasingly accepting and supportive of transgender members and rights.
This leads me to my question:
**Question**: How does liberal Protestantism reconcile supporting transgenderism with what the Bible teaches?
I'm not well-informed about Christian denominations, so I don't know precisely which Protestant subset has a "transgenderism is okay" stance. I'm interested in how they come to the conclusion that "transgenderism is okay" while others do not.
Rebecca J. Stones
(391 rep)
Apr 25, 2017, 11:06 AM
• Last activity: Feb 9, 2025, 01:07 AM
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How do liberal Protestants translate the word ‘ἀρσενοκοίτης’ in 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10?
For the purpose of this question, assume a liberal Protestant perspective which does *not* consider homosexuality to be inherently sinful. 1 Corinthians 6:9: > Ἢ (Or) οὐκ (not) οἴδατε (do you know) ὅτι (that) ἄδικοι (the unrighteous) θεοῦ (of God) βασιλείαν (kingdom) οὐ (not) κληρονομήσουσιν (will i...
For the purpose of this question, assume a liberal Protestant perspective which does *not* consider homosexuality to be inherently sinful.
1 Corinthians 6:9:
> Ἢ (Or) οὐκ (not) οἴδατε (do you know) ὅτι (that) ἄδικοι (the unrighteous) θεοῦ (of God) βασιλείαν (kingdom) οὐ (not) κληρονομήσουσιν (will inherit)? Μὴ (Do not) πλανᾶσθε (be deceived): οὔτε (neither) πόρνοι (the sexually immoral) οὔτε (nor) εἰδωλολάτραι (idolaters) οὔτε (nor) μοιχοὶ (adulterers) οὔτε (nor) μαλακοὶ (effeminate/passive partners in sexual immorality) οὔτε (nor) **ἀρσενοκοῖται** (???).
> Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor **men who have sex with men**. (NIV)
1 Timothy 1:10:
> πόρνοις (for the sexually immoral), **ἀρσενοκοίταις** (???), ἀνδραποδισταῖς (for slave traders), ψεύσταις (for liars), ἐπιόρκοις (for perjurers), καὶ (and) εἴ (if) τι (anything) ἕτερον (else) τῇ (to the) ὑγιαινούσῃ (sound) διδασκαλίᾳ (teaching) ἀντίκειται (is opposed).
> For the sexually immoral, for **those practicing homosexuality**, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine. (NIV)
---
"ἀρσενοκοίτης" can literally be translated as "male-bedders", i.e. people practicing male homosexuality. However, it would be the [etymological fallacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymological_fallacy) to assume this meaning based on no other evidence.
My question is:
For liberal Protestants who do not consider the practice of homosexuality to be a sin according to God, how is the word "ἀρσενοκοίτης" understood and/or translated into English?
Please provide a reference to either the teachings of a mainstream church or a widely accepted apologist.
---
I will accept answers from:
* The perspective of people who do not view Paul as being the word of God and/or who disregard Paul's writing for any other reason.
* The perspsective of people who accept Paul as being the divinely inspired word of God but who do not interpret these passages as saying that homosexuality is always a sin.
I will not accept answers from the perspsective of people who believe homosexuality is inherently sinful -- that is not the purpose of this question.
I am specifically **not** asking whether, for example, gay sex outside of marriage is a sin, or whether adultery is a sin -- that is out of scope for this question.
I *will* accept answers along the lines of "ἀρσενοκοίτης means homosexuality but in the specific context of ...".
מרים
(139 rep)
Dec 19, 2024, 08:14 PM
• Last activity: Dec 19, 2024, 10:39 PM
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Without Hell, from what does Jesus save?
This question is about the liberal versions of Christianity, the versions which don’t have a conception of Hell. Put simply, without Hell, just what exactly is Jesus saving me from? Even the most liberal Christians say that sin is inescapable. So Jesus cannot be saving me from sin. Without Hell, he...
This question is about the liberal versions of Christianity, the versions which don’t have a conception of Hell. Put simply, without Hell, just what exactly is Jesus saving me from?
Even the most liberal Christians say that sin is inescapable. So Jesus cannot be saving me from sin. Without Hell, he can’t be saving me from God either. Or the Devil.
I really don’t see how a liberal Jesus could be anyone’s personal saviour.
---
[Question inspired by Nathaniel in the comments at Slacktivist](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/slacktivist/2015/07/08/i-cant-escape-the-pina-colada-song/) .
TRiG
(4617 rep)
Jul 9, 2015, 06:36 PM
• Last activity: Jun 22, 2024, 11:43 AM
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Has any liberal theologian commented on the "Gay" movement explicitly becoming the "Pride movement?"
When I was younger it was quite common to hear that the crimes of Sodom had nothing to do with gayness, but was about pride, and they would quote Ezekiel 16:49. > Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of > bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters,...
When I was younger it was quite common to hear that the crimes of Sodom had nothing to do with gayness, but was about pride, and they would quote Ezekiel 16:49.
> Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of
> bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters,
> neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
Has any liberal theologian commented on that verse and the change, for example, of "gay pride" month becoming simply "pride" month?
Kyle Johansen
(433 rep)
Jun 3, 2022, 09:38 PM
• Last activity: Jun 17, 2022, 10:52 PM
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What is the Reformed Protestant view of Progressive Christianity?
My question has been inspired by this question: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/90845/can-a-christian-be-a-conservative ***It led me to investigate ‘Progressive Christianity’ which is a "post-liberal movement" within Christianity*** "that seeks to reform the faith via the insights o...
My question has been inspired by this question: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/90845/can-a-christian-be-a-conservative
***It led me to investigate ‘Progressive Christianity’ which is a "post-liberal movement" within Christianity*** "that seeks to reform the faith via the insights of post-modernism and a reclaiming of the truth beyond the verifiable historicity and factuality of the passages in the Bible by affirming the truths within the stories that may not have actually happened."
> Progressive Christianity draws influence from multiple theological streams, including evangelicalism, liberalism, neo-orthodoxy, pragmatism, postmodernism, Progressive Reconstructionism, and liberation theology. The concerns of feminism are also a major influence on the movement, as expressed in feminist and womanist theologies. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Christianity
This link https://progressivechristianity.org/ outlines the eight fundamental beliefs of Progressive Christianity. Although Jesus is mentioned twice, neither God, the Bible, sin or salvation get a look in. Can anyone shed more light on the theology behind this movement? I am particularly interested in the Reformed Protestant perspective, but would welcome any information that explains their Christian position and whether they are a Christian denomination.
I have no interest in any form of politics and whether Christians vote Conservative, Liberal or Socialist. ***My interest is in the theology behind this relatively modern movement, Progressive Christianity.***
My question is what is the Reformed Protestant view of Progressive Christianity?
Lesley
(34714 rep)
Apr 30, 2022, 03:12 PM
• Last activity: May 4, 2022, 08:19 PM
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What is queer theology's view on premarital sex?
Premarital sex is a sin according to the Bible (1 Corinthians 7:9; Hebrews 13:4). I wonder how [queer theology churches](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_theology) such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) understand this topic. Do they believe extramarital sex is a sin?
Premarital sex is a sin according to the Bible (1 Corinthians 7:9; Hebrews 13:4). I wonder how [queer theology churches](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer_theology) such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) understand this topic. Do they believe extramarital sex is a sin?
justapilgrim
(159 rep)
Oct 11, 2021, 08:45 PM
• Last activity: Oct 13, 2021, 05:18 AM
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What's is the case for premarital sex being an instance of πορνεία (porneia)?
*This question is pretty much a spinoff of https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/694/what-does-the-bible-say-about-sex-before-marriage-premarital-sex because its current answer depends on the assumption that premarital sex is πορνεία (commonly translated "fornication"). Not all agree, so...
*This question is pretty much a spinoff of https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/694/what-does-the-bible-say-about-sex-before-marriage-premarital-sex because its current answer depends on the assumption that premarital sex is πορνεία (commonly translated "fornication"). Not all agree, so I think this assumption is better explicitly questioned.*
I've heard some liberal Christians dispute the definition of the Greek word *πορνεία* (porneia), **claiming it doesn't mean premarital sex at all**. (An example of such an argument )
### **What's is the case for premarital sex being an instance of πορνεία (porneia)?**
---
One of the major difficulties here is that just a dictionary definition doesn't cut it, because it's difficult to really know what the Greek word really meant 2000 years ago. The answer probably needs to either be a broad look at the Bible passages using the word, or an academic study on the word's meaning.
**Additional information 2011-09-21:** The following articles seem interesting, but I can't access the fulltexts. It seems from the publicly-available bits that Dr. Malina might actually have been the first to dispute the meaning of *porneia*.
- Malina, B. *Does porneia mean fornication?* Novum Testamentum, 1972.
- Jensen, J. *Does porneia Mean Fornication? A Critique of Bruce Malina.* Novum Testamentum, 1978.
StackExchange saddens dancek
(17037 rep)
Aug 27, 2011, 12:52 AM
• Last activity: Dec 4, 2020, 06:04 AM
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What is the most sexually liberal church denomination?
What is the most sexually liberal church denomination? Just a random question because of the conflict between liberal and less liberal churches world wide.
What is the most sexually liberal church denomination?
Just a random question because of the conflict between liberal and less liberal churches world wide.
JustAsking
(11 rep)
Jul 5, 2019, 05:11 AM
• Last activity: Jul 5, 2019, 10:28 PM
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Is there a difference between Liberal, Progressive, and Emergent Christianity?
In many evangelical circles I hear people use the terms liberal, progressive and emergent quite a bit, especially recently. Do these all refer to the same categorization of groups or of thought? Or do these have a more precise meaning?
In many evangelical circles I hear people use the terms liberal, progressive and emergent quite a bit, especially recently.
Do these all refer to the same categorization of groups or of thought? Or do these have a more precise meaning?
aceinthehole
(10752 rep)
Aug 23, 2011, 09:47 PM
• Last activity: Nov 10, 2017, 11:08 PM
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Meaning of the Parable of the Talents
I’m wondering what people think of this interpretation of sermon of the [Parable of the Fearful Investor](http://docplayer.net/36377175-As-well-as-for-every-other-good-idea-in-this-sermon-louisville-westminster-john-knox-press-1994-152.html). I’ll provide this one example, but I have others if you'd...
I’m wondering what people think of this interpretation of sermon of the [Parable of the Fearful Investor](http://docplayer.net/36377175-As-well-as-for-every-other-good-idea-in-this-sermon-louisville-westminster-john-knox-press-1994-152.html) .
I’ll provide this one example, but I have others if you'd like. The interpretation I usually see elsewhere, including with this forum, is that it is about investing to get something back, using money as a metaphor for your gifts. This interpretation gets to be a problem, and most preachers will tell you this, when the 3rd servant says the master is “hard” and reaped where didn’t sow. The parable doesn’t refute that and it has the master saying he should have taken interest on the money, which would be against Jewish law, so I just can’t map the master on to God.
As the link suggests, “Read the parable like someone living on a lake in Nicaragua or one of the “little ones” who followed Jesus around…”. Then, the lesson comes from the 3rd servant. He doesn’t play the capitalist’s game of exploitation and profit for profit’s sake. Yes, he’s cast out, but it’s cast away from the world that Jesus rejects in the rest of the gospels.
John-Lausten
(31 rep)
Oct 21, 2017, 01:01 PM
• Last activity: Oct 22, 2017, 03:22 AM
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Is there a need for Christians to believe in Christianity at all, if they don't believe in Resurrection and Salvation through Christ alone?
My question is directed to professing Christians who don't believe in any of the key doctrines held by evangelical churches, such as the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection, and Jesus Christ as the only path to salvation. If you believe in the evangelical doctrine of salvation, this question isn't for yo...
My question is directed to professing Christians who don't believe in any of the key doctrines held by evangelical churches, such as the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection, and Jesus Christ as the only path to salvation. If you believe in the evangelical doctrine of salvation, this question isn't for you.
I come from an evangelical background, which taught me to believe in the Virgin Birth, the Resurrection, and that Jesus is the only path to salvation. I understand that there are some Christians who don't believe in these things, which I think are the pillars and the cornerstone of Christianity, without which Christianity has no reason to exist. These Christians are commonly identified as "liberal Christians." You can read more about the view of this group of Christians here , and read a conservative theologian's response to their views here .
Back to my main question:
If one doesn't believe that Jesus is the only path to salvation, what is the "selling point" of Christianity? Why should people bother to become Christians at all? It would be equally okay to be an atheist, agnostic, or Buddhist who believes in Jesus as a great teacher and religion leader, but nothing more.
By the same token, as I see it, if liberal Christians think that Bible is just another book, written and compiled by mere humans with human errors in it, then it is no longer infallible, and there is no reason to pay attention to Biblical teachings on any subject. So what is the difference between liberal Christians and non-Christians? Non-Christians can draw inspiration from the Bible in the same way as these Christians do. They believe in exactly the same thing!
I am curious: On what basis do liberal Christians identify themselves as Christians?
Graviton
(941 rep)
Feb 25, 2014, 01:58 AM
• Last activity: Aug 31, 2015, 12:53 AM
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