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Jesus Christ, Homosexuality and Masculinity in African Christianity: Reading Luke 10:1-12
In: ExchangeAbstract
Since 1995, homosexuality has been part and parcel of public discourses in Zimbabwe. The Bible is a dominant resource, so that the Sodom narrative (Gen. 19) has become synonymous with homosexual condemnation. Interestingly, Jesus has been absent in the debate; justified by the claim that Jesus had not spoken on the subject. However, contrary to this claim, a socio-literary analysis of Luke 10: 1-12 demonstrates that Jesus may have fundamentally differed with this popular interpretation of Genesis 19. A textual analysis of Luke 10: 1-12 shows Jesus undermining dominant masculinities by de-masculinizing his followers in ways that belittle the gulf between masculinity and femininity. This article argues that to use the categories of masculinity and femininity to condemn same-sex relationships is no longer sustainable. Rather, this text can be a basis for the construction of ‘redemptive masculinities’ in Christian communities, which may provide a new platform for understanding and accepting homosexuality.
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2
Noah Pashapa, ‘Even the Bible Condemns Homosexuality,’ The Sunday Mail, 26 April 1998.
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4
Moises Mayordomo Marin, ‘Construction of Masculinity in Antiquity and Early Christianity’, Lectio Difficilior: European Electronic Journal for Feminist Exegesis 2 (2006), 2, website Lectio Difficilior, http://www.lectio.unibe.ch/06_2/marin_construction.htm, accessed 26 June 2012.
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6
Masiiwa Ragies Gunda, ‘Gender Prejudice in the Use of Biblical Texts Against Same-Sex Relationships in Zimbabwe’, Journal of Gender and Religion in Africa 17/2 (2011), 93-108 at 102.
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24
C. Murefu, ‘Homosexuals: Pros and Cons, God’s Natural Order is Being Violated’, The Sunday Mail, 5 February 1995. Pastor Murefu has been the Principal of Living Waters Bible College, which trains Apostolic Faith Mission (afm) pastors and is one of the senior pastors in the afm.
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25
L.V. Weeks, ‘Homosexuality a Sin in God’s Eyes’, The Daily Gazette, 13 March 1993.
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35
Tabana Shoko, ‘ “Worse than dogs and pigs?” Attitudes Toward Homosexual Practice in Zimbabwe’ Journal of Homosexuality 57/5 (2010), 634–649 at 638.
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36
Adriaan S. van Klinken, ‘The Homosexual as the Antithesis of “Biblical Manhood”? Heteronormativity and Masculinity Politics in Zambian Pentecostal Sermons’, Journal of Gender and Religion in Africa 17/2 (2011), 126-142 at 129.
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39
Musa W. Dube, “Who do You Say that I Am?”, Feminist Theology 15/3 (2007), 346-367.
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45
R.F. Talbott, ‘Nazareth’s Rebellious Son: Deviance and Downward Mobility in the Galilean Jesus Movement’, Biblical Theology Bulletin: A Journal of Bible and Theology 38 (2008), 99-113.
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59
Sasha Gear, ‘Behind the Bars of Masculinity: Male Rape and Homophobia in and about South African Men’s Prisons’, Sexualities 10/2 (2007), 209-227.
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Jesus Christ, Homosexuality and Masculinity in African Christianity: Reading Luke 10:1-12
In: ExchangeAbstract
Since 1995, homosexuality has been part and parcel of public discourses in Zimbabwe. The Bible is a dominant resource, so that the Sodom narrative (Gen. 19) has become synonymous with homosexual condemnation. Interestingly, Jesus has been absent in the debate; justified by the claim that Jesus had not spoken on the subject. However, contrary to this claim, a socio-literary analysis of Luke 10: 1-12 demonstrates that Jesus may have fundamentally differed with this popular interpretation of Genesis 19. A textual analysis of Luke 10: 1-12 shows Jesus undermining dominant masculinities by de-masculinizing his followers in ways that belittle the gulf between masculinity and femininity. This article argues that to use the categories of masculinity and femininity to condemn same-sex relationships is no longer sustainable. Rather, this text can be a basis for the construction of ‘redemptive masculinities’ in Christian communities, which may provide a new platform for understanding and accepting homosexuality.
| All Time | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 357 | 49 | 4 |
| Full Text Views | 230 | 6 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 68 | 20 | 0 |