Theological dialogue towards ethical restoration in a homophobia-riddled society

Kelebogile T Resane

doi:10.4102/hts.v76i4.6030

Abstract

Homosexuality and homophobia in South Africa exist side by side. Homophobia is very common in communities and churches. Biblical texts, traditional cultures and politics partner to dismiss, discredit or disqualify homosexuality, but historians and anthropologists have evidence that homosexuality has been around within African cultures for many ages. Christians are divided into two camps. There are those who openly oppose gay rights with citations from biblical texts, claiming that homosexuality is forbidden by God. Others claim that this is poor biblical scholarship and a cultural bias read into the Bible. To these, the Bible says nothing about homosexuality as an innate dimension of personality; as a sexual orientation, it was not understood in biblical times. Despite a progressive constitution and affirming legislation, sexual and gender minorities experience discrimination in South Africa. The church expresses homophobic tendencies by excluding homosexual people from the sacraments, liturgy and ordination. Theology is invited to embark on a journey of dialogue with communities and homosexual people in order for it to be meaningful and relevant and contribute towards social, political and economic empowerment. Through dialogue with the homophobic community, theology can journey out of the continuous hermeneutic circle spanning biblical text, dogmatic traditions and the present, ever-changing historical context. This journey is taken, applying the ethics of faith, hope and love.Contribution: The article invites further research on theological grounds for exclusion of same-sex orientation people from ecclesial rights such as ordinances, liturgy, confessions and ordination.

Highlights

The intention of this article is to give neither the theological nor psychological reality of homosexuality, nor to argue for or against it
The church, community and homosexual people should together identify a doable step in research that will develop models of dialogue that are suited for different religious groups in dealing with homophobia
Homosexuality is an irreversible reality in South African societies

Summary

Introduction

The intention of this article is to give neither the theological nor psychological reality of homosexuality, nor to argue for or against it. The gospel presentation by colonialists labelled the cultural practices central to the social order of native persons as demonic and barbaric and the people who practised http://www.hts.org.za them as of lesser intelligence and incapable of apprehending reality correctly (Turpin 2017:409) This scenario and atmosphere create possibilities for dialogue, ‘for silence and secrecy are a shelter of power, anchoring its prohibitions, but they loosen its holds and provide for relatively obscure areas of tolerance’ (Foucault 1990:101). The church, community and homosexual people should together identify a doable step in research that will develop models of dialogue that are suited for different religious groups in dealing with homophobia. She has to refuse the boundaries between being righteous and outcast, male and female, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, heterosexual and homosexual

Conclusion

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