Homosexuality: Reflections on African Political Theology and the Church Response
Homosexuality: Reflections on African Political Theology and the Church Response
Background
Globally, the church is sharply divided on how to deal with homosexuality. While the global South has been consistently lining up against homosexuality as amoral and naturally disorderly, the global North (except the orthodox traditionalist), remains largely behind freedom of choice. The homosexuals, both practicing and passive converts have unleashed scathing attack on the heterosexual side describing them as homophobic, heterosexist, snoopy, rigid and Biblicists. A gay rights advocacy group believes that,
Acts of discrimination are usually due to ignorance, lack of respect, intolerance, and fear to name but a few. They are often exhibited through acts of physical, emotional and mental verbal abuse
Conversely, the church in her commitment to preserve the purity of heterosexuality has not spared any moment to castigate these so called perverts. In a community of believers, one has been quoted saying, "all homosexuals should be shipped out of the country--they deserve to go to hell! This is just but a tip of an iceberg in the attempt to reflect the attitude in the battlefield.
Evidence suggests a rich historical and cross-cultural complexity to the way in which homosexuals are understood and judged. Africa has recently taken a leading role as a strong voice condemning same sex relationship. Both Uganda and Nigeria have actively led the pack by signing into law documents that stipulate gravely punitive measures to those found wanting in same-sex relationship. But what does this say about the church? It seems to me that most of our churches have had a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy concerning individual members while letting the current political discourse about gay marriage frame our public statements. A deeper interrogation of the conservative theological narrative suggests that the church could be stuck in a potentially dangerous stage of Mythic-Literalism
Background
Globally, the church is sharply divided on how to deal with homosexuality. While the global South has been consistently lining up against homosexuality as amoral and naturally disorderly, the global North (except the orthodox traditionalist), remains largely behind freedom of choice. The homosexuals, both practicing and passive converts have unleashed scathing attack on the heterosexual side describing them as homophobic, heterosexist, snoopy, rigid and Biblicists. A gay rights advocacy group believes that,
Acts of discrimination are usually due to ignorance, lack of respect, intolerance, and fear to name but a few. They are often exhibited through acts of physical, emotional and mental verbal abuse
Conversely, the church in her commitment to preserve the purity of heterosexuality has not spared any moment to castigate these so called perverts. In a community of believers, one has been quoted saying, "all homosexuals should be shipped out of the country--they deserve to go to hell! This is just but a tip of an iceberg in the attempt to reflect the attitude in the battlefield.
Evidence suggests a rich historical and cross-cultural complexity to the way in which homosexuals are understood and judged. Africa has recently taken a leading role as a strong voice condemning same sex relationship. Both Uganda and Nigeria have actively led the pack by signing into law documents that stipulate gravely punitive measures to those found wanting in same-sex relationship. But what does this say about the church? It seems to me that most of our churches have had a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy concerning individual members while letting the current political discourse about gay marriage frame our public statements. A deeper interrogation of the conservative theological narrative suggests that the church could be stuck in a potentially dangerous stage of Mythic-Literalism