Publisher's Synopsis
This is the only book on the market which offers a full, up to date and accessible presentation of all the arguments currently raging about the place of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people in the Christian churches. It is divided into two parts: the Defensive Testament and the Affirmative Testament.
The Defensive Testament examines the handful of verses from the Bible which have often been used to anathematise homosexuality and shows how the traditional condemnation is based on prejudiced interpretation rather than the biblical texts themselves.
The Affirmative Testament presents a popularised retelling of recent academic research by Biblical scholars which has uncovered strong homoerotic themes in both the Old and New Testaments, even including some aspects of the life and teaching of Jesus Christ himself.
This book constitutes a forthright challenge to the institutionalised homophobia of mainstream Christian churches. It reveals the bigotry behind the church's refusal to affirm and celebrate gay lives, identities and relationships. In so doing it gives LGBT people a powerful tool for asserting the right to full inclusion and equal treatment in all Christian congregations.
Ben Bradshaw MP said of this book:
As a Minister in the Government which intorudced civil partnerships in the United Kingdom, and as a committed Christian in the Anglican Communion, I believe it is important that Christians have the evidence and arguments to rebut the anti-gay approach of Biblical fundamentalists. Everybody involved in the debate over the place of gay people in the Church and in society generally should read this book. It is a faith- and life-affirming book for the LGBT community, it is a terrific read and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
