Bible and Homosexuality: An LGBTQ Positive View Elton Sherwin

June, a transgender listener, shares their pre-transition struggles and brings a unique perspective to Matthew 19:12.

For more on Matthew 19, and Jesus’s affirming words, see episodes: 6, 7, and 16.

Link to various translations of Matthew 19:12: https://www.biblegateway.com/verse/en/Matthew%2019:12

Link to the history of the transgender flag: https://www.pointofpride.org/blog/the-history-of-the-transgender-flag



Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠ 

Synthesized speech also using Descript

#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming

Is same sex attraction a mental illness?

UCLA Prof. Evelyn Hooker, whose research showed that gay men were just as mentally healthy as straight men. And how one cleverly designed experiment changed the views of many medical professionals and theologians.

Articles quoted:

Catholic Catechism: https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/568/

The Pope Speaks: https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-pope-chile-gay-20180520-story.html#:~:text=In%202013%2C%20Francis%20famously%20said,Catholic%20views%20on%20sexual%20orientation
and https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/20/pope-juan-carlos-cruz


Early DSMs: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4695779/#:~:text=Moor%20%5B44%5D;%20Tripp%20%5B45,as%20a%20%E2%80%9Csexual%20deviation.%E2%80%9D

APA on same-sex attraction: https://www.psychiatry.org/file%20library/about-apa/organization-documents-policies/policies/position-2013-homosexuality.pdf  (see second sentence)

Mainstream health organizations:https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/just-the-facts#:~:text=the%20idea%20that%20homosexuality


Finding Affirming, Sex-Positive Counselors Who Do NOT Believe in Conversion Therapy:

• https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/therapy-for-lgbt#organizations

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/california?category=gay (Find the LGBTQ Affirming pull-down or edit the URL and replace “California” with “Texas” or whatever state you’re in)

• https://www.choosingtherapy.com/finding-an-lgbtq-therapist/

• https://allintherapyclinic.com/how-to-find-an-lgbt-affirming-therapist/

• https://directory.choosingtherapy.com/

• https://lgbtqhealthcaredirectory.org/

On-line therapy:

• https://www.choosingtherapy.com/best-lgbtq-online-therapy-options/

• https://www.talkspace.com/online-therapy/lgbtqia

This episode challenges conventional messages on well-being and prompts listeners to question what truly contributes to their wellbeing and living “The Good Life.”

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠ 

Episode Cover art: Microsoft Copilot

#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming

Pastor Danielle Parrish explores the profound biblical narrative of lost sheep, coins, and sons, emphasizing God's inclusive love.

She challenges traditional interpretations by asserting the equal importance of women in Jesus' teachings, presenting a powerful message of inclusivity and unconditional love.

Drawing from her deep understanding of first-century Jewish cultural, she takes you on a journey through Luke 15, highlighting the interconnectedness of lost sheep, lost coins, and a prodigal son, viewing these parables as one continuous narrative that invites everyone to God's table of celebration.

Danielle Parrish is the lead pastor of Spark Church, in Palo Alto, California: www.spark.church

Scriptures quoted:
• Luke 15
• Ephesians 3:14-19
• Galatians 3:28

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠



#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming

#ProdigalSon

#Inclusive

The podcast reflects on Pastor Steve Reed's Christmas letter, lamenting the changes in white evangelicalism and criticizing its failure to align with Jesus' teachings.

Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠Elton Sherwin⁠⁠

Audio edited and enhanced with: ⁠⁠Descript Studio Sound ⁠⁠ 

Synthesized speech using: ⁠⁠ https://maestra.ai/

Episode cover art generated by https://pixlr.com
AI prompt: “a patriotic American Jesus”

#Bible

#Christian

#Affirming

#Borderwall

#Refugees

#Immigrantion

We discuss the deeply flawed practice of trying to change someone's sexual orientation.

Related Episodes:

8. Paul, Gay Marriage and Gender Pronouns

11. Why Young Christians Are Leaving the Church and Some Are Committing Suicide

12. The Problems with Purity

13. When Is Sex Between Two Unmarried People God Honoring? (Seven rules for sex between unmarried people)

21. A Trans Christian's Quest for Authenticity

Movies Referenced:

Boy Erased: https://www.netflix.com/title/80240538


Review quoted from The Jesuit Post: https://thejesuitpost.org/2018/11/boy-erased-conversion-therapy-and-the-catholic-church/

Pray Away: https://www.netflix.com/title/81040370


Review quoted from Conscience Magazine: https://www.catholicsforchoice.org/resource-library/netflixs-pray-away-exposes-conversion-therapy-fraud/

Articles and Websites Quoted:


The American Psychological Association (APA): https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/just-the-facts
The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/us/group-that-promoted-curing-gays-ceases-operations.html
Time magazine: https://time.com/3065495/9-ex-leaders-of-the-gay-conversion-therapy-movement-apologize/
The AMA calls for ban: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/american-medical-association-backs-nationwide-conversion-therapy-ban-n1088731

Statistics quoted:


Alan Chambers quote, “99.9% have not experienced a change in their orientation” from: https://wthrockmorton.com/2012/01/09/alan-chambers-99-9-have-not-experienced-a-change-in-their-orientation/ or https://www.npr.org/2013/06/20/193965227/group-that-claimed-to-cure-gays-disbands-leader-apologizes
Post conversion therapy suicide ideation rate of 28% from Statista https://www.statista.com/statistics/1053024/lgbtq-youth-in-us-attempted-suicide-conversion-therapy-experience/
Trans children exposed to conversion therapy at a young age are four times more likely to report lifetime suicide attempts: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/transgender-conversion-therapy-associated-severe-psychological-distress-n1052416

Finding Affirming, Sex-Positive Counselors Who Do NOT Believe in Conversion Therapy:


https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/therapy-for-lgbt#organizations
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/california?category=gay (Find the LGBTQ Affirming pull-down or edit the URL and replace “California” with “Texas” or whatever state you’re in)
https://www.choosingtherapy.com/finding-an-lgbtq-therapist/
https://allintherapyclinic.com/how-to-find-an-lgbt-affirming-therapist/
https://directory.choosingtherapy.com/
https://lgbtqhealthcaredirectory.org/

On-line therapy:


https://www.choosingtherapy.com/best-lgbtq-online-therapy-options/
https://www.talkspace.com/online-therapy/lgbtqia

Benefits of Church Attendance for Adults and Children:


https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/regularly-attending-religious-services-associated-with-lower-risk-of-deaths-of-despair/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11302358/
https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/49/6/2030/5892419

Additional References and Resources


https://www.huffpost.com/entry/queer-youth-religion-suicide-study_n_5ad4f7b3e4b077c89ceb9774
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ending-conversion-therapy/
https://glaad.org/conversiontherapy/
https://www.hrc.org/resources/the-lies-and-dangers-of-reparative-therapy
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/faith-leaders-lgbtq-conversion-therapy-ban_n_5fda6074c5b650b99ad93787
https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/conversion-therapy-pray-away/
https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-56496423
https://web.archive.org/web/20230405193059/https://exodusinternational.org/2013/06/i-am-sorry/
https://youtu.be/Ea10c6VXVx8?si=VebC4DTN9m37bkwD&t=197
https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Policy_Statements/2018/Conversion_Therapy.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_therapy

All quotes edited for clarity and brevity, and re