The Z Factor

Church in your pants?


First, nowhere in the Bible is there any record, no direct quote from Jesus Christ about homosexuality. Either condemning it or condoning it. Not one word. The other important thing to note is that nowhere in the Bible does it say anything about homosexuality as a sexual orientation. It only refers to certain homosexual acts.

And these acts/events/incidents are interpreted by different people at different points in history. But interpretations are always defined by time, place and societal context. And interpretations change with the afore-mentioned variables.

Just a couple of quick examples. There are portions in the Bible which view slavery and slave trade as a legitimate activity. Not anymore. Again, in the Old Testament, deliberately withdrawing before ejaculation was equated to abortion. Not anymore. The church has evolved with the times. Things that were taboo are norms nowadays.

At the heart of this debate is viewing homosexuality as a sexual orientation. You can no more deplore homosexuality than you can condemn left-handedness. It's not a disease. It's just the way some people are. That's it.

Homosexual affection can be as selfless as heterosexual affection. Gay persons desire and need deep and lasting relationships, just like heterosexuals do. They too are human after all. The Bible only mentions "Love your neighbour as you love thyself." It doesn't mention the neighbour's gender.

The Catholic Church in India has blindly taken this position because Vatican has decreed so. But that's where the problem lies. In India, the gay rights debate has little to do with whether God is accepting of homosexuals or not. Whether it is anti-Christian or not. It's about an archaic, asinine law called Section 377.

A colonial relic which we should've junked along with the British. Instead it continues to discriminate against and criminalise millions of gay and lesbian men and women. Why? Are they the children of a lesser God? Were they not also created by the same God, who created you and me? By opposing homosexuality, the Church is also uncannily supporting this ridiculous law.

It's the only issue on which the Church, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the VHP are on the same side. Not the kind of company, the Church would like to keep.

This is an appeal to the various denominations in India to come clean on this issue. Supporting homosexuals in their fight for civil rights is equivalent to supporting Dalits in their fight against the caste system. Christianity is pillared on the fundamental of social justice. Everyone is equal in the eyes of God. At its root, this problem is about equality. It's not as much about 'them', as it is about all of us.

Comments(11)Add Comment

Brilliant one indeed. A truth reveal by Zakka.
Ashish Chaurasia
July 22, 2009

Dear Jacob, I don't know much about religious principles but to put it straight God created everything in two aspects Day - Night, Sun - Moon, Good - Evil, Man - Woman. I think this would explain the best rest is all artificially created by us. I don't know how many of them think like you Jacob. But, I don't think gayism and lesbianism is by nature! god never made them like that it's all about their own pleasure. All
I could see is signs of demolition of actual human culture and god's creation. If we cannot respect it at least we try not to spoil it. Today our human nature has proved we are worse than animals.

July 07, 2009

Zakka, I appreciate you for your views, but I don't agree with you. Here is what I, a travelling Christian Communicator who puts his thoughts in, believe in, about this burning issue.

Jesus, God in human flesh and bone, talked a lot about sex and marriage. He went back to the story of Creation found in the book of Genesis in the Bible to teach what God's plan was for sex and marriage. "A man will leave his father's house and be joined to his wife," he taught. He did not teach, "A man will leave his father's house and be joined to another man." He did not teach, "A woman will leave her family and be joined with another woman." He said that some folks have been born as eunuchs. But never did He say, some people have been made homosexuals by God.

When Jesus did on the Cross, our sins were laid upon Him, the Bible teaches. He bore ours sins on His body. Our bodies should be punished for the sin of homosexuality and other sins. But Jesus says, "I love you. I will take your punishment." He was bound, battered, bruised, bloodied, broken, for your sin and mine.
July 06, 2009

Dear Zakka Jacob,
Please find the record from the Bible against Homosexuality. Christanity was against Homosexuality and will always be.

One of the most greatly debated scriptures regarding homosexuality is 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:



Please go through the following link.

There is a Freedom to choose, but freedom has always a limit.
Freedom may allow people to have sex with sibilings,own mother, but will people accept this act?

God created Man and Woman and the purpose of creation was to create next generation.If that was not the plan, he would have created only man or only woman. THNIK

Ginse Rajan
July 06, 2009

Zakka, I would like to know - why this long epistle about the church and it's reaction to the HC ruling?
I think the other religious organisations have been more vocal about this issue than the Christians/Church. I have never understood, why everyone makes a big deal about the Church's views on the matter, when apparently all religions are vehemently against homosexuality.

An article in the Indian Express, makes interesting reading -
Maybe it'll give you some sort of an insight on the church's thoughts on the law. How and what gave you the idea that the church supports the Sec 377 law is anybody's guess.

Conveniently... have the guts to name your article ‘Temple/Mosque in your pants'.
July 04, 2009

It's a red-letter day in the constitutional history of India. At last the law of this country has stood by what's right. And the people who are opposing this move need to know that the genetic structure of our body determine our sexuality and that homosexuality is often not a matter of choice but chance. So how can one consider homosexual social stigmas?

Hats off to the NGOs and different social activists who have been fighting for this basic social right. Congrats on the battle won.
July 02, 2009

Why are you only taking the Church view, is it condoned in other religions... Hinduism, get the Hindu Pundits to talk of it or for that matter the Sikhs/Jains/Buddhists...come on .. don't just pick on the Church...take on all the other religions and check which one says it is ok with homosexuality.

The Church does not discriminate against gays but it certainly does not say being gay is the way God set out men & women to be...that's it.

Don't confuse section 377 & the Church stand on homosexuality.

Go on Zak even we know the Devil can quote scriptures and there are more important issues at hand that we in India need to first tackle and which we would love the media to take up rather than just who is sleeping with whom and why! Grow up!

July 02, 2009

Don't confuse the Church & Article 377 - the Church does not say homosexuals are criminals, but it definitely does not say that that is the way God meant people to be.

Why are you only taking the Church view, is it condoned in Hinduism, get the Hindu Pundits to talk of it or for that matter the Sikhs/Jains/Buddhists...come on.. don't just pick on the Church...take on all the other religions and check which one says it is ok with homosexuality.

Zakka even the Devil can quote scriptures...we know it and bet You do too!
July 02, 2009

Awesom ...Great... please tell this to all fake fathers in church who speak against... Anyways ask them to read bible properly I feel that is needed for them...
July 02, 2009

Its great to read the wonderful observations made by the calm and composed Zakka.

The Catholic Church along with their Orthodox counterparts for centuries have maintained that homosexuality is a sin. Well as someone rightly said "Rome is slow". What made me laugh was the remark made by a Bishop of the Marthoma Church that homosexuality is against the tenets of Christianity. The Marthoma Church is a prominent Kerala Christian denomination which has its roots in the Anglican Church. It looks funny because the Anglican church has gay and lesbian bishops and clergy. Rowen Williams, the head of the Anglican church is a well-known supporter of LGBT rights and does not see sexual minorities as sinners. It's time for some soul searching for the Marthoma bishop to do some true soul searching.

Born and raised in a traditional Catholic family, I do not understand why the church has to condemn homosexuality. If it is on the grounds of reproduction, shouldn't it condemn celibacy too? And is it logical to think that this over populated planet is going to cease because a few men or women feel their love to someone of the same sex?

Today, Babu Joseph, Paul Thelakkat and Stephen Alathara were shown on media airing their views against the HC order. Did they quote even a single verse from the Bible uttered by Jesus Christ against homosexuality? The MPLF representative said on air that all religions condemn homosexuality. I think the media should also air opinions by the spiritual leaders of religions like Buddhism, Jainism, Bahai, Discordianism, etc. And please don't forget the Anglican church leaders or else the not so informed average Indian will continue thinking that Jesus was a homophobic.
Rubbiyn John
July 02, 2009

I agree with the article above... it is absolutely a personal choice to decide what are likes or dislikes... gay or lesbian sex doesn't affect anyone in surrounding till it is done in privacy... so go for it whosoever likes... I don't know till what day these old people... so-called older aged crowd (most of it, not all) and some conservative youths (like different donkey senas) also... will keep on deciding/interfering with other's lives... it's high time... message to all those conservative people... mind your own business... Don't bother others... Let the liberalisation flow in the world and in India as it is going... people will listen to your wishlist when they get the belief that you are able to manage yourself...
July 02, 2009

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