Explor - Homosexuality and the Christian, Fall 1975
Explor is a theological journal published by Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. This issue from 1975 delves deeply into the intersection of Christian theology, scripture, history, and pastoral care in relation to homosexuality. This work represents an early effort within Christian academia to engage thoughtfully and critically with the topic of homosexuality, examining it through various disciplinary lenses, including biblical exegesis, historical context, behavioral sciences, and theology. The journal includes contributions from several scholars, each addressing distinct aspects of the issue. A particularly striking theme is the journal's call for nuanced and compassionate pastoral care. It challenges simplistic labels and encourages a deeper understanding of human sexuality as part of the broader Christian call to love and community. The document also critiques historical Christian teachings that have often reduced sexuality to procreation or condemned it as inherently sinful. Through systematic theological reflection, it proposes a more holistic understanding of human sexuality, rooted in the belief that it is a gift of God meant to foster intimacy and community. This publication is evidence of the intellectual and theological currents of the mid-1970s within the United Methodist Church and broader Protestant academia. It captures an era when churches and seminaries began to grapple more publicly and rigorously with issues of human sexuality, influenced by the broader cultural movements for civil rights and LGBTQ+ equality. This resource serves as a critical lens into how theological scholarship engaged with one of the most polarizing and evolving issues within modern Christianity.
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
This document is made available for research purposes through the General Commission on Archives & History, The United Methodist Church.