Anyone have info on Robert A. J. Gagnon?

[NathanATX]

Robert A. J. Gagnon has written some books supporting a biblical condemnation of homosexuality... Trying to find info on him.

[keltic63]

He is a professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. A friend of mine has had classes with him.

[keltic63]

http://www.pts.edu/gagnonr.html

[NathanATX]

He is being quoted A LOT lately by the far right... does anyone know of existing counter positions?

[keltic63]

http://cstone.tv/pages/show_page.asp?587

about the book that gagnon co-authored with Dan Via

[Daniel]

See the man himself as Keltic63 has noted:

http://www.robgagnon.net/PowellRespSec123.htm

I read the article cited above and came away with several impressions. First of which is this: the guy is fighting for territory within his own denomination regarding gay people. He takes great- and convoluted pains- to deconstruct another writer's attempts to reconcile personal experience with bibilcal issues. And that guy isn't on 'our side' either. A turf war- you might say.

Also. He comes down on the side of being a 'hate the sin and love the sinner' person. He also holds gay people to a high standard (gay men should be held made to be monogomous for 20 years before being allowed to call themselves joined together) and asserts that straight persons (as if they really do) have a moral imperative in this matter and likens any relationship between those of the same sex as being akin to adultery.

He gives no ground at all. Apparently there isn't even such a thing as sexual orientation. For him, there are only the correct sex acts- and they must be commited by the heterosexual faithful.

I could go on and on (and he does- believe me).

In sum: This man is truly blind to the issues facing gay christians and gay people themselves. His is the world of biblical inerrancy and truth with a capital T.

Counter Positions?

I hope the biblical scholars among us will have more to say on this. But from what I encountered today, it will be hard slogging. I am left with the impression that the man is all in his head on these issues and has a great deal of personal pride (and a flourishing career) invested in his current line of thought. Only a catastrophic event- like having a gay son- would shake that tree and get to the heart of the matter.

I wouldn't expect any apples to fall from this tree any time soon.

That would be a miracle.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by Daniel

See the man himself as Keltic63 has noted:

http://www.robgagnon.net/PowellRespSec123.htm

I read the article cited above and came away with several impressions. First of which is this: the guy is fighting for territory within his own denomination regarding gay people. He takes great- and convoluted pains- to deconstruct another writer's attempts to reconcile personal experience with bibilcal issues. And that guy isn't on 'our side' either. A turf war- you might say.

Also. He comes down on the side of being a 'hate the sin and love the sinner' person. He also holds gay people to a high standard (gay men should be held made to be monogomous for 20 years before being allowed to call themselves joined together) and asserts that straight persons (as if they really do) have a moral imperative in this matter and likens any relationship between those of the same sex as being akin to adultery.

He gives no ground at all. Apparently there isn't even such a thing as sexual orientation. For him, there are only the correct sex acts- and they must be commited by the heterosexual faithful.

I could go on and on (and he does- believe me).

In sum: This man is truly blind to the issues facing gay christians and gay people themselves. His is the world of biblical inerrancy and truth with a capital T.

Counter Positions?

I hope the biblical scholars among us will have more to say on this. But from what I encountered today, it will be hard slogging. I am left with the impression that the man is all in his head on these issues and has a great deal of personal pride (and a flourishing career) invested in his current line of thought. Only a catastrophic event- like having a gay son- would shake that tree and get to the heart of the matter.

I wouldn't expect any apples to fall from this tree any time soon.

That would be a miracle.

I might add that my friend who took his class, stated that he did not allow discussion on this issue. He made his statements in his lecture and refused questions about it.