The bible in the gay-debate in South Africa : towards an ethics of interpretation

CITATION: Punt, J. 2006. The bible in the gay-debate in South Africa : towards an ethics of interpretation. Scriptura, 93(0):419-431, doi:10.7833/93-0-1380.The original publication is available at http://scriptura.journals.ac.zaThe Bible has been accorded an important role in the recent (and current) debate about homosexuality and gay people in South African churches, such as the Dutch Reformed, Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist churches. The context is often one of high-charged emotions, and an existential experience of the hermeneutical results and biblical texts which are interpreted in different ways - although in every instance with considerable socio-political impact. In general, with the high stakes and ambiguity which are involved, reflection on the ethics of biblical interpretation is important. The ethics of interpretation concerns various facets and areas of biblical hermeneutical theory and practices, including contemplation of the status and use of the Bible in faith communities and broader society in South Africa.jme202009https://scriptura.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/1380Publisher's versio