GOD DOESN´T ASK ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION – Rev. David Fearon
This documentary film is a quest for biblical truth. About six verses in the Bible contain the word homosexual, since 1946 when it appeared for the first time in the Revised Standard Version (RSV), due to the work and duty of a team of 22 men translators. The RSV was not modified for 25 years and the texts were printed there in millions of copies of the Bible containing the word homosexual as a stigma against LGTB people. The misconception spread between readers, pastors, and religious fanatics. As the film said , “if you mistranslate something, there is a power behind what you are putting out to other people”. Why does being a homosexual exclude anybody from the kingdom of God? The film states that it is because of an error, a wrong translation in the Bible.
The two Greek words translated as “homosexuality” by the committee in several verses of the Bible are painful to read cause of their hateful context. What is important to remark and shout out loud is that sexual orientation is not the problem, the abomination contained in the Bible refers to infamous rape, sexual abuse, excessive lust, and exploitative sexual relationships. Unfortunately, these vices have been public knowledge worldwide for years and years and still are common inside religious institutions such as the Catholic church, to name one. The abomination also represents millions and millions of dollars in compensation for the abused victims.
Kathy Baldock and Ed Oxford share their experiences and take us to the archives at Yale University Sterling Memorial Library where they did research about the team of translators and found a microfilmed letter that David S. (Rev. David Fearon) sent to Dr. Luther Allan Weigel expressing him that there was “a serious weakness in translation” of the two greek words that would misinform and misguide people and may be used as a sacred weapon.
After such a mistake, an undesirable occurrence indeed, thousands of little children have been bullied, have had difficult lives, and even suicidal thoughts since early ages that have continued for decades during adulthood; if not ended lives. So much pain and loss for individuals, families, and friends could have been avoided. Instead, institutions avert their eyes and still use the “sacred weapon” repeating the error in their daily or weekly speeches. For instance, at Paseo de La Sexta, in Guatemala City nowadays there are preachers “spreading the word” the Evangelical propaganda and read vociferously the mistranslated verses among others.
The committed love between men or women as a portrayal of same-sex relationships is a problem in a patriarchal society ruled by dominance and hierarchies, and evil for conservative religious leaders that replicate the mistranslation making the error bigger and bigger. No time to reconsider yet since, as I have said, what is in the Bible and everybody should censor is a behavior that either homosexual or heterosexual people have, it concerns sexual perversion (rape, abuse, exploitation), precisely what conservative religious leaders and conservative politics hide for themselves.
Through testimonies after interviews in Reno, NV, Long Beach, CA, South Jersey, NJ, and L.A. CA, we learn about the quest for the truth, and also about the troubled relationship between Rev. Salvatore Roggio, and his daughter Sharon “Rocky” Roggio, the director of the film. We also learn why sexuality became a political issue in the 1990s and the Bible has helped to amplify as a weapon against the LGBT community, creating a war for the soul of America and the rest of the world.
Absence of malice? I do not think so, instead, deliberate and conscious abuse of conservative politics, the Church, and the Bible to control people.
For me, the damage has been done. It will take decades to fix the wrongdoing if there is interest in rectifying the misunderstanding. Meanwhile, for the children of God, there is still hope to be a part of his large community. It is OK to be queer, gay, and Christian.
For your information: Gay Christian Network provides support to Christians who happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender
As said in the site of the film here 1946 is not an attack on Christianity or the Bible. It is a quest to discover biblical truth and honor God’s Word.
The documentary is included in the official selection of DOC NYC 2022, as part of the US Competition.
Review by José Mayorga , Guatemala, Central America lawyer and notary public, visual artist, and editor of El Azar Cultural, lives and works in Guatemala City. Cinema lover, curious about the possibilities life brings and eager to live the experience.
