Embraced by God...

Deuteronomy 23:17-18: 
Discrimination in the workplace 
(e.g., Israelites cannot be Temple prostitutes)


The debate: Once upon a time, this passage was used to attack homosexuals, but archaeological discoveries have led scholars to conclude it was being mistranslated. Unless you have the King James version or another old translation, most major versions of the Bible reflect this change in translation. (Note: This same translation error was also corrected in I Kings 14:22-24, 15:12, 22:46 and II Kings 23:7).

There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow; for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God. (KJV)

None of the daughters of Israel shall be a temple prostitute; none of the sons of Israel shall be a temple prostitute. You shall not bring the fee of a prostitute or the wages of a male prostitute into the house of the LORD your God in payment for any vow, for both of these are abhorrent to the LORD your God. (NRSV)

Deep thoughts: Translation is a tricky business; yet, our conservative Christian accusers want us to believe bad English translations are "literally" good enough. As always, a bad translation can live a long life if it supports the prejudice of the religiously powerful and those who worship their scholarship. Other passages loved by Bible-thumpers may some day get a corrected translation, too.

Bottom line: Our knowledge of the Bible is ever-growing. Since ignorance has many causes—sometimes it stems from a bad translation—we must challenge all sources of ignorance and not simply sit back and watch them destroy the beauty of our queer presence in God’s kingdom.