LGBTQ
I wish you a very queer Christmas
Read more: I wish you a very queer ChristmasChristmas is by far the greatest secular holiday. Within Christianity, most Christians would argue that it shouldn’t be; that Easter should be the greatest Christian holiday. I disagree. I think the incarnation is the greatest miracle imaginable. As I have written elsewhere: Christmas is first and foremost a celebration of our humanity. It is the…
LGBTQ, Theological reflection, Sex, Blogging, Life is my religion, Sacred Sexuality, Pirate Theology, FeaturedTheoerotics!?
Read more: Theoerotics!?Theoerotics … those that know (me) assume they know the answer, those that don’t, aquaintences sometimes ask, or smirk dismissively. Walking away making assumptions of the what, the how and the why. This blog has in the past adressed this topic and failed to uncover it’s dirty secrets. As this text will fail to uncover…
The perfect coming out …
Read more: The perfect coming out …Coming out is an important rite of passage for all queer persons. It is the act of revealing to the world who you really are and as such it signifies the end of hiding. I have written elsewhere about coming out as a sacrament: the act of outwardly expressing your inner grace. September 2012 I…
Ten years later – any wiser?
Read more: Ten years later – any wiser?I was sitting on my brothers couch in Skarpnäck, Stockholm with him and his wife. As it often does, the polyamoury conversation came up. For once not the usual very intimate probing questions about bedroom activities. Rather the conversation was about emotions, communication and logistics. The conversation allowed me to reflect on the Journey so…
I’m the man in black!
Read more: I’m the man in black!People ask me why I bother with the church. Why I bother coming back to christianity at all after all that has happened. I think the truth is, first of all, that I never left. My faith has (although shaken at times) always been an integral part of who I am and why I have…
Will the real Sodomite(s) please stand up!
Read more: Will the real Sodomite(s) please stand up!Sodomy and sodomite are two sad words in the english language. The words have been used in the past to describe Homosexual men and their actions. Of course the word actually means “a person from Sodom” and the verb should mean “doing what the people in Sodom did.” So what did the people of Sodom…
How the ace and aro community subverts the hetero and mono norms
Read more: How the ace and aro community subverts the hetero and mono normsAs I sit down and write this, I need to start with a confession. It is very hard for me to truly understand what it is like to be asexual or aromantic as it is so very far from the reality I live in. Because of this, I do not fully understand the complexity of…
Holy censorship or mistranslation?
Read more: Holy censorship or mistranslation?I was given a book the other day, as I was leaving my talk on SA and HBTQ. Honestly I didn’t expect much but it looked interesting enough. The book was “Holy censorship or mistranslation?” By K. Renato Lings and I learned once again that you should never judge a book by it’s cover. The…
Healing, long overdue…
Read more: Healing, long overdue…Yesterday I was invited to speak at EKHO (A swedish organisation for Christian LGBTQ+ persons). The talk was held at “Ågesta kursgård” which is also the site of the Salvation Army Officers school in Sweden and the place where I did both my application conference (for becoming a Salvation Army officer) and later my captains…
Notes from the margins….
Read more: Notes from the margins….It is rather ironic to have a middle aged, white, man talk un-ironically of marginalisation. And yet one should not judge a book by it’s cover and rather take in the often surprising adventure that is hidden inside. Not everything is what it looks like, rather perception often misleads as it always carries our bias…
Today I am angry
Read more: Today I am angryI am angry at the person who picked up a gun and murdered all those people in Orlando, I am angry at all the people who thinks that any kind of violence is justified in any situation. I am angry at the Christians who think that anything could justify these horrific actions. It doesn’t matter…
I am Queer!
Read more: I am Queer!I remember last time I walked with the pride parade in Malmö, I had walked the parade many times before but last time was special, it was the first time I felt that I was walking not just in solidarity, not just a straight ally but this time I was walking for myself. I was…
Coming out …
Read more: Coming out …Yesterday was a bit of a coming out process for me. The minute after I hit the publish key on my blog post was filled with a sense of immense release and freedom followed by “Oh my god, what have I done?”. For a moment I thought maybe not so many people would read it…
Being queer – The censored post
Read more: Being queer – The censored postThis post was originally posted in september 2012 and taken of the blog that same month as requested by the Salvation Army national leadership. I am now reposting it as it was an important step on the journey. This post in itself was an experiment in being open, authentic and vulnerable. The post pushed a…
Redeeming Sex – Book review
Read more: Redeeming Sex – Book reviewI just finished reading “Redeeming Sex” by Debra Hirsch. I was so excited when I picked this one up and I was hopeful that someone had finally published a book that dared to deconstruct and reconstruct sex from a biblical perspective. And it started out great showing the important and beautiful link between sexuality and…
Love is where the rubber meets the road …
Read more: Love is where the rubber meets the road …I recently received the following IM from one of my soldiers in the corps. I can’t or don’t want to continue as a Soldier … I feel that I want to fall in love, love and feel loved back. Therefore I wan’t to become an adherent. Personally this is one of the most heartbreaking messages…
Jesus in drag
Read more: Jesus in dragWhy are you doing this? Why do you take such an interest in the LGBTQ and sexuality? The question has been asked of me many times. By my leaders, by the people in my congregation and by my family. In fact I think it was my brother who asked the million dollar question one day…
The centrality of sexuality
Read more: The centrality of sexualityWhy is this such a big deal? Why does it matter? It should be a non issue! This is what both right wing and left wing, conservatives and liberals are saying all over the place. In churches people are taught that their sexuality, while important, is not essential. Sexuality does not define you, or who…
How I became a queer theologian a desert journey
Read more: How I became a queer theologian a desert journeyLast week my friend Samuel decided to reblog one of my posts on LGBTQ and the church. Promptly someone questioned if I really had written the piece as I had taught a very different gospel at said persons confirmation camp. I had to reply that I have been (am still) on a long theological pilgrimage.…
Meanwhile in another part of the Salvation Army
Read more: Meanwhile in another part of the Salvation ArmyThe conversation is still going on. Johnny Laird (who kindly posted a blogpost about my article series on LGBTQ) reminded me of this excellent video segment from Just Salvos featuring an interview with Jay Bakker: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jKbWepVs5I[/youtube] I think the most important part of this video clip is the realigning of the LGBTQ issue from a sin…
LGBTQ part 12 – coming out
Read more: LGBTQ part 12 – coming outSitting here pondering and reflecting on some of the discussions that have come out of LGBT posts here on the blog. The first thing that strikes me is that there are so few persons leaving comments in relation to the high number of visitors. I think that fear may be a large factor, both for…
LGBTQ part 11 – Continued conversation
Read more: LGBTQ part 11 – Continued conversationFollowing many words and much wrestling with the scriptures, doctrines, and my own faith, I have come to find, that no matter how I read the biblical text, I can never escape from my commission to love the Lord with all my soul, with all my heart and with all my strength. And to love…
LGBTQ part 10 – Recommended reading
Read more: LGBTQ part 10 – Recommended readingRecommended reading Andrew Marin – Love as an Orientation – Elevating the conversation with the gay community. (Paperback – Amazon UK, Kindle International) Jay Bakker – Fall to grace – A Revolution of God, Self & Society (Hardcover – Amazon UK, Kindle international) Walter Wink – Homosexuality and Christian Faith: Questions of conscience for the churches (Paperback – Amzon UK, Kindle…
LGBTQ part 9 – The Salvation Army
Read more: LGBTQ part 9 – The Salvation ArmyThe problem persists in the Salvation Army, of today. In which way can we include LGBTQ persons in our fellowship without creating groupings; an A team and a B team? How can the Corps offer (church) membership in the Salvation Army in a positive manner that allows LGBTQ persons to feel valued, appreciated and loved…
LGBTQ part 8 – Four possible approaches
Read more: LGBTQ part 8 – Four possible approachesThere are probably as many ways to approach LGBTQ issues as there are people with opinions. What follows is a summary of the second half of “One family’s story” written by Bishop Paul Wenner Egertson and found in Walter Wink’s book: Homosexuality and the Christian Faith (pages 28-30). Bishop Paul Wenner Egertson depicts four different approaches to…
