NPR: What Does The Bible Tell You?

What Does The Bible Tell You?

Douglas here ... (sitting in for Tell Me More web producer Lee Hill).

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm no shrinking violet. In fact, sometimes I don't know when to shut up. But put me in front of a microphone and somehow ... I forget who I am. Maybe the show producers didn't know that when they told me I'd doing the weekly Backtalk segment with Michel? Maybe no one noticed that my heart was about to jump out my chest?

In the end, after some good laughs, I appreciated the challenge (even though I lost a few hour of sleep over it) ... and maybe I'm giving myself a hard time (it wasn't that bad... I hope), especially given that I was sitting across from a 20-year broadcast news veteran ... Talk about pressure!

Take a listen.You should hear the comments about Bill Cosby and his new book with Dr. Alvin Poussaint.

When I'm not pretending to be Lee - and sweating in the studio - I'm normally a booker for Tell Me More. And there's one thing I'm always looking for in guests - honesty. Doesn't matter who you are - or who people think you are - just tell me what you're really thinking and I'm there. The two guests in today's Faith Matters segment did just that. They were profiled in a new documentary called For The Bible Tells Me So, which is out in theaters this month. The film follows five Christian families as they struggle to reconcile their faith and having a gay child.

Gene Robinson was the first gay Episcopal Bishop (you might remember the controversy surrounding his consecration in 2003). His is a story about being the gay child (and an inadvertent cause celeb). Brenda Poteat is a minister at a predominantly African American church in North Carolina ...and she's the mother of a lesbian daughter. They both call themselves Christian. They both believe in the power of compassion. But when it comes to the issue of homosexuality, The Bible tells them something very different. Their conversation with Michel raises a lot of questions about faith ... and the line between judgment and acceptance.

We're curious ... what does your faith tell you about homosexuality? Have you reckoned with your own religion when someone you know or love came out as gay or lesbian? Has your faith affected the way you think about your own sexuality? Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think.

And be sure to tune in on Monday. Like many cities across the country, Philadelphia is struggling with a rising murder rate - this year, almost one homicide per day. Michel will be talking to Philadelphia's police Chief Sylvester Johnson. Last month he announced his endorsement of a plan to get 10,000 men to help patrol the streets as "peacekeepers"... and this weekend thousands are expected to march in Philadelphia in support of anti-violence measures. We'll be talking about the march - and what's to be done about the surge in violence - with a roundtable of community activists. And members of the music group, Kindred will join us! They'll tell us how their music reflects their roots in Philly. Even if you don't live in Philadelphia - or for that matter a big city - this is one show you shouldn't miss.

Thanks for checking in. I'll be on the lookout for your comments.

~ Douglas

Michel Martin

2:06 PM ET | 10-19-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Hi Michel,

I agree with one of your Barbershop members that we need more shows like the Cosbys versus less. I have had several experiences where white people have told me that "we all know that the Cosby's aren't real Black people." I find comments like this very offensive because yes I do understand that the Cosbys may not represents every Black American family but that doesn't mean that they don't represent a certain segment of Black America. As an educated Black professional woman who comes from a family that includes several educated Black professionals I feel as though there should be more television shows that represent my segment of Black America one that is growing larger every day.

P.S. I love the show Girlfriends exactly for this reason in addition to the fact that it's interesting and funny. I would love to hear you do an interview with one of the cast members, writers or producers.

Sincerly,

Tiana

Sent by Tiana Hood | 2:44 PM ET | 10-19-2007

What I find extraordinary about these conversations is that if faced with a question of whether we should stand by my child just convicted of a violent crime the answer is rarely "We can't stand with you my child."

I am not a church go-er for several reasons, but I have to say before you reject anyone you really must reach into yourself for your own self centered motives of shame, control, and failure as a parent. God and Allah seem to be used as a shield to escape from our own shortcomings as human beings. One of the redeeming things about christianity that I admire is the call to love and the call for tolerance.

If you are a true Christian living in the world we all inhabit you, we have SO much work to do. When no child goes to sleep hungry or afraid, when there are no people living on the streets, when every person can see themselves in their brother and their sister maybe then we can begin to judge each other and whom we are blessed to love.

Sent by raul | 4:47 PM ET | 10-19-2007

I'm a Christian - specifically the kind of person one calls "saved," "believer in Jesus Christ" or "Born-again Christian." I think I covered all the bases for the accurate description of my faith. But make no mistake, how I see things (to the astonishment of some of my Christian friends and family) is not that easily packaged.

I listened with great interest to the "For the Bible Tells Me So" segment and I definitely have to check out the documentary. About homosexuality, the manual of my faith, the Bible states that a relationship with the same sex is unnatural. However, knowing gays in my neighborhood, I don't see any difference in the way they live their lives as decent citizens from how I live mine. Do I agree with their lifestyle? No. Do I treat gays differently from straights? No. Do I think being gay is a choice? I don't know.

The last statement is where I differ from some (maybe many) folks in my faith. Oh and I've got some who've given me their two cents that I got a headache afterwards. One of them is my Godmother concerning a friend of the family a few years my junior. When he came back from college, I guess he was tired of living in the closet. As I heard when I came to visit her, his appearance was changed and he brought his boyfriend to church. Gosh, I hate that I missed the fireworks! I've said it before to friends, sometimes the best comedy is in church - But I digress.

When my Godmother saw I wasn't the least bit surprised about her new information (just the way it happened). Then her frustration turned to me; "why didn't you say anything?" None of my business. She was hurt because she saw him as a son and I guess the kind of dream she had for him was shattered. When she said she'll keep praying for him; I rolled my eyes (which she caught). I told her it was his life as I made my way out before another preaching session from her started. She told me she'll keep praying for me; I smiled and said I need it . . . I'm still trying to figure out this faith thing.

Sent by Moji | 7:16 PM ET | 10-19-2007

Haven't seen the film, but it seems to bring viewers a slice of the growing divide within the Christian church, and the likely strong source of inner-conflict among some people of faith ...

Anytime people, all claiming to gaze at the same picture, walk away with not only different, but conflicting interpretations, I'd say it warrants a conversation.

And, D, thanks for holding down TMM's digital media fort while I took a breather. You've now been exposed ... the 'brotha' is no longer 'undercova.' (family joke)

Sent by Lee Hill, TMM | 2:48 PM ET | 10-23-2007

That it's outdated and it needs a new cannon, we must never forget that the bible is nothing more than anthology of stories selected by high level clergy. It's nothing more than a tract for gaining more converts. As for gays and the bible, it's a hot button issue that the savvy politicians have used as a wedge to keep the country split. And really what about the saviour Jesus himself he seems to have questionable sexuality, over 30 unmarried, come on people, he wandered the desert with 12 other dudes and one ex-hooker.

Sent by Tony | 5:14 PM ET | 10-23-2007

Group memberships first - female, straight, parent, Christian. Listening to the discussion, I was struck by the feelings of respect and love between the two clergy, but sometimes I think it's fair to say love is not enough. I do believe there is a right and a wrong answer here, in the same way that there is a right and wrong answer to slavery, to oppression of women, to prejudice of any kind. A woman standing in a pulpit, who is clearly defying and denying 1 Timothy 11-14, cannot stand on the idea of following Scripture to the letter - she is clearly allowing herself some interpretive leeway. How then can she deny the same calling to a gay man, who can use the same interpretive tools to support his own presence in the pulpit? There is no integrity there, in the very most literal sense. It is not an integrated whole, this argument, when it comes from a woman's mouth who calls herself Reverend. Thus, she must either give up her robes, or stand firmly on her convictions and hold hands with the gay minister and support his stand as well. Is she willing to hold his hands in love? Yes, and that is a huge step forward. But until she sheds the scales from her eyes, she is a barrier to God's revealing love in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Sent by Sarah | 10:36 PM ET | 10-23-2007

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

E-mail Updates from the Tell Me More Blog

Share Your Story

What would it take to get your vote? Share text, audio or video.

'Tell Me More' with Michel Martin

"Nothing is assumed." That's the unofficial motto of Tell Me More, the new Monday-Friday talk show with host Michel Martin. Grounded in lively interviewing and compelling storytelling, the program seeks to present diverse new voices, cross borders, challenge conventional wisdom and discover how other people think.