Hey friends! It’s time for another grad school/Conversations mash up! I will be chatting about the impact of the Kinsey Report (first of its kind report on human sexuality, late 1940s/early 1950s) on Christian thought, particularly in American contexts. Because this is a research paper, I share all of my citations in the video, and below in this description.
If you want the TL:DR, the Kinsey Reports galvanized two distinct and opposing theological interpretations of the Biblical view of sexuality, particularly in regard to queerness. I assert that the Kinsey reports inspired a virulent and boisterous anti LGBTQ strain of Christianity that is interconnected to themes of Christian Nationalism, Patriarchy, and Patriotism. At the same time, the Kinsey Report empowered liberal protestants to engage their theology in conversation with the developing understanding of humanity. By contrast, conservatives coalesced around staunch opposition to progress in any form.
I propose that, as a result of comprehensive and ongoing research, it is evident that queerness is not condemned by Christianity in antiquity.Anti LGBTQ religious rhetoric is a result of anachronistic readings of the scripture.The freedom and diversity of queerness is opposed by the American Evangelical constellation of churches because it frees individuals from peonage to the church.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts after you have listened to this video!
- Leo
Works Cited (in order of reference in video)
1) Johnson, Robert C. “Kinsey vs. Christianity: A Clash of ‘Paradigms’ on Human Nature.” Quarterly Journal of Speech, vol. 61, no. 1, 1975, pp. 59–70., https://doi.org/10.1080/00335637509383269.
2) Griffith, R., 2008. The Religious Encounters of Alfred C. Kinsey. Journal of American History, 95(2), pp.349-377.
3) Kukla, E., 2022. (online) Transtorah.org. Available at: (http://transtorah.org/PDFs/Classical_Jewish_Terms_for_Gender_Diversity.pdf) (Accessed 10 May 2022).
4) Sienna, N. and Plaskow, J., 2020. A Rainbow Thread. Philadelphia: Print-O-Craft Press.
5) Griffith, R., 2008. The Religious Encounters of Alfred C. Kinsey. Journal of American History, 95(2), pp.349-377.
6) White, H., 2015. Reforming Sodom: Protestants and the Rise of Gay Rights. The University of North Carolina Press, p.147.
7) Boswell, J., 1981. CHRISTIANITY, SOCIAL TOLERANCE, AND HOMOSEXUALITY : GAY PEOPLE IN WESTERN EUROPE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA TO THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY. 35th ed. CHICAGO, ILL. ; LONDON: UNIV. OF CHICAGO PRESS, p.135.
8) Jordan, M., 2011. Recruiting Young Love. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
9) White, H., 2015. Reforming Sodom: Protestants and the Rise of Gay Rights. The University of North Carolina Press, p.1
10) Greenough, C., 2020. Queer Theologies. Routledge, p.127.
11) 1946 | The Mistranslation that Shifted a Culture. 2022. 1946 | The Mistranslation that Shifted a Culture. (online) Available at: (https://www.1946themovie.com/) (Accessed 10 May 2022).
12) Kinseyinstitute.org. 2022. Diversity of sexual orientation. (online) Available at: (https://kinseyinstitute.org/research/publications/historical-report-diversity-of-sexual-orientation.php) (Accessed 10 May 2022).
13) Jordan, M., 2011. Recruiting Young Love. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, p.35.
14) Du Mez, K., 2020. Jesus and John Wayne. 1st ed. Liveright, p.22.
15) Driscoll, M., 2022. Homosexuality Was the Token Sin of Sodom. (online) RealFaith. Available at: (https://realfaith.com/daily-devotions/homosexuality-was-the-token-sin-of-sodom/) (Accessed 10 May 2022).
16) Tonstad, L., 2018. Queer Theology. Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, p.47.
17) Michaelson, J., 2011. God vs. Gay?. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, p.136.
