John Corvino

In the following viewpoint John Corvino argues that passages in the Bible condemning homosexuality may be irrelevant in today’s society. He contends that the Bible also prohibits usury, lending money at interest, but church leaders have decided that changing economic conditions rendered this prohibition obsolete. Similarly, Corvino maintains, Bible passages that condemn homosexuality should be reinterpreted in a modern context. Corvino teaches philosophy at Wayne State University in Michigan and is the editor of Same Sex: Debating the Ethics, Science, and Culture of Homosexuality.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. Name three sources Corvino cites, other than the Bible, that condemn usury.
2. According to the author, how were homosexuals perceived in Paul’s time?
3. As described by Corvino, what is the Bible’s position on slavery?

Gay rights advocates sometimes suggest that...