Next Programme: BIBLE STUDY on delhi High Court Verdict on Homosexuality (Repealing of Aricle 377)

Bible Study Series

Understanding the Message of the Bible in the context of the Delhi High Court Verdict on Homosexuality

session was led by

Mr. Yacob Thomas

Date: 2.30 pm, Saturday, 12 September 2009

Venue: Pennamma Bhavanam

The Delhi High Court Verdict that Repealed Article 377 of Indian Penal Code (the article declared Homosexuality as 'against nature' and thereby suggesting same sex a punishable offence) provoked the conservative sections of society but for the LGBT community India the verdict brought in relief from the trauma of marginalisation, social exclusion and moral policing. The church responses to the verdict was by and large conservative, and the biblical texts like that on 'Sodom and Gomora' (Genesis 19:1-29) were quoted to underscore the God's disapproval to homosexuality, marking it as evil and sinful. The bible study gathering examined key biblical texts to understand the God's message to the Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders (LGBT) in India. The story of the love between David and Jonathan was discussed in some detail. The bible study gathering also introduced the Queer Biblical Hermenuetics as a strong contemporary movement withing Christian theology.

For further reading:

NCCI Seminar on the Verdict

Sermon by Dr. George Zachariah

ALL ARE WELCOME

next programme: seminar series on the question of IDENTITY

“An Introduction to the Question of Identity”

Paper presentation by

Mr. K. K. Baburaj
(Eminent thinker & dalit activist)

Date: 2 pm, Saturday, 15 August 2009
Venue: Pennamma Bhavanam (Amalloor Road, Manjadi, Tiruvalla)

The question of identity is a continuing debate in social theory and in the realm of political activism. The subaltern groups have been raising this question for the last two decades. The identity politics raised by the marginalised groups, especially the dalits in India, affirmed their standpoint as the politics of difference against the claims of modernity that a universal, homogenous common identity is possible. It was pointed out that the universality of a human identity presupposes the white male european identity which obliterates the possibilities for other identities and world views. However, a criticism raised against the identity politics (from different vantagepoints) is that it is sectarian and essentialist. The paper will present the history of the identity politics, divulging out the richness and diversity of the debate.

All are Welcome