For the Bible Tells Me So

First Run Features

Are there really irreconcilable differences between Christianity and homosexuality, or has someone been the victim of a bad PR campaign? That's the basic question behind this documentary that looks at Bible passages like Leviticus 18:22 and the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Making no bones about their own biases, the filmmakers have found a variety of religious experts who discuss how parts of the Bible have been misunderstood and suggest that others, like Leviticus, should be understood as reflecting a certain culture in a certain time, not necessarily as iron-clad blueprints for life in the 21st century. Interspersed with the doctrine and textual analysis are the moving stories of several devout families that struggled to understand the sexuality of a gay child. These stories of trying to balance parental love with received ideas about the evils of homosexuality range from the tragic to the inspiring, including a profile of the family of Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopalian Bishop. Illuminating without being didactic, this well-made film will be of interest to anyone curious about the intersection of sexuality and faith, and is must viewing for anyone with a recently out child.