Can the love between two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate? These are the questions at the heart of Daniel Karslake’s award-winning documentary For The Bible Tells Me So.

When people ask questions about homosexuality, almost always they follow with, ‘and what does the Bible really say about it?’ There’s nothing wrong with a fifth grade understanding of God, as long as you’re in the fifth grade. When the term ‘abomination’ is used in the Hebrew Bible, it is always used to address a ritual wrong — it never is used to refer to something innately immoral. Eating pork was not innately immoral for a Jew, but it was an abomination because it was a violation of a ritual requirement. — Reverend Dr Laurence Keene

For the Bible Tells Me So is a compassionate and insightful documentary about the contemporary face of an old conflict between Christian fundamentalists and gay and lesbian people. The film looks deep into the hearts of several families — a few of them quite famous — that have struggled with making sense of having a homosexual son or daughter in the fold. At the same time, For the Bible Tells Me So is a deconstruction of thin arguments that the Bible actually condemns homosexuality in a few passages and through the story of Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction. A number of clerics and scholars explain the cultural and historical context for Old Testament quotes routinely referenced as arguments against homosexuality, and point out translation confusion about the real meaning of the Sodom story.

Most of us no longer heed Leviticus on haircuts or blood sacrifices; our modern understanding of the world has surpassed its prescriptions. Why would we regard its condemnation of homosexuality with more seriousness than we regard its advice, which is far lengthier, on the best price to pay for a slave? — Lisa Miller, Newsweek

Unquestionably, the most compelling part of the film is its focus on various families, including that of former US presidential candidate Dick Gephardt, who has a lesbian daughter for whose safety he worries. Also among the interviewees is Gene Robinson, a gay man who became bishop of New Hampshire’s Episcopal church in 2004, and his parents, as well as a gay teen whose folks joined him on the front line in protest of their church’s negative stance on gays. Not every story is affirmative: there are tragedies within these tales, too, as well as an indictment of so-called cures that supposedly banish the gay drive from homosexual men and women. Offering healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity, this landmark film “boldly takes on a loaded topic and examines it both intellectually and emotionally; the result may well leave you blinking away a few tears.” (Seattle Times)

The Gephardt family

A few verses above and below it says you shouldn’t plant two different seeds in the same hole, you shouldn’t commingle your crops… There is other text that says you shouldn’t wear linen and wool together. To just pick out, this is the one that we’re going to follow… the Bible doesn’t come that way — it’s selective reading. — Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer

Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? What do you think?

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For The Bible Tells Me So Dan Karslake's provocative, entertaining documentary brilliantly reconciles homosexuality and Biblical scripture, and in the process reveals that Church-sanctioned anti-gay bias is based solely upon a significant (and often malicious) misinterpretation of the Bible. As the film notes, most Christians live their lives today without feeling obliged to kil anyone who works on the Sabbath or eats shrimp. Through the experience of very normal, very Christian , very American families — including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson — we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. With commentary by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard's Peter Gomes, Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech, For The Bible Tells Me So offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity. USA UK

God and Gays: Bridging the Gap God and Gays: Bridging the Gap explores the religious struggle reconciling sexuality and spirituality. It gets into the head, heart and lives of the people who have found homosexuality and the Bible as their self-defining work. An interview with Rev Dr Mel White, co-founder of SoulForce, talks about Jesus' perspective. Rev Deborah L Johnson discusses that this is a very basic diversity issue and asks the question: do you love me for who I am or for what I do? Jason Stuart, an out Jewish comic and actor in Los Angeles describes in detail the loss of his relationship to his sister and her kids due solely to his orientation. Some are still “in the closet,” some have previously attempted suicide and Mary Lou Wallner, a fundamentalist mother who got her once wish when her daughter killed herself. Author Darlene Bogle echoes this as she describes her 15 years in Exodus International before recognizing she was ultimately numbing her humanity. USA UK

The Children Are Free: Rev Jeff Miner and John Tyler Connoley A comprehensive yet easy-to-read examination of the biblical evidence regarding loving same-sex relationships and God's attitude toward them. The authors lead the reader through a discussion of each of the six passages traditionally used against gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. In their friendly and authoritative style, they demonstrate how an anti-gay interpretation is a misapplication of these scriptures. Then Miner and Connoley turn our attention to the biblical stories and passages that affirm loving same-sex relationships. Did you know Jesus once met a gay person? Jesus' loving response is just one of the well-researched stories presented in this chapter. The book asks readers to take seriously the call of Jesus to think more deeply about biblical rules. And it calls Christians to action, making a connection between the conflicts in the early Church and those occurring within the Church today. USA UK

Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church Today's church is led by many of those who were once cast out: people of color, women, and divorced and remarried people. Evangelical theologian and former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church Jack Rogers argues that when we interpret the Bible through the lens of Jesus' redemptive life and ministry, we see that the church is called to grant equal rights to all people. Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality describes Rogers' own change of mind and heart on the issue; charts the church's well-documented history of using biblical passages to oppress marginalized groups; argues for a Christ-centered reading of Scripture; debunks oft-repeated stereotypes about gays and lesbians; and concludes with ideas for how the church can heal itself and move forward again. A fascinating combination of personal narrative, theology, and church history, this book is essential reading for all concerned with the future of the church and the health of the nation. USA UK

In his new book Guy Harrison details such reasons for god-belief as the obviousness of God, "playing it safe," the fear of hell, that belief in gods brings genuine happiness and comforts, and the fact that so many people are religious. 50 Reasons People Give For Believing In A God

Pope Benedict XVI was accused of stoking homophobia after a speech in which he declared that saving humanity from homosexuality was just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction. The Pope: Saving Humanity from Homosexuality?

Christianity is based on the stories and claims of the Bible. If the Bible is not largely accurate history, then Christianity has no foundation. Thus, either the Bible is dependable, historical truth or Christianity is just superstitious mumbo-jumbo. The Bible: Primitive Nonsense?

Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life has sold more than 25 million copies and been translated into dozens of languages. Until now, its premises have gone largely unchallenged by mainstream Christians. Former Baptist pastor Robert Price offers the first parody and critique of Warren's bestseller. The Reason Driven Life: What Am I Here on Earth For?

Buses with the slogan "There's probably no God" will soon be running on the streets of London. The posters are the idea of the British Humanist Association and have been supported by prominent atheist Richard Dawkins, bestselling author of The God Delusion. Atheist Bus Campaign