Gene Robinson, the first openly gay
bishop of the Episcopal Church, said Sunday that he believes God is
leading people to a deeper understanding of LGBT people.
The 66-year-old Robinson made his
remarks at the opening of a two-day diversity event at the West
Lafayette campus of Purdue University in Indiana, the Journal
& Courier reported.
Robinson said that people should
consider context when reading the Bible.
“This so-called simple reading of
Scripture is just an illusion,” Robinson said. “There is no
simple reading of Scripture unless you just want to be blind to all
kinds of things that we now know, and it has to do with context. The
shorthand for this is that I believe the Bible is the word of God,
but I don't believe the Bible is the words of God.”
“Could we have gotten it wrong, and
could this be a moment where the Holy Spirit is leading us into a
deeper truth that we just couldn't handle until now? It will come as
no shock to you that I think the answer is yes.”
Robinson retired earlier this year from
the Diocese of New Hampshire.
In his latest book, God Believes In
Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage, Robinson dismantles the
religious objections to marriage equality.