What do you think of the Bible? Literal truth? Total rubbish? Have you read it? No? So how can you have any opinion about a book that you haven't read? There's nothing wrong with having faith; but must people insist on blind faith?
From Genesis to Deuteronomy, 'Being Gay is Disgusting' is a chapter-by-chapter paraphrasing of the Bible, using the most casual and inappropriate language possible. Creation, the Flood, Joseph's cool dreams, escape from Egypt and the long and surprisingly gruesome story of Moses are all covered in unpleasant-but-accurate detail. And won't it be nice to be able to have a semi-intelligent discussion about the Old Testament with your God-fearing friends!
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"Hilarious and eye-opening" --Gay Chicago Magazine
"Dry, witty and at times laugh-out-loud funny" --Out in Perth
"A funnier, less-hectoring counterpart to The God Delusion" --Star Observer
From the Author
Why entitle the book, Being Gay is Disgusting? Falzon explains:
"I was motivated by so many well-funded groups who hark back to Leviticus for the moral turpitude of homosexuality. Homosexuality is mentioned exactly twice in 2,700 years, yet lobby groups focus on this 'law' far more than any other biblical rule. They'll never admit that the same biblical page also contains prohibitions on cross-breeding animals and wearing clothes of two different threads.
"These groups will spend millions on anti-gay efforts, but nobody is protesting the local zoo for breeding ligers or farmers for breeding mules, nor are these groups attempting to shut down the Gap for using poly-cotton blends," adds Falzon. "And no one is lobbying to prohibit working on the Sabbath, yet that rule is peppered throughout the Old and New Testaments, and is even one of the Ten Commandments. It's the cherry picking that annoys me.
"Whether the Bible is all true, partly true or all false," Falzon says, "few would disagree it has shaped Western civilization. For this reason, it bears reading by everyone. Discussions, debates and conjecture about its historical accuracy or moral truth cannot begin until we're aware of what it says. My book helps people take that first step - awareness. I don't get into whether it's true - perhaps that'll be my next book."
I was born in Sydney, city of sinners. In the mid-80s, my family moved North to Brisbane, city of /slow-driving/ sinners. Raised Catholic, I came to my senses in my teens, partly because I found religion to be utterly boring, and partly because I discovered that girls were generally more worthy of my attention.
My interest in religion was rekindled to a certain extent when I, quite accidentally, went on a date with a Born-Again Christian. The interest wasn't spiritual, but rather social. It was strange to me that an intelligent, super-hot girl was so caught up in this thing called the Bible... which we began to read at the end of our first date. /Not/ the best first-date in history.
So I started reading the Bible... and stopped shortly after, because it is, after all, a very long and boring book. It remains my considered opinion that, whether or not it is God's inspired Word, the Bible is quite possibly the worst-written piece of literature still in print today.
Inspired, though, by the potential of the stories that were buried under the tragic narrative style and twelve-hundred-year-long begat-a-thons, I set out to paraphrase the Good Book in a more readable way. Seven years later, 'Being Gay is Disgusting' was born. Yes, seven years; I'm that lazy.
When I heard about this book, I had to read it. It is a re-telling of the first five books of the Bible in today's language. However, it does not read like the NIV or the NRSV or any other Bible translation. In the book, the author refers to Sara/Sarai as a "hottie," for example. If you have an irreverent streak and can take a dose of laughing at your own religion, this is definitely the book for you. The author includes footnotes throughout, which are mainly his observations about the text, and which are also entertaining. There are diagrams, family trees, and pictures throughout as well. It's not a book to be used for scholarly purposes (and it doesn't claim to be), but it will provide some insight along with the laughter and entertainment.
One of the first things I noticed was this book sold very well both to religious and atheist readers; and there lies the beauty of this text. The author sets out to point out the inconsistencies and humor in the Pentateuch, as well as poor editing in the merging of the (at least) three documents edited into these books. It says a lot about the skill of a writer when the reader finds him/herself laughing out loud while reading; boy, is this a skillful comedy. As a gay person of faith, I was really intrigued by the title, and within a few words I was hooked.
Coming from a gay man, this is easily the funniest piece of biblical satire I've ever read. If you want the basic jist of the bible without a fat man in a suit telling you to tithe, this is the piece for you. Mr. Falzon's smart remarks are backed up by citing every scripture and invoking the omnipotent power of basic common sense. Absolutely a must for anyone hurt by the system and wanting to look at the bible from a less eternal damnation and hellfire point of view.
The author rewrites the first five books of the Old Testament in the language we use in the 21st century. This makes for rather graphic portrayal of the stories found in the pages of the ancient Jewish scriptures which modern born again Christians accept as inspired by god. This god comes across as vindictive, mean, jealous and petty.
Falzon puts in simple terms the endless rules and regulations that god's people were subjected to and lays out in graphic detail the horrors of disobeying god and his thirst for blood sacrifice. This is not a book for those with a sensitivity to gratuitous violence.
Much more could be said about the book"s contents. However the best advice that I can give is for you to get a copy of the bible (any translation will work just fine - there isn't much difference in the basic content no matter which version you use) and a copy of "Being Gay is Disgusting: or God Likes the Smell of Burning Fat..." and read them side by side. The book should be a catalyst to encourage the reader to examine the first five books of the bible carefully to determine in his/her mind if credible belief can be maintained in the god portrayed in the "holy scriptures".
Truth be told the book gets tedious in parts - but I am not sure that is the author"s fault. The scriptures go into minute detail on things like how a woman should behave during menstruation to the point that have sexual relations on the Sabbath is sinful. The author throws in bits of humor here and there in an effort to lighten the mood a bit but there is no question that the god of the scriptures doesn't come across as being very much fun to be around. It is a bit tough to be enamored with a being that creates everything and declares it to be good and then is totally disgusted with anyone who is gay.... One moment his creation is good - the next he wipes out the very creatures that were made in his image. Go figure! The author does a great job putting the "acts of god" into context and is able to reveal the true character of the god of the scriptures without adding much commentary or analysis.Read more ›
Humorous, well written, fun, entertaining read. Holy recommended for those with a sense of humor and religious history. The running commentary and wit were worth purchasing the book alone.
A very interesting, amusing and enlightening analysis of the Old Testament. I doubt if most religious professionals or their followers know this much about the document they follow so ardently. Can't wait for the next installment "Women Should Just Shut Up" I think?
Ego driven writer taking FAR too many liberties with facts and figures. The slant on truth and playing on the basis of readers knowledge of facts stretches credibility to the max...!
