Investigating religious discourses of homosexuality among young adults in Pentecostal churches in Potchefstroom

Abstract

Pentecostal Christianity is a growing movement in South Africa and Africa, and it has had an influence on the discourse on sexuality (Van Klinken, & Obadare, 2018:559). Its perspective on homosexuality has been that homosexuality is “un-African” and “un-Christian” (Van Klinken, & Obadare, 2018:563). These Christian discourses argue that heterosexuality is the only legitimate sexuality and have contributed to the exclusion and discrimination of gays and lesbians and other non-normative sexualities. Pastors in South Africa, such as Angus Buchan, have referred to gays and lesbians as sodomites and have blamed them for South Africa’s challenges and natural disasters, such as the water crisis that affected the City of Cape Town in 2017 (Hunters, 2017). Most religious discourses maintain that heterosexuality is the norm, but there have been noticeable shifts. For instance, in 2020, the Methodist Church and the Catholic Church came out to support LGBTQI+ rights and same-sex civil unions (Lindeque, 2020; CBC News, 2020). This is important because these developments contribute to the growing number of alternative and positive discourses on sexuality. The aim of this study was to investigate the religious discourses on (homo)sexuality among young adults in Pentecostal Churches in Potchefstroom. This was done by analysing the relevant literature and by adopting a queer theoretical position. Furthermore, it employed in-depth data collection methods, including conducting face-to-face individual interviews and group discussions. The data analysed showed that participants’ perceptions of sexuality were largely influenced by their Christian beliefs. Participants’ views of sexuality were mostly heteronormative. These views were shaped by Christian discourse, which defined heterosexuality as the only natural and normal sexuality, while alternative sexualities such as LGBTQI+ identities were constructed negatively. For example, gay and lesbian identities were associated with sin, paedophilia, and being lost and deceived. Even though LGBTQI+ sexualities were constructed negatively most of the time, a few alternative discourses emerged. For example, some participants quoted the Constitution of South Africa to point out that gays and lesbians should be treated with equality, just like everyone else. This positive attitude towards LGBTQI+ persons is also visible in religious settings. For example, more liberal churches are welcoming queers than used to be the case.