A film director has come under fire ahead of the release of her new documentary, which suggests the word “homosexual” was never supposed to be in the Bible.
Sharon “Rocky” Roggio’s film isn’t due to be released in US cinemas yet – where it will debut – but is already causing a stir amongst Christians on TikTok.
Roggio – who is, herself, gay - has been promoting her new film via the social media network. She told The Daily Beast the film would “unmoor” Christians and “pull the anchors out from underneath.”
The director alleges the word “homosexual” was “accidentally” put into the Bible in 1946, when the Revised Standard Version was translated – a claim that has frustrated Christians with traditionally held beliefs surrounding same-sex relationships.
“People…especially on social media…turn their fear into anger and then hatred. They’re vicious. A lot of what I see on social media and TikTok is the epitome of the phrase, ‘There’s no love like Christian hate,'” Roggio said. “They’re just so disgusting.”
The film creator believes that the word “homosexual” was used in lieu of terms like “effeminate” and “sexual pervert”.
She said: “We’re talking about a word [homosexual] that is a medical term that has a connotation of a group of people that have an orientation, as opposed to what the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic texts are referring to, which is an aggressor, somebody who was an abuser — somebody who has abused someone else, and there is a victim on the other side. It’s a very different connotation.”
She believes the supposed “mistake” wasn’t made on purpose, but suggests that the “error” has caused significant pain to the LGBT+ community.
Roggio – who grew up in the conservative Christian household – invited her pastor father to appear on the film. He disputes the claims she is making.
Ahead of the debut, she assures potential viewers that she is not hoping to “attack Christianity”, but find “biblical truth” and “honour God’s word”.
