A Lutheran church in Sweden made headlines recently for erecting an altarpiece image that featured same-sex couples and trans/gender n0n-conforming people.
The Church of Sweden is known for being progressive and accepting. It’s had female priests since 1958 and has been marrying same-sex couples for the past decade.
The church, St Paul in Malmö, erected the image by photographer Elisabeth Ohlson Wallin on the first Sunday of Advent (December, 1), prompting news stories around the world.
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Ohlson, 58, who is gay, is known for including LGBTQ diversity in her classical art-inspired photos.
She gained a lot of press 20 years ago for a photo of a man representing Jesus, flanked by 12 drag queens as his apostles. She has also shot many portraits of trans people.
This latest work, entitled Paradise, featured a Garden of Eden setting. There are two same-sex couples holding apples. A trans person is in a tree, holding a snake.
However, just days later, the church decided to take down the image. In a statement released yesterday, it said this was nothing to do with the church having an issue with LGBTQ people – but because on closer inspection, it found some of the details ambiguous.
“The fact that there are two gay couples in the artwork is completely uncontroversial. But the fact that there is a snake, which traditionally symbolizes evil, and that it turns into a transperson could lead to the interpretation that a trans person is evil or the devil.
“The Swedish Church can absolutely not stand for that.”
It says that as it stands, the image has “too many unanswered questions.”
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The church has said it has not yet decided what to do with the image or if it will move it to another location, outside of the main church room.
The bishop of Lund, Johan Tyrberg, suggested to STV the church in question hung the image without due process being followed – before authorities higher up in the church agreed its precise location.
The pastor of Saint Paul, Sofia Tunebro, regretted the decision, telling AFP: “We’ve been marrying gay couples for 10 years, and with this artwork, it was a bit like hanging up a wedding photo in the church.”
Ohlson also said she was disappointed, telling AFP: “My calling has been to create Christian works which LGBTQ people can identify with.”
In a statement to Queerty, Ohlson said she was working on a new image to give to the church, “without a snake.”
She expressed some skepticism about the church’s reasoning for removing the artwork.
“Sweden like a lot of other countries in the world have a lot of strong, right-wing opinions about art.
“I think they blamed the snake as the reason to take the altarpiece down. I think they don’t want LGBT pictures inside the holy church room.”
tf3.0
Inevitably, being “woke” turns on itself.
In order to continue being offended, it must find offense even with its own existence.
It gobbles up every activity, picture, even history is not safe from its voracious judgment. Everything will eventually be canceled.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
This has gotten out of hand and personally I find that photo offensive and down right repulsive. Seriously, is it necessary to add OURselves to EVERYTHING? Please, I beg all of you, explain how it was possible for two men or a TRANS woman to produce life as we know it. Yes, religious nuts find my last nerve as well as yours but was this really necessary? This is what it is, SMUT, being passed off as art.
UlfRaynor
We have kids the same way str8 people have kids, we are just a little more creative about the process.
Any other adult things you need explained to you?
splunky
“Please, I beg all of you, explain how it was possible for two men or a TRANS woman to produce life as we know it. ”
Did you forget about the trans man that gave birth? That did actually happen, so I am pretty positive that there are some trans women that could (and did) impregnate cis women. And yes, 2 men or 2 women cannot create a child together, but there have been plenty of gay men and women who have created life with the opposite sex whether with the help of science or the natural way. And there are hetero couples who are infertile. And most importantly, why do you take the myth of Adam and Eve so seriously?
Brian
I’m sure the artist totally meant for it to be taken as a literal statement on biology. You are right to be offended.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Are you referring to the trans man who still had a vagina and gave birth? My god I dont believe you were that offended that you actually posted that idiotic reasoning. You no doubt went to an public school and I am sorry you suffered that much abuse in your life that you’ve lost touch with reality.
splunky
No I wasn’t offended at all about your moronic opinion. I was more amused than anything since it’s one of the most ridiculous comments on this blog I have ever seen. I’m obviously not the only one that thinks so too. And you didn’t read my ENTIRE reply like you should have, but that’s what idiots do. And it’s no doubt that you were schooled at home by inbred morons you call your parents. Bye.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
@flunky………Aw shucks. I was hoping for a more thorough explanation of that birth that “man” with the vagina gave but hey, its typical of people like you who don’t know when to declare victory and move on. And by the way, my parents were typical (man, woman or better yet penis, vagina), how about yours? Quit sitting around that SRO listening to those fresh out of jail girls talking smack and lying to you about things related to biology.
splunky
@Cyster I have a feeling that your parents are anything but typical, since they are likely blood relatives.
Diplomat-G
@sista bertha
“Offended”? “Smut”? Really, ok well if your going to give any credence to the story of Adam and Eve then you should be reminded that Adam and Eve are biologically brother and sister which means darling that the story of creation is based on incest. Get over it.
Wen
Why is there a man next to the lesbian couple? I am now ok this painting is taken down. Why a man there? Pretty lesbophobic. I am so tired of progressives doing this to lesbians.