Ever wish you could talk with someone who understands poetry and the mysteries of love? Someone with a connection to Aphrodite and a great understanding of love. What advice would Sappho give?
Monday, February 27, 2012
Does the Bible Condemn Homosexuality?
Dear Sappho
What biblical verses are used to condemn homosexuality? Does the Bible say a woman cannot love another woman?
Dear Judge Me Not? “The words “homosexual” and “homosexuality” do not appear in the Bible the concept of sexual orientation dates only from the late 19th century.” http://www.worldpolicy.newschool.edu/globalrights/sexorient/bible-gay.html
The biblical text used to condemn homosexuality is based from Leviticus. Leviticus is considered to be laws passed down by Moses to the Levites. Leviticus receives its name from the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation) and means "relating to the Levites”. It contains directions for establishing Israel's personal relationship with Yahweh. It reached its present form in the Persian period (538-332 BCE)
Leviticus 18:22 - You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination. The bible doesn't say anything about lesbians explicitly unless you accept that rule they mean to substitute woman everywhere you see man. What other “sins” does Leviticus condemn?
Let’s explore some other verses that modern Christians do not quote out of Leviticus.
9:19 You shall keep my statutes. You shall not crossbreed different kinds of animals. you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; neither shall there come upon on you a garment made of two kinds of material. 11:10 All that don’t have fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination to you. Leviticus15:19-24. No contact is allowed with menstruating females. Leviticus 25-44 states that men can possess slaves both and female provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. 11:26 Every animal which parts the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor chews the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean.
Religious fanatics have used the verses above to condemn homosexuals to death, to deny them equal marriage rights, immigration and custody rights. They have been quoting this verse for 2500 years to both keep and make harassment and discrimination legal. The question is can something from 5th century BCE Persian era be considered lawful reason to deny constitutional and human rights. And if so, what are we going to do about the people who eat pork, shellfish, lobster, and wear clothes made of two kinds of materials.
Dear Judge Me Not?
ReplyDelete“The words “homosexual” and “homosexuality” do not appear in the Bible the concept of sexual orientation dates only from the late 19th century.” http://www.worldpolicy.newschool.edu/globalrights/sexorient/bible-gay.html
The biblical text used to condemn homosexuality is based from Leviticus. Leviticus is considered to be laws passed down by Moses to the Levites. Leviticus receives its name from the Septuagint (the pre-Christian Greek translation) and means "relating to the Levites”. It contains directions for establishing Israel's personal relationship with Yahweh. It reached its present form in the Persian period (538-332 BCE)
Leviticus 18:22 - You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination. The bible doesn't say anything about lesbians explicitly unless you accept that rule they mean to substitute woman everywhere you see man. What other “sins” does Leviticus condemn?
Let’s explore some other verses that modern Christians do not quote out of Leviticus.
9:19 You shall keep my statutes. You shall not crossbreed different kinds of animals. you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; neither shall there come upon on you a garment made of two kinds of material.
11:10 All that don’t have fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination to you.
Leviticus15:19-24. No contact is allowed with menstruating females.
Leviticus 25-44 states that men can possess slaves both and female provided they are purchased from neighboring nations.
11:26 Every animal which parts the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor chews the cud, is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them shall be unclean.
Religious fanatics have used the verses above to condemn homosexuals to death, to deny them equal marriage rights, immigration and custody rights. They have been quoting this verse for 2500 years to both keep and make harassment and discrimination legal. The question is can something from 5th century BCE Persian era be considered lawful reason to deny constitutional and human rights. And if so, what are we going to do about the people who eat pork, shellfish, lobster, and wear clothes made of two kinds of materials.
Love,
Sappho