The Bible And Being Gay
The Jewish historian Josephus (AD 37 – c. 100) used the term “Sodomites” in summarizing the Genesis narrative:
“About this time the Sodomites grew proud, on account of their riches and great wealth; they became unjust towards men, and impious towards God, in so much that they did not call to mind the advantages they received from him: they hated strangers, and abused themselves with Sodomitical practices” "Now when the Sodomites saw the young men to be of beautiful countenances, and this to an extraordinary degree, and that they took up their lodgings with Lot, they resolved themselves to enjoy these beautiful boys by force and violence; and when Lot exhorted them to sobriety, and not to offer any thing immodest to the strangers, but to have regard to their lodging in his house; and promised that if their inclinations could not be governed, he would expose his daughters to their lust, instead of these strangers; neither thus were they made ashamed." (Antiquities 1.11.1,3) [1] — circa A.D. 96)
and Leviticus 20:13 states:
“ If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
Books of Samuel: David and Jonathan
David and Jonathan,
"La Somme le Roy", 1290; French illuminated ms (detail); British Museum
Main article: David and Jonathan
The account of the intimate relationship between David and Jonathan was recorded favourably in the Books of Samuel (1 Samuel 18; 20; 2 Samuel 1) and there is an ongoing debate whether this relationship was platonic, romantic but chaste, or sexual.
The two most significant passages are 1 Samuel 18:3-4 (TNIV):
“ And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
And 2 Samuel 1:26 (TNIV):
“ I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;
you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,
more wonderful than that of women.
”
“ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. ”
In Mark 7: 20-23 (KJV) it says:
“ And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
“ For this reason [idolatry] God gave them up to passions of dishonor; for even their females exchanged the natural use for that which is contrary to nature, and likewise also the males, having left the natural use of the female, were inflamed by their lust for one another, males with males, committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was fitting for their error. ”
the fact that Paul did not use one of the more common Greek terms, and given its direct reference to the Levitical laws, it is a matter of debate whether Paul was referring generally to any person having homosexual sex, or whether (as discussed below) it referred only to anal sex of any form (cf. Elliott 2004). Other translations of the word include Martin's (1996), who argued it meant "homosexual slave trader" and Boswell (1980) who argued it referred to "homosexual rape" or homosexual prostitutes. Scroggs perceives it as referring to pederasty.[37] Opposing these views are extensive examinations by D. F. Wright[38] and James B. De Young[39]
In the 1860's, Karl Maria Kertbeny coined "homosexual" in preference to "pederast," the derogatory term for men who had sex with each other that was in common use in the Germany of his time. According to Kertbeny, many homosexuals are more masculine than ordinary men and are often superior to run of the mill heterosexuals who tend, in his opinion, toward rape and mayhem because they are oversexed. Kertbeny hoped that his new word and his definition of it would help to eliminate Paragraph 175, Germany's oppressive anti-pederasty law, but the strategy didn't work. Instead, Richard von Krafft-Ebing and other doctors adopted it as a diagnosis for mental pathology.
The meaning of the word gay has changed dramatically during the 20 th century—though the change evolved from earlier usages. It derives via the Old French gai, probably from a Germanic source. The word originally meant "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy" and was very commonly used with this meaning in speech and literature.
The word started to acquire sexual connotations in the late 17 th century, being used with meaning "addicted to pleasures and dissipations". This was by extension from the primary meaning of "carefree": implying "uninhibited by moral constraints". By the late nineteenth century the term "gay life" was a well-established euphemism for prostitution and other forms of extramarital sexual behaviour that were perceived as immoral.
Formal Confusion
By Phil Baldi, Pennsylvania State University
Well, here's a pair of terms that are sure to be confusing to a lot of people, namely the "homo" of "homosexual" and the "homo" of "homo sapiens". The word "homosexual" of course means 'someone who shows feelings for someone of the same sex'. It is first attested with this meaning in English around the turn of the century. It is coined from two classical roots: the Greek form "homo-", which is an adjective meaning 'same', found also in forms such as homogeneous and homonym, and the Latin root "sexus", which means 'male or female sex, gender'. So, homo-sexual literally means 'of the same sex or gender'. In principle, the term "homosexual" is indifferent to gender (that is, you can have male and female homosexuals), though current usage seems to favor members of the masculine gender. The "homo-" part of "homosexual" can be used alone as "homo", a derogatory shortening of the full form "homosexual" which has been in use since the 1920's.
Answers.com
homosexuality
Dictionary: ho·mo·sex·u·al·i·ty (hō'mə-sĕk'shū-ăl'ĭ-tē, -mō-) pronunciation
Home > Library > Literature & Language > Dictionary
n.
1. Sexual orientation to persons of the same sex.
2. Sexual activity with another of the same sex.
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US Supreme Court: Homosexuality
Top
Home > Library > Law & Legal Issues > US Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has protected some aspects of sexual autonomy within the context of a constitutional right of privacy. It has recognized an individual's right to use contraceptives in Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) and Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972), and upheld a woman's right to decide whether or not to terminate her pregnancy in Roe v. Wade (1973). Initially, however, the Court refused to construe the right of privacy to protect consensual homosexual activity by adults in their own homes.
The Bible has long been used by society to discriminate against, and persecute gays and lesbians. Careful study, however, reveals that while the Bible does condemn homosexual and heterosexual cult prostitution, it says nothing about loving committed homosexual relationships. Jesus himself said nothing about homosexuality, which leads many to believe it was not one of his main concerns.
Unfortunately, many passages from the Bible are often taken out of context, or interpreted without consideration for the cultural aspects associated with the time period in which they were written. To emphasize this point, consider the following sentence: "He was such a neat man." In order to understand the writers meaning, you must consider the time period in which it was written. If this sentence were written in the 1900's it would be assumed that the word "neat", was a reference to the man's tidiness. If it were written in 1996, however, the word "neat" could be interpreted to mean both tidy, or the presence of admirable qualities.
Many versions of the Bible exist. Each reflects the limited scientific knowledge, personal beliefs of its translators, and the social beliefs of the time period in which it was translated. Personal biases, and societies prejudices have unavoidably distorted the Bible's many translations. In addition, it is sometimes difficult to find a current word that accurately defines the Hebrew or Greek term in question. Unfortunately, this has resulted in the mistranslation of some of the more ambiguous text contained in the Bible.
“About this time the Sodomites grew proud, on account of their riches and great wealth; they became unjust towards men, and impious towards God, in so much that they did not call to mind the advantages they received from him: they hated strangers, and abused themselves with Sodomitical practices” "Now when the Sodomites saw the young men to be of beautiful countenances, and this to an extraordinary degree, and that they took up their lodgings with Lot, they resolved themselves to enjoy these beautiful boys by force and violence; and when Lot exhorted them to sobriety, and not to offer any thing immodest to the strangers, but to have regard to their lodging in his house; and promised that if their inclinations could not be governed, he would expose his daughters to their lust, instead of these strangers; neither thus were they made ashamed." (Antiquities 1.11.1,3) [1] — circa A.D. 96)
and Leviticus 20:13 states:
“ If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
Books of Samuel: David and Jonathan
David and Jonathan,
"La Somme le Roy", 1290; French illuminated ms (detail); British Museum
Main article: David and Jonathan
The account of the intimate relationship between David and Jonathan was recorded favourably in the Books of Samuel (1 Samuel 18; 20; 2 Samuel 1) and there is an ongoing debate whether this relationship was platonic, romantic but chaste, or sexual.
The two most significant passages are 1 Samuel 18:3-4 (TNIV):
“ And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
And 2 Samuel 1:26 (TNIV):
“ I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;
you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,
more wonderful than that of women.
”
“ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. ”
In Mark 7: 20-23 (KJV) it says:
“ And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
“ For this reason [idolatry] God gave them up to passions of dishonor; for even their females exchanged the natural use for that which is contrary to nature, and likewise also the males, having left the natural use of the female, were inflamed by their lust for one another, males with males, committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was fitting for their error. ”
the fact that Paul did not use one of the more common Greek terms, and given its direct reference to the Levitical laws, it is a matter of debate whether Paul was referring generally to any person having homosexual sex, or whether (as discussed below) it referred only to anal sex of any form (cf. Elliott 2004). Other translations of the word include Martin's (1996), who argued it meant "homosexual slave trader" and Boswell (1980) who argued it referred to "homosexual rape" or homosexual prostitutes. Scroggs perceives it as referring to pederasty.[37] Opposing these views are extensive examinations by D. F. Wright[38] and James B. De Young[39]
In the 1860's, Karl Maria Kertbeny coined "homosexual" in preference to "pederast," the derogatory term for men who had sex with each other that was in common use in the Germany of his time. According to Kertbeny, many homosexuals are more masculine than ordinary men and are often superior to run of the mill heterosexuals who tend, in his opinion, toward rape and mayhem because they are oversexed. Kertbeny hoped that his new word and his definition of it would help to eliminate Paragraph 175, Germany's oppressive anti-pederasty law, but the strategy didn't work. Instead, Richard von Krafft-Ebing and other doctors adopted it as a diagnosis for mental pathology.
The meaning of the word gay has changed dramatically during the 20 th century—though the change evolved from earlier usages. It derives via the Old French gai, probably from a Germanic source. The word originally meant "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy" and was very commonly used with this meaning in speech and literature.
The word started to acquire sexual connotations in the late 17 th century, being used with meaning "addicted to pleasures and dissipations". This was by extension from the primary meaning of "carefree": implying "uninhibited by moral constraints". By the late nineteenth century the term "gay life" was a well-established euphemism for prostitution and other forms of extramarital sexual behaviour that were perceived as immoral.
Formal Confusion
By Phil Baldi, Pennsylvania State University
Well, here's a pair of terms that are sure to be confusing to a lot of people, namely the "homo" of "homosexual" and the "homo" of "homo sapiens". The word "homosexual" of course means 'someone who shows feelings for someone of the same sex'. It is first attested with this meaning in English around the turn of the century. It is coined from two classical roots: the Greek form "homo-", which is an adjective meaning 'same', found also in forms such as homogeneous and homonym, and the Latin root "sexus", which means 'male or female sex, gender'. So, homo-sexual literally means 'of the same sex or gender'. In principle, the term "homosexual" is indifferent to gender (that is, you can have male and female homosexuals), though current usage seems to favor members of the masculine gender. The "homo-" part of "homosexual" can be used alone as "homo", a derogatory shortening of the full form "homosexual" which has been in use since the 1920's.
Answers.com
homosexuality
Dictionary: ho·mo·sex·u·al·i·ty (hō'mə-sĕk'shū-ăl'ĭ-tē, -mō-) pronunciation
Home > Library > Literature & Language > Dictionary
n.
1. Sexual orientation to persons of the same sex.
2. Sexual activity with another of the same sex.
Answers.com
* Answers.com ▼
o Home Page
o Browse
o Personalize
o Print page
o Email page
o Translate page
* WikiAnswers.com ▼
o Home Page
o Browse
o Recently Answered
o Recently Asked
o Unanswered questions
* Search
* Help
*
*
Search unanswered questions...
* Browse: Unanswered questions | Most-recent questions | Reference library
Enter a question or phrase...
All Community Q&A Reference topics
* Browse: Unanswered questions | Most-recent questions | Reference library
US Supreme Court: Homosexuality
Top
Home > Library > Law & Legal Issues > US Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has protected some aspects of sexual autonomy within the context of a constitutional right of privacy. It has recognized an individual's right to use contraceptives in Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) and Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972), and upheld a woman's right to decide whether or not to terminate her pregnancy in Roe v. Wade (1973). Initially, however, the Court refused to construe the right of privacy to protect consensual homosexual activity by adults in their own homes.
The Bible has long been used by society to discriminate against, and persecute gays and lesbians. Careful study, however, reveals that while the Bible does condemn homosexual and heterosexual cult prostitution, it says nothing about loving committed homosexual relationships. Jesus himself said nothing about homosexuality, which leads many to believe it was not one of his main concerns.
Unfortunately, many passages from the Bible are often taken out of context, or interpreted without consideration for the cultural aspects associated with the time period in which they were written. To emphasize this point, consider the following sentence: "He was such a neat man." In order to understand the writers meaning, you must consider the time period in which it was written. If this sentence were written in the 1900's it would be assumed that the word "neat", was a reference to the man's tidiness. If it were written in 1996, however, the word "neat" could be interpreted to mean both tidy, or the presence of admirable qualities.
Many versions of the Bible exist. Each reflects the limited scientific knowledge, personal beliefs of its translators, and the social beliefs of the time period in which it was translated. Personal biases, and societies prejudices have unavoidably distorted the Bible's many translations. In addition, it is sometimes difficult to find a current word that accurately defines the Hebrew or Greek term in question. Unfortunately, this has resulted in the mistranslation of some of the more ambiguous text contained in the Bible.
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