by Lynette Alice

Created on: June 24, 2008   Last Updated: July 27, 2009

Homosexuality and and the gay rights movement are in the news again with California's legalization of gay marriage. Debate on this topic has elicited many arguments on each side. Usually it comes down to little more than one side saying it is allowing two people in love to legally celebrate that love, and the other side claiming it is against God, immoral, and should therefore be illegal. In exploring the issue further, what does the Bible really say about homosexuality?

Genesis 19 is a passage people run to in regards to homosexuality when referencing the Bible. It details Lot's visitation by two angels and the subsequent events. In short the mob of townspeople wanted to meet with the angels to "know" them. Lot refused and offered his two virgin daughters to the mob to be heterosexually raped in their place. The mob declined and the city was destroyed. Nowhere does it say the city was destroyed because of homosexuality although it is the view many seem happy to accept. In Matthew 10:14-15 and Luke 10:7-16 Jesus implied the sin of the citizens of Sodom was not homosexuality but their inhospitable treatment of strangers. In Ezekiel 16:48-50 God clearly stated it was because of their pride, excess in food and drink, and worship of idols. No mention of sex anywhere. In short the sins of Sodom had nothing to do with sodomy. Not in Dueteronomy 29:23, Isiah 1:9. Jeremiah 23:14, Lamentations 4:6, Amos 4:11, Luke 17:29, Romans 9:29, Jude v.7, or Revelation 11:8 which all make reference to Sodom does it ever bring up their sins as being sexual.

Leviticus verses 18:22 and 20:13 have long been a favorite clobber passages against homosexuality, but again, what does it really say? "Thou shall not lie with mankind as with womankind: it is abomination." This is a part of the Jewish Holiness Code which also prohibits polygamy, intercourse with a woman on her period, tattoos, dietary laws, poly blend clothing, cross breeding livestock, mixed field sowing, and requires a Saturday sabbath. It also states a woman is not telling the truth if she claims she was raped but no one heard her scream. Male homosexuality was considered as idolatry because man was viewed as the perfect representation of God. Also worth noting, only the male that was penetrated was considered to be degraded as he assumed the role of an "inferior" woman. Likewise as women were considered imperfect and degraded at birth, lesbianism was perfectly fine.

Since the Christian faith system abandoned following

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