Date: Mon, 28 Nov 1994 10:06:30 -0500 (GMT-0500) From: "Thomas W. Holt Jr." Subject: Bible doesn't call homosexuality Bad. (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 25 Nov 1994 14:33:33 -0500 From: David B. O'Donnell To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Subject: Bible doesn't call homosexuality Bad. [ Send all responses to nap3902@DSACABQ1.DSAC.DLA.MIL only. Any responses to the list or list-owners will be returned to you. ] Bible doesn't call homosexuality bad. Published in the Letters section of the Albuquerque Tribune, Monday, November 14, 1994. Used by permission of the Editor. While a recent TIME/CNN poll shows that the gay lifestyle was called acceptable by 52 percent of Americans, up from 35 percent in 1978, a majority still said that gay relationships are morally wrong. Such moral condemnation is based on a misinterpretation of the Bible. Dr. Aurthur Frederick Ide in his book "Zoar and Her Sisters: the Bible, Homosexuality and Jesus Christ" claims that, "in neither Leviticus 18:22 nor Deutoronomy 23:18 is there a reference to homosexuality. The term is kedesh: cult prostitute." Cult prostitutes were seen as unclean and were forbidden in purity codes. Yale University history professor John Boswell writes in his book "Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality" that Leviticus' "purpose is to elaborate a system of ritual cleanliness whereby the Jews will be distinguished from neighboring peoples." He points out tht there is a distinction between intrinisic wrong and ritual impurity. Professor Boswell puts Leviticus' prohibition of cult prostition on a par with its other prohibitions against the consumption of pork, shellfish, and rabbit and its condemnations of hybridization, clothing of more than one type of fabric, and cuting of beard or hair. Dr. Ide spends two chapters on Romans 1:27-29. The denunciation was against hetersexuals who voluntarily chose to engage in homosexual activity. This is perversion - conscious choice - as opposed to inversion - unconscious/innate biological choice. Moreover, there are positive homosexual affairs reported in the Bible such as that between King David and Saul's son Jonathon in 1 Samuel 18:1-4, 20:41-42, and 2 Samual 1:25-26; and between Naomi and Ruth in the Book of Ruth. Solomon even wrote homoerotic poetry in the Song of Solomon 5:4-8, 5:10-16, and 8:1-3. Dr. Ide even portrays Jesus as a gay male who lived nearly exclusively in the company of men and even had a beloved desciple who was allowed to lay his head on Jesus' chest while they ate and talked as descriped in John 11:36, 13:25, 21:7 and 21:20. Originally written by "Jim Senszyn" of Highland Park New Jersey. -- ============================================================================= Tim W. Gallegos Life has enough limits, don't impose any new one. ___..---=========+*+==========---..__ ______________________ __,-='=====___=================== _____=====`= (._____________________I__) - _-=_/ `---------=+=--------' / /__...---===='---+---_' '------'----.___ - _ = _.-' `--------' nap3902@dsacabq1.dsac.dla.mil =============================================================================