The bible and homosexuality

The problem with biblical "condemnations" of homosexuality is the context in which they were written and the contexts in which they later were interpretted.For example: Dueteronomy 23:17King James reads, "There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel."This appears to condemn all men who practice anal copulation and oral sex whether with a woman (considering the legal definition of sodomy)or with another man.However, looking at the original, we find the word "qadesh" or "holy one" used in as likely reference a person engaged in the ritual prostitution available at some shrines and temples in Canaan. So, the verse more correctly translates as, "None of the daughters of Israel shall be a 'cult prostitute,' nor shall any of the sons of Israel be a 'cult prostitute.'"Due to the fact that no anti-homosexual pronouncements are recorded as originating from Jesus, some biblical scholars think that the several NT verses commonly cited by Christian homophobics likewise originally referred more to ritual prostitution rather than secular homosexuality.Peace. Ab.

In Message 126, Zachariah asserts that "... homosexuality [as] a whole is unnatural ... the whole idea behind procreation of the species is so we can go on."Zach, you should spend some time studying monkeys, baboons, and apes. You'll find that many species closely related to homo sapiens engage in acts that would be classified by the laws of man as "sodomy" and "homosexuality." These act include anal penetration of young males by the dominant male, and playful sexual interactions between troop members of the same sex. Animal behaviorists believe certain behavior that appears as homosexual to the casual viewer in fact is necessary to establish order and promote successful perpetuation of the species.In brief summary, just because man has outlawed certain physical acts does not necessarily make them "unnatural." As a heterosexual lay person, I am not declaring homosexuality to be the "natural state of mankind," but I also don't feel qualified (or driven) to declare it unnatural or abominable.Peace. Ab.