Recently, I suddenly had an interest in reading the bible by browsing randomly through it. I planned to read the bible before and I would usually start from the first book of the Old Testament which is, most of you already knew, the Genesis; then I get overwhelmed by the genealogy of Adam’s descendants and eventually stop reading it again. This time, which is working more for me, I only browse some verses and chapters that interest me the most—starting on the bible’s standpoint on homosexuality. I tweeted most of the significant verses that caught the attention of a few Twitter followers of mine. I didn’t mean to preach, and I was only tweeting those verses for my own reference.
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I am a Roman Catholic, and while I discovered that the bible doesn’t really favor homosexuality, which somehow challenged my faith and religious beliefs, I have no plans in switching to a different religion, or be an Atheist, but I am keeping an open mind in thoroughly understanding the holy bible, and find better interpretations, be it within the Christian world or somewhere else. I do have a lot of questions, and like everyone else, I want answers and enlightenment. I think that the best way to start is to study this book, since this is the same book that changed the perspective of my ancestors, my countrymen, among million (or billion) others.
For now, let me share some verses I found in the book that caught my attention and some other suggested must-read by others: Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin. (Leviticus 18:22) If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense. (Leviticus 20:13) Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:17)
10 comments:
Wow... soul-searching?
The bible was written by men reflecting the general beliefs and culture of their time. We have ivolved as humans in our thinking and ideas. Slavery, stoning people to death, etc. are approved in the bible but the vast majority of people around the world don't approve of these practices anymore. Some things in the bible are good, some simply do not make any sense.
@anonymous exactly.
What amuses me is that we stick to old religious beliefs supposedly given by god when it remains verified fact that the bible was written well after jesus died which puts into account the whole authenticity of oral tradition (no pun intended)
It is good that you read the bible but follow what is in your discretion rational, logical and practical. Having sex with other men was widespread and accepted among highly civilized nations until catholicism spread.
We don't need god to be good, nor do we need to have the constant fear of hell to haunt us.
watch the documentary film "for the bible tells me so". essential viewing.
To the Anonymous guys:
Don't use modernized living as an excuse to discredit what is written in the Bible.
Oral tradition you might say but these are words of God relayed to the prophets who put them into writing. Do you think God will allow human error to cloud his own messages? If you think this way, then the Bible will just be a storybook that you read and not as holy as it should be.
Only pagans practice homosexuality in ancient times and that's why the descendants of Abraham were taught to shun idolatry and pagan practices in order to not contaminate themselves whith these immorally detestable practices. The Greek men have sex with fellow men as do women, Babylonians do as well, Egyptians take pleasure in them too and many other pagan civilizations. They were all pagans whose civilizations eventually perished as God deemed them detestable.
Never allow your finite wisdom to challenge or downplay the testaments. Yes, we are all human and may have had sex with other men already but this tolerant and condoning society is just a recurrence of Sodom and Gomorrah. Media has obviously influenced your thinking. You think just because we all have easy access to GAY stuff and same-sex marriage legalizations elsewhere doesn't mean it is spiritually pleasing in the eyes of GOD. i'm homo, too, but i never consider the Bible's messages as obsolete and antiquated. Inhumane practices like stoning and slavery were harsher than the norm but they were taken out of context by the then implementing hypocrite Jewish leaders. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ condemned these and set new standards of compassionate worship that's why the practices eventually disappeared following his teachings.
I suggest you read the Bible from cover to cover and shudder at the thought of how we all live our lives now similar to how it was then!
You are only excused from criticizing the Bible if you are pagan or belong to a non-Christian religion. But if you are Catholic like me, you should respect it or better denounce your faith and follow a non-Christian religion. Your own disbelief to the Bible just makes us Christians seem clowns to other religions!
"Organized" religion has been the bane of human civilization since its inception. (I'm fond of the saying I've seen on car bumper stickers that says "God, please protect me from your followers").
The verses you've posted have obviously been transliterated to point specifically to homosexuality as being a sin. Your quote apparently comes from the NLT (New Living Translation, 2007) Bible. The original words were not so specific, and homosexuality is referred to very few times in the Bible. As for verse 20:13, it's interesting to note other similar verses about different subjects as pointed out in the following link:
http://www.fallwell.com/selective%20quotation.html
Though I don't always count on the accuracy of Wikipedia it might provide you with a good starting reference for researching various interpretations of the old Hebrew verses on this subject. Fundamentalists have taken these verses and used them to bolster their own bias and sometimes radical views. The Catholic Church is no exception in this regard, having set itself up as the master of billions for centuries.
Organized religion ultimately is an institution for political control of the masses. It always has been. It has NOTHING to do with the relationship you or I or anyone, for that matter, have with our maker.
Challenges to your faith are only the ones that make you question your own inherent goodness. It is ultimately love in your heart that is of value, to the world, and to your maker. Trust THAT before trusting the words of ancients, or contemporaries who would enslave your nature and your spirit.
All the best.....
R.
To Confideinme:
i think you need to have your head examine. Fucking idiot!
I agree with "Anonymous." It is written by men with their own morality in perspective. Look at what the politicians are doing. The Bible had been revised in its edition several times. Does that mean somebody is still talking with God and taking His cue ? What about the Vatican who has more homosexuals in the closet and molest children that the current Pope had protected ? Hypocrisy is the word. If we only respect one another, the world would be a better place to live in irrespective of religious belief.
We should not be threatened or intimidated by this article and we should not also pressure ourselves to prevent our sexual orientations in life because as the bible says we are created by the image and likeness of God it depends on our hands of how we handle situations because at the end of the day we are all vulnerable of committing sins because temptation is everywhere.....As long as we're helping lives and not ruining it justice will always prevail... -myfears_mystrength@yahoo.com-
reading scriptures, taking it literally without putting it into its original context is a greater sin. the bible is not a book which is taken at face value.
better grab a copy of the documentary entitled "For the Bible Tells Me So" and know for certain that homosexuality is not a sin.
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