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===Homosexuality among the Jews===

===Homosexuality among the Jews===

As [[Leviticus 18]] and other texts evidences, homosexuality was forbidden among the Jews, with violation being a capital offense. In providing Israel with a superior moral standard as well in other areas, God invoked the example of immoral nations, fitted for destruction, as manifesting the behavior with Israel was not to follow. This means of contrast, which does not limit the forbidden behavior to only that culture, is seen in the [[New Testament]] as well. (Rm. 1:19-32; Eph. 5:1-7) 1Pt. 4:2-4)

As [[Leviticus 18]] and other texts evidence, homosexuality was forbidden among the Jews, with violation being a capital offense. In providing Israel with a superior moral standard, as well in other areas, God invoked the example of immoral nations, fitted for destruction, as manifesting the behavior which Israel was ''not'' to follow. This means of contrast, which does not limit the forbidden behavior to only that culture, is seen in the [[New Testament]] as well. (Rm. 1:19-32; Eph. 5:1-7) 1Pt. 4:2-4)

Israel was established an overall victorious nation as they overall followed God, as He promised. However, when Israel backslid into idolatry then homosexuality was seen among them, though it is not evidenced to have degenerated past being religious being part of idolatrous ceremony, (Dt. 23:17,18) and into pederasty and household homoeroticism. What was sanctioned by the temple set the moral example for the rest of the nation, and when Israel responded to the chastening of God under good kings, then cultic prostitutes were driven out of the land. (1Kg. 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; 2Kg. 23:7)   

Israel was established as an overall victorious nation as they overall followed God, as He promised. (Dt. 28) However, when Israel backslid into idolatry then homosexuality was seen among them, though it is not evidenced to have degenerated past the stage of idolatrous ceremony, (Dt. 23:17,18) into pederasty and household homoeroticism. What was sanctioned by the temple set the moral example for the rest of the nation, and when Israel responded to the chastening of God under good kings, then cultic prostitutes were driven out of the land. (1Kg. 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; 2Kg. 23:7)   

The terrible chastisements Israel suffered, after being warned by God for hundreds of years to return to obedient faith, appears to have cured them from outward idolatry and homosexuality in any form. The author of the Syballine Oracles, thought to be an Egyptian Jew (approx. 163 - 45 B.C.), compared Jews to the other nations, stating,

The terrible chastisements Israel suffered, after being warned by God for hundreds of years to return to obedient faith, appears to have cured them from outward idolatry, and homosexuality in any form. The author of the Syballine Oracles, thought to be an Egyptian Jew (approx. 163 - 45 B.C.), compared Jews to the other nations, stating,

The Jews "are mindful of holy wedlock, and they do not engage in impious intercourse with male children, as do Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Romans, specious Greece and many nations of others, Persians and Galatians and all Asia."<ref>Greenberg, p. 200, footnote 88</ref>  

The Jews "are mindful of holy wedlock, and they do not engage in impious intercourse with male children, as do Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Romans, specious Greece and many nations of others, Persians and Galatians and all Asia."<ref>Greenberg, p. 200, footnote 88</ref>  

In contemporary times, according sex researcher sex historian Arno Karlen [[Alfred Kinsey]]  stated that "homosexuality was phenomenally rare among Orthodox Jews" (even though his flawed research exaggerated the number of homosexuals overall).

In contemporary times, according to sex researcher sex historian Arno Karlen [[Alfred Kinsey]]  stated that "homosexuality was phenomenally rare among Orthodox Jews" (even though his flawed research otherwise exaggerated the number of homosexuals).

===Homosexuality in the Arab and Islamic worlds===

===Homosexuality in the Arab and Islamic worlds===