Difference between revisions of "History of homosexuality"
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| + | The history of [[homosexuality]] is one that begins not long after the [[fall of man]] and the resultant harmful effects, with man realizing an Adamic nature, with a tendency to sin. Many Christian scholars believe that [[Ham]], the youngest son of [[Noah]], committed a homosexual act on his father,<ref>[http://www.robgagnon.net/2Views/HomoViaRespNotesRev.pdf Notes to Gagnon’s Essay in the Gagnon-Via Two Views Book, #32, by Robert A. J. Gagnon, Ph.D.]</ref><ref>The Bible and Homosexual Practice, pp. 63-78, 91-110</ref> while the latter was asleep, having been overcome with wine. Later, [[Leviticus 18]] universally outlaws men laying with men as with women, with this being a capital crime, (Lv. 18:22; 20:13), with an additional separate prohibition evidently forbidding homosexual religious prostitution. (Dt. 23:17) The context of these commands is one which invokes the practice of Israel's surrounding culture as an example of what not to do, thus evidencing that this was a pagan cultural practice. Additional evidence shows that homosexual practice was generally not outlawed in the Ancient Near East (ANE), and was certainly tolerated in that area and time in private as well as religious life.<ref>Mesopotamia: Writing, Reasoning, and the Gods, Jean Bottero, Univ of Chicago:1992, pp. 190-192</ref> Miller adds that in contrast, "Israel's God condemned this behavior in EVERY culture in which it was mentioned(!): ANE (i.e. Sodom), Canaanite and Egyptian (i.e. Lev 18:3), Israelite (Lev 18, 20), Roman (Rom 1), Hellenistic (I Tim 1.9), and Greek (I Cor 6.9)."<ref>[http://www.christian-thinktank.com/qamorite.html Good Question... Homosexual practices]</ref> For the follower of the Bible therefore, homosexuality is not new, nor unexpected, but neither is it justified, as God is seen giving man grace to resist and overcome sin. (Gn. 4:7; Ja. 1:12-15) See also [[Homosexuality and biblical interpretation]] | ||
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| + | The two most principal areas of historical inquiry which have been studied by historians in relation to ancient occurrences of homosexuality are [[Roman Homosexuality|Roman homosexuality]] and [[Greek Homosexuality|Greek homosexuality]]. | ||
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| + | ==Non-uniform occurrence== | ||
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One of the most interesting aspects of the '''history of homosexuality''' is that it has been rare in a number of cultures or been absent in some cultures. For example, Dr. Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead state regarding various cultures: "If [[homosexuality]] were significantly influenced by [[gene]]s, it would appear in every culture, but in twenty-nine of seventy-nine cultures surveyed by Ford and Beach in 1952, homosexuality was rare or absent."<ref>[http://www.mygenes.co.nz/download.htm My Genes Made Me Do it - a scientific look at sexual orientation by Dr Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead - Chapter 6]</ref> | One of the most interesting aspects of the '''history of homosexuality''' is that it has been rare in a number of cultures or been absent in some cultures. For example, Dr. Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead state regarding various cultures: "If [[homosexuality]] were significantly influenced by [[gene]]s, it would appear in every culture, but in twenty-nine of seventy-nine cultures surveyed by Ford and Beach in 1952, homosexuality was rare or absent."<ref>[http://www.mygenes.co.nz/download.htm My Genes Made Me Do it - a scientific look at sexual orientation by Dr Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead - Chapter 6]</ref> | ||
| − | + | ==Contemporary conflict== | |
In modern times in the [[United States]] the term "[[Culture War]]" has been used to describe the polarization on various issues between [[conservatives]] and [[liberals]] and the issue of homosexuality is part of this conflict. Conservatives point out that the weight of evidence shows there is a [[Homosexuality Research|significant body of research showing the homosexuality inordinately harms individuals and the larger society as a whole in comparison to heterosexuality]] (for example, through higher rates of diseases, higher domestic violence rates, etc.). | In modern times in the [[United States]] the term "[[Culture War]]" has been used to describe the polarization on various issues between [[conservatives]] and [[liberals]] and the issue of homosexuality is part of this conflict. Conservatives point out that the weight of evidence shows there is a [[Homosexuality Research|significant body of research showing the homosexuality inordinately harms individuals and the larger society as a whole in comparison to heterosexuality]] (for example, through higher rates of diseases, higher domestic violence rates, etc.). | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[Homosexuality and English Speaking Countries]] | *[[Homosexuality and English Speaking Countries]] | ||
Revision as of 02:37, May 24, 2009
The history of homosexuality is one that begins not long after the fall of man and the resultant harmful effects, with man realizing an Adamic nature, with a tendency to sin. Many Christian scholars believe that Ham, the youngest son of Noah, committed a homosexual act on his father,[1][2] while the latter was asleep, having been overcome with wine. Later, Leviticus 18 universally outlaws men laying with men as with women, with this being a capital crime, (Lv. 18:22; 20:13), with an additional separate prohibition evidently forbidding homosexual religious prostitution. (Dt. 23:17) The context of these commands is one which invokes the practice of Israel's surrounding culture as an example of what not to do, thus evidencing that this was a pagan cultural practice. Additional evidence shows that homosexual practice was generally not outlawed in the Ancient Near East (ANE), and was certainly tolerated in that area and time in private as well as religious life.[3] Miller adds that in contrast, "Israel's God condemned this behavior in EVERY culture in which it was mentioned(!): ANE (i.e. Sodom), Canaanite and Egyptian (i.e. Lev 18:3), Israelite (Lev 18, 20), Roman (Rom 1), Hellenistic (I Tim 1.9), and Greek (I Cor 6.9)."[4] For the follower of the Bible therefore, homosexuality is not new, nor unexpected, but neither is it justified, as God is seen giving man grace to resist and overcome sin. (Gn. 4:7; Ja. 1:12-15) See also Homosexuality and biblical interpretation
The two most principal areas of historical inquiry which have been studied by historians in relation to ancient occurrences of homosexuality are Roman homosexuality and Greek homosexuality.
Non-uniform occurrence
One of the most interesting aspects of the history of homosexuality is that it has been rare in a number of cultures or been absent in some cultures. For example, Dr. Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead state regarding various cultures: "If homosexuality were significantly influenced by genes, it would appear in every culture, but in twenty-nine of seventy-nine cultures surveyed by Ford and Beach in 1952, homosexuality was rare or absent."[5]
Contemporary conflict
In modern times in the United States the term "Culture War" has been used to describe the polarization on various issues between conservatives and liberals and the issue of homosexuality is part of this conflict. Conservatives point out that the weight of evidence shows there is a significant body of research showing the homosexuality inordinately harms individuals and the larger society as a whole in comparison to heterosexuality (for example, through higher rates of diseases, higher domestic violence rates, etc.).
See also
References
- ↑ Notes to Gagnon’s Essay in the Gagnon-Via Two Views Book, #32, by Robert A. J. Gagnon, Ph.D.
- ↑ The Bible and Homosexual Practice, pp. 63-78, 91-110
- ↑ Mesopotamia: Writing, Reasoning, and the Gods, Jean Bottero, Univ of Chicago:1992, pp. 190-192
- ↑ Good Question... Homosexual practices
- ↑ My Genes Made Me Do it - a scientific look at sexual orientation by Dr Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead - Chapter 6