History of homosexuality

The study of the history of homosexuality attempts to catalog evidence of homosexuality from its earliest occurrences to the present.

Terminology

The use of the term homosexuality in the study of ancient sexuality has found some dissatisfaction, due to the lack of a term in ancient literature corresponding the the modern concept of persons who are consistently sexually attracted to their own gender, over the opposite sex. However, ancient literature refers to those who by their actions seem to have manifested such, especially as regards the male who played the female partner. The primary moral authority on the subject, the Bible, does not explicitly refer to homosexual inclination, though it is reasonable to believe that the word malakos, translated effeminate (1Cor. 6:9) in the KJV may denote homosexual "orientation." The lack of terms in the Bible for certain behaviors which correspond to modern psychological diagnostics may also be explained as being due to the fact that the Bible does not justify inherently unlawful actions even if one has an inner inclination to do them, but calls and enables victory over such. (Gn. 4:7; Col. 3:5-8)

Homosexuality in the Bible

Homosexuality, as evidenced by homosexual acts, is manifested not long after the fall of man and its resultant harmful effects, with man realizing an Adamic nature and its tendency to sin. Many Christian scholars believe that Ham, the youngest son of Noah, committed a homosexual act on his father, 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. 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)." 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

Extra-biblical occurrences

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."

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

• Homosexuality and English Speaking Countries
• Homosexuality in other cultures