Difference between revisions of "History of homosexuality"
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==Extra-biblical occurrences== | ==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 [[Greek Homosexuality|Greek homosexuality]] [[Roman Homosexuality|Roman homosexuality]]. | + | The two most principal areas of historical inquiry which have been studied by historians in relation to ancient occurrences of homosexuality are [[Greek Homosexuality|Greek homosexuality]] and [[Roman Homosexuality|Roman homosexuality]]. |
| − | Homosexuality is seen among mythological Greek gods (similar Romans gods had Latin names<ref>[http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mythology/myths.html Roman and greek mythology of gods and goddesses]</ref><ref>[http://www.americanbible.org/absport/news/item.php?id=80 Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses]</ref><ref>http://messagenet.com/myths/immortals.html</ref>). | + | As James B. De Young notes, homosexuality seems to have existed more widely among the ancient Greeks more than among any other ancient culture. The main form of this was pederasty, a custom that seems to have been practiced mostly among the upper classes, in which an older man (the ''erastest'') would make a young free boy (the ''eromenos'') his sex partner, and become his mentor. This was regulated by the State as an institution. Slave boys could also subjected to such. However, this practice was usually a supplement to marriage,<ref>Dover, K.J., Greek Homosexuality (Harvard University Press, 1989, as summarized in "Homosexuality," Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, August 2002)</ref> and thus is seen as being done by bisexuals, though it is held by some that most homosexuals are also such today.<ref>Dr. John R. Diggs, Jr., author of The Health Risks Of Gay Sex, referenced at http://www.narth.com/docs/britjournal.html</ref> The practice of pederasty is mentioned in Homer's ''Illiad'', and is evidenced to have existed at least 4500 years in ancient Egypt. |
| + | |||
| + | Yet the Greeks also practiced other forms of homoeroticism. Homosexual relations existed among equals, though it was considered problematic, as while the predominate man was considered to be masculine, the one who played the female role would be seen as inferior.<ref>John Boardman et al, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World, 1986, pp. 225-226.</ref> The famous Greek philosopher [[Plato]] around 348 B.C. describes and implies the widespread practice of such, and advocates laws to regulate it.<ref>Laws 636a-c; 835-c; 836a-e; 838b-839b; 840de; 841de</ref> One of the most explicit records of disapproval of homosexuality is found in Laws 636c, in which Plato, speaking through the character of the Athenian stranger, describes homosexual relations as an "enormity" or "crime" (tolmema), and explains that it derives from being enslaved to pleasure. He plainly rejects homosexual behavior as "unnatural" (para physin), as “When male unites with female for procreation the pleasure experienced is held to be due to nature, but contrary to nature when male mates with male or female with female”. Homosexuality is also described regarded as shameful by barbarians and by those who live under despotic governments.<ref>[http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/romans_malick.pdf David E. Malick, "The Condemnation of Homosexuality in Romans 1:26-27"]</ref><ref>[http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9406/opinion/opinion.html First Things, Peter L. Berger, Leadership U.]</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Homosexuality in myths=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Homosexuality is seen by many among mythological Greek gods (similar Romans gods had Latin names<ref>[http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mythology/myths.html Roman and greek mythology of gods and goddesses]</ref><ref>[http://www.americanbible.org/absport/news/item.php?id=80 Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses]</ref><ref>http://messagenet.com/myths/immortals.html</ref>). Instances and possibilities include | ||
*Zeus and Ganymede, | *Zeus and Ganymede, | ||
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*Heracles (or Hercules) and Hylas, | *Heracles (or Hercules) and Hylas, | ||
*Narcissus and Ameinias. | *Narcissus and Ameinias. | ||
| − | + | *Other gods who to homosexual affairs are attributed include Orpheus ("the first man to love boys"), Boreas (god of the North Wind) and Thamyris.<ref>[http://everything2.com/title/Homosexuals%2520of%2520Greek%2520Mythology Homosexuals of Greek Mythology]</ref> | |
| − | Other gods who to homosexual affairs are attributed include Orpheus ("the first man to love boys"), Boreas (god of the North Wind) and Thamyris.<ref>[http://everything2.com/title/Homosexuals%2520of%2520Greek%2520Mythology Homosexuals of Greek Mythology]</ref> | ||
==Non-uniform occurrence== | ==Non-uniform occurrence== | ||
Revision as of 17:55, May 28, 2009
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.[1] 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,[2][3] 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.[4] 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)."[5] 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 Greek homosexuality and Roman homosexuality.
As James B. De Young notes, homosexuality seems to have existed more widely among the ancient Greeks more than among any other ancient culture. The main form of this was pederasty, a custom that seems to have been practiced mostly among the upper classes, in which an older man (the erastest) would make a young free boy (the eromenos) his sex partner, and become his mentor. This was regulated by the State as an institution. Slave boys could also subjected to such. However, this practice was usually a supplement to marriage,[6] and thus is seen as being done by bisexuals, though it is held by some that most homosexuals are also such today.[7] The practice of pederasty is mentioned in Homer's Illiad, and is evidenced to have existed at least 4500 years in ancient Egypt.
Yet the Greeks also practiced other forms of homoeroticism. Homosexual relations existed among equals, though it was considered problematic, as while the predominate man was considered to be masculine, the one who played the female role would be seen as inferior.[8] The famous Greek philosopher Plato around 348 B.C. describes and implies the widespread practice of such, and advocates laws to regulate it.[9] One of the most explicit records of disapproval of homosexuality is found in Laws 636c, in which Plato, speaking through the character of the Athenian stranger, describes homosexual relations as an "enormity" or "crime" (tolmema), and explains that it derives from being enslaved to pleasure. He plainly rejects homosexual behavior as "unnatural" (para physin), as “When male unites with female for procreation the pleasure experienced is held to be due to nature, but contrary to nature when male mates with male or female with female”. Homosexuality is also described regarded as shameful by barbarians and by those who live under despotic governments.[10][11]
Homosexuality in myths=
Homosexuality is seen by many among mythological Greek gods (similar Romans gods had Latin names[12][13][14]). Instances and possibilities include
- Zeus and Ganymede,
- Apollo and Hyacinthus,
- Achilles and Patroclus,
- Heracles (or Hercules) and Hylas,
- Narcissus and Ameinias.
- Other gods who to homosexual affairs are attributed include Orpheus ("the first man to love boys"), Boreas (god of the North Wind) and Thamyris.[15]
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."[16]
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
- ↑ Aristotle, "Problemata," 4.26; 879b-880a
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Dover, K.J., Greek Homosexuality (Harvard University Press, 1989, as summarized in "Homosexuality," Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, August 2002)
- ↑ Dr. John R. Diggs, Jr., author of The Health Risks Of Gay Sex, referenced at http://www.narth.com/docs/britjournal.html
- ↑ John Boardman et al, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World, 1986, pp. 225-226.
- ↑ Laws 636a-c; 835-c; 836a-e; 838b-839b; 840de; 841de
- ↑ David E. Malick, "The Condemnation of Homosexuality in Romans 1:26-27"
- ↑ First Things, Peter L. Berger, Leadership U.
- ↑ Roman and greek mythology of gods and goddesses
- ↑ Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses
- ↑ http://messagenet.com/myths/immortals.html
- ↑ Homosexuals of Greek Mythology
- ↑ My Genes Made Me Do it - a scientific look at sexual orientation by Dr Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead - Chapter 6