Judeo-Christianity and homosexuality

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Various interpretations of what
the Bible says and means about
same-gender sexual behavior:

Various religious, scientific, and secular groups disagree about the fundamental nature of homosexuality: including:

• What the term means.
  
  
• What causes a homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual orientations: Is it nature or nurture?
  
  
• What the Bible says about same-gender sexual behavior.
  
  
• Whether such behavior is ethical, moral, or not.
  

• The frequency with which persons having each of the three main sexual orientations are found within the general population.

This section of the ReligiousTolerance.org web site covers the above topics, and goes into detail about what the six or so "clobber passages" in the Bible say and mean. These are passages that have been historically used to attacks homosexuals and bisexuals.

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Topics covered in this section:

• Comparing beliefs about homosexuality among conservative Christians, liberal Christians, and many others.

• Introduction to homosexuality and the Bible

	Please read these two essays next: A very brief glance at passages that appear to discuss homosexuality: Major or "clobber" passages Minor passages
	For more detailed information, read Overview: Diverse Christian interpretations of the Bible concerning homosexuality. Rigidity of beliefs. Detailed introduction, Part 1: Quotes; Bible's passages, analysis, mistranslations, & use of the word "homosexual." Detailed introduction, Part 2: Same-sex activity in biblical times; people's beliefs about the Bible; translation biases. Are the Bible's moral teachings still valid and meaningful today?
	Analysis of individual passages from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament): More detailed coverage: Genesis 1: Be fruitful and multiply.... Genesis 19: The story of God's destruction of four Canaanite cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim Other verses from Genesis: about Adam, Eve and Noah The Mosaic code & the meaning of the Hebrew word To'ebah Leviticus 18:22 Leviticus 20:13 Deuteronomy, Judges, Kings Less detailed coverage: A brief description
	Analysis of passages from the Christian Scriptures (New Testament): Less detailed coverage: A brief description More detailed coverage: Matthew, John, and Jude Romans 1 and perhaps Romans 2 1 Corinthians 6 Translations of 1 Corinthians 6:9 from various versions of the Bible 1 Timothy 1 Jude Possible meanings of the Greek word "arsenokoitai" (arsenokoitai) Conclusions
	Other material: Christian teachings & beliefs about homosexuality by the full range of Christian faith groups: fundamentalist and other evangelical Christians, Roman Catholics, mainline and liberal/progressive Christians A series of essays donated by Anthony Ashford: "Six biblical reasons why Christians should accept same-sex relationships." Menu Three same-sex relationships described in the Bible Meanings of the Greek words "Pornea" and "Akatharsia" (fornication and uncleanness) in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament)   If you approve of same-sex marriage (SSM), study this chart. If you don't, then please study this chart, unless you are easily offended
	Books and links to other web sites that deal with homosexuality and the Bible