Judeo-Christianity and homosexuality

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What the Hebrew and Christian
Scriptures say and mean about
same-gender sexual behavior:

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

People disagree about the fundamental nature of homosexuality:

• The term "homosexuality:"
  • Among the medical profession, liberal religious communities. NOTAs (those who are NOT Affiliated with a religious community), Agnostics, Atheists, etc. the term generally refers to a sexual orientation: feelings of sexual attraction which are limited to members of the same sex, typically by teens and adults. Homosexuality is viewed as a trait that has a genetic cause. It is discovered rather than chosen, and is unchangeable in adulthood. The medical community bases their beliefs on the findings of studies performed by human sexuality specialists and subsequently accepted by large therapeutic groups such as the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, etc. Liberal religious communities and typically base their beliefs on such studies and on a liberal interpretation of biblical passages. NOTAs, etc. generally follow scientific findings.
    
    
  • Within conservative religious communities homosexuality commonly defined as in terms of same-gender sexual behavior. Many view it as a chosen activity that is changeable, perhaps with difficulty, through prayer and/or reparative therapy. They typically base their beliefs mainly on a conservative interpretation of some key biblical passages, and on the historical teachings of Christianity and Judaism. Where the findings of science conflict with their interpretation of passages in the Bible, they primarily trust the Bible.

• Similarly, the term "heterosexual" in the medical and liberal religious communities refer to a sexual orientation involving feelings of sexual attraction which are limited to only members of the opposite sex. The term within conservative religious communities generally refers to opposite-gender sexual behavior.
  
  
• In contrast, the term "bisexual" in the medical and liberal religious communities refer to a sexual orientation involving feelings of sexual attraction towards both sexes. Most bisexuals have different levels of attraction to women and men. The term within conservative religious communities generally refers to sexual behavior with persons of both genders, usually not at the same time.

Different groups also disagree on the nature and frequency of the three main sexual orientations:

• Medical and liberal religious communities, NOTAs, etc. generally consider all three sexual orientations to be both normal and natural. About 90% of adults are heterosexual, and the remainder is divided up more or less equally between homosexuality and bisexuality.
  
  
• Conservative religious communities generally consider only heterosexual behavior to be normal and natural; they regard homosexual and bisexual behavior as intrinsically and profoundly sinful, unnatural, and abnormal. Their faith-based information sources generally teach that heterosexuals form a much larger percentage of the human population; they believe that homosexuals are a much smaller minority, perhaps 2%; they often do not refer to bisexuals at all. However, many conservative Christian believers hold the opinion that homosexuals constitute about 20% of the adult population. It is difficult for polling groups to obtain an accurate measure of the percentage of sexual minorities.

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Topics covered in this section:

Introduction to homosexuality and the Bible << Please read this essay first.

	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: Romans 1 and perhaps Romans 2 1 Corinthians 6 Translations of 1 Corinthians 6:9 from various versions of the Bible 1 Timothy 1 Other biblical books: Matthew, John & 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