What the Bible says and means about homosexuality

A very brief glance at major passages
that appear to discuss homosexuality

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Major or "clobber" passages:

Of the 20 or so bible passages that have been interpreted as involving homosexual behavior, the seven listed below are mentioned most often. They are commonly referred to as "clobber" passages, because they are used by many social and religious conservatives to condemn homosexual behavior. The remainder are minor passages and are described elsewhere.

The following very brief descriptions are necessarily over-simplified. They do not cover the full range of conservative/progressive beliefs. However, you may well find the beliefs that you have been taught in one of these columns:

*Concerning 1 Corinthians 6:9-10:

There are various interpretations of 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 of which this is one. The Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible, and James Moffatt translation use the word "catamites," or the phrase "boy prostitutes" to describe one group of individuals that Paul believed will go to Hell because of their behavior on Earth. Catamites and boy prostitutes were often a boy or male youth who was kept as a sexual partner/slave of an adult male.

The verse is profoundly immoral by today's secular and most religious moral standards because it transfers punishment from the guilty perpetrator to the innocent victim. This type of transfer is seen many passages throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Many religious liberals believe that these passages are immoral and should be ignored because they are opposed to the will of God.

Summary of the clobber passages:

To many -- not all -- conservative members of religions that revere the Bible -- the Baha'i faith, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism -- the Bible condemns homosexual behavior and states that, after death, sexually active homosexuals will end up in Hell, not Heaven. Most fundamentalist and other evangelical Christians believe that because God is all powerful and hates homosexual behavior, he will either: Change a homosexual who is saved into a heterosexual, or Help a saved homosexual choose and maintain a celibate lifestyle.

To many -- not all -- liberal/progressive believers, the Bible is silent on loving, consensual same-sex sexual behavior. God accepts persons of all sexual orientations and approves of sex that is consensual, non-manipulative, safe and within a loving, committed relationship. Liberals and progressive have a range of beliefs concerning save, consensual, and casual sex by heterosexuals, bisexuals or homosexuals. However the Bible condemns: Male rape of other men. One of two behaviors: Either men engaging in ritual sex in Pagan temples, or Men having sex in a woman's bed. People having sex that violates their sexual orientation. For example: Heterosexuals having sex with a member of the same sex. Homosexuals having sex with a member of the opposite sex. Men sexually abusing children. The passage also condemns young victims of sexual molestation. People engaging in bestiality: having sex with non-humans.

Copyright © 2009 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Original posting: 2009-FEB-14, Valentine's day
Latest update: 2009-MAR-19
Author: B.A. Robinson

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