Passages involving LGBT topics in the Bible

Menu

Sodom and Gomorrah: the story in Genesis 19
and references elsewhere in the Bible

Sponsored link.

Quotations:

	"Saying that the last recorded acts of the Sodomites -- the demands for same-gender sex -- are proof that they were destroyed for homosexuality is like saying that a condemned man cursing his guards on the way to his execution is being executed for cursing the guards. Sodom was judged worthy of destruction before the incident with Lot and the angels." Inge Anderson 1
	"The Genesis passage is very clear, that the sin of Sodom that brought on the destruction of the city was indeed linked to homosexuality." R. Albert Mohler 2
	"The activities in Sodom were to homosexuality what rape is to heterosexuality." Anon

Interpretations of Genesis 19:

Genesis 19 is one of the most commonly cited of the half-dozen anti-homosexual "clobber" passages in the Bible.

The term "Sodomite" was originally used to refer to an inhabitant of Sodom -- a city which was located somewhere on a plain in Canaan. It  later became a legal term to refer to criminal sexual acts. It is now commonly used, at least on the Internet, airwaves and other media, by religious conservatives as a derogatory synonym for a lesbian or gay person -- and occasionally for a bisexual.

This section discusses the full diversity of Christian interpretations of Genesis 19

	Introduction: About Sodom. Interpretations by conservative and liberal/progressive Christians. Archeological findings.
	Topics from Genesis 19.
	Why did God exterminate the adults, youths, children, infants and newborns in the city of Sodom?
	Conclusions. Who are today's Sodomites?

References:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. Inge Anderson, "Sins of Sodom," at: http://glow.cc/isa/sodom.htm
2. Fred Tasker, "What does the Bible say about homosexuality?", Philadelphia Inquirer, 1997-JUL-13. The article was based on an earlier survey of religions opinion of 6 theologians and religious leaders covering the range from conservative to liberal thought, including R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Seminary

Copyright © 1996 to 2012 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Latest update and review: 2012-AUG-19
Author: B.A. Robinson.

Sponsored link