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<blockquote data-quote="wkmac" data-source="post: 792896" data-attributes="member: 2189"><p>For starters, the bible foundationally speaking is a man created, bronze age collection of oral traditions that began to be written down sometime after 500 BCE. Although it has many good things in it worth value, I don't subscribe to the belief that it is the literal "word of God" himself as they say. That's JMO, I'm likely in a very small minority on it so don't freak out that the end of the world is at hand either.</p><p> </p><p>As to the prohibitions Leviticus 18:22, 23 and what is called homosexuality, this may not be the specific point made in the prohibition. The Assyrian, Egyptian and Canaanite people all had religious structures in which sexual acts were an important part. In the case of the Assyrians, their temple priests would often don female clothing and perform sexual acts playing the part of women as a means to achieve a higher connection with their Mother god Ishtar. Men would come to the temple and in effect, lay with the priest dressed in drag if you will as a means of religious connection and thus some form of blessing would result. Happy ending maybe? LOL!</p><p>In Egypt, there were religious rites where people would lay with animals such as goats and dogs while in one case men were known to lay with female crocodiles. And no, I've not even begun to think how that would work nor do I want too either. SNAP! The animals part is what is discussed in verse 23. But then if you read verse 21, it speaks of the Canaanite god Molech which maybe gets to the point. To further make that stronger, read verses 1-3 which open Leviticus 18.</p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p>and verse 30 ends the chapter:</p><p></p><p> </p><p>The point is, the prohibition was against taking part in religious rites that violate the commandment of "no other gods before me" or "I am the Lord your God." If you solely focus on the purely sexual act itself and not understand the historical, custom and religious practice of the times and place, you'll completely miss the point entirely. And here's something else to look up which even surprised me a number of years ago. There are several passages that can be construed to mean men having sex with men is prohibited (Leviticus 18:22 for example is often cited) but find a similar direct prohibition against women having sex with each other. From what I can tell (and to my surprise numerous years ago), no such direct prohibition seems to exist although many take other passages to imply but none exist in the similar direct language that many suggest prohibit men. I find that rather interesting and puzzling to say the least when understood in light of a male prohibition.</p><p> </p><p>Note the bible is a very paternal text to begin with so this may have to do with that but I just find it odd that what so many claim as a direct prohibition against men exclusively while no exclusive prohibition for women seem to exist. </p><p> </p><p>After I read the history and learned the cultures that surrounded such practices, I can say I'm thankful I didn't live during those times as I still find all that stuff disgusting to begin with and especially if draped in religion. Leveticus 18 sounds a lot like Alabama to me when you read it and if you don't get the joke, just shows you're not from Georgia!</p><p> </p><p><img src="/community/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/FeltTip/wink.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":wink2:" title="Wink :wink2:" data-shortname=":wink2:" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="wkmac, post: 792896, member: 2189"] For starters, the bible foundationally speaking is a man created, bronze age collection of oral traditions that began to be written down sometime after 500 BCE. Although it has many good things in it worth value, I don't subscribe to the belief that it is the literal "word of God" himself as they say. That's JMO, I'm likely in a very small minority on it so don't freak out that the end of the world is at hand either. As to the prohibitions Leviticus 18:22, 23 and what is called homosexuality, this may not be the specific point made in the prohibition. The Assyrian, Egyptian and Canaanite people all had religious structures in which sexual acts were an important part. In the case of the Assyrians, their temple priests would often don female clothing and perform sexual acts playing the part of women as a means to achieve a higher connection with their Mother god Ishtar. Men would come to the temple and in effect, lay with the priest dressed in drag if you will as a means of religious connection and thus some form of blessing would result. Happy ending maybe? LOL! In Egypt, there were religious rites where people would lay with animals such as goats and dogs while in one case men were known to lay with female crocodiles. And no, I've not even begun to think how that would work nor do I want too either. SNAP! The animals part is what is discussed in verse 23. But then if you read verse 21, it speaks of the Canaanite god Molech which maybe gets to the point. To further make that stronger, read verses 1-3 which open Leviticus 18. and verse 30 ends the chapter: The point is, the prohibition was against taking part in religious rites that violate the commandment of "no other gods before me" or "I am the Lord your God." If you solely focus on the purely sexual act itself and not understand the historical, custom and religious practice of the times and place, you'll completely miss the point entirely. And here's something else to look up which even surprised me a number of years ago. There are several passages that can be construed to mean men having sex with men is prohibited (Leviticus 18:22 for example is often cited) but find a similar direct prohibition against women having sex with each other. From what I can tell (and to my surprise numerous years ago), no such direct prohibition seems to exist although many take other passages to imply but none exist in the similar direct language that many suggest prohibit men. I find that rather interesting and puzzling to say the least when understood in light of a male prohibition. Note the bible is a very paternal text to begin with so this may have to do with that but I just find it odd that what so many claim as a direct prohibition against men exclusively while no exclusive prohibition for women seem to exist. After I read the history and learned the cultures that surrounded such practices, I can say I'm thankful I didn't live during those times as I still find all that stuff disgusting to begin with and especially if draped in religion. Leveticus 18 sounds a lot like Alabama to me when you read it and if you don't get the joke, just shows you're not from Georgia! :wink2: [/QUOTE]
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