From: sienna@yabbs
To: all@yabbs
Subject: Winds of Change II
Date: Wed Jul 27 20:23:13 1994
RELIGIOUS THINKING IN TRANSITION
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In the past few years, theological thinkers have begun to review the 
biblical passages that condemn homosexuality as unnatural and sinful. They 
are realizing that the few condemnatory verses in scripture arose at a 
time when the authority of the father in the family and the clan was 
supreme and unquestioned. In those perilous Old Testament times, having 
children was a mojor priority for the survival and prosperity of the 
community. But knowledge of sexuality and procreation was INACCURATE. It 
was thought that each male "seed" was a new being. They assumed that the 
mother only provided an incubator for the baby. Therefore, any sexual 
activity that "wasted the seed" was considered a threat to the tribe. 
Coitus interruptus, male homosexuality, and masturbation were all
 deemedserving of a judgement as severe as execution.

The male heads of the families also determined the general attitudes of 
the clan. While they esposed heterosexuality, they were opposed to
 thelity of the sexes. Women were viewd as property, valued for their 
ability to have sons. Female children were sometimes put to death, and 
women had few rights. Today, the majority of people in Western 
civilization consider such beliefs as outrageous violations of human 
dignity.

As for homosexuality, the old patriarchs scornfully, even cruelly, 
rejected it, as evidenced by their practice of anal rape against enemies 
as a way of humiliating then. In this practice, a man was using a man as 
he would a woman - as inferior to be dominated. Such practices and beliefs 
do not fit into our present knowledge of women or homosexuals. Neither do 
they fit the needs of our society.

But the old ideas die with difficulty, particularly in fundamentalist 
churches. However, there is hope...as theologians are now considering the 
scientific evidence that homosexuality is simply a natural condition for 
some people in all cultures. More and more are maintaing that religious 
view of gayness should not be limited by outdated attitudes. A more 
generous spirit applies the universal biblical message of loving your 
neighbor and being fair and nonjudgemental to all persons - gay as well as 
heterosexual.




More to come.....