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Bible & Beng Gay

WHAT ABOUT WOMEN THEN?

The Bible has been the source for those who believe that homosexuality is a sin or a sickness, but on the subject of lesbianism it is silent. Lesbians are treated along with gay men when the account of Sodom is used against homosexuality. Were women part of the crowd that wanted to have sex with the angels? If so, this further illustrates that the sin was rape, and then not only same-sex rape. A parallel story to that of Sodom is found in Judges 19. To appease the crowd the man's concubine is thrown out to them and raped and abused until life is squeezed out of her.

It is easy to see why the Bible may be seen, not as bringing God's liberating love, but as a tool of oppression, which in places condemns gay men to die and approves the rape of women as being less sinful than the rape of men. Male homosexuality was looked down upon because one man had to lower himself to the status of women. Women are regarded as possessions to be used and abused. This attitude is not acceptable in the 20th Century. The Bible contains the word of God alongside the words of men. We must apply the tools of modern scholarship to distinguish between the two.

Homosexuality is portrayed variously as either a sin or a sickness according to biblical interpretation. In fact, the Bible is virtually silent on the subject of homosexuality and is generally positive on the whole subject of sexual expression. Sexual relationships that involve power over and the debasement of the individual are condemned.

(This article was provided by MCC East London)