Leviticus 18: 22 and 20:13: The Rejection of the Christian Homophobic Moral
The rejection of homosexuality is prevalent throughout Christian societies. This denunciation stems from the Christian interpretation of normative relationships as found in biblical passages such as Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. These passages directly assert the rejection of male-male sexual relations. Christians use these texts to apply a universal moral that declares same-sex relationships as Biblically unethical. However, by looking into the specific historical situation in which the text was written, one can find various social and political factors that underline the formation of these passages. Specifically, the factors lead to the belief that these rules were …show more content…
Leviticus 18:22 reads, “do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.” Leviticus 20:13 reads, “if a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” Biblical Scholars suggest that these two passages provide evidence for the “Genesis portrayal of normative marriage.” For these scholars, Genesis chapter one and two affirm the appropriate human sexual relations that God wanted. Genesis 2: 18-25 reads, “the Lord God said, it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him…he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” God decided that a relationship was to be between a male and a female; any other relationship would be an implicit rejection of this moral order. This idea is reaffirmed in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 by calling sexual acts between two men “detestable.” Biblical scholars and Christians suggest that the direct dismissal of Biblical law by same-sex couples is also the denunciation of God. They argue that the illicit act of same-sex sexual relationships is a threat to the social foundation and ethical order prescribed by God. They, therefore, use Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 to apply a universal moral to normative relationships to ensure the conservation of the Biblical ethics introduced in
The rejection of homosexuality is prevalent throughout Christian societies. This denunciation stems from the Christian interpretation of normative relationships as found in biblical passages such as Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. These passages directly assert the rejection of male-male sexual relations. Christians use these texts to apply a universal moral that declares same-sex relationships as Biblically unethical. However, by looking into the specific historical situation in which the text was written, one can find various social and political factors that underline the formation of these passages. Specifically, the factors lead to the belief that these rules were …show more content…
Leviticus 18:22 reads, “do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.” Leviticus 20:13 reads, “if a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.” Biblical Scholars suggest that these two passages provide evidence for the “Genesis portrayal of normative marriage.” For these scholars, Genesis chapter one and two affirm the appropriate human sexual relations that God wanted. Genesis 2: 18-25 reads, “the Lord God said, it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him…he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.” God decided that a relationship was to be between a male and a female; any other relationship would be an implicit rejection of this moral order. This idea is reaffirmed in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 by calling sexual acts between two men “detestable.” Biblical scholars and Christians suggest that the direct dismissal of Biblical law by same-sex couples is also the denunciation of God. They argue that the illicit act of same-sex sexual relationships is a threat to the social foundation and ethical order prescribed by God. They, therefore, use Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 to apply a universal moral to normative relationships to ensure the conservation of the Biblical ethics introduced in