Gay Lions And The "Sex For Procreation Only" Argument

Trevor Noah killed me DED with this one. Especially the tongue-tied Hakuna Matata bit (you'll see). 

All laughter aside, I’m embarrassed for Ezekiel Mutua’s ignorance. I’m fearful for any gay person in Kenya who will be subject to his authority over any policies that might affect them. If we’ve learned anything from past atrocities done to our fellow man, they start with absurd notions, like Mr. Mutua’s belief that you will become gay by associating with gays or that therapy can cure someone of being gay or that lions’ sexual behaviour is in any way motivated by or similar to the far more complex, psychosexual make-up of humans. While Trevor focuses on mocking (justifiably so) the absurd homophobia, I want to take the opportunity to educate. So I wrote this.

Procreation is not the only natural/valid function of or use of the sexual organs nor is it the only reason sexual activity happens in the animal kingdom, particularly among the more intelligent, more socially sophisticated of the mammalian species like great apes, great cats, dolphins, canines, and monkeys. These apex/higher mammals often intentionally give and receive sexual stimulation and do so with the same and opposite sex, completely outside the breeding season. Remember, these are the same mammals with enough sentience and intelligence to enjoy play, develop friendships within and outside their species, communicate in their own way, use tools, solve puzzles and even be trained perform tasks for us. Do you really think, they have not figured out (even if not cognitively so) that sexual stimulation feels good and benefits them individually and collectively too?
                               

Viruses, bacteria or insects only need to exist just long enough to procreate and that is all there is to their species’ survival. Apex/higher mammals of higher intelligence who demonstrate more sophisticated social organisation and culture require much more than feeding and replication to be successful as a species. In fact, there are apex/higher mammals who exist in societies where not every member of group gets to procreate, because it is neither necessary nor advantageous to the group for every single sexually mature member to be breeding altogether, all at once. Wolves and wild dogs only allow one breeding pair per group, the alphas with the best genes. All the others contribute to the society in other ways like helping babysit, hunt and protect. This ensures there are always more guardians than infants.

Lots of babysitters to look after the cub.

The cooperation, inclusion, protection and mutually affectionate relationships with others in a society are equally if not more crucial to the survival of the new life born to a selected few. How to create such a community with minimum conflict and maximum cooperation? Well, it helps if there was something that encourages social bonding, improves mood and relieves stress. Something powerful and mutually pleasurable. Something instinctive and easy to give and receive. Something like, well, sexual pleasure. Best of all the benefits occur regardless of whether the stimulation is self-induced or with the same or opposite sex. Want some examples?

Bonobos (pigmy chimpanzees) are known for being the more peaceful cousin of the chimpanzee. One of their secrets is copious amounts of mutual sexual stimulation. While their chimp cousins go on murder sprees and are constantly fighting and squabbling, bonobos are enjoying all kinds of congress. Female bonobos are renown for using sex as a way to make-up after fight by rubbing vulvas together. They also use sex to peacefully settle arguments over food. 

Dolphins in the wild, move as one in almost seamless corporation and communication. They too are known for having sex recreationally regardless of gender. They have even learned to adapt certain sexual roles to ease cohesion. For example, weaned but still, juvenile male dolphins are emancipated by their mothers and driven out of the female pod and have to go in search of a bachelor pod. However, the older males in a bachelor pod can be very territorial, unwelcoming and aggressive to male newcomers. So, when the young male dolphin finds a bachelor pod, he instinctively starts acting like a female that wants to mate. He acts playful, coy and submissive and engages in mating behaviour which tricks the older males into welcoming him into their gang. Dolphins Spy In The Pod, BBC (Available on Netflix if you have it)

Dolphins have a clear distinction between sex for procreation and sex for pair-bonding and pleasure. Breeding females come and go but one's same-sex partners are for life! 

In fact, for many species of dolphin, their bros are their “ride or die” ocean homies, hunting, roaming, playing together for life. Whether in pairs, a trio or a pod, they cooperate with each other, even helping each other mate with any visiting females who are ovulating and in the mood, instead of violently competing over them. In fact, male pair bonding and cooperation instead of competing with each over the proverbial pussy is a major survival strategy for other apex/higher mammals too.
 
Nothing disturbs the peace of a group; causes mayhem, maiming, and murder quite like when males go crazy with testosterone in response to a female in heat. They get violent and fight for mating rights, dominance, often maiming and killing each other and anyone that gets in the middle of their melee. Violence between males competing over females often kills more of their own than external predators. Baby seals are often crushed in the violent conflict between male elephant seals. Male chimpanzees and lions fighting over females will even target the rival male’s cubs.




This brings us back to these “gay” Kenyan lions. There are incidents where two male lions instead of fighting over a pride of females can harmoniously live together if one agrees to submit to the other male. This is often demonstrated by one male allowing the other to mount him. This often happens when two lion brothers run a pride together. Instead of fighting and killing each other and each other’s nephews, they can both live longer and contribute to the strength of the group. Now you have two males helping protect, babysit and hunt for the group. More cubs survive and if one male sibling dies, his brother is there as a back-up that shares familial/genetic ties and can protect the pride. Now outsider males who will certainly kill his brother’s cubs are kept at bay. Everyone wins!

These animals are far less intelligent, far less complex in their psychology and hierarchy of needs than humans are. Yet they have figured out how to utilize sexual pleasure, sexual roles and sexual behaviour for their benefit in ways that go beyond reproduction. Homo sapiens, the most intelligent, complex, creative and sophisticated ape on the planet is far too advanced to be having sex just/only for reproduction. In fact, our desire for intimacy and orgasm (alone or with another consenting adult Homo sapien) happens regardless of reproductive cycles, fertility or even desire to procreate. Sexual pleasure serves other functions in our lives. More importantly, look at where we fit into earth’s eco-system.


We are not bottom of the food chain (e.g. wilder beasts or krill) that needs to exist in mass numbers, mindlessly and collectively breeding en masse to feed apex predators. Millions of krill die to feed one whale and thousands of antelope die to support one lion pride. It takes trillions of other species both plant and animal to die to support 7 Billion + Homo sapiens (and rapidly growing despite the existence of and increased rights of LGBT people) especially if we live in an urban, developed society. WE ARE THE PLANET’S APEX PREDATOR.  This natural order means our numbers should never exceed what the planet can sustainably feed. We’ve long past the threshold our planet can support. So much so, it’s not just plants and animals dying to keep us alive but other human beings are dying as well, dying in destructive food chains of imperialism, war, consumerism and greed just to support a certain standard of living. We are at the point of cannibalizing ourselves. 

At this current juncture, our survival on this planet does not depend on increasing QUANTITY OF HUMAN LIVES to feed into this destructive food chain. Our focus should be on humanely and with ecological responsibility increasing QUALITY OF HUMAN LIFE for existing Homo Sapiens and the 360,000 new ones born every day. Yes, 360,000 new human beings were born today! Do you really think that number needs to go up or down? Well, ask yourself, of that number, how many were planned for, welcomed and born into a society where they have sufficient guardians putting their best interest at heart? How many will have all their human needs (food, shelter, clothing, education, health) met and experience peace, inclusion, safety, cooperation, contribution, affection within societies living in balance with their eco-system? This is where our obsession and vigilance should be directed. Not in the bedrooms of consenting adult humans or lions. 

Are You Anti-Gay?

“I’m not anti-LGBT! I just don’t think they should get married!”

“I’m not anti-LGBT, I just believe that is not God’s way and if they don’t turn from their wickedness they will go to hell.”

“I’m not anti-LGBT, I just don’t want to SEE it in my face!”

Of late, the trend has been, “PLEASE ALLOW ME TO DO AND SAY HATEFUL THINGS TOWARDS A GROUP OF PEOPLE, BUT DO NOT ASSOCIATE ME WITH ANY LABEL THAT CASTS ME AS A BIGOT.” In other words, people want to be racist, sexist, homophobic and bigoted (which is totally their right by the way) but they want to be free of any negative commentary by others (totally not their right) about it. They want to say ignorant, irrational things and promote injustice and people should just smile and never be called out on it.

Well, I’m sorry that words do have meaning. Being against something is being “anti” something.  So if you are against LGBT people being LGBT; against LGBT people openly and honestly living their lives free of fear of stigma, violence and discrimination; against LGBT people being accepted or and their talents admired; against LGBT enjoying the same citizen’s and tax payer rights you enjoy then I’m sorry to say it but you are indeed anti-LGBT.  

You are also anti-LGBT if you:

• Reject what medical science has to say about the natural complexity and diversity of gender and sexual orientation.  You believe that it was God’s/Nature’s intent that every single human on the planet be cis-gender/heterosexual, reproduction must be the be all and end all of love, relationships and sexual intimacy and must abide by strict gender roles according to some gender hierarchy system within your culture/religion.

• Believe that any orientation outside of cis-gender/heterosexuality and/or any attempt to fulfill the human need for self-actualization, love, relationships, family life outside of cis-gender/heterosexuality, is unnatural, “fallen” and/or a deliberate sinful choice, right up there with murder, rape, lying, stealing and oath-breaking (e.g. adultery)

• You consider those who are not cis-gendered/heterosexuals to be abhorrent human beings and believe the public laws should reflect that and be enforced even on those who do not share your religious beliefs on the matter.

• Belong to and support anti-LGBT organizations and believe that if any LGBT person wants to join your organization they must be celibate for life or preferably (because celibate LGBT people are still treated as suspect) try to become cis-gender/heterosexual or act like it. 

• If a LGBT person goes through the debunked, psychologically damaging and medically denounced rigors of ex-gay therapy and fails (as most do) to live as a cis-gendered/heterosexual, even if they kill themselves trying, you believe it was the fault of the LGBT person for not trying hard enough.

• You completely deny that attitudes such as your own have been hurting and continue to hurt LGBT people. You completely deny the role of beliefs such as yours in promoting and excusing violence and inhumanity against LGBT people.

Step up and claim what you truly stand for and what you truly believe. You might as well just be honest about it.  There is no need to try to present yourself as a loving, humane and tolerant person towards LGBT people, when you are not. Even worse, stop with the “token LGBT friend” thing. Nobody is truly a friend of someone who feels that way about them.

"Don't Flaunt It In My Face!" The REAL Reason Behind Opposing Gay Marriage

If gay marriage threatens your marriage, it's probably because one of you is gay and your gay spouse is thinking, "What the hell am I doing hiding in a sham straight marriage when gay people are finding lasting love and legal recognition? Let me go find my true happiness and soul mate before I croak!"

If both of you are straight, it probably won't do a damn thing. Except increase the likelihood you will run into an gay person or couple at your PTA meeting or company barbecue. Which you always used to do by the way. You just didn't realize they were gay because they were hiding in a sham straight marriage or were the perpetual bachelor whose love life was a mystery in large part because they took care not to get too attached to anyone for too long, going instead for multiple partners. Something happens when you fall in love, stick to someone and place them above all others, in your life. That's when it gets really hard to be closeted. Living together, being seen together all the time and getting into situations where you have to speak for the other are going to raise certain questions. You will be outed! Ask a heterosexual, married couple to try and hide their relationship and spouse from the world, if they think it is so easy to do. Why do gay marriage opponents want LGBT people to hide from the world? Why their constant refrain of, "Just don't flaunt it in our faces."

Because VISIBILITY makes something become common-place and accepted over time. You know, like how you don't bat an eyelash anymore at an interracial couple. We forget it wasn't even that long ago when an interracial kiss between Captain Kirk and Uhura on prime time television caused a rain of hate mail to the studio from these "Godly" folk, claiming to be the protectors of tradition.

"The CHILDREN! Think of the CHILDREN, they were watching for goodness sake! How dare you show this filth on television!"

Viability of something that contradicts a tradition also challenges that tradition. It makes people start examining more closely what exactly are the sources of certain traditions and are they actually GOOD? The late 19th and 20th Centuries saw people starting to test and challenge the assertions of the "white", the "male", the "Judeo-Christian" powers that be. Then in the 21st Century it picked up momentum and another set of assertions by the "Arab", "male", "Islamic" powers that be, started to be challenged more rigorously as well. I know they prefer times when they were taken at their WORD about what they said is right and wrong. If they said miscegenation was wrong and the black race was inferior and backed it up with scripture they expected to be BELIEVED and their directives on that matter FOLLOWED. If they said the woman was created for the use of the man and is subservient to him and used scripture to back it up, they expected to be BELIEVED and their directives FOLLOWED. They long for their respective golden ages of supremacy, forgetting that it was not a golden age for any other demographic. They prefer times when the people they relegated to second class citizens STAYED IN THEIR PLACE! They prefer those days when the victim-less crimes they concocted to oppress people made law-breakers hide and sneak around in shame and fear of bigotry and violence.

Giving visibility to people who are rebelling against them and challenging their so-called "authority" and flouting how flimsy and false their legalities and assertions are, is like a slap in the face! It is like a salesman telling you there is no other model like his on the market and you see one drive past, proving him a liar. It is causing people to want to broaden their understanding, ask a lot of tough questions, expose contradictions and poke large holes in previously held beliefs! The powers that be have no way of dealing with their loss of dominion if this process of enlightenment were to happen. So, they are resorting to the time old method of tyranny and censorship. If something challenges their supremacy, they call it obscene and offensive or dangerous! It was exactly this kind of tyranny and censorship that gave them their power and authority. Their claim to power cannot survive an age of critical thought, widely available information and free expression. It cannot survive if gay people are living happy, healthy, honest lives, fully-integrated into society and actively making a public contribution or what they call, "Flaunting It!"

An Affirmation Of Healing Between The Genders

Before 2012 began I explored the three key issues holding back human evolution and enlightenment that would come to a head last year.

I would like to start 2013 with some affirmations we all can say as often as we need to, in order to address all the disempowering aspects of our life pertaning to the three key issues of: Fear, Lack and
Masculine/Feminine Imbalance.

I orginally wanted to start with Fear, but after the brutal rapes in India, gun violence in the USA and the continued battle of the sexes going on in society and politics, this Janurary, I would like to focus on Masculine/Feminine Imbalance.

So please feel free to use and share this affirmation as often as you like. It works whether you are gay or straight, single or in a relationship, young or old, a parent or not. It covers every aspect and interaction between the genders.

Use it well.

An Affirmation Of Healing Between The Genders

This is truth

Polarity exists in this Universe
Light reveals what is darkness
Darkness makes light evident
Creation assembles the debris
Destruction provides the debris
Solidity enables tangibility
Spirit enables transformation

 

In a Universe striving for balance
I uphold this truth
There is also masculine and feminine
Both equally valid
Both equally necessary
Both equally Divine

 

God, Father, Husband, Lover, Brother, Son

Forgive me and help me to forgive myself
For placing upon you the sole burden
Of strength, protection and intelligent decision-making
And not giving you my fullest self in return as your
Servant, daughter, wife, lover, sister.

 

As Your servant now I honor You as God

By asking You to use the You within me as befits Your will

 

As my father, I learn to blossom from all of your gifts, bitter and sweet
By mastering and remembering myself and the eternal cosmic relationship we share.

 

As my husband, I now validate you as teacher

To awaken in me an awareness of all the unhealed parts of my mind, body and soul.

 

As my lover, I now work with you in joy and pleasure

Through union of our mind and/or body, the healing and self-forgiveness I need.

 

As my brother, I will cherish you

By remembering how I would like to be treated, as a child equally deserving of love.

 

As my son, I will resolve our eternal cosmic relationship
By mastering myself as I grow to understand and accept your Divine role in my life.

 

 

 

This is truth

Polarity exists in this Universe
Light reveals what is darkness
Darkness makes light evident
Creation assembles the debris
Destruction provides the debris
Solidity enables tangibility
Spirit enables transformation

In a Universe striving for balance
I uphold this truth
There is also masculine and feminine
Both equally valid
Both equally necessary
Both equally Divine

 

Goddess, Mother, Wife, Lover, Sister, Daughter

Forgive me and help me to forgive myself
For placing upon you the sole burden
Of providing for my body and ego’s every need
And hindering my self-mastery needed to honor you as
Servant, son, husband, lover, brother, father.

 

 

As Your servant now I honor You as Goddess
By asking You to use the You within me as befits Your will

 

As my mother, I learn to blossom from all of your gifts, bitter and sweet

By mastering and remembering myself and the eternal cosmic relationship we share.

 

As my wife I now validate you as teacher

To awaken in me an awareness of all the unhealed parts of my mind, body and soul.

As my lover, I now work with you in joy and pleasure

Through union of our mind and/or body, the healing and self-forgiveness I need.

As my sister, I will cherish you

By remembering how I would like to be treated, as a child equally deserving of love.

As my daughter, I will resolve our eternal cosmic relationship
By mastering myself as I grow to understand and accept your Divine role in my life. 

 

This is truth

Polarity exists in this Universe
Light reveals what is darkness
Darkness makes light evident
Creation assembles the debris
Destruction provides the debris
Solidity enables tangibility
Spirit enables transformation

In a Universe striving for balance
I uphold this truth
There is also masculine and feminine
Both equally valid
Both equally necessary
Both equally Divine

 

Goddess, God, Mother, Father, Wife, Husband, Lover, Sister, Brother, Daughter,

Son
From One Ultimate Source we come
We are One in the many
And many in The One.

Answering Anti-Gay Bible Literalists Part Three- The New Testament

After exploring the Old Testament, we are as yet to find a single scripture condemning homosexual love and loving same-sex unions. This lack of condemnation is even more glaring in the New Testament, which at the time of its penning was done in the context of a Greco-Roman culture where same-sex behaviors were prevalent, well known with clear vocabulary to describe every single kind that existed.

Here are some of the many common terms used both in Paul’s time and the time of Christ.

Pais or paidika - the younger, subordinate or enslaved male lover of an older man

Erestes - an older/dominant male lover

Eronemous - a younger/passive male lover

Euryproktoi- a common term for anal sex and/or men who dressed as women (what we would call a drag queen today)

Hetairistriai- a woman who loves women     

Kinaidos- an effeminate man and/or a man who preferred other men

Even though they describe roles and behaviors, they would have been at least a very close reference to homosexuals and most homosexual relationships as we know it today. Now here is the clincher. NONE of these terms or any of the commonly used terms appear in the original Greek scriptures, with the exception of one, "pais".

Christ Heals A Centurion’s “Pais”

 

Roman centurions, officials, merchants and their permissive sexual culture would have surrounded Judea at the time Jesus was supposed to be alive. He would have known about a vast array of same-sex activities, everything from sex slavery, temple prostitution, men who dressed as women, women who followed the cult of Sappho and more. Yet on this matter, he was absolutely silent.

Indeed, the story (Matthew 8:5-13 & Luke 7:1-10) of the Roman centurion who approached him and begged him to heal his male servant whom he uncharacteristically (knowing Roman disregard for their slaves and servants), loved very much, is rather curious. The Greek word used for servant is “pais” which was also a common term for the subordinate, younger male in same-sex arrangements.

In order to understand Greek expressions used in the bible, we can refer to Greek literature using the same expressions to get a cultural idiomatic understanding of what words meant.

In The History of the Peloponnesian War, written by Thucydides (445-400 BC) he refers to the same sex lover of Pausanias, King of Sparta as his pais.
 
The Athenian poet, Aeschines (390-314 BC) in his referendums against a rival politician Timarchos accused him of being the paidika or pais, of older influential Greek men for his own advancement. The common Greek term paidika (younger male lover) is derived from the root pais.

 According to Roman Law, many centurions on active duty were forbidden from marrying. Only generals and commanders high in the ranks were allowed that privilege. So it was a common practice for many to take male servants or younger soldiers as lovers.

Romans viewed the Jews with contempt. So that pais had to be particularly beloved for his Roman master to go against all convention and actually stoop to beg a Jewish, vagabond of a radical prophet to heal him. And the most important part of this is that Jesus healed him, no questions, no condemnations.

Marriage Is Demoted And Divorce Is Forbidden

Both the Apostle Paul and Christ considered marriage a secondary option, not a priority or sacrament.

The Jewish people have always been marriage and procreation focused. They saw it not only as a means to overwhelm and conquer their enemies but as a Divine mandate. Hence, every man was expected to marry, sometimes more than once and even marry his widowed sister-in-law if her husband died before she had any children. Every couple was expected to breed as many children as possible. This was especially true of any man called a Rabbi. Therefore for Jesus to be unmarried at 33 was the subject of much condemnation among his detractors who sought to entrap him in Matthew 19.

Jesus offers a sophisticated response referring to made eunuchs, born eunuchs and eunuchs who choose to be so and forego marriage for the sake of the Kingdom. He finishes by saying marriage is for those who can receive it, it is not a mandate for all.

The demotion of marriage as a priority was also reinforced by Paul, who in 1 Corinthians 7:1-29 basically outlined his preference for people to remain as he was, single. Marriage was a last resort to avoid engaging in fornication, a term derived from Latin fornix or archway under which prostitutes plied their “wares” to satisfy those who had no other outlet for their lust.

The only outlet for unmarried people overcome with lust was to engage the services of a prostitute who plied their trade in brothels and under archways called fornix, which is were we get the word "fornication".

 

Many Christians use Christ and Paul’s reference to marriage involving only men and women as a means to show gay unions are unbiblical. However, they are basically making the argument that just because something is not mentioned (due to cultural and historical ignorance of the concept), it means it is wrong. That would make contraception wrong, open heart surgery wrong, space travel wrong because the bible does not specifically mention these things and so does not specifically endorse any of those things, which is a ridiculous argument to take.

Contrary to the claims of organizations such as NOM, it is DIVORCE, not gay marriage or parenting that actually poses the greatest harm to children. Studies by several child welfare and child psychology bodies have shown that children from divorced homes are more likely to drop out of school, have no respect for authority, more likely to suffer from depression, drug abuse and more likely to have premature sex, grow up in poverty and less likely to choose marriage as adults. Christians in America have the highest rate of divorce for reasons such as irreconcilable differences, abuse, unhappiness, financial problems, criminal activity, change in values, none of which are viable reasons for divorce according to the bible.

What the bible DOES say about marriage, most Christians ignore. First by placing so much emphasis on marriage and procreation, even making it a sacrament of the faith, they are ignoring that it is given a lower rank than remaining a eunuch by choice.  Second by being permissive of divorce, which is forbidden for any reason save adultery by Christ himself in Mark 10:11, Luke 16:18 and Matthew 5:32, it shows a certain level of hypocrisy in their efforts to “defend marriage”, especially since they have the highest rate of divorce and multiple re-marriages, which means they are living in a permanent state of adultery.

Paul Condemns Roman Paganism

I remember back in my days studying the bible within a staunch evangelical sect that was intensely anti-gay, Romans Chapter 1 verses 26 and 27 was the lynchpin scripture to condemn gay people. It was particularly favored because on the surface and with a bit of extrapolation it appeared to refer to lesbians too. It also referred to acting contrary to or going against nature, which supported the whole, “homosexuality is unnatural and so it could not be innate or created by God” argument.

Homosexual paring, courtship, mating and sexual behavior is actually pervasive in nature. It has been observed and well documented in over 500 species from dolphins to dragon flies and these studies have been peer reviewed and published in Science Daily, The New York Times or access National Geographic Online for a wealth of more information.

It was so drummed into my head that this scripture referred to gays and lesbians that although the actual meaning of the scripture was staring me right in the face I never even saw it. In large part because, like most Christians I did not understand what a homosexual is and was taught any kind of same-sex behavior was indicative of someone being a homosexual. It would have never dawned on me to ask, were the people Paul was referring to in Romans 1: 26 and 27, actually homosexuals- people with an innate orientation towards the same sex?

Clearly, the people referred to in Romans were not innately homosexual.  How do we know? Read the verses again, carefully. Note Paul said, “their women did change” and “likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman,” So obviously these were people who in their usual, everyday life were opposite sex inclined.

Something caused them to change their behavior. In fact, Paul begins verse 26 with, “For this cause…” so the question is, "What was the cause?

All you have to do is read Romans Chapter 1 from the beginning for the backstory and the context about what caused people who were typically heterosexual in behavior to start acting contrary to their nature.

The Greek words used in Romans Chapter 1:26 and 27 translated as unnatural does not actually mean “against the laws of nature”. The original Greek physin and paraphysin actually refer more to acting in a manner uncustomary or unusual. You can find the same Greek term translated as “unnatural” used to describe men having long hair in 1 Corinthians 11:14.  A man having long hair was and still is not “against the laws of nature”, but in that time it was merely unusual or uncustomary for the Corinthians to which Paul was writing.

The backstory of verses 26 and 27 can be summarized thusly: There were people who once knew God but rejected God in favor of worshipping the creation instead. They made images out of birds and beasts and creeping things and began to engage in idolatry and pagan worship. Since this letter was addressed to the Romans, we can, through research of Roman culture understand exactly what kind of pagan worship Paul was referring to.

It was the worship of Gods such as Cybele and Saturn which would involve frenzied, intoxicated, orgiastic pagan rites within the temple. People would ingest hallucinogens and intoxicants and literally lose their minds and of course, act contrary to their nature. Lustful same-sex interactions during the orgies was not even the half of it. Some men would even go as far as to self-castrate, mutilate and murder others in their frenzied state of mind. Indeed if you read beyond the verses cherry picked for gay bashing, you will see Paul mention murders among other effects of the reprobate mind regressed to that of an animal in order to worship an animal God.

What does this....

Have to do with this?

If we are to be honest bible students, a scripture cannot mean something today that the writer did not intend when he wrote it back then. Keep in mind, that if Paul ever wanted to clearly and simply condemn gay and lesbian love in general, there were ample Greek terms to use. Instead, it is clear that Romans Chapter 1 is a condemnation of paganism.

 

The Original Weaklings And Rapists

The Greeks and Romans wrote extensively about same-sex love, romance and relationships and nowhere do the words "malakoi" or "arensokoites" ever appear in reference to consensual or loving same-sex relationships.

Now we come to what is perhaps the biggest example of semantic evolution in the bible, 1 Corinthians 6:9 which reads: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind."  Also see 1Timothy 1:10.

In some translations it actually translates the Greek words for effeminate (malakoi) and abusers of themselves with mankind (arsenokoites) as homosexual.

Now remember, the term homosexual and its definition was not invented until the 19^th Century. This recent translation as “homosexual” only happened in 1958, with the Amplified Version. But did Paul mean to say homosexual when he wrote it? Bear in mind that if indeed Paul wanted to describe people whose behavior would closely parallel what we would associate with most gays and lesbians today, there were dozens of popular Greek terms to choose from.

Instead Paul used a Greek word malakoi, whose root and usage in Greek language never referred to anything remotely resembling homosexuality. Malakoi is a term that literally means soft ones. It comes from the Greek root malaka which is used in Matthew 11:8 and Luke 7:25 by Jesus to describe clothing of soft or luxurious quality.

The Greek word for effeminate as we would understand it today; a man who acts like a woman, is kinaidos not malakoi.

Once again, we must refer to contemporary Greek usage of the word malakoi to understand what it meant to the people Paul for whom was writing. We look to no other than Aristotle who when writing the Nicomachean Ethics, used malakos to describe lack of restraint and excessive enjoyment of bodily pleasures. I quote, “he who pursues the excesses of things pleasant, and shuns those of things painful, of hunger and thirst and heat and cold and all the objects of touch and taste... that men are called 'soft' [malakos] with regard to these pleasures...”

Another well-known commentator was Josephus, who in his Wars of The Jews and Antiquities Of The Jews, used malakos to describe men who appeared soft or weak through lack of courage in battle or who enjoyed too much luxury.

We see a pattern emerging of this word being associated with vain, materialistic, pleasure-obsessed, weak-minded, weak-willed, narcissistic, superficial men. Do some homosexuals fit this description? Certainly! But so do many heterosexual men and women too.

Many are unaware of how scripture changes over time to reflect changing cultural attitudes and popular prejudices. Here is the evolution of malakoi. From AD 55 to 1568 Bishops Bible (soft or weakling); From 1602 Valera Spanish Bible to Louis Segund French Bible in 1910 (effeminate); From 1913 Moffat Bible to Present Day Modern English Translations (some form of prostitution, homosexual sex and in some translations just homosexuality in general).

An honest bible student must ask themselves how much of this anachronistic application is based on popular trends and prejudices and how much is faithful interpretation of the original Greek and its historical idiomatic use. Is it honest to apply a meaning to a scripture that the writer did not mean when they wrote it?

The early church, which used the most faithful translation of the Greek, did not see any condemnation of true same-sex love in Paul's writings and as such, same-sex unions were often blessed by the church. It was not until The Theodosian Code, drawn up by Christian emperors in the fifth century, A.D. that same-sex marriage was made illegal.

This is even more apparent when we get to the word Paul made up- arsenokoites, a compound Greek word made up of men and beds. Which like most compound words (butterfly, ladykiller) do not always mean the combined definition of both words but can have an entirely different meaning. For example ladykiller does not mean “a lady who kills” or even “a killer of ladies” but “a man whom ladies find extremely charming”. Greek compound words are similar. Cyclops literally translates as round eye. But it actually means “a giant with one eye”. So to assume arsenokoites which translates literally as men beds, must mean “all men in beds” shows a lack of understanding idiomatic use of language.

The term has appeared a total of 56 times since Paul coined the expression and its subsequent use has nothing to do with men in love, men in beds or men in mutually consenting relationships. In appears first in the Sibylline Oracles in conjugated form: me arsenokoitein, me sukophantein, mete phoneuein, where the context was pedestry (rape and sexual exploitation of young boys by older men), anal rape of men or women, extortion, thievery and murder.

Early Christian commentator, Pseudo-Macarius Aegyptius in his Homiliae spirituales IV 4.22, when describing the Story of Sodom states, “….created the ultimate offense in their evil purpose against the angels, wishing to work arsenokoitia (anal rape) upon them.”

In the 6th Century, astrologer Rhetorius Aegyptius used the term “arsenokoites (of women) and rapists of women.” 

John the Faster, considered to be the Patriarch of Constantinople, uses the word arsenokoitia, to refer to a man violating members of his family with anal rape. “One must also ask about the perplexing, beguiling , and shadowy sin of incest, of which there are not just one or two varieties but a great many very different ones….Some even do it with their own mothers, and others with foster sisters or goddaughters. In fact, many men even commit the sin of arsenokoitia with their wives.” John the Faster, Penitential, about AD 575.

Fact is, the term arsenokoites only ever appears when speaking about forcible or exploitative sexual encounters involving men with men, boys and women.

In Summary:

Both Jesus and Paul lived at the height of Greco-Roman culture where same-sex behavior was pervasive. Yet none of the Greek terms commonly used at the time, terms that we would most clearly understand today as homosexual, homosexual sex and/or romance, drag queen, lesbian, if translated, appear in the New Testament.

Jesus healed a Centurion’s beloved pais.

Jesus and Paul’s admonishments on marriage and divorce are conveniently overlooked by the same anti-gay Christians.

Romans Chapter 1 refers to people falling into pagan worship, which we know from ancient history refers to the rites to Cybele and Saturn which resulted in many ill-effects, one of them being a frenzied orgiastic lust that caused people who were not even into that in everyday life, to engage in acts including but not limited to same-sex acts, that were unusual or uncustomary to them. It has nothing to do with homosexuality in general or committed same-sex relationships in particular.

1 Corinthians 6:9 refers to weak, vain, pleasure obsessed men of no substance or moral character, the historical use of the word malakoi and men who are pederasts, rapists, exploiters and murderers, which is how the word arsenokoites has always been used since Paul coined it. It has nothing to do with homosexuality in general or committed same-sex relationships in particular.

Do Not Be INFANTS In Your Understanding

Legalism is a burdensome load the spiritually immature carry and try to load up on others, completely forgetting the importance of grace and individual relationship with the Divine as you work out your OWN salvation.

When Paul was writing his letters, he often peppered them with disclaimers to not be infants in understanding 1 Corinthians 14:20; not to take his words to judge others and cause them to stumble Romans 14:13-14; to be fully persuaded in one’s own mind Romans 14:5; If you are unsure, fall back on the MOST IMPORTANT Commandment and it will cover anything he could not adequately address Romans 13:9-10. 

Paul did not want people slavishly following his words as commandments, like they were already doing with the Old Law. He had enough of a battle as it was to free early Christians from a shallow kind of legalism and literalism that blocked their understanding the meat of the message and most of all, grace.

“Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” Galatians 3:23-25

He already saw them using the scriptures (and the only scriptures that existed in Paul’s time was the Old Law, that is the scripture he was referring to in 2Tim 3:16, when he was writing his letters) to exclude uncircumcised, non-Sabbath observing, non-kosher following Gentiles, judge and nit-pick at each other’s behavior, attire, diet and enforce old ranking systems of class and gender.  He had to remind them in Galations 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; THERE IS NO MALE AND FEMALE; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

This is not the intended use of scripture

But perhaps the most radical thing Paul ever did write can be found in 1 Tim 1:4-6. “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through HYPOCRITICAL LIARS, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. THEY FORBID PEOPLE TO MARRY and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. FOR EVERYTHING GOD CREATED IS GOOD, AND NOTHING IS TO BE REJECTED IF IT IS RECEIVED WITH THANKSGIVING, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.”

It was not as though Paul did not have precedent.

It was Christ himself who bypassed the Old Law if it did not serve the greater good, mercy and basic human needs. He and his disciples picked grain to eat and healed when it was the Sabbath (punishable by death), he allowed an unclean woman with menstrual flow to touch him (punishable by banishment) and when the sanctimonious Pharisees kicked up a fuss, he referred to the account of King David who when he and his soldiers were starving ate the consecrated bread in the temple (a capital offense) but as Matthew 12:7 shows, Jesus said of God, “If you had known what these words mean, 'I DESIRE MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE,' you would not have condemned the innocent.”

Anti-Gay Bible Literalists are modern day Pharisees. What they do today, bears striking resemblance to when the bible was used in an infantile, legalistic way to justify things like slavery, colonialism and unjust treatment of women. They demand that in order to follow Christ, gays and lesbians must live lonely celibate lives or force themselves to live a contradiction to keep up appearances, in constant turmoil over their innate orientation. Something they would never do themselves.

'I DESIRE MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE,' Be wary of those who try to make your spiritual life feel like this….

It is not hardship, pain, suffering and suppression that please Christ, but your happiness, freedom and how you use it to serve your fellowman. He said his yoke is supposed to be light and the load refreshing and nobody is supposed to be placing heavy burdens on your shoulders that they would not bear themselves. Do not be fooled! If your spiritual practice means denying yourself joy (and joy is a fruit of the spirit) that can be fulfilled well within the clear universal perimeters of, “Love your neighbor as yourself”, it has nothing to do with Christ.  Instead it has everything to do with shielding other people from the challenge of dealing with what they find personally discomforting; soothing their cultural prejudices and satisfying their ego’s need for an effigy of evil to beat and blame. It is not your spiritual duty to empty all your joy into their void. That is bottomless pit that only Divine grace and love can fill.

Instead of this!

 For more information please visit: http://www.gaychristian.net, http://www.gaychristian101.com, www.soulforce.org  and the film, “For The Bible Tells Me So”