According to Jewish scholars throughout the ages, the biggest crime committed by the people of Sodom and Gomorrah was their failure to be kind to strangers, and to be charitable amongst themselves (IOW, to be kind within their own community). Sexual depravity of one kind or another is obviously not a good thing, but that has been overemphasized, particularly by Hollywood. Additionally, those two cities would not have been too far out of the norm regarding sexual deviancy for that era and the pagan culture in which they lived.
Lack of hospitality towards strangers was not the biggest offense and to intimate it was more relevant than the sexual immorality is a deception and ignoring scripture.
The bible clearly states several reasons for the destruction, being evil to strangers is one, denying those in need was another.
See Jude 1:7 Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
We should actually read God’s Word which literally tells us why those cities were destroyed.
Yeah ... trying to violently gang-rape strangers is definitely "unkind". I am particularly disgusted with "scholars" who try to downplay the violent sexual perversion at the heart of the problems with Sodom. Makes me wonder what those "scholars" aren't telling ... about themselves.
The Bible talks about these things, too:
Ezekiel 16:49 NKJV
Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
But this is a symbolic comparison. Ezekiel reproves Israel, Judea, and the surrounding nations. He compares Israel and Judea to Sodom because their disobedience and rebellion.
This is the original account of Sodom:
Genesis 13:13 NKJV
But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord.
And then the specific actions were that ALL of the men of Sodom gathered to rape the two sojourning “men” who traveled to their city:
Genesis 19:4-5 NKJV
Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.”
This was the sin of the original (rather than figurative) Sodom: all of the men were homosexual rapists.
“Sexual depravity of one kind or another is obviously not a good thing, but that has been overemphasized, particularly by Hollywood.”
Inhospitality was not the main problem, but it was a consequence of their real problem. And trying to rape sojourners is very inhospitable.
“Additionally, those two cities would not have been too far out of the norm regarding sexual deviancy for that era and the pagan culture in which they lived.”
The problem is not when a city or nation has people who rape, murder, or do other horrible things. The problem is when it becomes the norm, when everyone is doing these things, and they are spending every waking hour fixated on doing them.
Ever notice that people who identify as homosexual or transgender are fixated on this so that it defines who they are?