Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: ArrogantBustard

You are right. There is no female equivalent to Leviticus 18:22 or 20:13. It is likely that there is something cultural going on here. There were cultural differences between east and west in the ancient world in regard to sexual practices and the tolerance thereof.

The Greeks, as I’m sure you know, were regarded as the popularizers (if such a word can be used in this context) of, especially, male homosexuality. It is not that homosexuality (or at least sex between men, as in Afghanistan today) was not practiced elsewhere, because there is evidence in art and, less, in literature that it was. But the Greeks not only tolerated it, but celebrated it and often depicted it in art. The Greek attitude toward lesbianism (or, again, at least sex between women) is a little less certain. The term lesbian is derived from the island of Lesbos, the home of the lyric poet Sappho (the origin of the term, sapphic), but was not really used in the sense we do today until about the 18th century, as classical studies attracted more and more attention. But unlike with men, I know of no depictions of female to female sex even among the Greeks. And it is not certain that Sappho’s either requited or unrequited love for other women involved physicality. In later antiquity there are other indications, but I don’t have time right now for that.

So, if among the Greeks, well known in the ancient world for their tolerance of and even approval of male homosexuality, there is little direct evidence of female homosexuality/lesbianism, it stands to reason that in the east where there is less evidence of male homosexuality (although there is quite a bit) that there would be near silence in regard to female homosexual practices.

That such practices would be viewed unfavorably in the ancient Near East, analogous to the culture’s general view of male homosexuality, is probable, if not certain.

But in the end one would have to say, with Solomon, that there is nothing new under the sun. I’m the same perversions of today were to be found then.


49 posted on 08/10/2012 9:56:01 AM PDT by Belteshazzar (We are not justified by our works but by faith - De Jacob et vita beata 2 +Ambrose of Milan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies ]


To: Belteshazzar
I think we're generally on the same page ... see my comments in #47. Scripture affords us direct arguments against male homosexual acts, but only indirect arguments against female homosexual acts.

It is what God gave us, therefore it is sufficient.

56 posted on 08/10/2012 10:19:56 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson