I posted a long screed calling out the hypocrisy in homophobia. I had one individual who took offense at that, which to my mind likely indicates that they are homophobic. Much of my screen was based on my understanding of the Tanakh (the Old Testament to Christians) which I’ve read several times. Rather than trying to refute my assertions, they lashed out, claiming I was distorting or misrepresenting what was there, and eventually even indulging in name calling. I guess that should not be too surprising. People with rigid ideologies react very badly to any challenge to their beliefs.
Let’s take this from the top. First there are many things in the Tanakh which are called abominations. These things were not meant to consign one to eternal damnation, but meant one was ritualistically unclean. That meant one should not pray in the Temple in Jerusalem until going through a ritual cleansing. Yet to fundamentalist Christians a very few of those are thought to be the gravest of sins. At the same time, they quite ignore many other things which were called abominations.
So what is the Tanakh trying to condemn? The prohibition against a man lying with a man, according to at least some rabbis was condemning ritual male temple prostitution. Other authorities say it was banning pederasty or the sexual exploitation of young men by older men. According to many authorities it was not meant to bar a loving mutual relationship between two people of the same gender. Further, there is nowhere in the Tanakh where it mentions lesbian relationships.
In the Christian New Testament, Saint Paul condemns all same sex relationships, but Paul was not Jesus. Though I don’t claim to be an expert on the New Testament, I’m not aware of Jesus saying anything about same sex relations. Still, much of Christian orthodoxy is based on the teachings of Paul, and not necessarily Jesus. To be fair, I’m Jewish and taking my guidance from liberal Jewish and Christian sources. Fundamentalist Christian and Orthodox Jewish sources are more likely to hew to what seems to me to be more homophobic interpretations.
I’d actually be surprised if fundamentalists didn’t react badly to my views. There is a deep strain of homophobia in many followers of fundamentalism. They are unable and unwilling to accept any world views that differ from their own. Personally, I don’t care whether they like LGBT folks. My only concern is that they not be allowed to harm LGBT or pass laws discriminating against them. What you do in your house and believe in your heart is your problem, not mine.
When I see people condemning same sex relations and then see shootings in gay bars, or the murder of gay or trans individuals, I have to think they are connected. If you don’t like gay relationships, don’t have one, but don’t harm those who believe otherwise.
