I would often note on these pages that one of the issues of religions, religious zealots or cults is that they cherry pick holy scripture and use spurious translations to support their own agenda. A notable translation faux pas was the demonization of Mary Magdalene as a harlot, a prostitute. Whether by honest error or not, this glaring misrepresentation supported a male dominated, euro centric vision of most of Christianity. Thank God Mary Magdalene is getting her justice from renewed interest in Biblical Scholarship. Mary may get her due as perhaps more than just a follower but more of a true disciple, dare I say Apostle?
What other mis-translations or white washing has occurred? I've already discussed the word "pais" in previous blog entries. It is pretty clear that the word pais was was not a slave or servant that Jesus cured but the same sex junior lover of the Roman Centurion that had specifically sought out that itinerant Jewish preacher ( our Savior Jesus ) to cure his sick lover. This mistranslation as perpetrated by major faiths only served to demean and dismiss, an agenda against same sex relationships. Not a one night stand mind you but clearly a loving committed relationship.
Speaking of loving committed relationships, have you read the story of Jonathan and David in the Old Testament? It seems pretty steamy to me. Take a gander, Google it. You'll be amazed why it is not held up as a simple example of a real loving relationship.
When you have done that, move on to Sodom and Gomorrah. That piece of scripture that allegedly supports condemnation of homosexuality is actually a story of attempted same sex rape of two Angels by those unwelcoming townsfolk. In fact, Lot saved the Angels by handing over his own daughters to the townsmen for rape. Is this crazy? How is it that male rape gets equated with anti-homosexuality while the rape of two women gets a pass? Crazy indeed. The passage of Sodom and Gomorrah has absolutely nothing to do with same sex committed relationships. The real moral of that story and the reason why the cities were destroyed was one of a selfish, inhospitable peoples and be being so judged by God.
If you move on with Lot later on, you see his two daughters get their old dad drunk to have sex and conceive by him. How is that not noted more frequently by these puritanical religious zealots? Why didn't that become an admonition against sexual relations between men and women?
The Bible it seems to have a fair amount of sex, sexual relations, misrepresentations and mis-translations. What is someone to do? What is one to believe? First, scholarship is a must, but even trusted sources must be questioned and verified. Most of all, the real key is God's love. The love that Jesus preached is clear in the loving concern of that Roman Centurion. Love should always be our arbiter when faced with a questionable passage. Of course honesty and scholarship is also very important but love, truly is the answer.
Speaking of loving committed relationships, have you read the story of Jonathan and David in the Old Testament? It seems pretty steamy to me. Take a gander, Google it. You'll be amazed why it is not held up as a simple example of a real loving relationship.
When you have done that, move on to Sodom and Gomorrah. That piece of scripture that allegedly supports condemnation of homosexuality is actually a story of attempted same sex rape of two Angels by those unwelcoming townsfolk. In fact, Lot saved the Angels by handing over his own daughters to the townsmen for rape. Is this crazy? How is it that male rape gets equated with anti-homosexuality while the rape of two women gets a pass? Crazy indeed. The passage of Sodom and Gomorrah has absolutely nothing to do with same sex committed relationships. The real moral of that story and the reason why the cities were destroyed was one of a selfish, inhospitable peoples and be being so judged by God.
If you move on with Lot later on, you see his two daughters get their old dad drunk to have sex and conceive by him. How is that not noted more frequently by these puritanical religious zealots? Why didn't that become an admonition against sexual relations between men and women?
The Bible it seems to have a fair amount of sex, sexual relations, misrepresentations and mis-translations. What is someone to do? What is one to believe? First, scholarship is a must, but even trusted sources must be questioned and verified. Most of all, the real key is God's love. The love that Jesus preached is clear in the loving concern of that Roman Centurion. Love should always be our arbiter when faced with a questionable passage. Of course honesty and scholarship is also very important but love, truly is the answer.
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