The Biblical Destruction of Sodom

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

Was it really about homosexuality?

"This is the sin of Sodom; she and her suburbs had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not help or encourage the poor and needy. They were arrogant and this was abominable in God's eyes."
Ezekiel 16:48-49

[Biggreenfellow]

Was it really about homosexuality?

"This is the sin of Sodom; she and her suburbs had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not help or encourage the poor and needy. They were arrogant and this was abominable in God's eyes."
Ezekiel 16:48-49

I'm no expert, but the way I understand it, homosexuality was just one of the many sins that contributed to the city's demise.

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

I'm no expert, but the way I understand it, homosexuality was just one of the many sins that contributed to the city's demise.

Homosexual rape and lust certainly, but I see no real basis for this account to be used to condemn homosexuals when it even more explicitly condemns behaviors many prominent Christians are involved in.

[justicar5]

Homosexual rape and lust certainly, but I see no real basis for this account to be used to condemn homosexuals when it even more explicitly condemns behaviors many prominent Christians are involved in.

many? All, greed is a christian virue apparently...

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

many? All, greed is a christian virue apparently...

I don't make blanket statements. I also know many radical Christians who oppose Capitalism and call for revolution, so it wouldn't be a true statement either.

[Cooraan]

Like Biggreenfellow said it was for all of their sins.

[RO Citizen]

It wasn't just homosexuality (all kinds of sexual acts, from sadic things to homosexuality to zoophilia, etc.), it was about all kinds of sins, but yes, sexual things were the most important ones, as God loves to love...

[SigniferOne]

You need to read Genesis. A bunch of men from Sodom all came out en masse to have sex with Jacob, they wouldnt take a woman as a substitute, and they were on their way towards raping him.

But yes, this was by far not the only reason. When Jacob tried to save the city from destruction, God said, if there's just a hundred righteous men in the city, he'd save it. Turned out not to be the case. God said, alright, just give me ONE ighteous man and ill save them. Wasn't the case. The whole city was forfeit.

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

You need to read Genesis. A bunch of men from Sodom all came out en masse to have sex with Jacob, they wouldnt take a woman as a substitute, and they were on their way towards raping him.

But yes, this was by far not the only reason. When Jacob tried to save the city from destruction, God said, if there's just a hundred righteous men in the city, he'd save it. Turned out not to be the case. God said, alright, just give me ONE ighteous man and ill save them. Wasn't the case. The whole city was forfeit.

Are you confusing Jacob with Lot? The men of Sodom tried to rape the angels which YHWH sent to Lot, but it also condemns the heterosexual rape of Dinah. Is it really about homosexuality, or a condemnation of all forms of rape? (Especially as a show of power)

[Del Valle]

Was it really about homosexuality?

"This is the sin of Sodom; she and her suburbs had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not help or encourage the poor and needy. They were arrogant and this was abominable in God's eyes."
Ezekiel 16:48-49

Just a literal read of that seems to be saying that God punished Sodom for being arrogant and not helping the poor. The "but" implies that it was not because of their wealth and ease, but because of their refusal to share it with others.

[The Million Dollar Prons]

Man, the Sodomites would rape anything wouldn't they?

[PhilipO'Hayda]

Is there any other lines in the bible that say's being gay is evil or wrong?

[Squiggle]

Is there any other lines in the bible that say's being gay is evil or wrong?

Leviticus is obviously the most famous. Other examples are in timothy, Corinthians [i cant remember the exact verses atm], and Romans.

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

Leviticus is obviously the most famous. Other examples are in timothy, Corinthians [i cant remember the exact verses atm], and Romans.

Leviticus (the most explicit reference) isn't as explicit as it seems. Leviticus is mostly a holiness code which speaks about what a Priest should or should not do. It calls various things "abominations", the thing is that the word which is translated as "abomination" has a different meaning than in English. Leviticus calls homosexuality "Tōʻēḇā" which carries a similar meaning to "Taboo" in that it can mean something "shameful" in addition to something "evil".

[Col. Tartleton]

And I'd argue they couldn't be gay because the priesthood was carried by blood. Priests must have sons to replace them. The OT shows a people very concerned with inheritance and property rights. Not having sons and daughters to continue on the family is basically sin. Think how upset barren people seem. Several miracles involve a blessed child birth.

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

And I'd argue they couldn't be gay because the priesthood was carried by blood. Priests must have sons to replace them. The OT shows a people very concerned with inheritance and property rights. Not having sons and daughters to continue on the family is basically sin. Think how upset barren people seem. Several miracles involve a blessed child birth.

Most condemnations of "unnatural sex" were interpreted later on to mean "Any sexual activity which isn't for the sake of procreation" A lot of this was because sperm was believed to contain all that was necessary for life, while a woman was just an "incubator" of sorts.

[Boer]

The traditional Jewish interpretation focuses more on mistreating foreigners/guests, among other sins. Given that it is ultimately a Jewish story, I give their interpretation (and additional stories revolving around it) more weight than later christian views.

[SigniferOne]

Are you confusing Jacob with Lot? The men of Sodom tried to rape the angels which YHWH sent to Lot, but it also condemns the heterosexual rape of Dinah. Is it really about homosexuality, or a condemnation of all forms of rape? (Especially as a show of power)

Sorry I was thinking about Lot, got confused about the story from memory. Well sure, the heterosexual rape is condemned too. The story isn't about homosexuality, but it homosexuality in it, it being no accident that the city was immortalizd for all time from that fact. The scene with them trying to rape the angels is kind of unparalled in ancient literature.

Most condemnations of "unnatural sex" were interpreted later on to mean "Any sexual activity which isn't for the sake of procreation" A lot of this was because sperm was believed to contain all that was necessary for life, while a woman was just an "incubator" of sorts.

During the middle ages, yes. This was abolished during the Reformation.

[black-dragon]

But yes, this was by far not the only reason. When Jacob tried to save the city from destruction, God said, if there's just a hundred righteous men in the city, he'd save it. Turned out not to be the case. God said, alright, just give me ONE ighteous man and ill save them. Wasn't the case. The whole city was forfeit.

Too bad we can't do that anymore. People complain that it's this silly thing called 'mass murder'. Pffft, what do they know?

[Old_Scratch]

I wonder that if the god of the Jews could destroy cities he might have done something about Nazi Germany maybe? I suppose the genocide of his chosen people doesn't make him nearly as angry as sexual deviancy.

Also, I'm pretty sure that Lot sold his wife into slavery for a block of salt which was a form of currency, and told everyone that god magically did it to punish her. Then he got drunk and had sex with his children. Lovely story.