Genesis and Homosex: Beyond Sodom

Just Genesis ^ | Jan. 26, 2013 | Alice C. Linsley

[Jandy on Genesis]

In the dispute over homosexuality the Bible plays a less significant role than in the past because it is viewed as a book of miracles and supernatural revelation, having nothing to do with science and the modern understanding of sexuality. This is not based on objective assessment; it is rooted in the Enlightenment rejection of the Bible, especially Hume's dismissal of miracles. Hume argued that unless universals in religion could be ascertained, no religious truth claims can be verified. Since Hume's time, anthropologists have identified universals in religion, notably burial in red ochre, serpent veneration, and water shrines.

Kant also contributed to a dismissal of the Hebrew Scriptures as "a collection of mere statutory laws upon which was established a political organization." He argued for a "pure moral religion" based on duty as "the euthanasia of Judaism." He maintained that Judaism was "interfused, by reason of moral doctrines gradually made public within it, with a religious faith - for this otherwise ignorant people had been able to receive much foreign [Greek] wisdom." Kant overlooked the influence of ancient Egypt on Pythagoras and Plato.

Schopenhauer also perpetuated the Enlightenment disdain for the Hebrew Scriptures. He incorrectly portrayed the Bible as derivative of the ancient Vedas. His notion was repeated by Friedrich Maximilian Müeller (1823-1900) who wrote, "In the Rig-Veda we shall have before us more real antiquity than in all the inscriptions of Egypt or Ninevah....the Veda is the oldest book in existence...."

Today it is recognized that the oldest of the Vedas reflect the Horite religion which took root in India's Harappa culture. Har-appa is a Dravidian word that means "Horus is Father". The words Kusha, Rama, Hari and the description of Krishna (Christ) as the "Ancient Man" are all found in earlier Hebrew and Aramaic texts.