Since when are gay people allowed to live?

Question

The Torah, the Bible, the Koran all say that gays must die. These teachings were followed for a long time too. So when exactly did that change?

I'm curious about that, since it seems like a drastic departure from scripture.

I'm looking for an age here, not rethoric about people "standing up against the madness of religion".

Like for example "renaissance" or 18th century or whenever this drastic change happened.

@Talldude: most of these things you mention seem to be recently accepted practices too. 200 years ago people wore different materials mind you, and anyone with tarot cards had to hide them real well, prostitution, adultery, etc. earned the man/woman atleast exile.

And the first bankers, the Knights Templar, were condemned as heretics... burnt alive.

Answer 1

Gays live because civil people everywhere took a stand and stopped the madness of religion.

Answer 2

I think the reason that gays are condemned in ancient religious scriptures has to do with the fact that if a man lies with a man, procreation cannot take place and thus the survival of the human race is at risk. Though realistically only a small % of people will choose this lifestyle, so it doesn't threaten our existence. The writers of religious scripture probably felt that in order to ensure our survival, they had to convince the people that it was a sin (just like in certain traditions eating pork is taboo, as in those days before proper methods of food preservation, a porkchop could could kill you.) In other words, much of what is considered sinful by religion are simply acts that, in ancient times , were perceived to put the survival of people at risk. But we're not at that primitive level anymore, so let's all try to think outside of the box and reexamine what really is WRONG.

Answer 3

Gays relationships are no less moral than any other relationships, the Bible is full of wrong thinking and thankfully many of us know better these days than the subnormal mental ignoramus's who wrote some of this hateful Bible trash and the ones who continue to tout it.
When did they stop burning gays? in Britain they were certainly burning gays on the griddle in Chaucers time 1343-1400, there is an account of it in the Canterbury Tales, I think the story that deals with it may he called "The Execution" but that's just from memory.

Answer 4

Ok well let's see what the same (Bible) scripture you quote has to say about homosexuals.

Here are some other "abominations" in the scripture. Guess I can't wear my cotton-poly sweater anymore.

In the Bible, in John 8:7, Christ himself says, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone." So before we pick a starting hurler, we have to sort out anyone who has committed one or more of the other abominations, and who, if sincere, will take their rightful place inside the circle with the (gay people of the world.)

Ok, great....so what OTHER abominations does the Bible specify?

Hmmmmm.......Of course, adultery (Lev 18:20), sex with animals (Lev 18:23), remarrying one's wife after she's had another husband in between (Deut 24:4), or approaching any woman and humming "Strangers in the Night" during the time of her "uncleanness" (Lev 18:19). Cross-dressing is out (Deut 22:5), and that includes Halloween costumes, slacks on women, bib overalls on little girls, or a wife wearing her husband's favorite Oxford buttondown.

Other abominations include tarot readings, glancing at your horoscope, trimming one's beard, and getting a tattoo, even if it says, "Mom" (Lev 19:26-28). Haughty eyes (Prov 6:17) and telling lies (Prov 6:17, 12:22) are big abominations. Being untruthful also includes false weights and measures (Prov 11:1), or any other dishonesty in business. "Everyone who acts unjustly is an abomination to the LORD your God" (Prov 11:16).

What do abominators have for dinner? Rare steaks off the grill (Lev 17:10), Lobster Newburg at the Krebs and crab cakes in Baltimore (Lev 11:10), a rack of ribs at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (Lev 11:7).

But abominations are not just about bodily functions. Charging or paying interest are abominations. Bankers and anyone with a mortgage, car loan or credit card debt will be unavailable to throw the first stone, regardless of the interest rate (Psalm 15:1-5, Jeremiah 15:10). If you work for a credit card company, FORGET IT!! You're doomed.

Graven images of other gods are an abomination (Deut 7:25). Thus the Happy Buddha on my dresser and my postcards of the Great Buddha at Kamakura would excuse me from taking the lead in rock throwing.

My personal favorite abomination is wearing blended fabrics. Deuteronomy 22:11 forbids wearing a material made of wool and linen, but Leviticus 19:19 says it's an abomination to wear any blended material, period. Hence a woman in a man's buttondown can be doubly abominable if it's a no-iron, easy care blend of cotton and polyester.

Of course, when confronted with such information, there are people who will tell you that the blended fabrics abomination is really just a symbolic warning that Jews should not mix with other cultures, and that the dietary laws were set aside for Gentiles at the Council of Jerusalem, and that these "other abominations" were about self-preservation, hygiene and just for Orthodox Jews anyway.

In short, when something they do is shown to be an abomination, many "abominators" become instant anthropologists, Biblical scholars and historians as well.

So why do active abominators continue to refer to the Bible when condemning homosexuals? Are such men and women unaware of their own abominations detailed in the same scriptures? Or are they simply counting on their audience being unaware?

I am sure that Christians, and people of integrity, once informed of their own abominable behavior, will step into the circle and accept for themselves whatever punishment they were going to hand out to others.

"Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) That's the verse I recall whenever someone uses the Bible to justify their own pet bias or bigotry.

My bottom line point? Using the scripture to condemn homosexuality? Fine, but use the words in context. If homosexuals cannot inheret heaven, then, by the same scripture, so is ANYONE who commits any of the abominations in the scripture. ...and besides, didn't the scripture say that "WHOSOEVER believes in Me shall live, even if he dies."?

I don't know about the Koran or the Torah, but my guess is that, if you looked closely, you'll find some daily sins that have you just as "condemed" as you claim the gays who "should be killed" are...so who's going to throw the first stone?

PS. If, according to the poser of this question, many of the things mentioned above are now "accepted", then, by the same logic, why not homosexuality? ...and if people in past times "wore different fabrics", that, according to Bible "scholars", that doesn't negate the scripture or make them less true, ....so again, why not accept homosexuals on the exact same logic? Sounds like you're really supporting my point of view and you don't even know it.

Answer 5

To be honest homosexuality was all ways done on the low. You must remember if a person was wealthy and powerful enough homosexuality was done. Do not forget greeks and the like practiced homesexuality and pedophilia openly.

Are you asking when homesexuality came out in the open in society?

20th century.

Who ALL followed this practice?

Answer 6

Wow....that's a pretty harsh question......
Now mind you, I don't agree with or support homosexuality, but I don't think that they should die for being gay or lesbian....
As far as my interpretation goes, in Christianity, Jesus died for our sins, essentially taking that obligation away from us. I can't speak for the Torah or the Koran as I have never followed the teachings of such religions. Homosexuality is wrong, but is it more wrong than murder?

Answer 7

i don't know the references to the Quran you're talking about, but Jesus hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes, the dregs of Jewish society. if what you say is true, then he probably hung out with homosexuals, too. i don't see where Christians get off saying that just because someone isn't right makes them inherently evil. it's very clear in scripture that it's right to love people but hate sin. Jesus did. he taught a philosophy of love and sacrifice, and lived it out. anyone who contradicts this may call themselves a christian, but they're not adhering to the teachings of the man they say they follow.

so really, the point is that Jesus came along. he told people like me to love and sacrifice for everyone regardless of their sexual preferences. does that make what they're doing moral? heck no. but does their immorality give me reason to hate them? of course not.

that's the best answer for your question that i can give. i'm not familiar with Islam or i'd try to help you out there, too.

Answer 8

About the same time people stopped killing folks for eating shellfish or wearing clothing of mixed fabrics - a *long* time ago. Thankfully.

Answer 9

Even in Bible times they didn't execute without catching them in the act. We should have as much compasion. After all, most people have something in the closet.
I Cr 13;8a

Answer 10

in first century during pauls day it was already rampant...(1 cor 6:9-10)



but during moses days...its also.....mentioned............people who are that way are warned..........>>(leviticus 18:22)>>And you must not lie down with a male the same as you lie down with a woman. It is a detestable thing