In response to your "knock yourself out" comment. Yes, I intend to. You know, heck, one of us might just learn something of interest or of use to us.
The Bible on homosexuality:
Leviticus 20:13
13 " 'If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
The above is not quoted in context, GoodK. There are additional references to what appear to be condemnation of homosexuality found in other parts of the Old Testament. The one above makes no mention at all of lesbianism. Does that cause you to think that there might be cultural context missing from our modern interpretation? Do you think there were no lesbians during this time period?
Romans 1: 24-32
[24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
[25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
[26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
[27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
[28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
[29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
[30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
[31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
[32] Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
The above portion of scripture is a blanket condemnation of something alright, but not a blanket condemnation of homosexuality. You missed the intro to this series of verses, GoodK. If I am not mistaken, it gives a direct reference to Paganism. When you got back into the the text, look for references to Pagan gods. There were a couple of things going on during that time period. For example, Pagan fertility rites, temple prostitutes, orgiastic ritual worship..apparently Pagans were fond of hot monkey sex in the temple.
There was also the Greco-Roman accepted cultural practice of social conditioning that involved pederasty. Are you familiar with that? This was present in Paul's culture. When you see references to "effeminate" in the New Testament, those are largely references to the "beloved" in the pederastic relationship.
There. Knock yourself out.
Thanks, I probably will eventually but it's a little too late in the evening right now.
;-)