Levius 22-22 Analysis

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The Bible verse, Leviticus 18:22 is often used when people discuss how religion views homosexuality. The Jewish and Christian translations of this text are extremely similar to each other, what makes them different is the way they interpret them. Christian Fundamentalists translate verse 22 of Leviticus 18 to say, “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” This makes it clear that Christian fundamentalists are against homosexuality. The commentary states, “Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin.” Fundamentalist Christians view the Bible as the word of God in plain sense. They believe that the Bible is the closest and truest version of God’s actual words, since they believe that God spoke …show more content…

It only acknowledges the act of male anal intercourse, usually forcefully in association with revenge or humiliation. The Holiness source declared this to be an abdominal act and a capital offense. It is worth mentioning that the Holiness sources also views all sexual acts that are not used for reproductive purposes as aberrant. Jews do not read the Hebrew Bible literally. In fact, they believe that you get more out of it from not reading it literally. Jews assert that the Bible is an inspired text and that it may have “errors.” They say that the whole Bible may not be completely historically true. Jews also believe that their laws, or Halakah, can be interpreted in many different ways. Depending on whether you are an orthodox, conservative or reform Jew, your views on many things, including homosexuality will be different. For example, Orthodox Judaism views homosexual conduct as something that is generally prohibited. Orthodox Jews observe the traditional view of homosexuality. Conservative Judaism, in the past few years, has formally approved same sex marriage, although up until recently, they believe that homosexuals could be rabbis or cantors and they didn’t approve homosexual marriages and commitment ceremonies. Reform Judaism is the largest branch of Judaism in North America. They have abandoned traditional Jewish claims about homosexuality. They allow for the ordination of openly gay, lesbian and bisexual people as rabbis and cantors. They consider all biblical constraints on Judaism to be no longer law. Traditionally, Leviticus 18:22 states that sexual intercourse between men is something abhorred or detested that can be subject to capital punishment under halakha. Homosexual male

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