History of Christianity and Homosexuality
History of Christianity and Homosexuality
History of Christianity and Homosexuality
Christian leaders have written about homosexual male–male sexual activities since the first decades of
Christianity; female–female sexual behaviour was almost entirely ignored.[1] Throughout the majority of
Christian history most theologians and Christian denominations have viewed homosexual behavior as
immoral or sinful.
However, in the 20th century some prominent theologians and Christian religious groups have espoused a
wide variety of beliefs and practices towards homosexuals, including the establishment of some "open and
accepting" congregations that actively support LGBT members, which they consider biblical in light of
other rebukes in the New Testament that Christians might gloss over, such as wealth,[2] women refraining
from speaking in church[3] or covering their heads while praying,[4] and Protestant churches' lack of support
for adults who do not want to marry, such as building monasteries,[5] even though New Testament verses
speak of the virtues of remaining single,[6] such as the example of 144,000 males who are not to be
"defiled"[7] with females before being redeemed in the Apocalypse.[8]
The first instance of "homosexuals" (being literally introduced into the Bible) was in the RSV New
Testament published from 1946 until 1970,[9] which simultaneously removed most "fornication"
admonitions found in the prior ASV (1901) and KJV (1611) Bibles.[10] Historically, the Vulgate contains the
Latin stem "fornicat" within 92 verses [11] representing sixteen centuries of Christian tradition on literally
wording sexual admonishments, while verses now rebuking homosexuals were described in the Vulgate
equivalent to "male-prostitute male-concubines".[12]RSV set a modern trend in literally rebuking
"homosexuals".
Several post-World War II translations now have one to four verses literally rebuking homosexuals while
replacing all mention of fornicators with "the immoral" or "sexual immoral" and leaving ambiguous
homosexual or heterosexual immorality.[13][14]
Contents
Early Christianity
The Middle Ages
The Reformation and Counter-Reformation
Diverging opinions in modern era
See also
References
Further reading
Early Christianity
Prior to the rise of Christianity, certain sexual practices that people today call "homosexual"[15] had existed
among certain groups, with some degree of social acceptance in ancient Rome and ancient Greece (e.g. the
pederastic relationship of an adult Greek male with a Greek youth, or of a Roman citizen with a slave). It is
believed by some interpreters in recent times that Paul was only addressing such practices in Romans 1: 26–
27, while others usually see these verses as condemning all forms of homoeroticism.
The Judaic prohibitions found in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 address the issue of sex between two men. The
latter verse (20:13) says: "And if a man also lies with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have
committed abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
In his fourth homily on Romans,[16] John Chrysostom argued in the fourth century that homosexual acts are
worse than murder and so degrading that they constitute a kind of punishment in itself, and that enjoyment
of such acts actually makes them worse, "for suppose I were to see a person running naked, with his body all
besmeared with mire, and yet not covering himself, but exulting in it, I should not rejoice with him, but
should rather bewail that he did not even perceive that he was doing shamefully." He also said: "But nothing
can there be more worthless than a man who has pandered himself. For not the soul only, but the body also
of one who hath been so treated, is disgraced, and deserves to be driven out everywhere."
The writings of the early church contain strong condemnations of same-sex acts. Tertullian wrote, "When
Paul asserts that males and females changed among themselves the natural use of the creature in that which
is unnatural, he validates the natural way".[17] Ambrosiaster wrote, "Paul tells us that these things came
about, that a woman should lust after another woman, because God was angry at the human race because of
its idolatry. Those who interpret this differently do not understand the force of the argument. For what is it to
change the use of nature into a use which is contrary to nature, if not to take away the former and adopt the
latter, so that the same part of the body should be used by each of the sexes in a way for which it was not
intended?... It is clear that, because they changed the truth of God into a lie, they changed the natural use (of
sexuality) into that use by which they were dishonored and condemned".[18] John Chrysostom wrote, "No
one can say that it was by being prevented from legitimate intercourse that they came to this pass or that it
was from having no means to fulfill their desire that they were driven to this monstrous insanity... What is
contrary to nature has something irritating and displeasing in it, so that they could not even claim to be
getting pleasure out of it. For genuine pleasure comes from following what is according to nature. But when
God abandons a person to his own devices, then everything is turned upside down."[19] Cyprian wrote, "If
you were able... to direct your eyes into secret places, to unfasten the locked doors of sleeping chambers and
to open these hidden recesses to the perception of sight, you would behold that being carried on by the
unchaste which a chaste countenance could not behold. You would see that it is in an indignity even to see...
Men with frenzied lusts rush against men. Things are done which cannot even give pleasure to those who do
them.”[20]
In the year AD 342, the Christian emperors Constantius II and Constans decreed the death penalty for any
male who "marries [a man] as a woman... [a situation in which] gender has lost its place".[23] In the year AD
390, the Christian emperors Valentinian II, Theodosius I and Arcadius denounced males "acting the part of a
woman", condemning those who were guilty of such acts to be publicly burned.[24]
Peter Damian wrote the Liber Gomorrhianus, an extended attack on both homosexuality and
masturbation.[29] He portrayed homosexuality as a counter-rational force undermining morality, religion,
and society itself,[30] and in need of strong suppression lest it spread even and especially among clergy.[31]
Damian reports that even Otto III was intimate with many men (sharing the bed and bath).[32]
Hildegard of Bingen reported seeing visions and recorded them in Scivias (short for Scito vias Domini,
"Know the Ways of the Lord"[33]). In Book II Vision Six, she quotes God as condemning same-sex
intercourse, including lesbianism; "a woman who takes up devilish ways and plays a male role in coupling
with another woman is most vile in My sight, and so is she who subjects herself to such a one in this evil
deed".[34] Her younger contemporary Alain de Lille personified the theme of sexual sin in opposition to
nature in The Complaint of Nature by having Nature herself denounce sexual immorality and especially
homosexuality as rebellion against her direction, terming it confusion between masculine and feminine and
between subject and object. The Complaint also includes a striking description of the neglect of
womanhood:
Though all the beauty of man humbles itself before the fairness of woman, being always
inferior to her glory; though the face of the daughter of Tyndaris is brought into being and the
comeliness of Adonis and Narcissus, conquered, adores her; for all this she is scorned, although
she speaks as beauty itself, though her godlike grace affirms her to be a goddess, though for her
the thunderbolt would fail in the hand of Jove, and every sinew of Apollo would pause and lie
inactive, though for her the free man would become a slave, and Hippolytus, to enjoy her love,
would sell his very chastity. Why do so many kisses lie untouched on maiden lips, and no one
wish to gain a profit from them?[35]
In the 13th century, Thomas Aquinas argued that not all things to which a person might be inclined are
"natural" in the morally relevant sense; rather, only the inclination to the full and proper expression of the
human nature, and inclinations which align with that inclination, are natural. Contrary inclinations are
perversions of the natural in the sense that they do seek a good, but in a way destructive of good.[36][37][38]
This view points from the natural to the Divine, because (following Aristotle) he said all people seek
happiness; but according to Aquinas, happiness can only finally be attained through the Beatific Vision.[39]
Therefore, all sins are also against the natural law. But the natural law of many aspects of life is knowable
apart from special revelation by examining the forms and purposes of those aspects. It is in this sense that
Aquinas considered homosexuality unnatural, since it involves a kind of partner other than the kind to which
the purpose of sexuality points. He considered it comparable to heterosexual sex for pleasure (rather than
reproduction).[40][41]
The tone of the denunciations often indicate a more than theoretical concern. Archbishop Ralph of Tours had
his lover John installed as Bishop of Orléans with agreement of both the King of France and Pope Urban
II.[42] In 1395 there was a transvestite homosexual prostitute arrested in London with some records
surviving,[43] and the Twelve Conclusions of the Lollards included the denunciation of priestly celibacy as a
cause of sodomy.[44]
The vice of the Sodomites is an unparalleled enormity. It departs from the natural passion and
desire, planted into nature by God, according to which the male has a passionate desire for the
female. Sodomy craves what is entirely contrary to nature. Whence comes this perversion?
Without a doubt it comes from the devil. After a man has once turned aside from the fear of
God, the devil puts such great pressure upon his nature that he extinguishes the fire of natural
desire and stirs up another, which is contrary to nature.
However, a minority interpret biblical passages differently and argue that homosexuality can be seen as
morally acceptable. This approach has been taken by a number of denominations in North America, notably
the United Church of Canada (2.8 million members), the United Church of Christ (1.1 million members), the
Moravian Church (825,000 members), the Anglican Episcopal church, the Anglican Church of Canada
(800,000 members), the Liberal Catholic Church, Friends General Conference, the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) (1.9 million members), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (3.9 million members) and the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Relatively many denominations had taken this approach in Europe
including united, reformed and Lutheran churches: the Evangelical Church in Germany (24.5 million
members), Church of Sweden (6.6 million members), Church of Norway, Church of Denmark, Protestant
Church of the Netherlands (3.9 million members), Church of Iceland, United Protestant Church in Belgium,
United Protestant Church of France, Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches, Methodist Church of Great
Britain (330,000 members) and Church of Scotland.
A new denomination, the Metropolitan Community Church (40,000 members), has also come into existence
specifically to serve the Christian LGBT community. However, individual Christians maintain a variety of
beliefs on this subject that may or may not correspond to their official church doctrines. Some mainline
Protestant denominations in the United States have also removed language in their bylaws which suggest
that homosexuality is a sinful state of being. The Book of Order used by the PCUSA reflects this change.
Similar modifications in position can also be seen in the Lutheran ELCA and Disciples of Christ.[47]
Although acceptance of sexually active LGBT laity has increased in terms of actual practice and in terms of
church law, some of these denominations continue to limit leadership and clergy roles for LGBT persons. A
number of denominations, like the aforementioned United Methodists, remain divided over the issues
relating to homosexuality, with a large number of members pushing for changes in the church's Book of
Discipline to allow for full inclusion of LGBT persons in the life of the church.[48]
In 1989, The Evangelical Network was formed with LGBT Evangelical Christians. It is a network of
churches, ministries and Christian workers.
See also
Christianity and homosexuality
Queer theology
Unitarian Universalism and LGBTQ persons
LGBT-affirming religious groups
Gay bishops
Christian saints sometimes identified as homosexual:
Sergius and Bacchus (4th century martyrs)
Aelred of Rievaulx (12th century monk)
References
1. Spong, John Shelby (2005). The Sins of Scripture. Harper Collins ISBN 0-06-076205-5
2. James 5:1-6; Acts 2:44-47; Matthew 19:21-24
3. 1 Corinthians 14:34
4. 1 Corinthians 11:5
5. "Monasticism Old and New; Christian Reflection; A SERIES IN FAITH AND ETHICS" (https://w
ww.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/116014.pdf) (PDF). Baylor University. Retrieved
25 March 2019.
6. 1 Corinthians 7:8; Matthew 19:10-12
7. "defiled" in DRA, KJV, NRSV, ESV, NASB translations; "defile" in NIV. (Revelations 14:4)]
8. Revelations 14:4
9. 1 Corinthians 6:9 [RSV 1946-1970 1st Edition New Testament]"Do you not know that the
unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor
idolators, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[g]" footnote g:"Two Greek words are rendered by
this expression"
10. RSV New Testament 1946-1970 (10 verses) compared to KJV Bible 1611 (45 verses): and
ASV 1901 Bible (40 verses) all of which have "fornicat"* word stem. Later translations such as
ESV, NLT, CEV and NLT would remove all mention of fornication or fornicators.
11. Vetus Latina (various pre-AD 382 Vulgate); Latin Vulgate editions: ("Jerome" AD 382),
("Clementina" 1592 [92 verses with stem (*fornicat*) found in database search quoted),
("Nova" 1979), Douay–Rheims American [DRA] Bible of 1899 (Catholic) has 101 admonitions
against "fornicat* stem".
12. Latin Vulgate "masculorum concubitores" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10); "masculorum concubitoribus"
(1 Timothy 1:10): [ESV] & [NLT] translates both terms as "homosexuality". Latin stem "homo"
[man] and "sexus" [sex] are both found throughout the Latin Vulgate [793 verses for "homo*"
and 34 verses with "sexus" found within Clementina], but never combined together as one
word, or to represent the stem "arsenokoit" (man-sex) found in Greek N.T. Codex for the two
verses listed. Word stems can have idioms more complex than their literally combined
meaning, for example, adultery ("adult"+ "ery") does not specifically admonish all adults having
sex within today's society.
13. [ESV], [NLT], [CEV], [NIV], [TEV/GNB], [WEB] Bible Translations have zero literal rebukes of
fornication, and has one to four literal rebukes containing the "homosexual" stem. "Fornicators"
found in KJV is translated as "sexual immorality" or simply "immorality" [RSV 1946-1970]
within modern translations.
14. [NASB] keeps 8 literal rebukes of fornication, and has two literal rebukes containing the
"homosexual" stem.
15. The words "homosexual" and "homosexuality" were not coined until the late 19th century and
are placed in scare quotes because they are anachronistic when employed with reference to
the linguistic usages of classical antiquity. See the comments by Craig A. Williams in his
Roman Homosexuality (Oxford, 1999), p. 6, and D. S. Bailey's comments in Homosexuality
and the Western Christian Tradition (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1955), p. x: "Strictly
speaking, the Bible and Christian tradition know nothing of homosexuality; both are concerned
solely with the commission of homosexual acts – hence the title of this study is loosely, though
conventionally, worded."
16. "CHURCH FATHERS: Homily 4 on Romans (Chrysostom)" (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/
210204.htm). Newadvent.org. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
17. 3:96. Roberts, A. and Donaldson, J. eds. 1885-1896. Ante-Nicene Fathers, 10 vols. Buffalo,
NY: Christian Literature.
18. 81:51 in Vogels, Heinrich Joseph and Ambrosiaster. Ambrosiastri Qui Dicitur Commentarius In
Epistulas Paulinas. Vindobonae: Hoelder-Pichler-Tempsky, 1966.
19. 1, 11:355-356. Wace, Henry and Schaff, Philip. 1890-1900. A Select library of Nicene and
post-Nicene fathers of the Christian church. Second series. New York, The Christian Literature
Company.
20. 36:14-15. Deferrari, R. J., ed. 1947- . Fathers of the Church: A New Translation. Washington,
DC: Catholic University of America Press.
21. "CHURCH FATHERS: Council of Ancyra (A.D. 314)" (http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3802.h
tm). Newadvent.org. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
22. Sara Parvis, Marcellus of Ancyra and the Last Years of the Arian Controversy (Oxford, 2006),
pp. 19, 25–27. Parvis notes that "although the Latin versions all hedged their bets and
translated the word in both senses [sodomy and bestiality], the earliest Syriac simply translates
it with the phrase "have intercourse with animals" (p.27).
23. Theodosian Code 9.7.3: "When a man marries [a man] as a woman offering herself to men
(quum vir nubit in feminam viris porrecturam), what can he be seeking, where gender has lost
its place; when the crime is one which it is not profitable to know; when Venus is changed to
another form; when love is sought and not found? We order the statutes to arise, the laws to
be armed with an avenging sword, that those infamous persons who are now, or who hereafter
may be, guilty may be subjected to exquisite punishment. Some scholars (Dalla, Cantarella,
and Treggiari) note that the "marriage" in question may be a metaphor for the passive, or
"feminine" role in sex rather than a literal reference to a same-sex parody of marriage.
Williams, in his Roman Homosexuality (p. 246), agrees but insists that a literal reading is
equally plausible.
24. (Theodosian Code 9.7.6): All persons who have the shameful custom of condemning a man's
body, acting the part of a woman's to the sufferance of alien sex (for they appear not to be
different from women), shall expiate a crime of this kind in avenging flames in the sight of the
people.
25. "John Boswell : The Church and the Homosexual: An Historical Perspective, 1979" (http://ww
w.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/1979boswell.html). Fordham.edu. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
26. R. W. Southern, Saint Anselm: A Portrait in a Landscape (Cambridge, 1990), pp. 149–150.
27. Pierre J. Payer, Sex and the Penitentials (Toronto, 1984), pp. 135–139 and passim. Boswell
attempts to dismiss four hundred years' worth of penitentials in a few paragraphs of
Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality, pp. 180–183.
28. "The 600 Year Tradition Behind Same-Sex Unions | Allan Tulchin" (https://www.academia.edu/
262043/The_600_Year_Tradition_Behind_Same-Sex_Unions). Academia.edu. 1 January
1970. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
29. "Medieval Sourcebook: Peter Damian: Liber Gomorrhianus [c.1048-54]" (http://www.fordham.e
du/halsall/source/homo-damian1.html). Fordham.edu. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
30. "Illinois Medieval Association" (http://www.luc.edu/publications/medieval/vol11/11ch5.html).
Luc.edu. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
31. [1] (http://helpthebishops.com/StPeterDamian.htm)
32. Petrus Damiani, Vita Romualdi, ch. 25, PL 145, 975C, Vita Adalberti, ch. 23, MGH, SS 4, 591
33. "Primary Sources | Apocalypse! FRONTLINE" (https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/show
s/apocalypse/primary/scivias.html). PBS. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
34. "Scivias", translated by Columba Hart and Jane Bishop, 1990; p. 279.
35. "Medieval Sourcebook: Alain of Lille [Alanus de lnsulis], The complaint of nature [extracts]" (htt
p://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/alain-sel.html). Fordham.edu. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
36. "SUMMA THEOLOGICA: The natural law (Prima Secundae Partis, Q. 94)" (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20080517072021/http://www.newadvent.org/summa/209400.htm). Newadvent.org.
Archived from the original (http://www.newadvent.org/summa/209400.htm) on 17 May 2008.
Retrieved 18 April 2012.
37. "The Natural Law Tradition in Ethics (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)" (http://plato.stanfo
rd.edu/entries/natural-law-ethics/). Plato.stanford.edu. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
38. "St. Thomas Aquinas and Natural Law: Budziszewski" (http://www.nd.edu/Departments/Maritai
n/ti04/budz.htm). Nd.edu. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
39. "SUMMA THEOLOGICA: What is happiness (Prima Secundae Partis, Q. 3)" (https://web.archi
ve.org/web/20071011133516/http://newadvent.org/summa/200308.htm). Newadvent.org.
Archived from the original (http://www.newadvent.org/summa/200308.htm) on 11 October
2007. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
40. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20071015063418/http://newadvent.org/summa/3
15411.htm). Archived from the original (http://www.newadvent.org/summa/315411.htm) on 15
October 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
41. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20071015063423/http://newadvent.org/summa/3
15412.htm). Archived from the original (http://www.newadvent.org/summa/315412.htm) on 15
October 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
42. "Matt & Andrej Koymasky - Famous GLTB - John of Salisbury" (http://andrejkoymasky.com/liv/f
am/bioj2/john04.html). Andrejkoymasky.com. 5 July 2004. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
43. "Medieval Sourcebook: The Questioning of John Rykener, A Male Cross-Dressing Prostitute,
1395" (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1395rykener.html). fordham.edu. Fordham
University. 1998. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
44. [2] (http://www3.calvarychapel.com/ccbcgermany/histdoc04.htm) Archived (https://web.archive.
org/web/20070927233841/http://www3.calvarychapel.com/ccbcgermany/histdoc04.htm) 27
September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
45. Plass, Ewald Martin. What Luther Says: An Anthology, Volume 1, 1959. p. 134.
46. "What is the denomination's position on homosexuality?" (https://archive.is/20121209051506/h
ttp://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?mid=1324). The United Methodist Church. Archived from
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24 June 2007.
47. "Lutherans Narrowly Adopt New Sexuality Statement" (http://www.christianpost.com/news/luth
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Retrieved 8 July 2016.
48. "RMN+ |" (http://www.rmnetwork.org). Rmnetwork.org. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
Further reading
Early Teachings on Homosexuality (https://web.archive.org/web/20050213100735/http://www.c
atholic.com/library/Early_Teachings_on_Homosexuality.asp)
Summa Theologiae – online version (http://www.newadvent.org/summa/)
Hildegard of Bingen, "Scivias," Columba Hart and Jane Bishop, translators; New York: Paulist
Press, 1990
The Church & the Homosexual (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/1979boswell.html)
John Boswell, Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality, Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 1980
Christian Passage On St. Serge & St. Bacchus (http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/scotts/ftp/
wpaf2mc/serge.html)
Claude Courouve, L'homosexualité masculine dans les textes grecs et latins de l'Antiquité et
du Moyen-Âge
Debate: St. Augustine's Sexuality (http://www.uno.edu/~asoble/pages/augbos.htm)
Johansson, Warren 'Whosoever Shall Say To His Brother, Racha.' Studies in Homosexuality,
Vol XII: Homosexuality and Religion and Philosophy. Ed. Wayne Dynes & Stephen Donaldson.
New York & London: Garland, 1992. pp. 212–214
Smith, Morton "Clement of Alexandria and Secret Mark: The Score at the End of the First
Decade." Studies in Homosexuality, Vol XII: Homosexuality and Religion and Philosophy. Ed.
Wayne Dynes & Stephen Donaldson. New York & London: Garland, 1992. pp. 295–307
Mader, Donald "The Entimos Pais of Matthew 8:5–13 and Luke 7:1–10" Studies in
Homosexuality, Vol XII: Homosexuality and Religion and Philosophy. Ed. Wayne Dynes &
Stephen Donaldson. New York & London: Garland, 1992. pp. 223–235.
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