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A review by alanrussellfuller
Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate by Justin Lee
1.0
The author grew up in a Christian family and had an understanding of the Bible similar to that of many evangelical Christians. Then he discovered he was gay. That led him to revise some of his bible interpretation.
The first thing to do is to define “gay” as same sex attraction rather than as homosexual practice as the Bible tends to do. Readers of the Sodom and Gomorrah story just assumed it was about homosexuality. It was really about violence, even though they were primarily sinners against God. (Gen 13:13). People in those days weren’t like people today who have committed, consensual relationships, so homosexuality today is different.
“Cult temple prostitution, castration, and same-sex sex rites in honor of popular goddesses were all well-known practices of the time.” p.182
“The historicity of literal sacred prostitution, particularly in some places and periods, is a controversial topic within the academic world.” Wikipedia, Sacred Prostitution
[b:What was the Sin of Sodom: Homosexuality, Inhospitality, or Something Else?|32758137|What was the Sin of Sodom Homosexuality, Inhospitality, or Something Else?|Brian Neil Peterson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490356109l/32758137._SY75_.jpg|53348736]
The first thing to do is to define “gay” as same sex attraction rather than as homosexual practice as the Bible tends to do. Readers of the Sodom and Gomorrah story just assumed it was about homosexuality. It was really about violence, even though they were primarily sinners against God. (Gen 13:13). People in those days weren’t like people today who have committed, consensual relationships, so homosexuality today is different.
“Cult temple prostitution, castration, and same-sex sex rites in honor of popular goddesses were all well-known practices of the time.” p.182
“The historicity of literal sacred prostitution, particularly in some places and periods, is a controversial topic within the academic world.” Wikipedia, Sacred Prostitution
[b:What was the Sin of Sodom: Homosexuality, Inhospitality, or Something Else?|32758137|What was the Sin of Sodom Homosexuality, Inhospitality, or Something Else?|Brian Neil Peterson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490356109l/32758137._SY75_.jpg|53348736]