Sep 11, 201815 min read

Act Of Man - Part V (Adam & Steve) LGBT

I am distressed over you, my brother Jonathan. You were very pleasant (or lovely) to me.

Wonderful was your love to me More than that the love of women.

And Jonathan established a covenant (lit. “cut”) with the House of David saying, “May YHWH seek (vengeance if it is broken) by the hands of David’s enemies. And Jonathan continued to cause David to swear by the love by which he (David) had for him (Jonathan), for he (David) loved him (Jonathan) as his own soul.

'The evidence is compelling. David and Jonathan spoke about each other as if they were spouses, and aspects of their relationship only make sense if you see them as a couple. The whole context of their relationship - they even had a formal covenant between them because of their love - suggest that they were more than just friends.'

David (Hebrew: דָּוִד‬; Dāwīḏ or David) and Jonathan (Hebrew: יְהוֹנָתָן‬; Yəhōnāṯān or Yehonatan) were heroic figures of the Kingdom of Israel, who formed a covenant of friendship recorded in the books of Samuel.

Jonathan was the son of Saul, king of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, and David was the son of Jesse of Bethlehem, of the tribe of Judah, and Jonathan's presumed rival for the crown. David became king. The covenant the two men had formed eventually led to David, after Jonathan's death, graciously seating Jonathan's son Mephibosheth at his own royal table instead of eradicating the former king Saul's line.[1]

“David rose from beside the stone heap and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He bowed three times and they kissed each other and wept with each other; David wept the more. Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, since both of us have sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, “The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants, forever.” ’ He got up and left; and Jonathan went into the city.” (1 Samuel 20:41-42)

This was the last time they would ever see each other. David went into hiding, and Jonathan was eventually killed in battle, alongside his father. Perhaps they had some idea this was the end. They certainly knew their love was doomed. And Jonathan reminded David of their covenant with each other. He reminded him that even if they could not be together, they had made a pledge and the bond between them would last through all generations. All their children and grandchildren would be like one family, bound by their love for each other. Later, after taking the throne, David would remember this covenant and adopt Jonathan’s only son as his own — something completely unheard of in a time when kings were expected to kill anyone with any connection to a previous, rival king.

Here it is in black and white. David states the love he shared with Jonathan was greater than what he had experienced with women. Have you ever heard a heterosexual man say he loved his male friend more than his wife? This goes well beyond deep friendship between two heterosexual men.

In this story, we have a direct biblical answer to our question: Can two people of the same sex live in a loving, committed relationship with God’s favor? The answer is “yes,” because Jonathan and David did, and the Bible celebrates their relationship.

The biblical text does not explicitly depict the nature of the relationship between David and Jonathan. The traditional and mainstream religious interpretation of the relationship has been one of platonic love and an example of homosociality. Some later Medieval and Renaissance literature drew upon the story to underline strong personal friendships between men, some of which involved romantic love and could perhaps be described as romantic friendships.

In modern times, some scholars, writers, and activists have emphasized elements of homoeroticism in the story. A number of groups made up of gay Roman Catholics trying to reconcile their faith with their sexuality have also adopted the name to their cause - Davide e Gionata (Italy), and David et Jonathan (France).[2]

I believe in woman, my oh my

We all need someone to talk to my oh my

Ya need a shoulder to cry on, call me I'll be standing by

We all need someone to talk to my oh my

The perception of homophobia and religious bigotry in the Christian Church is particularly obnoxious to young people because they are increasingly aware that most people have little if any choice over their sexual orientation. While the post war generation grew up with gay actors and musicians going to elaborate lengths to hide their true sexual orientation (Rock Hudson and Liberace are perhaps the most famous examples), Generations X, Y and Z have grown up knowing and largely accepting homosexual entertainers.

Scientists Link 2 Genes to Homosexuality in Men

Anyone choosing sides in the nature vs. nurture conversation should be reasonably convinced by now that life is not so simple, and, that behavior is unlikely to be the product of one or the other (nature, or nurture) alone. It’s been understood for some time that male homosexuality has a genetic component, but now for the first time, two specific gene variations have been found to be more common in gay men, suggesting a specific genetic influence on sexual preference. It's worth mentioning from the onset here that, unfortunately, as with many other areas of human-biology research, there have been more studies of gay men than women and so less is known about the influence of genes on women’s sexual orientation.

One such variation was commonly found in the gene SLITRK6, which is on chromosome 13 in the region of the brain, the diencephalon, containing the hypothalamus. This is intriguing, since neuroscientist Simon LeVay had discovered in 1991 that the hypothalamus of heterosexual men is nearly twice the size it is in homosexual men, and suggested this might be meaningful. Since then, the gene has been found to be active a few days prior to the birth of male mice. LeVay tells New Scientist that, “This is thought to be a crucial time for sexual differentiation in this part of the brain. So this particular finding is a potential link between the neuroanatomy and molecular genetics of sexual orientation.”

The second gene, TSHR, is known to produce a receptor protein that, together with a hormone, stimulates the thyroid, another organ believed to be involved in orientation. Sanders cites as evidence the more common occurrence of Graves disease in gay men — the disease is caused by the thyroid becoming over-active.

The People of Lot and The City which was Turned Upside Down

In the story of Lot (Luth) and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Especially the bit where there were these two angels sent down by the Almighty to either see whether there were any good people left in the cities (Old Testament version) or to tell Lot to flee the city of Sodom (Qur’an version), before the two cities were smote with fire and brimstone. Well, okay, we would if we paid attention during religious studies when (or rather, if) those bits were mentioned, or read it up on the Interweb.

To summarise the end result, the cities were razed to the ground partly because the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were hedonistic homosexuals who turned their backs on God and laughed at Lot’s attempts to steer them to the Righteous Path. Also, Lot’s wife got done in too, even though she wasn’t, in so far as anyone could tell, a lesbian.

What that meant, for Muslims (and for that matter the two other Abrahamic faiths), was that as far as the mullahs, priests and other assorted religiously inclined individuals are concerned, there is no ambiguity.

Being gay is then considered deviant and a perversion of the order of nature. An abomination, a despicable sickness. Further, if unchecked, this deviant behaviour has the potential to lead others astray.

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination - Leviticus 18:22 (KJV) If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them - Levitcus 20:13 (KJV)

As we can see (just using the Book of Leviticus in the Bible as one example) the Judeo-Christian religions condemn homosexuals to death. Just imagine how devoted Jews, Christians and Muslims would perceive the homosexuals.

Battle of Gibeah massacre of Benjaminites by Judeans.

(The Story of the Concubine at Gibeah: A Satire on King Saul)

Why is the Benjaminite city of Gibeah portrayed as another Sodom—and who is the anonymous Levite from Ephraim who arrives there with his concubine?

Set in a time “when there was no king in Israel,”[1] Judges 19–21 tells the tale of a Levite who travels from Ephraim to Bethlehem in order to win back his adulterous concubine, who has fled to her father’s house.[2] The bride’s father greets his son-in-law with abundant hospitality, wining and dining him for four days before the couple heads home.

On their return trip, the Levite considers stopping in Jebus (i.e., Jerusalem, at that time, a non-Israelite town) but instead proceeds to Gibeah of Benjamin, an Israelite town. No one but an elderly Ephraimite (i.e., not a Benjaminite) who happens to live in Gibeah takes them in, cautioning them not to spend the night in the square. No sooner does the pair settle in when the men of the town surround the house, demanding that the Levite come out so that they can “know” him.

Comparison with the Sodom Story

There are a number of striking parallels between this scene and the infamous narrative in Genesis 19 concerning Lot and his daughters at Sodom:

In addition to using similar language, the stories share the following major plot points:

Both the angels in Genesis 19 and the couple in Judges 19 arrive at night;
In both texts, only someone who is an “outsider” takes them in;
The men of each town utter nearly identical demands regarding the male guest(s);
In both texts, the hosts tell the men “not to commit such a wrong” (אַל תָּרֵעוּ);
Both men offer two women up to the mob instead of the man/men.

The Old Man’s Virgin Daughter: A Blind Motif

In determining the nature of the relationship between two texts, it is helpful to consider whether there are any “blind motifs,” i.e., details that make sense in one text but are superfluous in the other. In this case, while the elderly man in Judges 19 offers his daughter up to the mob, only the concubine is taken, while the daughter is never mentioned again. In contrast, Lot’s two daughters play a crucial role further on when they birth the ancestors of Moab and Ammon.

Most thus conclude that Judges 19 is dependent on Genesis 19.[3] With this allusion, the severely negative associations of the Sodomites are transferred to the men of Gibeah.

The Dismemberment of the Concubine

The story of the concubine ends in a heartbreaking scene: the men of Gibeah assault the woman throughout the night, until she finally returns to the elderly man’s home and passes out at the entranceway. By the time the Levite arises the next morning and finds her, she is on the brink of death. The man hoists her atop a donkey, heads for home, and then proceeds to chop the woman up into twelve pieces, distributing them throughout Israel.

Although no message accompanies the body parts, the Israelites know to rally to war. This single crime leads to a massive battle against the Benjaminites, where the tribe is nearly wiped out (Judges 20).

Contrasting Saul and David’s Capital Cities

As scholars have observed, the place names in Judges 19–21 line up with known Saul and David reference points.[4] While the places associated with David are depicted in positive or neutral terms, all of those tied to Saul are negative.

Thus the Levite receives great hospitality in Bethlehem of Judah (David’s hometown) and refuses to stop in Jebus (= Jerusalem, David’s future capital).

שופטים יט:יא הֵם עִם יְבוּס וְהַיּוֹם רַד מְאֹד וַיֹּאמֶר הַנַּעַר אֶל אֲדֹנָיו לְכָה נָּא וְנָסוּרָה אֶל עִיר הַיְבוּסִי הַזֹּאת וְנָלִין בָּהּ. יט:יב וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲדֹנָיו לֹא נָסוּר אֶל עִיר נָכְרִי אֲשֶׁר לֹא מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵנָּה וְעָבַרְנוּ עַד גִּבְעָה.

Judg 19:11 Since they were close to Jebus, and the day was very far spent, the attendant said to his master, “Let us turn aside to this town of the Jebusites and spend the night in it.” 19:12 But his master said to him, “We will not turn aside to a town of aliens who are not of Israel, but will continue to Gibeah.”

Thus, the Levite insists on heading to Gibeah (Saul’s capital), where the men turn out to be violent rapists, akin to the Sodomites.

The People of Lut and The City which was Turned Upside Down

The people of Lut rejected (his) warning. We sent against them a violent Tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyed them), except Lut's household: them We delivered by early Dawn,- As a Grace from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks. And (Lut) did warn them of Our Punishment, but they disputed about the Warning. (Surat al-Qamar:, 33-36)

Lut lived at the same time as Ibrahim. The Old Testament says that Lut was Ibrahim's nephew and that they travelled some distance together in Ibrahim's long journeys.

Lut was sent as a messenger to one of Ibrahim's neighbouring communities. These people, as the Qur’an tells us, practiced a perversion unknown to the world up to then, namely sodomy. When Lut told them to give up this perversion and brought them Allah's warning, they denied him, refused his prophethood, and carried on with their perversion. In the end, these people were destroyed by a dreadful disaster.

The city where Lut resided is referred to as Sodom in the Old Testament. Being situated at the north of the Red Sea, this community is understood to have been destroyed just as it is written in the Qur’an. Archaeological studies reveal that the city is located in the area of the Dead Sea which stretches along the Israel-Jordan border.

Before examining the remains of this disaster, let’s see why the people of Lut were punished in this fashion. The Qur’an tells how Lut warned his people and what they said in reply;

The people of Lut rejected the messengers. Behold, their brother Lut said to them: “Will ye not fear (Allah)? I am to you a messenger worthy of all trust. So fear Allah and obey me. No reward do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the lord of the Worlds. Of all the creatures in the world, will ye approach males, And leave those whom Allah has created for you to be your mates? Nay, ye are a people transgressing (all limits)!” They said: “If thou desist not, O Lut! thou wilt assuredly be cast out!” He said: “I do detest your doings.” (Surat ash-Shuara: 160-168)

The people of Lut threatened him in response to his inviting them to the right way. His people detested him because of his showing them the right way, and wanted to banish both him and the other believers beside him. In other verses, the event is told as follows;

We also (sent) Lut: He said to his people: “Do ye commit lewdness such as no people in creation (ever) committed before you? For ye practise your lusts on men in preference to women : ye are indeed a people transgressing beyond bounds.” And his people gave no answer but this: they said, “Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!” (Surat al-Araf: 80-82)

Lut called his people to an obvious truth and warned them explicitly, but his people did not heed any warnings whatsoever and continued to reject Lut and to deny the penalty of which he told them.

And (remember) Lut: behold, he said to his people: “Ye do commit lewdness, such as no people in Creation (ever) committed before you. Do ye indeed approach men, and cut off the highway?- and practise wickedness (even) in your councils?” But his people gave no answer but this: they said: “Bring us the Wrath of Allah if thou tellest the truth.” (Surat al-Ankaboot: 28-29)

Receiving the above answer from his people, Lut asked for the help of Allah,

He said: “O my Lord! help Thou me against people who do mischief!” (Surat al-Ankaboot: 30)

“O my Lord! deliver me and my family from such things as they do!” (Surat ash-Shuara: 169)

Upon Lut’s prayer, Allah sent two angels in the form of men. These angels visited Ibrahim before coming to Lut. Giving Ibrahim the good news that his wife would give birth to an infant, the messengers explained the reason of their being sent: the insolent people of Lut were to be destroyed.

(Ibrahim) said: “And what, O ye Messengers, is your errand (now)?” They said, “We have been sent to a people (deep) in sin; To bring on, on them, (a shower of) stones of clay (brimstone), Marked as from thy Lord for those who trespass beyond bounds.” (Surat adh-Dhariyat: 31-34)

Excepting the adherents of Lut: them we are certainly (charged) to save (from harm),- All - Except his wife, who, We have ascertained, will be among those who will lag behind. (Surat al-Hijr: 59-60)

After leaving Ibrahim’s company, the angels, who were sent as messengers, came to Lut. Not having met the messengers before, Lut first became anxious, but then calmed down after talking to them;

When Our messengers came to Lut, he was grieved on their account and felt himself powerless (to protect) them. He said: “This is a distressful day.” (Surah Hud: 77)

He said: “Ye appear to be uncommon folk.” They said: “Yea, we have come to thee to accomplish that of which they doubt. We have brought to thee that which is inevitably due, and assuredly we tell the truth. Then travel by night with thy household, when a portion of the night (yet remains), and do thou bring up the rear: let no one amongst you look back, but pass on whither ye are ordered.” And We made known this decree to him, that the last remnants of those (sinners) should be cut off by the morning.(Surat al-Hijr: 62-66)

Meanwhile, his people had learned that Lut had visitors. They did not hesitate to approach these visitors perversely as they had approached others before. They encircled the house. Being afraid for his visitors, Lut addressed his people as follows;

Lut said: “These are my guests: disgrace me not: But fear Allah, and shame me not.” (Surat al-Hijr: 68-69)

The people of Lut retorted;

They said: “Did we not forbid thee (to speak) for all and sundry?” (Surat al-Hijr: 70)

Thinking that he and his visitors subjected to evil treatment, Lut said:

“Would that I had power to suppress you or that I could betake myself to some powerful support.” (Surah Hud: 80)

His “visitors” reminded him that they were the messengers of Allah and said;

(The Messengers) said: “O Lut! We are Messengers from thy Lord! By no means shall they reach thee! now travel with thy family while yet a part of the night remains, and let not any of you look back: but thy wife (will remain behind): To her will happen what happens to the people. Morning is their time appointed: Is not the morning nigh?” (Surah Hud: 81)

When the perversity of the city people reached its fullest extent, Allah saved Lut by means of the angels. In the morning, his people were destroyed by the disaster of which Lut had informed them in advance.

And they even sought to snatch away his guests from him, but We blinded their eyes. (They heard:) “Now taste ye My Wrath and My Warning.” Early on the morrow an abiding Punishment seized them: (Surat al-Qamar: 37-38)

The verses describe the destruction of this people as follows;

But the (mighty) Blast overtook them before morning, And We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay. Behold! in this are Signs for those who by tokens do understand. And the (cities were) right on the high-road. (Surat al-Hijr: 73-76)

When Our Decree issued, We turned (the cities) upside down, and rained down on them brimstones hard as baked clay, spread, layer on layer,-Marked as from thy Lord: Nor are they ever far from those who do wrong! (Surah Hud: 82-83)

But the rest We destroyed utterly. We rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): and evil was the shower on those who were admonished (but heeded not)! : Verily in this is a Sign: but most of them do not believe. And verily thy Lord is He, the Exalted in Might, Most Merciful. (Surat ash-Shuara: 172-175)

When the people were destroyed, only Lut and the believers, who were only as many as one “household”, were saved. Lut’s wife did not believe either and she was also destroyed.

And his people gave no answer but this: they said, “Drive them out of your city: these are indeed men who want to be clean and pure!” But we saved him and his family, except his wife: she was of those who legged behind.

And we rained down on them a shower (of brimstone): Then see what was the end of those who indulged in sin and crime! (Surat al-Araf: 80-84)

Thus, Prophet Lut was saved along with the believers and his family with the exception of his wife. As described in the Old Testament, he emigrated with Ibrahim. As for the perverted people, they were destroyed and their dwellings were razed to the ground.