In Abrahamic religions, Sodom and Gomorrah have become synonymous with impenitent sin, and their fall with a proverbial manifestation of divine retribution. Both places were destroyed at the same time by an enormous conflagration. The Anglican Communion, on its website, presents the argument that the story is "not even vaguely about homosexual love or relationships", but instead "about dominance and rape, by definition an act of violence, not of sex or love." This argument that the violence and threat of violence to foreign visitors is the true ethical downfall of Sodom (and not homosexuality), also observes the similarity between the Sodom and Gomorrah and the Battle of Gibeah Bible stories. Genesis 18:20 says, "And the Lord said, 'The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.'" Indeed, not even ten righteous people could be found in the city.
In Genesis Chapter 14, Sodom and Gomorrah's political situation is described during the time biblical Lot had encamped in Sodom's territory. What brought about this awful calamity? Startling discoveries in the cemetery at Bab edh-Dhra revealed the cause. Sodom and Gomorrah have been used as metaphors for vice and homosexuality viewed as a deviation. Archaeologists found that buildings used to bury the dead were burned by a fire that started on the roof.
One of those interesting details has surfaced which reminds you that everything is connected.It is now predicted that the Supreme Court will give its ruling on same sex marriage on June 30.The Mass readings for that day are Genesis 19.15-29 – the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.We should be clear. It was an activity in which the inhabitants indulged the flesh in corrupt desires by going after strange flesh, ultimately bringing upon them the most extensive judgment anywhere in the Bible outside of the book of Revelation.
Within the Christian Churches that agree on the possible sexual interpretation of know (yada) in this context, there is still a difference of opinion on whether homosexuality is important. The modern names are Bab edh-Dhra, thought to be Sodom, and Numeira, thought to be Gomorrah. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was some kind of activity—a grave, ongoing, lawless, sensuous activity—that Lot saw and heard and that tormented him as he witnessed it day after day. Divine judgment by God was then passed upon Sodom and Gomorrah and two neighboring cities, which were completely consumed by fire and brimstone. This Exodus 22:21-24 lesson is viewed as a more historically accurate way to interpret the Sodom and Gomorrah story. The story has therefore given rise to words in several languages, including the English word sodomy, used in sodomy laws to describe a sexual "crime against nature" consisting of anal or oral sex, either homosexual or heterosexual, or sexual activity between a person and a non-human animal (bestiality). Genesis 13:13 indicates that at that time, "the men of Sodom wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly." Sodom was ruled by King Bera while Gomorrah was ruled by King Birsha. Some Islamic societies incorporate punishments associated with Sodom and Gomorrah into sharia.
First, Sodom and Gomorrah were judged because of grave sin. The destruction debris was about three feet thick. Neighboring Zoar (Bela) was the only city to be spared. Their kingship, however, was not sovereign, because all of the river Jordan plain was under Elamite rule for twelve years. As the mob instead settles for the rape and murder of the foreigner’s female concubine in the Battle of Gibeah story, the homosexual aspect is generally seen as inconsequential, and the ethical downfall is understood to be the violence and threat of violence to foreigners by the mob. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were also warlike and violent.The violent homosexual rapists of Sodom and Gomorrah were an example of the decadence, lust, luxury, greed and violence of the whole civilization.The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was, therefore far deeper than a sexual problem. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was not simply because the city was full of homosexuality.The violent homosexual rapists were a symptom of a deeper ugliness in Sodom and Gomorrah.We know from earlier in Genesis that the cities of the plain were lush, rich and luxuriant. In both stories, an inhospitable mob demands the homosexual rape of a foreigner or foreigners. The sexual problem was the symptom of a deep, fetid and stubborn rebellion against God and everything that was natural and simple, innocent, free and good.St Paul outlines this sick depravity in the first chapter of his epistle to the Romans:The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. Continue Reading
Piecing together the biblical evidence gives us a picture of Sodom's offense. The kingdom of Elam was ruled by King Chedorlaomer.
The ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah have been discovered southeast of the Dead Sea.
In Genesis Chapter 14, Sodom and Gomorrah's political situation is described during the time biblical Lot had encamped in Sodom's territory. What brought about this awful calamity? Startling discoveries in the cemetery at Bab edh-Dhra revealed the cause. Sodom and Gomorrah have been used as metaphors for vice and homosexuality viewed as a deviation. Archaeologists found that buildings used to bury the dead were burned by a fire that started on the roof.
One of those interesting details has surfaced which reminds you that everything is connected.It is now predicted that the Supreme Court will give its ruling on same sex marriage on June 30.The Mass readings for that day are Genesis 19.15-29 – the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.We should be clear. It was an activity in which the inhabitants indulged the flesh in corrupt desires by going after strange flesh, ultimately bringing upon them the most extensive judgment anywhere in the Bible outside of the book of Revelation.
Within the Christian Churches that agree on the possible sexual interpretation of know (yada) in this context, there is still a difference of opinion on whether homosexuality is important. The modern names are Bab edh-Dhra, thought to be Sodom, and Numeira, thought to be Gomorrah. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was some kind of activity—a grave, ongoing, lawless, sensuous activity—that Lot saw and heard and that tormented him as he witnessed it day after day. Divine judgment by God was then passed upon Sodom and Gomorrah and two neighboring cities, which were completely consumed by fire and brimstone. This Exodus 22:21-24 lesson is viewed as a more historically accurate way to interpret the Sodom and Gomorrah story. The story has therefore given rise to words in several languages, including the English word sodomy, used in sodomy laws to describe a sexual "crime against nature" consisting of anal or oral sex, either homosexual or heterosexual, or sexual activity between a person and a non-human animal (bestiality). Genesis 13:13 indicates that at that time, "the men of Sodom wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly." Sodom was ruled by King Bera while Gomorrah was ruled by King Birsha. Some Islamic societies incorporate punishments associated with Sodom and Gomorrah into sharia.
First, Sodom and Gomorrah were judged because of grave sin. The destruction debris was about three feet thick. Neighboring Zoar (Bela) was the only city to be spared. Their kingship, however, was not sovereign, because all of the river Jordan plain was under Elamite rule for twelve years. As the mob instead settles for the rape and murder of the foreigner’s female concubine in the Battle of Gibeah story, the homosexual aspect is generally seen as inconsequential, and the ethical downfall is understood to be the violence and threat of violence to foreigners by the mob. The kings of Sodom and Gomorrah were also warlike and violent.The violent homosexual rapists of Sodom and Gomorrah were an example of the decadence, lust, luxury, greed and violence of the whole civilization.The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was, therefore far deeper than a sexual problem. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was not simply because the city was full of homosexuality.The violent homosexual rapists were a symptom of a deeper ugliness in Sodom and Gomorrah.We know from earlier in Genesis that the cities of the plain were lush, rich and luxuriant. In both stories, an inhospitable mob demands the homosexual rape of a foreigner or foreigners. The sexual problem was the symptom of a deep, fetid and stubborn rebellion against God and everything that was natural and simple, innocent, free and good.St Paul outlines this sick depravity in the first chapter of his epistle to the Romans:The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. Continue Reading
Piecing together the biblical evidence gives us a picture of Sodom's offense. The kingdom of Elam was ruled by King Chedorlaomer.
The ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah have been discovered southeast of the Dead Sea.
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