Part 1
According to Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgenders (LGBT), who speaks to the much-ignored subject “Bible doesn't define marriage as only a sexual relationship between a man and a woman.” Christians are changed in understanding of marriage concept in their hearts by this kind of discussion. This kind of discussion makes Christians to understand the concept of marriage and change their hearts. Neither religion nor believes of Christians matter, this is progress for LGBTQ. (http://emptyclosets.com/forum/current-events-world-news-lgbt-news/96787-bible-doesnt-define-marriage-only-between-one-man-one-woman.html )
They argue that the scholars are making dump interpretation about the bible’s meaning. Marriage equality is a debate that has centers in current news, however separately on an appeal to the Bible. They believe such petitions always reflect diminutive biblical literacy to those who complicates the meaning as an authority to endorse the modern social policy. They say that majority of politicians made a career out of misinterpreting the bible as they oppose topics such as same-sex. Politicians use ancient sounds bite to convince people of what themselves believe in. LGBTQ believe that anyone that argues that an issue is plainly spoken in the bible mostly complicated marriages hasn’t taken time to read the bible.
Part 2
Different societies have perceived same sex relationships with varied attitudes. The relationships have varied from time to time and place to place. Initially, people expected all males to engage in same sex relationships. They later viewed it casual integration. At some point, the practice was accepted. However, people later viewed it as a minor sin. Law enforcement was used to repress the practice and others even considered death penalty as the appropriate punishment for anyone who engages in same sex relationships. Today, same sex relationships are common in many countries and some have even legalized it.
In the 1790s, homosexuality was highly disapproved. 41% of 42 cultures strongly disapproved it. 12 % ignored that the practice existed and 21% reported its absence. To most people however, the practice was uncommon (Johnson 42). In cultures that were influenced by Abrahamic religion, the law established sodomy as a crime against nature and was to be fought at all costs. Anal sex was highly condemned though it was frequent in ancient Greek dating back to the days of Plato.
In the 18th century, there was sexual revolution. Many people believed that freeing of different sex relationship will lead to a more freedom for homosexuality. In the 1880s more people started practicing homosexuality while religious organizations and movements continuously stood tall against the practice (Johnson 67). Gays stated to demonstrate for their rights. Governments and homosexuals continuously fought over the legality of homosexuality. Some countries such as France went ahead and legalized it.
As years went by, the practice of same sex relationships continuously became common in different parts of the world. After WW2, various people started to seek legalization of same sex relationships terming it as an appropriate method of controlling populations. Though some viewed the practice as barbaric, this did not curtail the homosexuals from engaging in it. However, some countries strongly illegalized the practice basing their reasons for illegalization on religious beliefs.
In ancient Greek, the most common type of same sex relationships was between adolescent boys and adult men. A relationship between adult men was prohibited. A man was only allowed to have young boys as their lovers. The adults identified their loves but did not start living with them immediately. This was to give the adolescent time so that he could examine whether his suitor had real affection for him or just wanted to use him for sexual purposes. The adolescent boys were allowed to engage in the relationship as from age 12-17 years. After this, they were considered to be adults and looked for a boy to date.
In modern debate, same sex has been placed by the historians over the legality of gay marriage in a historical frame work. It is not believed that heterosexuality and homosexuality exist in the same way in current days. For instant in ancient Greece, Plato’s symposium describes examples of same-sexual and homosexual attraction without condemnation (Devine 74). In Greece, semen believed to be source of knowledge, the research showed that the relationships used to pass wisdom on from the erastes to the eromenos.
In Greek, men had great freedom in their sexual expression while on the hand of their wives they were restricted. Their wives could hardly move around unsupervised. According to the earliest documents which was concerned on same-sex pederasty relationships men were also seeking adolescent boys as their partners. In Greece “paiderastia” (pederastic) meaning boy love which was the most form of same-sex relationship between older man and adolescent youth. An old man was called erastes whose role was to protect, provide, educate and to love. This was to set a role model for his eromenos (youth).
Homosexuality was also practiced in the military, the Sacred Band of Thebes; there were separate unit of military reserved only for men and their beloved youths. Example of the people who practiced this affection included Philip II of Macedon (Devine 56) . It was not the only warlike people, also the Spartans, Boeotians, and Cretans were involved in this susceptible this kind of love
Works cited
"LGBT News Bible doesn't define marriage as only between one man and one woman - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people coming out." Empty Closets - Welcome. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June 2013. http://emptyclosets.com/forum/current-events-world-news-lgbt-news/96787-bible-doesnt-define-marriage-only-between-one-man-one-woman.html
Devine, Philip E, and Celia Wolf-Devine. Sex and Gender: A Spectrum of Views. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2003. Print.
Johnson, Marguerite, and Terry Ryan. Sexuality in Greek and Roman Society and Literature: A Sourcebook. London: Routledge, 2005. Print.
