William Loader - Sex, Then and Now: Sexualities and the Bible

Sexualities and the Bible

William Loader

T his book is about sexualities. It is a book of listening. Listening to what biblical writers and others of their time, particularly Jewish authors, were writing, especially about sexual actions, attitudes, and orientations between people of the same gender. It is also a book about reflecting: on human experience and on what biblical authors wrote and why.

Listening, for me, means listening to the context in which people were expressing themselves. I have deliberately, therefore, ranged across a number of issues relating to sexuality and attitudes towards sexuality in these ancient texts and not limited myself to the very few that deal with sexual relations between people of the same gender. I have also not just written about such texts, but cited them directly, allowing their voices to be heard. I invite you to give yourself space and time to hear these ancient texts. I am aware that some will be unfamiliar, especially where I have cited Jewish authors from beyond the Hebrew Scriptures. They are worth hearing in themselves, but especially because they can give us some understanding of how, in turn, they heard biblical texts and interpreted them. Many of them were part of Pauls world and are important for understanding how Paul himself engaged such biblical texts.

Behind this book is also some listening to people in recent times, reading their reflections, observing their lives, watching them in public spaces and the media. I do not pretend, however, to be a specialist on contemporary theories and experiences of people now identified with the acronym, LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer). I have added I (Intersex) when appropriate in the context.

Language can be contentious and confusing at times, not least in the discussion of sexualities. For some, sex means an action of sexual engagement. For others, the meaning of sex is wider but quite straightforward. It refers to biology and a persons genitalia. It has always seemed to me, however, that the most important sexual organ is the brain. One of the ways of seeking to avoid such confusions is to use the word gender and gender identity, which can include how ones sees ones sexuality. Gender roles have often, of course, nothing to do with sexuality. My compromise in this book has been to prefer to use the language of gender as a more open term and allow the context of the discussion to define it.

Underlying this slim book is also a body of research in which I have been engaged, looking particularly at attitudes towards sexuality more broadly in early Jewish and Christian literature to the end of the first century CE. This research has been published in a number of works, listed at the conclusion of this book as For Further Reading. These document in detail what is to be found in these ancient texts but also how they have been understood and are currently understood within the community of research. This book reflects, therefore, not only my own research but also the rich benefit of engaging the research of others to whom I remain ever grateful.

Unless otherwise indicated all biblical quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version. The sources for other works are cited in an Appendix.

While I take sole responsibility for all that I have written below, I want to acknowledge how valuable it has been to run the manuscript past colleagues and friends with diverse backgrounds and experiences and to receive their comments and feedback. I especially thank Elenie Poulos, Brandan Robertson, Alan Robinson, Betty Stroud, and, finally, my wife, Gisela Loader, who has accompanied me not just during the writing of this book but also for the past fifty-eight years.

William Loader

M atters relating to diverse sexualities and gender identity have assumed growing significance in recent years. In some Christian circles they have taken center stage and become the focus of division, as have many other issues from time to time in the church from its very beginning.

LGBTQ is the acronym for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. People who identify themselves by such descriptors may be attracted to people of the same gender (lesbian or gay) or to people of different genders. This book addresses sexualities among people of the same gender in a very broad sense and, while focusing on ancient texts, does so with an awareness that human experience is diverse and needs to inform what we hear and what we think.

I want to begin with some listening. It is not possible nor appropriate for me to publish a transcript of a family discussion, so I have composed the following as what might be typical experiences of many as a way of introducing the topic. I invite your indulgence and your imagination to listen in.

Helen sat stirring her coffee, dissolving the neat image created by the barista. Thats how I feel, she mused out loud. Im now confused. It used to be clear, just as June said. She was referring back to the discussion group she and her friends, Brian and Jill, had just left together.

June had stated in no uncertain terms: Its an abomination. The Bible says. Its sin. It was sin then and its sin now.

Jason, another member of the group, was just as forthright: Get a life, June. How can it be sin? Some people are straight, and some people are gay. Everyone knows that. How can it be sin to be what you are?

Well then, if youre gay you should not act it out. You should get help. Let God heal you and make you right, June insisted.

Brian didnt want to talk about it. Inside he was churning.

Jill echoed Helens thoughts of confusion, but for Helen the situation was a bit more real and personal because of her brother, Kevin. And the situation with Kevin was not an issue only for her, but was also troubling her parents.

Her parents, Evelyn and John, like many in their generation, were taken by surprise by Kevin. What seemed just a close relation between Kevin and Geoff as just good buddies became a problem when one day John saw them being very physically affectionate.

Evelyn didnt think there was a problem. They were both very proud of Kevin and had seen his friendship with Geoff very positively. Theyre always together, said Evelyn. I think its great. They help each other in their studies. They do things together, play sport together. I think its wonderful. Evelyn was in no doubt.