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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Some are under the assumption that, while the Bible condemns gay sex between men, it nowhere condemns being a lesbian/lesbianism. Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 mention men having sex with other men, bu...
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Al Mari
Supporter
It is true that the English term "lesbianism" is nowhere to be found in the Bible. But, this maybe a translation issue rather than factual absence of this sexual practice. Ancient history confirms that woman-to-woman sex occurred. See: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_lesbianism http://askville.amazon.com/word-lesbian-general-common-usage/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=7217357 http://lesbianlife.about.com/od/herstory/f/Lesbian.htm Similarly, aside from the Bible, man-to-man sex has been documented in secular sources. However, the first documented use of the word "homosexual" was in a "private letter in German from Karl-Maria Kertbeny to Karl Heinrich Ulrichs in 1868. It first appeared in English in 1895 in the translation of a German publication. Some people used it to mean “of the same sex,” such as in describing an all-girls school." (http://www.kencollins.com/bible/bible-i9.htm) While the word "lesbianism" was never used in the Bible and the term "homosexual" has recent usage, nevertheless, they were "unnatural acts" practiced in antiquity. It is therefore a "matter of Bible translation". There is no need to use specific term "lesbian". Because contextually, Romans 1:26-27 includes, not only male-to-male but also female-to-female sexual acts as "against nature", and V-31 " without natural affection".These are "unnatural acts" as in 1 Cor. 6:9 and I Tim.1:10 "effeminate (malakos/male prostitute); abusers of themselves with mankind" (arsenokoites/sodomite). The same context of male-to-male and female-to-female sex is in Lev.18:22 "Thou shalt not lie (shakab/sexual connection) with mankind (zakar/male), as with womankind(ishshah/female): it is abomination." As the translated in English word "lie" already connotes "sexual act", the phrase "as with womankind" may contextually be translated "as thou (woman) shalt not lie with womankind:"..
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