I think it's time for a RANT!
When I observe the current plight of homosexuals in todays world I get pretty depressed. I mean, compared to how homosexuality used to be... Many forms of homosexuality have been culturally encouraged throughout history as well.
So many of the great cultures of the world, from the Mediterranean to the Far East had forms of pederasty, or age-structured homosexuality (adult man and adolescent boy). These were considered very helpful to the development of a young man, and most young Greek, Japanese, ancient Arabs, and even Renaissance Italians engaged in this type of relationship before they were married. It wasn't just something that some people did, it was a cultural value. It's in their mythology. My new desktop image is a painting by John William Waterhouse, "Hylas and the Nymphs." Hylas was Hercules' lover who wandered into the forest and stumbled upon a fountain filled with water nymphs. Only they were ever able to wrench Hylas from his uber-masculine lover.
Even pre-history, homosexuality was quite prevalent. Pagan (traditional, pre-religious) cultures globally are drenched in steamy man on man action, very notably in the Middle East, where homosexual relationships were held as an ideal even after Islam spread like wildfire in the 600s. Muhammed told his followers “He who loves and remains chaste and conceals his secret and dies, dies a martyr,” concerning his peoples ongoing tendency towards pederasty. Arabs continued to engage in homosexuality, some chaste as Muhammed allowed. Pederastic relationships were thought of as extremely useful, beautiful, lovely things until the upper class took on Victorian attitudes in the 18th century, though they are still, to a much lesser extent, around today. Traditional cultures in China also valued male love, though this was also surpressed in the last couple centuries. Somewhere along the line, homosexuality became something that was outlawed, feared, hated. And it spread. "Sodomy" (named for the people of the Biblical city of Sodom, which God destroyed because it was full of sinners, sinners who may or may not have been engaging in their namesake) became something that was more commonly punishable by death than appreciated or even tolerated. But why?
I guess it has a lot to do with religion, to begin with. At some point it became the common belief of the important people of Christianity and Judaism that male love was a lewd, unnatural act. Maybe their race was struggling and they needed more babies so they implemented a law, maybe they believed it was dirty or unhealthy, maybe they were just mophobes, but I doubt anyone will ever really know. But they immortalized their beliefs in their Religions. They interpereted (correctly or not) vague references in their books as mandates to discriminate against something harmless. And as Christian ideas permeated the world, other religions began to follow suit.
In Buddhism, one of their five precepts warns against "sexual misconduct." Until around the 17th Century with European influence, this meant rape, incest, or bestiality, but never consenting sex between same-sex partners. Until corrupted by foreign influence, Buddhist leaders accepted or even sanctified homosexuality. However lust (homo- or heterosexual) was something that was to be avoided as it prevented a soul from reaching Nirvana.
In Hinduism, homosexuality is never condemned and is in fact sometimes mentioned in the Kama Sutra or depicted in paintings or sculptures of the Rig Veda. Sex with lustful women is what poets spent most of their time warning men about. It is Hindu belief that all beings need intimate relationships, and denying them to any is detrimental not only to them but to society. Indians have realized for thousands of years that two men can experience romantic love, and that their love is not a product of mere lust. They largely just left them alone.
I guess I kind of percieve the Jews as a backwards, isolationist people. They have passed this on to us. "Do not follow the ways of Egypt where you once lived, nor of Canaan, where I will be bringing you. Do not follow [any] of their customs," the rabbis told their people.(Leviticus 18:3) Until very recently, it was believed that men chose to engage in homosexual acts just to spite god or to be perverse.
I guess where I'm going with all this is I wish I knew why... why were these beliefs formed? Why did they have to spread worldwide and basically wipe out all types of culture..? Why would a religion which would make a mother wish for her son a celibate life be so accepted? I'm glad we're coming out of this, but I'm so sad that ancient cultural beliefs on homosexuality have all but been destroyed, replaced by hatred...
One of many reasons I don't consider myself a Christian. I guess I just feel a strong need to think for myself, to learn for myself, to form my own beliefs...
To all you Christian gayboys... shine on...
As for me I'm bout to have lots of hot devil sex when my boyfriend gets here at 7:00.
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