GAY TRUTH

Boswell revealed a blatant moral relativism in his struggle with the presence of adultery and incest in Leviticus 18 and 20 . He wrote,  “Although both chapters also contain prohibitions [e.g., against incest and adultery] which would seem to stem from moral absolutes, their function in the context of Leviticus 18 and 20 seems to be as symbols of Jewish distinctiveness.” Boswell must categorize these prohibitions as “symbols of Jewish distinctiveness” (forcing them to fit into his cubbyhole of ritual impurity) or else his entire argument fails. To admit that incest or adultery in this context is “inherently” or “intrinsically evil” would be to admit the presence of non-ritual uncleanness, which is described as toevah. A simple study of the word toevah reveals an insurmountable obstacle for Boswell interpretation. Numerous times in the Hebrew Bible we find that the word toevah refers to the sins that were committed by the pagan nations surrounding Israel . Now, if toe...

  You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination. ( Leviticus 18:22 )   If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them. ( Leviticus 20:13) (emphasis added) Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 refer to homosexuality as an abomination, a detestable act. Both passages use the Hebrew word toevah, and the context demands that the word be understood as referring to that which is morally unacceptable to God.  However, revisionists who contend that the Bible does not prohibit all forms of homosexuality , declare that the word toevah actually refers to some manner of ritual or religious uncleanness and not moral defilement ; they argue that the word speaks solely of ceremonial defilement. By choosing such a definition, without regard to the context, however, the revisionists unwittingly reveal some level ...