From: John W Burgeson (jwburgeson@juno.com)
Date: Mon Aug 11 2003 - 11:14:53 EDT
George wrote: "I think it's plausible that Paul (& his contemporaries)
did not have anything
like our modern understanding of sexual orientation."
Plausible? I'd say "highly improbable." Unless one holds that Paul, when
penning letters that later became scripture, was supernaturally informed
of all relevant knowledge. Which position, I understand, some folks do
hold.
"But it seems very unlikely that he wasn't aware that homosexual activity
sometimes took place outside settings of pagan ritual. "
Robert commented on this, and I can add little beyond my remarks of
yesterday. Maybe we could agree upon the wording "I think it's plausible
that Paul MIGHT have been aware that homosexual activity sometimes took
place outside settings of pagan ritual. " I could buy that much. "Aware
of" does not mean one thinks of it when penning a letter such as Romans,
of course.
"& was there any significant lesbian pagan ritual?"
I am not aware of any, but that's not my area of expertise. <G>
On 8/7 you wrote: "I just finished a 5 page essay for preachers for this
coming Sunday,
tied to lectionary texts & the issues raised at the Episcopal convention,
for an
internet sermon resource. "
Can you share this with me? I am always interested in what you have to
say.
I appreciate your off line reply on "suffering."
John Burgeson (Burgy)
www.burgy.50megs.com
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