From: George Murphy (gmurphy@raex.com)
Date: Wed Jul 23 2003 - 16:21:26 EDT
It occurred to me after sending a recent post, an excerpt of which is below,
that there is a fairly clear way of making the necessary distinction between biology &
theology. The directions in the OT for the extermination of non-Israelite populations
represent one way of guarding against "contamination" of a group's gene pool & thus
improving the chances for reproductive success & survival for that group. Yet such
tactics are profoundly inconsistent with the later development of Judaism & with
Christian theology & ethics.
This shows that we cannot argue from the fact that some part of original
Israelite belief & practice helped to ensure reproductive success, & thus was
biologically sound, to the conclusion that that can be part of adequate Christian belief
& practice. & this is the case even if one holds that those beliefs & practices were at
some time ordained by God. The application to the OT strictures on homosexuality are
obvious.
Caveats:
1) I am not accusing anyone of favoring genocide.
2) I am not claiming that this shows that the OT prohibitions of male
homosexual activity should be ignored. The point is only that one cannot argue from the
fact that they tend to promote reproductive success success & survival to a reqirement
that Christians maintain them.
Shalom,
George
George Murphy wrote:
>
> RFaussette@aol.com wrote:..............
> > I am telling you that the biology in the OT promotes the survival and
> > reproductve success of those people embracing it. That is not false. That is a fact.
> > You have presented no facts to dispute that. whether or not you think my
> > arguments are convincing is your personal opinion and you are entitled to it, but
> > you rarely provide any data or references or an argument, but of course, you
> > are entitled to your opinion.
>
> I have not presented any data because I agree with you that it the type of
> society in which the Old Testament was written, as well as others, discouraging
> homosexuality does promote reproductive success and survival of the tribe. Where we
> differ is that you think that we get our theology from such considerations. I am not
> arguing with your biology but with your theology...............
George L. Murphy
gmurphy@raex.com
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
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