Reply #12: A lot of things are different if you look at only the OT [View All]

Are in the bible, esp. the Hebrew Testament. Jews didn't start outlawing the practice of polygamy until about 1000 A.D. in general society, and some separated Jews are in legal (in Isreal) polygamous marrige today. Nowhere in the OT does it say that lesbains are a problem, and further, most Rabbi's believe that homosexual unions are blessed by God, although they probably wouldn't mary a bi-sexual.


From a reform & conservative perspective:

The sodom and gamorrah story is about rape -- not a ban on homosexuality.

The spilling of seed issue revolves around refusing to impregnate your brothers widow -- when God had commanded it directly.

It wasn't until the NT, and really until Paul, that sexuality took on such a large role.

The only other major issue is "don't lay with man as you would a woman". There are numerous reasons why many Jews believe this doesn't apply to homosexuals, I'll be happy to post more if desired.