“Once a religious group forms an opinion about what a text means, it can read that text over and over again and project onto the text something that simply isn’t there. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah story is a parable. It is a teaching story. In the Jewish scripture, the prophets talk about Sodom and Gomorrah several times — Isaiah does, Amos does, Ezekiel does — but of all the references to Sodom and Gomorrah among the Jewish prophets, not one of them mentions the topic of homosexuality. What they talk about is social injustice, cruelty and a people mad with power. What do you think it means, that we in America are not willing to hear the real meaning of this story?” -Jim Rigby
At first I was sad that not once in all of the sermons that I have heard concerning Sodom and Gomorrah did I hear hospitality discussed. However, sadness turned to relief when my spirit and mind progressed to reflection on your words. Thank you so much for your insights…I find many wonderful things to reflect on here….and to me…that is good.
Bobbie Ann, more and more modern scholarship agrees with your point. My understanding is that the word “sodomite” came to be associated with homosexuality in Victorian England. As you obviously know, rape is not primarily about sex it is about domination and the prophets make it clear that this kind of cruelty was the sin of Sodom.
One thing I have noticed about the story is that the people of that town wanted to rape the visiting angels not form loving relationship. Being gay and being a rapist is a huge difference.
Lavern, I think that was the point the text was trying to make. To focus on the gender of the rape victims implies that if they raped someone of the opposite sex it would have been okay. Thanks for writing.