Abstract
Thomas Kazen undertakes what is a rich historical discussion of same-sex sexuality and the roles which purity/impurity, social power structures, and honour/shame tensions played in people’s attitudes to it. He begins, however, with a helpful and careful review of diverse contemporary discussions and theories about same sex attraction and arguments over the role of biological factors or social conditioning or both in shaping current understandings. The reader therefore embarks on the historical issues already with an appreciation of current discussion, which in turn informs observations and questions.
Kazen then first turns to the biblical texts and their social and religious contexts. The Holiness Code within the Pentateuch seeks to differentiate the people from nations around about and their practices. Among practices forbidden was lying with a man as with a woman, anal intercourse, an act of penetration condemned in Lev 18:22 and in Lev 20:13, where more clearly both males are condemned. While many of the Holiness Code’s prohibitions match those in similar West Asian collections, none has specific prohibitions of sex between males, in contrast to indications in Assyrian material and Kazen highlights Zoroastrian texts with similar prohibitions. Issues of shaming and humiliation of an equal play a significant role. Kazen goes from there to examine narrative texts within Genesis, Noah and Ham; Sodom and Gibeah, subsequent interpretations of the Sodom story which came over time to focus on sexual wrongdoing rather than primarily failed hospitality, and concludes with discussion of Paul’s statements in Romans which echo the values of the Holiness Code statements, but applied now to both sexes.
The following chapters then discuss in turn major factors which informed such prohibitions. Chapter 3 discusses understandings of purity and impurity and disgust in relation to sexuality and condemnation of actions or lack of actions which fail to take laws of purity, what is clean and unclean, seriously. Chapter 4 focuses on issues of power and subordination, especially the importance of male prowess and dominance, and therefore, for instance, the humiliation of a man choosing or being forced to take the role of a woman in sexual intercourse, the role of an inferior. Chapter 5 turns to issues of honour and shame, particularly as associated with men and women.
The final chapter then returns us to our contemporary world and includes discussion of the extent to which values of purity, power, and honour, still play a role or are differently viewed. The values which shaped ancient attitude are informed by hierarchies. The book’s final paragraph begins: ‘Same sex relationships meet human need for closeness, attachment, and care in the same way as any other relationship’ and ends: ‘The death of hierarchy is the opportunity of love.’ Written for a wider readership and richly well informed and informative, this is a splendid resource on issues widely misunderstood and contentious.