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- Title
Queer Sects in Patristic Commentaries on Romans 1:26–27: Goddess Cults, Free Will, and “Sex Contrary to Nature”?
- Authors
Townsley, Jeramy
- Abstract
This article provides evidence that Romans 1:26b–27 was interpreted by the early Christian church as a reference to the sexual practices of the goddess cults, and was used as an attack on polytheistic religions, not a reference to homosexuality. I clarify the rhetorical usefulness of the goddess cults for the early church in making the antipolytheistic case in relation to the Patristic contrast between free will and determinism. While the early church did not originally interpret Romans 1:26b as female homogenitality, a transition to this view is apparent as the Western Roman Empire began to collapse. A queer theory lens is incorporated into the discussion about Romans 1 by introducing cultural practices of gender, sexuality, and religion uncommon today.
- Subjects
BIBLE. Romans; QUEER theory; HUMAN sexuality in Christianity; HOMOSEXUALITY in the Bible; RELIGION; HOMOSEXUALITY; PRIMITIVE &; early church, ca. 30-600; ROMAN goddesses; LESBIANS in literature; ROMAN cults; RELIGION &; gender; FREE will &; determinism -- Religious aspects; CHRISTIANITY
- Publication
Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 2013, Vol 81, Issue 1, p56
- ISSN
0002-7189
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/jaarel/lfs086