Adherence to a gendered prohibition in sexual conduct: Examining Jewish and Christian interpretations
On Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 6:30 PM, the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation is organising an event titled "Catholic Adult and Family Education" at KEFB, Giersmauer 21, Paderborn. The focus of the event will be on comparing Jewish and Christian interpretations of Leviticus's prohibitions on homosexuality.
Jewish and Christian traditions both acknowledge Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 as explicitly prohibiting male same-sex sexual relations. However, the application and theological emphasis differ between the two traditions.
In Judaism, Leviticus forms a core part of Halakhic law, where the prohibitions against male homosexual acts are traditionally seen as clear moral commandments with serious consequences, reflecting God's character and commandments for community purity. The Hebrew Bible's prohibition in Leviticus is generally upheld as normative, and classical Jewish law continues to forbid male same-sex intercourse, often applying it strictly within the religious-legal context.
In Christianity, interpretations vary more widely. Traditional or conservative Christian views affirm that Leviticus and certain New Testament passages clearly condemn homosexuality as sinful, often treating the Levitical prohibitions as part of the moral law consistent with God's character. Many conservative Christians see these passages as timeless moral laws, although the harsh Levitical penalties such as death are not applied today, largely due to the New Covenant in Christ and changes in legal and cultural context.
Progressive or liberal Christian theologians, on the other hand, argue that Leviticus's prohibitions were originally connected specifically to idolatrous cultic practices of the Canaanites rather than a blanket condemnation of consensual same-sex relationships per se. Some suggest that the Hebrew term translated as "abomination" relates in context to religious impurity linked to pagan worship, thus they emphasize historical context, suggesting a different understanding from modern sexual identity.
The Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation invites everyone interested in this topic to attend the event and engage in a thoughtful discussion. For more information, visit their website at http://www.gcjz-unsere-website.de or contact them via email at [email protected].
References:
- Dr. Norbert Reck, a Catholic theologian and publicist, compares Jewish and Christian interpretations in his lecture.
- Many Christian biblical scholars believe the Hebrew Bible is responsible for the condemnation of homosexuality in the West.
- Jewish interpretations of the texts in Leviticus and the story of Sodom have been very different.
- The Apostle Paul's rejection of sex between men is believed to be influenced by his Jewish background.
- Ongoing scholarly debates regarding translation and interpretation of biblical texts on homosexuality continue, including New Testament terms and contexts.
Science and health-and-wellness professionals might find it interesting to explore the nuances in sexual-health discourse across Jewish and Christian traditions, as both faiths acknowledge the prohibitions on male same-sex relations in Leviticus, but the application and theological emphasis differ significantly between them. Theological debates on translation and interpretation of these biblical texts continue to shape contemporary discussions on sexuality within each community.
