Abstract:
This is the first of two contributions that are asking how the New Testament can be used in a responsible manner in the debate about homosexuality. It is clear that this is a complex issue which is driven by subjective opinions about the phenomenon itself, and by the selection and analysis of passages chosen for the chosen viewpoint of the individual. Different arguments are steering the debate: emotional, societal pressure, biological-psychological, biblical, theological, and technical arguments all find their way in different contexts. The fact of the existence of deviations in nature, the occurrence of the phenomenon in different primitive and ancient cultures, and the use and application of a single term for a variety of aspects, are all contributing to this complex labyrinth. A responsible use of the New Testament in the debate on homosexuality can only happen when it is done in a diversified and qualified manner.
