Jonathan Loved David: Homosexuality in Biblical Times

Horner, Thomas Marland. "Jonathan Loved David: Homosexuality in Biblical Times", Westminster John Knox Press, 1978. A Biblical Survey Amos Lassen "Jonathan Loved David" by Thomas M. Horner is one of the early books dealing with homosexuality in the Bible and it still maintains its place as a good survey of the history of homosexuality in the Holy Books. We learn from Horner that it was the historical background that brought about the early admonitions of same-sex relations. Horner is himself, pro-gay and the book must be read knowing that. Horner presents his facts clearly and without sensationalism. He presents his material sympathetically and the reader feels the amount of thought that the author put into this book. It is important to remember. However, the book was written in 1978 and a lot has changed since then. Nonetheless this is quite an interesting and scholarly study of homosexuality in Biblical times. I do wish that the study had been more detailed especially when looking at the literary aspects of the Scriptures. What the book does show and what is important is that there were GLBT people in the Biblical era.

W. Peters "B & W Rules" has very little compassion, and has evidently from their review not read the book. Their review is a searing attack on people who have the courage to think about issues, rather than blindly condemn them. This book is an attempt to sympathetically review the evidence in the Bible for mentions and portrayals of homosexuality - whether you agree or disagree, you cannot deny that the author has tried to really think about the topic, rather than just twist teh facts to fit their own bigoted views. I would suggest that, if you take an interest in studying the Bible and sexuality, you buy this book. If you choose to take a line and stick to it and rebuff all rational discussion with "Jesus loves you", as does W. Peters "B & W Rules" (who has done the same in all their previous reviews, by the way), don't read it. Go picket the Da Vinci Code, but don't bother people who can learn nothing from you.

this is a good survey of the history of the biblical interpretations of homosexuality in the bible. horner does a fine job of laying out the historical background which formed certain prejudices, and explains them without being strident in his clearly pro-gay stance. the book is well-written (if abit dry) and i wish he had gone a bit deeper into tle literary aspects of the bible tales, but all in all, this is a worthy and totally non-lurid take. well worth the attention of any who are open to a differing viewpoint.

Over the number of years I have been involved in Homosexuality and the Bible workshops and/or classes, Horner brings forth some very enlightening and eye opening facts. Such as, Pauls writings, that some can and cannot be attributed to him and how he uses the list of vices called "game counters" and homosexuality is NOT on this list. Although Ruth and Naomi's relationship was not a physical one, however, it is truly a lesson in UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, which many of us as HUMANS are still learning. We still make the statement "I love you but..." As for those of us who are in clery and server the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexaul and Transgendered community, we should encourage them to read and study this book and continue to discover where we as LGBT people are in the bible.

Although it was a very interesting book in 1978 c.e. when the first edition of it was published. For us Japanese citizens the religious documents so called "The Bible" or "The Scriptures" are nothing but a superstitional data of exclusive monotheism = Judaeo-Christianity. And ,I think some chapters of the book are not suitable for the name of "Homosexuality", e.g. Ruth and Naomi --- because their mutual affections are or were very common relationships in Japanese women , and nothing special ones. Et aussi , the love between David and Jonathan is an elemental feeling which every humankind has , not only between the same-sex members but also between the different-sex ones , like Achilleus and Patroclos, Theseus and Peirithous, Alexander Magnus and Hephaistion, and Jesus of Nazareth and Johannes etc. But I recommend the book for anybody who wants to know about the " same-sex eroticismus " in the Biblical times.