The Gay Jesus *** Documentation
Submitted by GOL on June 03 2000 09:23:02
In reply to The FBI should shut you down. submitted by James Jameson on June 02 2000 13:17:06
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The following extract needs some background. The current consensus of the New Testament research community is that the pre-Easter Church had its roots in the syncretic Graeco-Jewish communities of inter-testamental Galilee. John Dominic Crossan, in particular, places Jesus squarely in the Greek cynic tradition. The point that goes unsaid in this discussion is that Classical and Hellenistic Greeks believed that sexual intercourse between a teacher and a younger student was one method for passing on gnosis (knowledge). Consequently, it would not be totally surprising to historians if they encountered evidence for homosexual practices in the pre-Easter church. That evidence exists. In 1974, Morton Smith published an old manuscript he had photographed in 1958 at the ancient monastery of Mar Saba in the Judean wilderness, preserving a letter from Clement of Alexandria (150-215 CE). That letter contains what appears to be an original sequence from the story of the rich young man in Mark that describes Jesus indulging in homosexual practices as part of a nude baptismal ritual. Clement regarded the material as belonging to an authentic version of Mark's gospel that had been enlarged by Mark for use by initiates. Crossan's position is that it was more likely part of the first edition of Mark, possibly quickly excised by Mark but preserved for some reason after misuse by members of the community. My point here is not that this is a correct reading of the evidence (I have my doubts), but rather that the introduction of this material into a discussion on the pre-Easter Church would be likely to generate massive controversy. If that happens when scholars find their faith challenged, consider how outsiders are likely to react. And if that outsider was in a position to press charges, the poster could find himself or herself extradited to stand trial for indecent speech in a town 3000 miles away from his or her campus. The following is John Allegro's translation of this passage: And Jesus, being angered, went off with her into the garden where the tomb was. And straightaway, a great cry was heard from the tomb. And going near, Jesus rolled away the stone from the door of the tomb. And straightaway, going in where the youth was, he stretched forth his hand. But the youth, looking upon him, loved him, and began to beseech him that he might continue with him. And going out of the tomb, they came into the youth's house, for he was rich. And after six days, Jesus told him what to do. In the evening, the youth came to him, wearing a linen robe over his naked body. And he remained with him that night, for Jesus taught him the mystery of the Kingdom of God.... Smith, Morton, the Secret Gospel, Harper and Row, 1973, as quoted in Allegro, John, the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Christian Myth, Prometheus Books, 1984, p. 242. |
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