...that that text isn't about lesbianism, but the practice of a particular kind of sex?
Consider the versions:
[url=http://bible.crosswalk.com:395mqqyp]various bible translations from CrossWalk[/url] wrote:KJV Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
NIV Romans 1:26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
NAU Romans 1:26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
NRS Romans 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error.
NKJ Romans 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
NJB Romans 1:26 That is why God abandoned them to degrading passions: 27 why their women have exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural practices; and the men, in a similar fashion, too, giving up normal relations with women, are consumed with passion for each other, men doing shameful things with men and receiving in themselves due reward for their perversion.
Across the board, the women were exchanging "natural intercourse" for a practice that was "against nature." Traditionally, this is understood as lesbianism, or female-female relations. The women had given up male-female "natural" relations for the practice of female-female "unnatural" relations."
However, is it not just as rational to see it as
women accepting anal sex with men rather than intercourse? They would be committing an act that does not procreate, thus it is a sin. They would be doing with men that which the men "in the same way" were doing with other men, which is in line with the text. And since the entire section of the text is concerned with lust and uncontrollable adultery without consideration for the results, then women allowing anal sex when there is a viable alternative...well, lets just say that fits as well!
I'm not asking you to read it from tradition. I'm asking you to read it
as it is written and point out why it is about lesbianism and not about something else?
I'm interested in what you all think about it.