homophobia

[DeistPaladin]

Hi, I'm czúza (better pseudonym than albert).
Anyway, I've got a question that I have been thinking about, it's why are abrahamic religions homophobic in general. I mean, how did it start?

Welcome!

I believe homophobia was introduced to Judaism as a side-effect from their apparent obsession with population growth.

Leviticus details the Old Testament law's rules regarding menstruation in such a way as to lead women to have sex with their husbands in accordance to her natural cycle so that she's more likely to become pregnant. In context with the rest of the OT, the message is that sex is for procreation and the more children, the better.

Here is "The Brick Testament" and its quotation of the relevant passages:
http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law...15_28.html

This may be the root of homophobia not just in Abrahamic religions but in other societies. Societies more accepting of same gender love still encouraged their young men and women to do what they had to in order to produce more children for the next generation.

In ancient Greece, for example, same gender affections were fully accepted but, nonetheless, a Greek lad by the time he reached 20 was expected to be married and producing children. Interestingly enough, if their folk tales and mythology is any indication, Greek women, be they goddesses or mortal, were not bothered if their husbands had male lovers on the side. Curiously enough, these same women would go into murderous rages if their husbands ever took a female lover (see "Media" as the most gruesome example) but male lovers were not a threat. Most notably, Hera would try to kill any of Zeus' female lovers and the children he had with them but Zeus bringing home a handsome Trojan lad named "Ganymede" was accepted without a fuss. Sorry, I digress. The point is that in ancient Greece, wrestling with your best friend or getting some extra credit from your mentor was all well and good but you still need to get married and produce lots of Greek babies.

As we now understand, sexual orientation isn't a choice (though some are still in denial about that) and with 6 billion on this planet, we need fewer babies anyway. So clearly the rules are wrong and need a re-write but you can't do that with religion.

On the sidenote, what are some common superstitions in your country (or state if your country is huge)?.

Superstitions are everywhere. Even among my friends who are atheists, blowing on dice when playing games is considered to bring good luck.

Saying things like "what possibly could go wrong", "we've got it made now" and "things can't possibly get any worse" are considered to invoke bad luck, as if vindictive fates will hear your words and curse you just to teach you not to tempt them. I'm the kind of skeptic that actively says things like this just to prove they have no effect but it sometimes upsets others, even those who are atheists.