Although one need not invoke the Bible or disapproval of homosexual behavior to defend marriage, someone who does take The Bible as an authority is more likely to be compelled to defend marriage from neutering and other attacks.
Michael Coogan, a lecturer on Hebrew Bible-Old Testament at Harvard Divinity School, professor of religious studies at Stonehill College, and director of publications for the Harvard Semitic Museum, tried to discourage such defense in a commentary that ran on CNN.com. Since the commentary deals with other issues as well, my analysis is over at my namesake blog.
Jesus and the writers of the New Testament promoted the equality of individuals, freedom from bondage, and improved the status of women. Nowhere do they record a call to change the prevailing understanding and longstanding Biblical prohibition against sex and sex-like behavior outside of marriage, nor the cultural and Biblical rule that marriage unites a bride and a groom. Jesus challenged the culture and certain traditions and practices, yet did not challenge the Biblical teaching that sex is for marriage and that marriage unites the sexes.
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