Was OT legislation against same-sex relationships based on ritual purity, or was it based on moral law?
The fact that the New Testament continues the disapproval of same-gender sexual behavior makes it clear that the Mosaic prohibition against it is not merely a matter of ritual purity. Sexual arousal is highly addictive and capable of being channeled in many destructive ways. Because of the close connection of sexual discipline to the preservation of healthy family and social relationships, cultures that are historical “survivors”—like the cultures represented by the major religious traditions—have always maintained strict guidelines in the area of sexual behavior, guidelines held so strongly as to be unconsciously assumed by nearly everyone. The Greek philosopher Plato noted the social foundation for powerful, unconscious aversion toward certain kinds of sexual behavior.1 When societies lose their unconscious revulsion at destructive sexual behavior, they degenerate, lose their coherence, and collapse. In ancient Israel, maintenance of high standards of sexual discipline was essential
