rrizzo@bbncca.ARPA (Ron Rizzo) (05/22/84)
Has anyone else read it? The main argument is that for its first millenium (up to the 12 th century a.d.), christianity in the west was NOT doctrinally or practically anti-homosexual; in fact, many of the saints of the church were openly gay & sexually active, and this was common knowledge at the time. Testaments to this can be found throughout late Roman and medieval literature in love poetry and religious essays written by bishops, monks, nuns, and theologians. The familiar homophobia of christianity actually derives from a corruption of the faith (and its practice as was understood through at least half of its history) that began in the 12th century: by then the rich and confident cultural life of the High Middle Ages had begun its decline and the century was characterized by widespread social anxieties, witch manias, resurgent anti-Semitism, and plagues. I'd be curious to hear what other readers think of the plausibility of Boswell's arguments and interpretations. The book should be of interest to a wide assortment of readers: both those with expertise in scriptural languages (Hebrew, Greek koine, the Latin Vulgate), ancient & medieval history and literature, philology and theology, as well as general readers interested in either scholarship treating gay issues, or simply offering an at times startlingly original reinterpretation of what seemed like familiar ground. Boswell's analyses are sharp, his argumentation vigorous and tenacious, and his conclusions thought-provoking. It's published as a large format paperback (Yale University Press, 1980?). Cheers, Ron Rizzo