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| #REDIRECT ] | |||
| {{John}} | |||
| Since the 16th century, some have interpreted the relationship between ] and ], the ], as an erotic, homosexual romance. | |||
| =="Beloved disciple"== | |||
| {{main|Disciple whom Jesus loved}} | |||
| ] | |||
| One of the factors leading to the assumption that Jesus and John loved each other is the phrase the ] or Beloved Disciple, which is used several times in the ], but in none of the other accounts of ].<ref>"In the Gospel of John, the disciple John frequently refers to himself in the third person as "the disciple whom Jesus loved." McCleary thinks this is highly significant." Crosswalk: '''' by Patrick Goodenough, Pacific Rim Bureau Chief, CNSNews.com.</ref> In John's gospel, it is the Beloved Disciple who asks Jesus during the Last Supper who it is that will betray him. Later at the ], Jesus tells his ] "Woman, here is your son", referring to the Beloved Disciple is the common interpretation. To the Beloved Disciple he says, "Here is your mother." | |||
| In art, the Beloved Disciple is portrayed as a beardless youth – the figure of the Student. He is usually shown in major scenes from the Gospel of John, especially the crucifixion and the Last Supper. Many artists have given different interpretations of ], in which the beloved disciple is resting his head against Jesus' chest. | |||
| Since the Beloved Disciple does not appear in any of the other ] gospels, it has been traditionally seen as a self-reference to ], and this remains the mainstream identification. An issue is the ] with ]; that is, whether the apostle is the same man as the evangelist. | |||
| == Historical references == | |||
| ]]] | |||
| ], in his work ''Spiritual Friendship'', referred to the relationship of Jesus and John as a "marriage" and held it out as an example sanctioning friendships between clerics.<ref>Louis Crompton, ''Homosexuality and Civilization'' p.180</ref> The view that the two were lovers, considered a ], evolved during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries{{Fact|date=January 2009}}; it has been claimed that it was held by ], who was investigated on that account by the Venetian Inquisition in ]. ] was accused of it in 1593, as was ] in a Lisbon Inquisition trial of ], as well as many others. | |||
| ] may have been relying on a pre-existing tradition when he defended his (supposedly ]) relationship with the young ]: "I wish to speak in my own behalf and not to have it thought to be a defect, for Jesus Christ did the same, and therefore I cannot be blamed. Christ had his son John, and I have my George."<ref>"I love the Earl of Buckingham more than anyone else," James announced to his councilors, "and more than you who are here assembled." He compared his love for the earl to Jesus's affection for the "beloved disciple" John. "Jesus Christ did the same," the king said, "and therefore I cannot be blamed. Christ had his John, and I have my George." From ''Royal Panoply, Brief Lives Of The English Monarchs'', Carrolly Erickson, St. Martin's Press (May 2, 2006). ISBN 0312316437</ref> | |||
| Others who have given voice to this interpretation of the relationship between Jesus and John have been the philosophers ] and ].<ref>Louis Crompton, ''Homosexuality and Civilization'', p. 111.</ref> | |||
| The theme has been perennial, having recently been raised from within the Christian establishment by ], the ] ], who has discussed the possible homoerotic inclinations of Jesus in his relationship with John in a sermon in 2005.<ref name="Gene Robinson">"[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=43618 Rev. Gene Robinson: | |||
| Jesus might be 'gay]". , London: 2005-04-03.</ref> | |||
| According to Robert Goss, assistant professor of comparative religion at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, in analyzing the interaction between Jesus and John, "What's being portrayed here is a ] relationship between an older man and a younger man. ] would understand."<ref>Hank Hyena, "Was Jesus Gay: A search for the messiah's true sexuality leads to a snare of lusty theories," 1998-04, .</ref> | |||
| ==Reception== | |||
| The homosexual reading of the scriptures has been viewed as an intentional misreading.<ref name="crosswalk">Crosswalk: '''' by Patrick Goodenough, Pacific Rim Bureau Chief, CNSNews.com.</ref> In Greek, the original language of the book of John, there are four words for love - "]" (spiritual, unconditional love), "storge" (familial love), "]" (love between friends) and "]" (erotic love). All of the references to "the disciple whom Jesus loved" use the word "agape".<ref name="crosswalk"/> | |||
| Some argue that, had the text intended to note an erotic love between Jesus and John, it would have used the word "eros"<ref>Gagnon, "The Bible and homosexual practice"</ref>. | |||
| Gene Robinson's claim has been widely criticised: for example, ] stated it to be "appalling deconstructionism from the liberal lobby which will spin even the remotest thing to turn it into a hint that Biblical figures are gay"<ref name="Gene Robinson"/>. | |||
| == See also == | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| == Notes == | |||
| <!-- This article uses the Cite.php citation mechanism. If you would like more information on how to add references to this article, please see http://meta.wikimedia.org/Cite/Cite.php --> | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 06:43, 11 February 2009
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