Ruth and naomi gay
The premise for this series is that, rather than homosexual identities truly organism a ‘missing myth’ in the reflection world of the Abrahamic faiths, homosexual and lesbian and other queer people do in reality see our experiences reflected in places within the Scriptures. Today I’d prefer to look at what is undoubtedly the most frequent example of this: in relationships that are ‘queer coded’ in some way: specifically the friendship between David and Jonathan and the woman-centric familial bond between Ruth and Naomi. First I’ll start by talking a bit about a what ‘queer coding’ is and reflect a bit on how we might talk about it responsibly in terms of the Scriptures. Then I’ll look at the reasons why gays and lesbians possess read the two relationships in scrutinize as queer coded.
Queer coding is when the subtext of a character or dynamic between characters reads as gender non-conforming, even if the text itself does not overtly articulate it as such. A great example that has recently been in the media is the character of Velma in the Scooby-Doo franchise. A recent adaptation showing her attracted to Daphne drew fire for ‘making’ a beloved childhood character woman loving woman, but lesbians responded by saying Velma’s always be
Note: I recently co-lead a workshop on exploring myth in words and visual art at the Art Room in Philadelphia where I read the following excerpt of my novel THEY, a biblical tale of secret genders. The YouTube video is below and under that the write of my reading — which features the biblical version of Ruth and Naomi. There is a lesbian tradition of linking Ruth and Naomi together as lovers. (Ruth and Naomi are frequently pictured embracing.) And the writer and Biblical historian Gore Vidal agreed that it looked to him like Ruth and Naomi were lovers. I understand it certainly informed my vision of traditional religion — and I’m honored to pass this tradition along.
Tamar looked down on herself. Her body lay on her bed.
Tabitha was at Tamar’s side. Her eyes were soggy. Tamar knew why her sister was crying. They were almost the same person, from the same womb, from the similar egg split into two. They were identical in looks, if not in spirit. They joint the same secret — that of tricking Judah. Zerah and Pharez were still living in Egypt with Judah.
Tamar saw a well-built man, younger but no longer young, dusting sand from his
The story of Ruth and Naomi is widely quoted by queer writers as an example from Scripture of possible lesbian love: but how relevant is it? Superficially at least, it is just a simple story of exceptionally strong family affection and loyalty, between mother- and daughter- in-law. Whether in any way “lesbian” or not, the story is relevant, but not perhaps in the way usually told. To unravel the lessons it may keep for us, let’s initiate with the simple story.
Naomi was an Israelite widow, living for a while (on account of famine) in Moab, where she married her two sons to Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. The sons later died, leaving Naomi “all alone, without husband or sons” ,
She did have two daughters-in-law, and when she heard that conditions back in Israel had improved, she returned, initially taking her two daughters-in-law with her. She then had a adjust of heart, and encourages the two women to return to their control home in Moab. After some persuasion, Orpah did so, but Ruth refused.
Do not press me to leave you
Or shift back from following you!
Where you go I will go,
Where you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people will be my people, and your God my God.
Where you d
Were Ruth and Naomi Lesbians?
Thanks for your question. Lesbianism is condemned in Scripture (Rom 1:26-27; cf. Lev 18:3 - the Sifra [an early rabbinic commentary on the manual of Leviticus] interprets this passage to include that women can't marry other women). The Apostle Paul also makes it clear in Romans 1 that matching sex relations, including lesbian relationships, are ungodly, unrighteous, vain, foolish, unclean, dishonorable, corruptible. vile, unnatural, lustful, and the product of a debased mind (Rom 1:21-28). God does not look at such relationships as a biblical "family," but as sinful unions (1 Cor 6:16).
Texts
Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man exit his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Ruth 1:14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
False Claim(s) of the LGBT Community
First, let's briefly stare at the LGBT argument. The LGBT community states that the same Hebrew word (dabaq, interpretation "to cleave") is used in Genesis 2:24 to describe Adam and Eve's association and in Ruth 1:14 to describe Ruth's and Naomi's relat