Many Christian Fundamentalists and Biblical Literalists will tell you that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because some homosexuals lived there. This is apparently strange cause literally the Bible says nothing of the sort. I have done a lot of reading into this. I read the Genises account and also other Bible verses in my King James 1611 Bible that correspond to Sodom and Gomorrah, and I don't see how they can come up with homosexuality. Frankly, I think the key factors are poor comprehension skills, and drugs (most likely hallucinogens).
Many people that have read their Bibles without being under the influence of mind altering chemicals have came up with the conclusion that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of a sin of inhospitality.
Lets go through these verses and what the Bible says, and then look at what they say and see what they say the reason for destroying the cities was.
We'll begin with Genesis chapter 19, the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot and his family were living there, and this one night some Angles came to the city to warn of it's impending doom. They stayed at Lot's house. While there the residents of the city came and asked that two angels be brought out so that they could be sexually abused and raped.
Now, at this point Lot goes out and tells the town people not to do this, he then tells them WHY they should not do this.
Now many of the fundies will say that Lot didn't want them to do this cause it would be gay, that was why he offered his own daughters to them, cause that would be heterosexual. Strange that the fundies would feel that it's a sin to rape two grown men, but perfectly fine to rape two young girls. Also, they must ignore what Lot says.
And what happens next, the people say that Lot should get out of their way. And they threaten Lot, they say that, He is also a stranger unto them, an alien among them, and they will treat him worse.
The mob said that they will abuse Lot cause he too was a stranger, an alien. I guess the mob just doesn't like strangers in their town. They never said, "Hey Lot, we want your hot body too you sexy thang."
From here, Lot and his family fled. The two cities were destroyed, men, women, and children. Mrs. Lot turned around, looked at the city, and became a pillar of salt. Shortly here after Lot gets drunk and knocks up both his daughters. Nine months latter Lot is the proud grandfather (and father) of two partially retarded grandsons (that are also his sons).
It would be wise to point out, that Christians didn't always feel that Genesis 19 was about homosexuality, that idea never came about until St. Peter Damian created the concept in the 11th century well before the discovery of man made hallucinogenic drugs.
Now lets check the other Bible verses. First we will begin with the first chapter of the major prophet Isaiah. This chapter condemns Judah and the chapter compares Judah to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah a number of times. Many sins are mentioned, but; homosexuality is never mentions, in fact; not a single sin related to sex is even alluded to, however; many references to inhospitable behavior is mentioned.
Once again, no mentioning of homosexuality. Adultery is mentioned, but adultery is something entirely different from homosexuality.
These verses are pretty clear, they come right out and say it, arrogant, unconcerned, haughty, etc. I don't see homosexuality, or anything of a sexual nature listed. Well, from three major prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, we do not see a mentioning that Sodom or Gomorrah was destroyed because of homosexuality. But, what do they know, they were only prophets chosen by God. Lets try the apostles.
Here people are being condemned for being like Sodom and Gomorrah, but once again, no mention of anything sexual. Lets try another apostle.
Well, finally, someone that mentions something sexual. But alas, Jude does not mention homosexuality, he mentions beastiality. Many fundies say that this verse DOES mention homosexuality, the people were trying to have sex with the men. But there were no men, the people were trying to have sex with angels. And only with the help of hallucinogens could someone make an erroneous interpretation like that.
So, lets move on, forget the prophets, forget the apostles, lets go right to the words of Jesus Christ himself. If anyone would know why God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, it would have to be God in the Flesh. And in the books of Matthew and Luke do we see Jesus making a reference to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Luke chapter 10 verse 7 to verse 12 "And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city."
Here we have Jesus telling his followers about the judgment and condemnation of inhospitable and disrespectful cities. So lets add them up. We have two verses that say Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed for corruption and wickedness, one verse that says beastiality, and five that say inhospitality and disrespect, while the number of verses that say Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed for homosexuality comes down to a total of zero verses.
Major prophets, Jesus, and apostles may all have a little different reason as to why Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed, but they all seem to agree on one key thing: it certainty had nothing to do with homosexuality.
