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When in history did the homosexual and others alike become main stream hate? Wasn't homosexuality going on in Rome and other areas? Isn't this like denying history? Why or why not? (self.askhistorians)

submitted 12 hours ago by Patnou to c/askhistorians

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[–] PugJesus 4 points 7 hours ago

For Europe, it became mainstream with the ascendency of Christianity, which brought with it the traditional Jewish abhorrence of homosexuality. For the Muslim world, opinions on the seriousness of homosexuality varied from era to era and region to region, but became overwhelmingly serious and negative in the 18th and 19th centuries with the rise of Islamic revivalist movements like the Salafis and Wahhabis.

Outside of those two influences, European colonialism brought Christianity and pseudo-rational abhorrence of homosexuality to many colonized areas in the 19th century, influences which last until the modern day.

In eras or places before those influences, opinions on homosexuality varied wildly.

[–] givesomefucks 0 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Abrahamic religions were always about increasing their numbers.

So heterosexuality was forced on everyone, because that's how you get new people born into the cult, which is easier than converting a rational adult.

Everytime an Abrhamic religion ran into a new culture, they forced that rigidality onto them.

[–] PP_BOY_ 6 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (2 children)

True but not entire. Homophobia is still very common in cultures that were never touched by Abrahamic religion like The West was.

Abrahamic religions were always about increasing their numbers.

Should read:

Early societies around the world were always about increasing their numbers.

On OP's point about homosexuality in Rome specifically, you're thinking of the Greeks. Homosexuality in Rome was taboo, except as a form of domination between ~~an owner and his slaves.~~ E: an older man and a young man he had power over

[–] PugJesus 1 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

On OP’s point about homosexuality in Rome specifically, you’re thinking of the Greeks. Homosexuality in Rome was taboo, except as a form of domination between an owner and his slaves. E: an older man and a young man he had power over

That's Greek. The dynamic of an older man and a younger man of equal social status was taboo in Roman society, while it was acceptable in Greek society. For the Romans, there was a power dynamic involved, as the bottom was 'submitting' to the top, in the same way that a wife submitted to her husband. As such, it was considered unacceptable for anyone seeking political or military office as an offense against the duties inherent in citizenship (of maintaining one's sovereignty and power over their body), but for those citizens not seeking political or military office it was largely irrelevant, and for noncitizens, it was considered acceptable.

For this reason, actors, who were excluded from political life despite being free citizens, were considered an acceptable sexual partner for Roman citizens.

[–] AbouBenAdhem 2 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Homosexuality in Rome was taboo, except as a form of domination between an owner and his slaves.

More precisely, homosexual sex was seen in two distinct roles (“top” and “bottom”), and only the latter was taboo.

[–] PP_BOY_ 2 points 10 hours ago

Eh... yes and no. It's worth acknowledging that "Roman" is a pretty big block of culture to talk about so broadly, but there were definitely more social rules to (older) males' choice of male concubine than "to be the one who penetrates." Public homosexual relationships almost always came from a place of power first and romance second (if at all).