What was Jesus' sexual orientation?

[Skwim]

Was he attracted to men or women, or neither?

The question arises out of a thread Bible Student made linking to the following:

"Jesus arrives as a gay man of today in a modern city with "The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision," a controversial series of paintings that are newly available as a book."
source

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Was he attracted to men or women, or neither?

The question arises out of a thread Bible Student made linking to the following:

"Jesus arrives as a gay man of today in a modern city with "The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision," a controversial series of paintings that are newly available as a book."
source

To tell you honestly, neither. I always felt that if you are married to the Church (Christ) or in Jesus case God, I would not see a need to even think about his orientation even more so act on it. I havnt read in scripture whether He had an orientation. I assume it wasnt more important than the relationship He had with His Father.

 

[Jean-Pierre Chatelaine]

Who was that naked boy in the Garden of Gethsemane?

"And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.".
- Mark 14:51, 52

 

[suncowiam]

Was he attracted to men or women, or neither?

The question arises out of a thread Bible Student made linking to the following:

"Jesus arrives as a gay man of today in a modern city with "The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision," a controversial series of paintings that are newly available as a book."
source

He was omnisexual, of course.

 

[Marisa]

I can honestly say that trying to figure out people's sexual orientation isn't the first thing that jumps into my head. LOL

 

[columbus]

There might be something that I have less interest in than the Eros of ancient celebrities, but it would be hard to tell what that would be.
Tom

 

[NulliuSINverba]

Was he attracted to men or women, or neither?

You neglected to include the fourth possibility: BOTH.

Perhaps he was a pan-sexual dynamo who successfully resisted the temptations of the flesh on two fronts simultaneously? I'm left to marvel that the church never worked this into the whole mythology, as it would have been a fairly impressive claim.

 

[Skwim]

You neglected to include the fourth possibility: BOTH.

Perhaps he was a pan-sexual dynamo who successfully resisted the temptations of the flesh on two fronts simultaneously? I'm left to marvel that the church never worked this into the whole mythology, as it would have been a fairly impressive claim.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

To tell you honestly, neither. I always felt that if you are married to the Church (Christ) or in Jesus case God, I would not see a need to even think about his orientation even more so act on it. I havnt read in scripture whether He had an orientation. I assume it wasnt more important than the relationship He had with His Father.

It's completely irreverent.

 

[Maponos]

There is some evidence he was married to Mary Magdalene, no?

 

[Skwim]

Who was that naked boy in the Garden of Gethsemane?

"And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.".
- Mark 14:51, 52

From the NLT translation

Mark 14: 48-52
48 Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? 49 Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me.”

50 Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away. 51 One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, 52 he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked.​

 

[Skwim]

There is some evidence he was married to Mary Magdalene, no?

It's an interesting speculation that several books look into, probably the most interesting I've read is

which depicts Magdalene as Jesus's lover and as the mother of his child.​

There's also ...................................................................................and

.............

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

There is some evidence he was married to Mary Magdalene, no?

No, not really. Even the ancient Gnostic Christians didn't believe that, as far as I know. It's a modern invention.

 

[Skwim]

No, not really. Even the ancient Gnostic Christians didn't believe that, as far as I know. It's a modern invention.

Not a modern invention at all.

In the high middle ages "the Cathars teach in their secret meetings that Mary Magdalene was the wife of Christ. She was the Samaritan woman to whom He said, "Call thy husband". She was the woman taken into adultery, whom Christ set free lest the Jews stone her, and she was with Him in three places, in the temple, at the well, and in the garden. After the Resurrection, He appeared first to her."
Source: Walter L. Wakefield, Austin P. Evans. Heresies of the High Middle Ages: Translated with Notes, page 234 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1991)​

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Not a modern invention at all.

In the high middle ages "the Cathars teach in their secret meetings that Mary Magdalene was the wife of Christ. She was the Samaritan woman to whom He said, "Call thy husband". She was the woman taken into adultery, whom Christ set free lest the Jews stone her, and she was with Him in three places, in the temple, at the well, and in the garden. After the Resurrection, He appeared first to her."
Source: Heresies of the High Middle Ages: Translated with Notes, page 234 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1991)​

I know a bit about Catharism and that doesn't seem to fit with their extreme anti-physical beliefs. They were the most extreme of the Christian dualist sects I know of. The most holy Cathars (Perfecti) were extreme ascetics who were completely forbidden to have any sexual relationships and marriage was shunned. I have no idea where they got that from or, if the Cathars did believe such things, where the Cathars got it from.

"When a believer underwent the Consolamentum, his or her life changed for ever. After this rite they were members of the Elect. From now on they would lead the life of an ascetic. They were to be completely chaste, and were not permitted even to touch members of the opposite sex. They were not permitted to tell a lie, swear an oath, nor kill any living creature. They would have to undertake frequent fasts, including three 40 day fasts each year."

Cathar Beliefs, doctrines, theology and practices

"Cathars also rejected marriage. Their theology was based principally on the belief that the physical world, including the flesh, was irredeemably evil - as it stemmed from the evil principle or "demiurge".[37] Therefore, reproduction was viewed by them as a moral evil to be avoided - as it continued the chain of reincarnation and suffering in the material world."

Catharism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Logically, it would seem that the Cathars would've found the notion that Jesus was married or had any sexual experience repugnant.

 

[Skwim]

I know a bit about Catharism and that doesn't seem to fit with their extreme anti-physical beliefs. They were the most extreme of the Christian dualist sects I know of. The most holy Cathars (Perfecti) were extreme ascetics who were completely forbidden to have any sexual relationships and marriage was shunned. I have no idea where they got that from or, if the Cathars did believe such things, where the Cathars got it from.

"When a believer underwent the Consolamentum, his or her life changed for ever. After this rite they were members of the Elect. From now on they would lead the life of an ascetic. They were to be completely chaste, and were not permitted even to touch members of the opposite sex. They were not permitted to tell a lie, swear an oath, nor kill any living creature. They would have to undertake frequent fasts, including three 40 day fasts each year."

Cathar Beliefs, doctrines, theology and practices

"Cathars also rejected marriage. Their theology was based principally on the belief that the physical world, including the flesh, was irredeemably evil - as it stemmed from the evil principle or "demiurge".[37] Therefore, reproduction was viewed by them as a moral evil to be avoided - as it continued the chain of reincarnation and suffering in the material world."

Catharism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Logically, it would seem that the Cathars would've found the notion that Jesus was married or had any sexual experience repugnant.

Thanks for your interesting input, but I'm going to stick with the scholars on this one.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Thanks for your interesting input, but I'm going to stick with the scholars on this one.

Ironic, because so will I. Unless you have some other source where I can actually look into its own sources, I'll just disregard your book that I can't even examine for myself.

 

[Skwim]

The Cathars aside, here's another non-modern source (an ancient text) that "reveals Jesus' marriage to Mary the Magdalene" :

"The Lost Gospel: Decoding the Ancient Text that Reveals Jesus' Marriage to Mary the Magdalene"​

source​

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

The Cathars aside, here's another non-modern source (an ancient text) that "reveals Jesus' marriage to Mary the Magdalene" :

"The Lost Gospel: Decoding the Ancient Text that Reveals Jesus' Marriage to Mary the Magdalene"​

source​

That can be disregarded as well since Simcha Jacobovici is a joke and is derided by actual scholars.

The “Jesus’ Wife” Fragment: Self-Promoting Personal Attacks | Larry Hurtado's Blog
Richard Bauckham debunks Simcha Jacobovici’s The Lost Gospel « Biblical Studies Online
Experts Debunk Claim Jesus Was a Husband and Father : Discovery News
Review of “The Lost Gospel” by Jacobovici and Wilson | XKV8R: The Official Blog of Dr. Robert R. Cargill

Anything else?

 

[Skwim]

That can be disregarded as well since Simcha Jacobovici is a joke and is derided by actual scholars.

Perhaps that's because he's an easy target. Attacking Jacobovici is like attacking the publisher of a book because he lacks the expertise in the subject of the book he publishes. Attacking Jacobovici is a sorry cheap shot that speaks more of a reticence of attacking the true source of the material; Prof. Barrie Wilson.

However, I don't really care if "The Lost Gospel: Decoding the Ancient Text that Reveals Jesus' Marriage to Mary the Magdalene" fails to present valid evidence that non-modern people believed Jesus and Mary were doing do se dos around the marital bed. It was simply a conclusion from a reputable source; Professor Barrie A. Wilson

Barrie A. Wilson is Professor, Humanities and Religious Studies, York University, Toronto, where he has taught since 1974. Throughout the 1990s he was Chair, Religious Studies, Atkinson College, York University. He previously taught Ancient Philosophy and Logic at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri from 1969 to 1974.​

So I'm still sticking with what Walter L. Wakefield and Austin P. Evans say about the Cathcars.