Did Temple Prostitution Exist?
April 27, 2015 J. R. Daniel Kirk What was the sexual climate of the first century Mediterranean, and how does that help us to understand what the New Testament is talking about? That’s a question that runs right through the middle of many conversations about sexuality in the church, and about homosexuality in the church in particular. One line of argument is represented in Ken Wilson’s book, A Letter to My Congregation , which I’m reading alongside other people at church. His summary represents an important cluster of arguments that we find across both academic and popular discussions. His version of it is this: the kind of sexual activity that Paul was concerned about when he talked about male same-sex coupling was activity that was exploitative, and that any of us would oppose as well. Specifically, he lists pederasty, temple prostitution, and sex with slaves. A week or two ago I raised a question about pederasty . Romans were disdainful of this practice which w...