Category Archives: Devotional

Evidence that Lesbianism was a Capital Crime in First-Century Judea

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Ron Goetz

“What evidence is there that lesbianism was legally a capital crime in Jewish law?” This is a jackpot question. At the outset, let me emphasize that Jewish law includes two basic sources, not just one source. The first source is, … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional, Gay Jew Jesus Trial | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Two Couples, Two Cities, Two Trials

Posted on August 31, 2021 by Ron Goetz

Now about the two trials I mentioned., the ones in Chorazin and Bethsaida. Please remember these two trials were basically lost to history. There are details written down over here, some details are down there, there are a few details … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Surviving this Upheaval

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Ron Goetz

I wrote this to a comrade of mine: What you said is important: “I realized at that moment that the kind of finesse and [indistinct] I normally have been known for was just not going to work anymore.” They say … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s Our Turn

Posted on October 29, 2020 by Ron Goetz

I have read and enjoyed much of Bonhoeffer and SK. Both of them were inspirations for me for decades. For me, the reality of our species as mammals, as many vast herds of hairless large-brained primates with vocal boxes and … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s the Difference between Individuals in Luke 17:34-35? Why were Two Seized and Two Let Go?

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Ron Goetz

These two verses have puzzled both casual Bible readers and serious Bible scholars for centuries. Because of how the passage was edited and amended, we’re supposed to believe that it refers to the last judgment, ang God is the judge. … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional | Tagged , | Leave a comment

“Jesus was a Gay Jew. Evidence Please.”

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Ron Goetz

Recently someone left a simple, reasonable FB comment: “Jesus was a gay Jew. Evidence please.” In this post I am providing that evidence in one place. I will provide a brief introduction, as brief as possible. The evidence I found … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Guilty Species

Posted on October 4, 2020 by Ron Goetz

Christendom did not invent irrational guilt. I have my ideas about it’s evolutionary survival value, but our species is “the guilty species.” Every successful ideology has embedded within it some element of guilt. Any elements of “what we owe to … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

ySanhedrin 7.5

Posted on October 1, 2020 by Ron Goetz

The following passage is from the Talmud, and is attributed to Yohanan b. Zakkai (ca. 1-80 C.E., Galilee, Jerusalem, Yavneh). ___________________________ And so too, if a woman approaches any beast and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Are “Zakkai’s Formularies”?

Posted on September 27, 2020 by Ron Goetz

Zakkai’s Formularies are what I call three legal documents in the Talmud that I am convinced were used by Yohanan b. Zakkai to prosecute gay and lesbian couples in first-century Galilee. According to this conjecture, two trials were adjudicated (judged) … Continue reading →

Posted in Devotional | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Believing in Hell

Posted on September 22, 2020 by Ron Goetz

Before Xanax and Valium, before 12 years of compulsory desk-sitting, before stun guns, before “delayed gratification” awareness, scaring some primates into behaving with the threat of hell was an effective, if imperfect, herd management tool.

Posted in Devotional | Tagged | Leave a comment