Platonists, Stoics, and Paul on Gender Fluidity, ‘Side B Christians,’ and ‘Conversion Therapy’

Apr 19, 2022 by Jill

by Rollin Grams, Bible and Mission:

In Greek and Roman antiquity, every form of sexual expression that is now on full display in society was present there as well. Descriptions of celibacy, marriage between men and women, pre-marital sex, prostitution, adultery, divorce and remarriage, rape, pederasty, pedophilia, homosexuality of both men and women, men identifying and dressing as women, homosexual marriage, bestiality—and whatever else one might add—are all present in the literature. Some of the arguments in regard to these practices developed as applications of philosophical schools of thought in this pre-Christian era. This essay compares and contrasts Paul’s understanding with some aspects of Platonism and Stoicism and then expands this to contemporary discussion of gender fluidity, so-called ‘Side B Christians,’ and ‘conversion therapy.’

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