Tens of years ago homosexuality and other bestiality was not acceptable grounds for dub to divorce. However I have run across several opinions that this is not anymore so called "present truth".
What would be contemporary "present truth"?
Mark
Grounds for divorce
by Haereticus 5 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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onacruse
*** w2000 11/1 p. 8 A Godly View of Moral Cleanness ***
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What is meant by the word "fornication"? It comes from the Greek word por·nei´a, which is sometimes used to apply to sexual relations between unmarried people. (1 Corinthians 6:9) Elsewhere, such as at Matthew 5:32 and Matthew 19:9, the term is broader in meaning and refers additionally to adultery, incest, and bestiality. Other sexual practices between individuals not married to each other, such as oral and anal sex and the sexual manipulation of another person’s genitalia, can also be designated as por·nei´a. All such practices are condemned—either explicitly or by implication—in God’s Word -
Haereticus
onacruse
Beside the fact that homosexuality and bestiality were back then (197X) mentioned as condemned they did not consider those as a biblical reason for divorce. I do suspect that it may well be connected to this porneia explanation which came after my DF.
Mark
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m0nk3y
Personally I am offended by beastiality being drawn in the same light as being gay, they are completely different things.
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onacruse
Mark, your question got me to thinking. Doing a little more research, I was surprised to find (bold added):
*** w56 10/1 p. 591 Marriage Obligations and Divorce ***
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Sodomy (or the unnatural intercourse of one male with another male as with a female), Lesbianism (or the homosexual relations between women), and bestiality (or the unnatural sexual relations by man or woman with an animal) are not Scriptural grounds for divorce.This was news to me. I thought those practices had been grounds for divorce up until 1972.
*** w72 1/1 p. 32 Questions from Readers ***
• Do homosexual acts on the part of a married person constitute a Scriptural ground for divorce, freeing the innocent mate to remarry?—U.S.A.
While both homosexuality and bestiality are disgusting perversions, in the case of neither one is the marriage tie broken. It is broken only by acts that make an individual "one flesh" with a person of the opposite sex other than his or her legal marriage mate.
Apparently it wasn't until 1977 that homosexuality or bestiality were classified as porneia (at least insofar as the Law was concerned):
*** w77 3/15 p. 173 Marriage—An Arrangement Honored in God’s Word ***
He stated that the only ground for divorce allowable by God was that of "fornication" (Greek, por·nei´a, meaning sexual misconduct of a gross kind with another person or even with an animal).—Matt. 19:3-9.
*** w77 10/1 p. 607 Questions from Readers ***
• My unbelieving husband admitted to me that he has another woman. Is his admission sufficient ground for a Scriptural divorce?
In some cases if a Christian’s unbelieving mate admits to committing immorality, that would provide a Scriptural basis for a divorce, which, in turn, would free the innocent Christian for remarriage if desired.
Jehovah God’s law to the ancient nation of Israel made provision for divorce on various grounds. (Deut. 24:1, 2) Adultery, homosexuality and bestiality were bases for ending a marriage; the guilty person was to be executed.
In 1983 they explicitly define this as WTS policy:
*** w83 12/15 p. 27 When a Mate Is Unfaithful ***
In such a situation, Jesus’ words on the subject have to be taken into account: "I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication, and marries another commits adultery." (Matthew 19:9) What does this mean? That fornication (which in the Bible sense includes adultery and gross sexual immorality such as homosexuality) can break up a marriage. Scripturally, the innocent partner has the right to divorce the guilty one and remarry without sin in God’s eyes.
Craig
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Haereticus
Craig
Thank you for clarifying just the point I was wondering. As I was DF'd before 1972 I was unaware of the latest changes.
Mark