[Greek] πορνεία (porneia), [Latin] fornicatio, [Latin] prostitutio

[Greek] πορνεία (porneia), [Latin] fornicatio, [Latin] prostitutio: unchastity, dishonoring, profaning, immorality, whoredom, idolatry; 26 scriptures

Babylon Marriage Market: painting by Edwin Long (1875)

Background information:

Babylonian Marriage Market:

1. Every woman of the land is compelled to sit in the temple of Aphrodite
2. She does not go home until some stranger puts money in her lap and have intercourse with her
3. She cannot refuse for that would be a “sin” as the money becomes sacred
4. The money is given to the temple as a devotion or prayer to the goddess to ensure fertility
5. After intercourse, she is discharged from her “sacred duty” and now can leave the temple grounds

Greek Hellenism: This term means fornication, licentiousness, adultery, prostitution, idolatry, and unchastity.

Aristophanes’ Plutus 155: “You speak of male whores; yet some of them are honest, and it’s not money they ask of their patrons.”

Xenophon’s Memorabilia 1.6.12: “For to offer one’s beauty for money to all comers is called prostitution. But we think it is virtuous to become friendly with a lover who is known to be a man of honor.”

Demosthenes’ Against Neara 59.41: “She charged higher fees from those who sought her favors as being now a respectable woman living with her husband.”

Cultic prostitution:

1. Prostitution practiced in service to mother deities
2. Daughters of prominent families practiced prostitution in payment to the fertility gods
3. Prostitution cults found in Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt

Extra-marital intercourse:

1. Masters have access to female slaves and concubines
2. Prostitution arises with increased prosperity and commerce
3. Alien women, as 2^nd class citizens, become self-supporting professional “friends” in Greek society
4. Extra-marital intercourse was forbidden to the wife
5. Greek tolerance allowed for intercourse between young mean and harlots
6. Homosexuality developed and spread throughout Greece
7. Harlots were slaves, musicians, dancers, and singers
8. Harlots of brothels charged higher prices for their services
9. Greek stoicism rejects prostitution. Chastity is best.

Old Testament: This term means prostitution, soliciting, unfaithfulness, idolatry, fornication, and unchastity.

1. Leading into fornication can mean “to whore after other gods” and “to turn aside from God”
2. Canaanite cults (Baal and Astarte) enter into the religion of Israel
3. The harlot is a familiar figure in national life
4. Extra-marital sanctions did not apply to men involving relations with alien women
5. Israel patriarchal culture comes into conflict with the matriarchal nature religion of Canaan
6. Any toleration (or promotion) brings the threat of God’s divine judgment
7. God has a metaphorical marriage relationship with Israel
8. Israel, in being unfaithful to God, is likened to a harlot

Harlotry: Harlotry (whoredom) can also refer to unfaithfulness to God, unchastity, “whoring after other gods”, and turning aside from God.

Hos.4:12: The land gives itself to harlotry, turning away from God

Exo.34:16: They render their wanton worship to their gods

2Chr.21:11: He led the inhabitants of Jerusalem into idolatry and seduced Judah

Hos.1:2: The land prostitutes itself, turning away from the Lord

Eze.16:26: You played the harlot with the Egyptians

Jdg.2:17: They prostituted themselves by following other gods, bowing down to them

Hos.4:18: They play the harlot; in their arrogance they love shame

Conclusion:

Fornication, fornicate, prostitute, prostitution, porn, pornographic

It is very interesting that this term encompasses more than prostitution and fornication. This term also refers to idolatry, unchastity, and unfaithfulness.

It is quite interesting that Xenophon states that utilizing one’s beautiful attributes for profit is a form of prostitution. (This is a reflection of old-fashioned cultural attitude.

Chastity refers to remaining in a virtuous state in one’s sexual interactions, conduct, behavior, and intentions.

Greek Stoicism, sharing similar characteristics of Christianity, also held that chastity was an admirable trait.

Yet, the “working woman” (harlot) has become a “time-honored” figure throughout human history.

Perhaps mother deity cults developed in response partly to patriarchal cultural attitudes.

Cultic prostitution perhaps brought a certain status to prostitution.

The Old Testament culture develops the important metaphorical notion that Israel is a bride to God. Therefore, an unfaithful Israel is likened to a harlot.

Harlotry can also be seen as unfaithfulness to God and whoring in prostitution to other gods.

Update: Our current post-Christian secular world continues to have tolerant attitudes to dating, hook up culture, and sexual promiscuity.

Our post-Christian secular culture continues to prostitute itself  in sin and in “worshiping gods” (fame, celebrity, wealth, social media, technology, etc). Many have fallen away from God.

Pope Francis and his inner circle, in their arrogance, claims that Church theology has changed. It seems that they are straying away from accepted Church traditions.

In our secular post-Christian culture, homosexuality is now accepted and praised.

Pope Francis and his inner circle, in their outreach efforts to LGBTQ community, seem to be straying away from following Jesus’ command to sin no more (Jn.8:11). They seem to not to recognize the Jesus who calls for conversion and repentance.

Pope Francis and his inner circle, in their efforts to change the Church, continue to bring upon themselves confusion, chaos, sacrilege, heresy, potential schism, doctrinal errors, syncretism, and shame.

This synodal path is permitting syncretism (the fusion, mixing, and blending) of cultures, religion, and philosophies. (Panchamama idol, pagan influences in Mass, etc.)

Pope Francis and his inner circle, seem to be focusing on another “God of surprises” rationalizing that their synodal efforts are validated by the Holy Spirit. (Is this a God of convenience to support their agenda? (This becomes a preapproved agenda: selecting hand-picked people to support their synodal agenda.)

Many Church leaders, seeking to destigmatize and normalize the sinful nature of homosexuality, have played the harlot (“prostituting itself”) in accommodating with the LGBTQ community’s demand for recognition of their sinful behavior.

Pope Francis says a correct understanding of Catholic doctrine allows for change over time??  Does this include sinful behavior??

“Let it be well recorded that a harlot is a gate which leads to death.” Latin proverb

Next post: prostitution and harlotry: New Testament culture to the present