Homosexuality: Morals and Ethics Catch-All Thread

As has been said already in this thread, people use the tools that are available to them to justify their already-established worldview. If slavery and Christian thought were "inseperable" as you say, why then do we see that the abolitionist movement arises from a mostly Christian base? Alexander Stevens was a southern civil-war era politician looking to use whatever means necessary to support his world-view.

There are several issues with this line of thinking. First, we have many, many examples of the use of the Bible to justify slavery. You've basically said that you think we can't tell whether someone was justifying a previous belief with the Bible, or actually adopted their beliefs from the Bible. And yet, slavery is accepted in the Bible in numerous ways, and not with equivocation. How can that not be more than just a justification, for a believer?

The problem for you then is to explain how *both* sides can use the same book as justification for opposing beliefs. You could also explain why slavery is actually supported by the Bible, both OT and NT - if the authors were justifying their beliefs, how could that end up in God's book? Conversely, if God approves of slavery - and the Founders clearly believed that as a group enough to leave slavery in the Constitution - wouldn't it be the Abolitionists who were wrong? And is a justification based on practices sanctioned by God really just a justification? Is there somewhere in the Bible where God says "Slavery is evil and should be condemned and prevented?"

Or is the meaning of the Bible in the eye of the reader? Can it's meaning change over time, legitimately?

Another issue is that if we can't tell whether the Bible inspired belief in slavery, or just reinforced a cultural bias - like maybe the Jewish cultural bias when it was written? - how do we tell the difference for any other moral/ethical topic? I mean, it's pretty clear that in British and European and Roman and Greek and Hebrew and other cultures, slavery was sanctioned by the Bible. If that moral underpinning on such a major topic based on an institution present before the Bible and sanctioned that way for thousands of years is somehow ambiguous, how much more so the rest of it? Maybe the prohibitions on shellfish or pork or mixed clothing are, you know, not entirely necessary? Maybe we could actually free a Canaanite slave? Maybe we don't have to hang the dead bodies of those put to death for crimes?

Maybe we don't actually have to condemn homosexuals either?

So this topic has definatly got me soul searching. I've been reading around on studies that may or may not trace homosexuality to genetics but it's very difficult to find an unbiased source. I'm not an unreasonable person, and I truely wish to seek as much information on this as I can, from both scientific studies and the Bible. I find myself at a crossroads in my thought process, if homosexuality is truely genetic then what is it? Is it a genitic abnormality (Not saying being a homosexual is abnormal)? If so then I can have no issue with it, why after all, would God allow it, only to condemn it? And in that case, I have to search the Bible for more information on it's teachings of homosexuality, perhaps talk to a few of my Christian peers and find out exactly my faith holds for me.

I know this may sound stupid to some of you, maybe even anger you on how I handle this situation. But I guess I need to find this out more for my self than anything. If I've been living to my faith incorrectly, then I want to change that.

Again, I am sorry if any of what I've said offended anyone, it's not at all intended

The capacity to look back on one's own core beliefs and reevaluate them is one of the things that separates good men from bad. Good on you for even trying, Conformist (irony of your name aside)

This may be slightly OT, but I do wonder if..religious people ever question the real meaning behind some of God's proclamations. He's got form on testing people, seeing what they do. He's given the word Hisnword in a way that leaves room for ambiguity, interpretation and the desire for clarification.

Isn't it possible he could be testing people to see how well they treat gay people? Is it possible he's laid a little trap and he wants to see who'll set it off and who'll step over it?

Crispus wrote:

I think people are also fundamentally underestimating how difficult it is for a committed conservative Christian, one who is certain in their faith, to turn away from that faith. That's what would be required for such a person to accept a gay son and believe that they are not sinning. For such a person, it's not like they can easily just shrug and say "Bah, forget the Bible, the kids are more important."

Maybe that's how some here think it should be, but for someone who devoutly believes in their religious teachings, it's not so simple, especially since turning a blind eye to one teaching can, for some people, result in their entire belief system tumbling down. I think people who have never been deeply invested in religious beliefs have trouble understanding how deep such beliefs can run, and how difficult it can be to turn away from them.

The problem here is that we don't know the foundation of that person's "committed" belief. Do they actually study the Scriptures, or do they simply read it and let their pastor tell them what it means? Do they know the history of the Church and how it flowed from the Apostles to the Early Church fathers to a religion that was embraced by the Roman Empire, et. al.? Do they know what heresy truly is? Do they know why their brand of Christianity takes its particular stand on abortion, sex education, evolution, birth control, etc.? Or do they just believe they have to believe it because the rest of the conservative Christians believe it? And on and on.

This isn't to belittle anyone's belief, but just believing it because Rev. Jones and that nice evangelist who came and spoke at the church believe it isn't enough.

My religious beliefs run very deep. My spiritual beliefs run even deeper. But I also have to be open to the idea that I, as an imperfect human being, may not fully understand Scripture or God's revelation. At any time, my faith may need to alter based on findings in linguistics, archeology, etc. I do no one any favors by being so rigid in my belief that I am willing to offend God by not using my brain to understand that I will never know all of God's revelation or truth.

It is very brave to stand up for our beliefs.

It is more brave to stand up and admit we might be wrong.

(Edit: I just noticed your last post and express my kudos to you for it.)

Conformist, read up on the Kinsey Scale too. Understanding that there *are* people who are attracted to both sexes (and those who are attracted to neither, and other stuff too) helps understand how confusing it can get. For example, a person who is attracted to both sexes *could* choose to live in a same-sex style in one degree or another, but a person who is not attracted to the opposite sex could not make that choice (just as you and I could not "choose" to be attracted to the same sex). Both types - the choosers and the stuck - exist, but I don't see any real understanding of that on the side of those who condemn. And yet the fact that attraction is a *continuum* changes the discussion a great deal, because it knocks dead the idea that there are only "them" and "us". Some of "us" may be partly "them"; in fact, it's almost certain in any large group, statistically.

Also, the American Psychological Association has a page of statements, each of which has a summary of research available at the time. Here's part of the one on homosexual parenting, for example:

Many lesbians and gay men are parents. In the 2000 U. S. Census, 33% of female same-sex couple households and 22% of male same-sex couple households reported at least one child under the age of 18 living in the home. Despite the significant presence of at least 163,879 households headed by lesbian or gay parents in U.S. society, three major concerns about lesbian and gay parents are commonly voiced (Falk, 1994; Patterson, Fulcher & Wainright, 2002). These include concerns that lesbians and gay men are mentally ill, that lesbians are less maternal than heterosexual women, and that lesbians' and gay men's relationships with their sexual partners leave little time for their relationships with their children. In general, research has failed to provide a basis for any of these concerns (Patterson, 2000, 2004a; Perrin, 2002; Tasker, 1999; Tasker & Golombok, 1997). First, homosexuality is not a psychological disorder (Conger, 1975). Although exposure to prejudice and discrimination based on sexual orientation may cause acute distress (Mays & Cochran, 2001; Meyer, 2003), there is no reliable evidence that homosexual orientation per se impairs psychological functioning. Second, beliefs that lesbian and gay adults are not fit parents have no empirical foundation (Patterson, 2000, 2004a; Perrin, 2002). Lesbian and heterosexual women have not been found to differ markedly in their approaches to child rearing (Patterson, 2000; Tasker, 1999). Members of gay and lesbian couples with children have been found to divide the work involved in childcare evenly, and to be satisfied with their relationships with their partners (Patterson, 2000, 2004a). The results of some studies suggest that lesbian mothers' and gay fathers' parenting skills may be superior to those of matched heterosexual parents. There is no scientific basis for concluding that lesbian mothers or gay fathers are unfit parents on the basis of their sexual orientation (Armesto, 2002; Patterson, 2000; Tasker & Golombok, 1997). On the contrary, results of research suggest that lesbian and gay parents are as likely as heterosexual parents to provide supportive and healthy environments for their children.

Note that "exposure to prejudice ... based on sexual orientation may cause acute distress". Could God condone causing that in children, or would he perhaps want us to treat them like other children?
As others have pointed out "I love you but I can't respect the way you live (or your parents, if they are gay)" is not an emotionally comforting statement.

Anyway, food for the brain that eats thoughts.

This may be slightly OT, but I do wonder if..religious people ever question the real meaning behind some of God's proclamations. He's got form on testing people, seeing what they do. He's given the word Hisnword in a way that leaves room for ambiguity, interpretation and the desire for clarification.

Isn't it possible he could be testing people to see how well they treat gay people? Is it possible he's laid a little trap and he wants to see who'll set it off and who'll step over it?

He hasn't given us any new revelations since the Bible (or since the mid-19th century, if you're LDS), so unless he came back and told us, how would we know? He was talking to Job, but doctrinally he's not talking directly to anyone anymore.

Crispus wrote:
DanB wrote:

I think you fundamentally under estimate just how deeply psychologically scarring it is for a child to know that their parent doesn't accept who they are.

I think people are also fundamentally underestimating how difficult it is for a committed conservative Christian, one who is certain in their faith, to turn away from that faith. That's what would be required for such a person to accept a gay son and believe that they are not sinning. For such a person, it's not like they can easily just shrug and say "Bah, forget the Bible, the kids are more important."

Maybe that's how some here think it should be, but for someone who devoutly believes in their religious teachings, it's not so simple, especially since turning a blind eye to one teaching can, for some people, result in their entire belief system tumbling down. I think people who have never been deeply invested in religious beliefs have trouble understanding how deep such beliefs can run, and how difficult it can be to turn away from them.

Sure. No one is asking anyone to turn away from Christ. But the pluracy of Christian churches certainly indicates that it's possible to both believe in Christ and accept homosexuality.

(somewhat tannhausered by complexmath)

The Conformist wrote:

I know this may sound stupid to some of you, maybe even anger you on how I handle this situation. But I guess I need to find this out more for my self than anything. If I've been living to my faith incorrectly, then I want to change that.

First, Thank you for sharing throughout this thread and Second, Thank you for taking this step. Even if your searching for answers re-affirms your previous position... being curious and honest enough to begin the search in the first place means the world to many of us. I wish you the best of luck!

The Conformist wrote:

So this topic has definatly got me soul searching. I've been reading around on studies that may or may not trace homosexuality to genetics but it's very difficult to find an unbiased source. I'm not an unreasonable person, and I truely wish to seek as much information on this as I can, from both scientific studies and the Bible. I find myself at a crossroads in my thought process, if homosexuality is truely genetic then what is it? Is it a genitic abnormality (Not saying being a homosexual is abnormal)? If so then I can have no issue with it, why after all, would God allow it, only to condemn it? And in that case, I have to search the Bible for more information on it's teachings of homosexuality, perhaps talk to a few of my Christian peers and find out exactly my faith holds for me.

I know this may sound stupid to some of you, maybe even anger you on how I handle this situation. But I guess I need to find this out more for my self than anything. If I've been living to my faith incorrectly, then I want to change that.

Again, I am sorry if any of what I've said offended anyone, it's not at all intended :-)

I almost missed this post last night, somehow. This is great.

SixteenBlue wrote:
The Conformist wrote:

So this topic has definatly got me soul searching. I've been reading around on studies that may or may not trace homosexuality to genetics but it's very difficult to find an unbiased source. I'm not an unreasonable person, and I truely wish to seek as much information on this as I can, from both scientific studies and the Bible. I find myself at a crossroads in my thought process, if homosexuality is truely genetic then what is it? Is it a genitic abnormality (Not saying being a homosexual is abnormal)? If so then I can have no issue with it, why after all, would God allow it, only to condemn it? And in that case, I have to search the Bible for more information on it's teachings of homosexuality, perhaps talk to a few of my Christian peers and find out exactly my faith holds for me.

I know this may sound stupid to some of you, maybe even anger you on how I handle this situation. But I guess I need to find this out more for my self than anything. If I've been living to my faith incorrectly, then I want to change that.

Again, I am sorry if any of what I've said offended anyone, it's not at all intended :-)

I almost missed this post last night, somehow. This is great.

+1!

Jayhawker wrote:
SixteenBlue wrote:
The Conformist wrote:

So this topic has definatly got me soul searching. I've been reading around on studies that may or may not trace homosexuality to genetics but it's very difficult to find an unbiased source. I'm not an unreasonable person, and I truely wish to seek as much information on this as I can, from both scientific studies and the Bible. I find myself at a crossroads in my thought process, if homosexuality is truely genetic then what is it? Is it a genitic abnormality (Not saying being a homosexual is abnormal)? If so then I can have no issue with it, why after all, would God allow it, only to condemn it? And in that case, I have to search the Bible for more information on it's teachings of homosexuality, perhaps talk to a few of my Christian peers and find out exactly my faith holds for me.

I know this may sound stupid to some of you, maybe even anger you on how I handle this situation. But I guess I need to find this out more for my self than anything. If I've been living to my faith incorrectly, then I want to change that.

Again, I am sorry if any of what I've said offended anyone, it's not at all intended :-)

I almost missed this post last night, somehow. This is great.

+1!

GROUP HUG!

Conformist's point that "why after all, would God allow it, only to condemn it?" is something I've always felt about the intersection of religion and sexuality. If indeed, God made us in his own image, then he's the one responsible for all the gays. Seems bonkers for some of his followers to be pissed off at the gays, when they should be pissed off at the Big Man himself for putting them here in the first place.

More so, if we are made in God's image, then God himself likes a bit of man-love, no?

Jonman wrote:
Jayhawker wrote:
SixteenBlue wrote:
The Conformist wrote:

So this topic has definatly got me soul searching. I've been reading around on studies that may or may not trace homosexuality to genetics but it's very difficult to find an unbiased source. I'm not an unreasonable person, and I truely wish to seek as much information on this as I can, from both scientific studies and the Bible. I find myself at a crossroads in my thought process, if homosexuality is truely genetic then what is it? Is it a genitic abnormality (Not saying being a homosexual is abnormal)? If so then I can have no issue with it, why after all, would God allow it, only to condemn it? And in that case, I have to search the Bible for more information on it's teachings of homosexuality, perhaps talk to a few of my Christian peers and find out exactly my faith holds for me.

I know this may sound stupid to some of you, maybe even anger you on how I handle this situation. But I guess I need to find this out more for my self than anything. If I've been living to my faith incorrectly, then I want to change that.

Again, I am sorry if any of what I've said offended anyone, it's not at all intended :-)

I almost missed this post last night, somehow. This is great.

+1!

GROUP HUG!

Conformist's point that "why after all, would God allow it, only to condemn it?" is something I've always felt about the intersection of religion and sexuality. If indeed, God made us in his own image, then he's the one responsible for all the gays. Seems bonkers for some of his followers to be pissed off at the gays, when they should be pissed off at the Big Man himself for putting them here in the first place.

More so, if we are made in God's image, then God himself likes a bit of man-love, no?

Well from what I've gathered so far, at least from my limited and humble viewpoint is that if people are indeed born with a genetic difference that causes them chemically to find the same sex attractive then I don't personally believe that God would find that sinful. It is possible that those who aren't homosexual and yet still make the choice of living a homosexual lifestyle well, therein lies the sin. Again, I'm still in the very early stages of my reading so things may still change.

We are created in God's image, however since he has no need to reproduce, and from my knowledge of the scripture doesn't have "lust" for man nor woman. But this of course is if you even believe in the scripture.

Also another conclusion I've come to is that in the end no one, not myself, not anyone here can judge another human being for how they live there life, that is God's right, and only through his eyes should they be judged. Me being human however makes this very difficult, since by nature we judge things on the smallest level, especially when people disagree with our lifestyles. Something I need to always try and remember.

Well, people are born predisposed to all kinds of behavior (sexual and otherwise) that is universally accepted as wrong. They were essentially "created" (via genetics or environmental factors) that way, does that automatically make the behavior okay? I'm not sure that line of reasoning bears out in the end.

And so we come to the point I made earlier.

NormanTheIntern wrote:

Well, people are born predisposed to all kinds of behavior (sexual and otherwise) that is universally accepted as wrong. They were essentially "created" (via genetics or environmental factors) that way, does that automatically make the behavior okay? I'm not sure that line of reasoning bears out in the end.

Care to cite examples of people born predisposed to unacceptable behavior?

NormanTheIntern wrote:

Well, people are born predisposed to all kinds of behavior (sexual and otherwise) that is universally accepted as wrong. They were essentially "created" (via genetics or environmental factors) that way, does that automatically make the behavior okay? I'm not sure that line of reasoning bears out in the end.

Care to make some examples?

Because I wonder if the reason that they're universally accepted as wrong is that those behaviors cause harm to others. Sociopathy, for instance.

Homosexuality on the other hand, is a harmless behavior, or viewed in a different way, just as harmful/harmless as heterosexuality.

Jonman wrote:
NormanTheIntern wrote:

Well, people are born predisposed to all kinds of behavior (sexual and otherwise) that is universally accepted as wrong. They were essentially "created" (via genetics or environmental factors) that way, does that automatically make the behavior okay? I'm not sure that line of reasoning bears out in the end.

Care to make some examples?

Because I wonder if the reason that they're universally accepted as wrong is that those behaviors cause harm to others. Sociopaths, for instance.

Homosexuality on the other hand, is a harmless behavior, or viewed in a different way, just as harmful/harmless as heterosexuality.

I'd like to see proof that sociopaths are born sociopaths as well. Not just examples of people with pre-disposition, I want to see proof they were born that way.

NormanTheIntern wrote:

Well, people are born predisposed to all kinds of behavior (sexual and otherwise) that is universally accepted as wrong. They were essentially "created" (via genetics or environmental factors) that way, does that automatically make the behavior okay? I'm not sure that line of reasoning bears out in the end.

I bolded the key part of your statement there, because in this case, homosexuality is no longer universally accepted as wrong. It may not even be a majority anymore who see it that way. So while I see what you're saying there, I don't feel it's a relevant statement in this situation anymore.

SixteenBlue wrote:

I'd like to see proof that sociopaths are born sociopaths as well. Not just examples of people with pre-disposition, I want to see proof they were born that way.

I do recall seeing some news article about how a brain tumor made an otherwise well-adjusted man become a raging pedophile. The reason this was discovered was that his disturbing behaviours disappeared when the tumor was removed, only to reappear quite some time later. At that point it was found that the tumor had grown back and was removed a second time, causing the urges to disappear again.

Over time I've been persuaded that there is no such thing as "free will" in the sense that we are the masters of our own destiny. Any belief, any decision, any thought you have must either be the product of some previous cause or be ultimately uncaused.
Sam Harris has a really interesting video about why our idea of free will is mistaken, and it's really compelling.

Ultimately it was this revelation that led me to the conclusion that our legal system needs to deal not in punishment but rehabilitation and protection.

NormanTheIntern wrote:

Well, people are born predisposed to all kinds of behavior (sexual and otherwise) that is universally accepted as wrong. They were essentially "created" (via genetics or environmental factors) that way, does that automatically make the behavior okay? I'm not sure that line of reasoning bears out in the end.

Ultimately it is the religious that are stuck with the idea that being born a particular way (that is, made to be that way by God) dictates whether something is good or evil. I don't know of anyone who is pro-gay rights that ultimately decides that being gay is ok JUST BECAUSE it isn't a choice and is rather a genetic predisposition. Rather the argument is generally that homosexuality is no more harmful than heterosexuality.

Valmorian wrote:
SixteenBlue wrote:

I'd like to see proof that sociopaths are born sociopaths as well. Not just examples of people with pre-disposition, I want to see proof they were born that way.

I do recall seeing some news article about how a brain tumor made an otherwise well-adjusted man become a raging pedophile. The reason this was discovered was that his disturbing behaviours disappeared when the tumor was removed, only to reappear quite some time later. At that point it was found that the tumor had grown back and was removed a second time, causing the urges to disappear again.

Over time I've been persuaded that there is no such thing as "free will" in the sense that we are the masters of our own destiny. Any belief, any decision, any thought you have must either be the product of some previous cause or be ultimately uncaused.
Sam Harris has a really interesting video about why our idea of free will is mistaken, and it's really compelling.

Ultimately it was this revelation that led me to the conclusion that our legal system needs to deal not in punishment but rehabilitation and protection.

Interesting.

I wasn't really referring to free will in my skepticism so much as how your upbringing and events in your life can turn you into someone that society considers unacceptable. Nature vs nurture kind of thing.

Valmorian wrote:
SixteenBlue wrote:

I'd like to see proof that sociopaths are born sociopaths as well. Not just examples of people with pre-disposition, I want to see proof they were born that way.

I do recall seeing some news article about how a brain tumor made an otherwise well-adjusted man become a raging pedophile. The reason this was discovered was that his disturbing behaviours disappeared when the tumor was removed, only to reappear quite some time later. At that point it was found that the tumor had grown back and was removed a second time, causing the urges to disappear again.

Over time I've been persuaded that there is no such thing as "free will" in the sense that we are the masters of our own destiny. Any belief, any decision, any thought you have must either be the product of some previous cause or be ultimately uncaused.
Sam Harris has a really interesting video about why our idea of free will is mistaken, and it's really compelling.

Ultimately it was this revelation that led me to the conclusion that our legal system needs to deal not in punishment but rehabilitation and protection.

Your newsletter, I would like to subscribe to it.

Also another conclusion I've come to is that in the end no one, not myself, not anyone here can judge another human being for how they live there life, that is God's right, and only through his eyes should they be judged. Me being human however makes this very difficult, since by nature we judge things on the smallest level, especially when people disagree with our lifestyles. Something I need to always try and remember.

It's not just you, it's everyone, religious or not.

How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy. - Marcus Aurelius, Famous Non-Christian Roman Who Knew Something About Life

SixteenBlue wrote:
Jonman wrote:
NormanTheIntern wrote:

Well, people are born predisposed to all kinds of behavior (sexual and otherwise) that is universally accepted as wrong. They were essentially "created" (via genetics or environmental factors) that way, does that automatically make the behavior okay? I'm not sure that line of reasoning bears out in the end.

Care to make some examples?

Because I wonder if the reason that they're universally accepted as wrong is that those behaviors cause harm to others. Sociopaths, for instance.

Homosexuality on the other hand, is a harmless behavior, or viewed in a different way, just as harmful/harmless as heterosexuality.

I'd like to see proof that sociopaths are born sociopaths as well. Not just examples of people with pre-disposition, I want to see proof they were born that way.

The New York times actually had an excellent article on kids who are being diagnosed and treated as psychopaths. It's pretty harrowing and not surprising. Biological forces behind behavior are real.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/magazine/can-you-call-a-9-year-old-a-psychopath.html?pagewanted=all

Jonman wrote:

Because I wonder if the reason that they're universally accepted as wrong is that those behaviors cause harm to others. Sociopathy, for instance.

Homosexuality on the other hand, is a harmless behavior, or viewed in a different way, just as harmful/harmless as heterosexuality.

No, I totally get that part. But The Conformist is pursuing the line of reasoning that an action cannot be immoral if we have the innate desire to perform that action through no conscious decision of our own. Within this framework, if you accept that universally unacceptable sexual or social deviancy is "hard wired" in some cases (and I'd argue that recidivism rates and feedback from the violators bears that out) - then God also "made" those people that way. Now, you could pivot and make the argument that what God considers immoral is tied to what's universally accepted - in other words, God's law is defined and changed by fluid social mores. I think that's a much weaker argument, though.

NormanTheIntern wrote:
Jonman wrote:

Because I wonder if the reason that they're universally accepted as wrong is that those behaviors cause harm to others. Sociopathy, for instance.

Homosexuality on the other hand, is a harmless behavior, or viewed in a different way, just as harmful/harmless as heterosexuality.

No, I totally get that part. But The Conformist is pursuing the line of reasoning that an action cannot be immoral if we have the innate desire to perform that action through no conscious decision of our own. Within this framework, if you accept that universally unacceptable sexual or social deviancy is "hard wired" in some cases (and I'd argue that recidivism rates and feedback from the violators bears that out) - then God also "made" those people that way. Now, you could pivot and make the argument that what God considers immoral is tied to what's universally accepted - in other words, God's law is defined and changed by fluid social mores. I think that's a much weaker argument, though.

Norman, if you're trying to get at something like pedophilia, with the 'universally unacceptable' line of thought, could you just say it? Right now it feels like you're muddying the waters of the conversation, since no behaviors we're talking about are universally unacceptable.

NormanTheIntern wrote:

But The Conformist is pursuing the line of reasoning that an action cannot be immoral if we have the innate desire to perform that action through no conscious decision of our own.

Yes, I think this is a flawed argument as well. It's the same kind of reasoning you get from some naturopaths that argue that medicine is bad because it's not natural, the assumption being that if something is natural it must be good for you.

The reason I think you see pro-gay individuals arguing that homosexuality is natural (genetic) is simply because this is the only argument that will persuade some religious individuals. Usually this argument is only put forward when the previous, more rational ones, hit a brick wall. As in, "It isn't harmful so how can it be immoral?". It's likely TRUE that sexuality is largely a matter of genetics, but I don't think that something being natural necessarily makes it moral or good. The first argument "What is the harm?" is the better one.

Alas, that argument of morality from harm never seems to make much traction with religiously motivated homophobia.

Tanglebones wrote:
NormanTheIntern wrote:
Jonman wrote:

Because I wonder if the reason that they're universally accepted as wrong is that those behaviors cause harm to others. Sociopathy, for instance.

Homosexuality on the other hand, is a harmless behavior, or viewed in a different way, just as harmful/harmless as heterosexuality.

No, I totally get that part. But The Conformist is pursuing the line of reasoning that an action cannot be immoral if we have the innate desire to perform that action through no conscious decision of our own. Within this framework, if you accept that universally unacceptable sexual or social deviancy is "hard wired" in some cases (and I'd argue that recidivism rates and feedback from the violators bears that out) - then God also "made" those people that way. Now, you could pivot and make the argument that what God considers immoral is tied to what's universally accepted - in other words, God's law is defined and changed by fluid social mores. I think that's a much weaker argument, though.

Norman, if you're trying to get at something like pedophilia, with the 'universally unacceptable' line of thought, could you just say it? Right now it feels like you're muddying the waters of the conversation, since no behaviors we're talking about are universally unacceptable.

He's just pointing out the flaw in the logic.

The easiest response I think is to say an action cannot be immoral if we have the innate desire to perform that action through no conscious decision of our own and all parties to the action are consenting adults. We don't have to defend an idea to the death just because someone that disagrees with us challenges it--in fact, we can use their challenge to come to a better understanding of what we actually believe, as I think most people who were convinced by that first argument about "innate desire" would be happy to add the second one about "consenting adults."

The Conformist wrote:

I guess more on the point of discussion, is that I believe God knows, truly what is in your heart as you sin, no matter how horrendous it is, he knows what you're intent is, and if you are in any way in control of how you look and view things.

Here's the video I was talking about with regards to Free Will: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCofm...

It is long, and the speaker is a rather famous atheist, but I encourage you to listen to it because he is a fantastic speaker and what he is talking about doesn't specifically depend upon the idea that God doesn't exist, it's a purely logical consideration of what the concept of Free Will means.

It's absolutely fascinating!