Are Christians' fears of Homosexuality really just fears of Modernity?

Question

Much of Christian fundamentalism appears directed very specifically against various aspects of modernity: modern science, modern social institutions, modern gender roles, etc. Modern gender roles, though, seem to be the most important.

The traditional gender roles supported by Christian fundamentalists are more detrimental than helpful to society; in the long run, America will be far better off the more equal the involvement of both men and women in society can be.

And if you follow the word of God as homosexuality is an abomination, then you must not eat Shellfish, because in the SAME verse God claims that shellfish are ALSO an "abomination"!! ----hypocrites, all of you.

Answer 1

The details here wander a bit from the original question. There is probably some truth to your assertion that many of the things which fundamentalists oppose are "modern." At the same time, you ought to recognize that there are many social changes/movements which have been marketed as "progress" but are just change-for-the-sake-of-change. (And that kind of "modernity" deserves to be opposed.)

It's patently unfair and untrue to say that "traditional gender roles . . . are more detrimental than helpful to society." Some parts of those roles might be detrimental, but some are quite helpful. As to the idea of equal involvement, in many respects this is desireable. But, we probably ought not to ignore that there are real biological, biochemical, and developmental differences between men/women, boys/girls.

As to the original question, you probably know that you've committed the logical fallacy of the "loaded question." You have offered no proof that fundamentalist Christian opinions about homosexuality are based in fear. Your question insists that to be a fact and then wants to go forward from there. But, without any proof of this underlying assumption, your question can't really be addressed.

Answer 2

The problem with our society is GENERALIZATION, MISINFORMATION and MISCOMMUNICATION. Fundamentalism is detrimental in any religious belief, scientific belief or philosophies.
It strips every the tenets of those beliefs and de-emphasizes the human factor.
Now that I got that off my chest: the Bible states that homosexuality is an abomination. This is the Christian's belief and those that follow Christianity.
It's funny that oftentimes, when someone follows the tenets of their beliefs, they are often called a fundamentalist, but if that person doesn't follow the tenets, they are called a hypocrite.
Homosexuality is considered a moral issue, not a gender issue to those of the Christian, Jewish and Islamic beliefs as well as a few other religions.
Gender issues are being attacked in the form of not paying women the same salaries for the same amount of work as do men. It is still a problem in our society that women should be "nice" and not make waves.
Marriage is not taken seriously ("If I don't like you anymore, I can just divorce you/ if you get crippled, I can just walk away") and so divorces have increased.
This doesn't mean marriage is an outdated institution, it simply means that we refuse the rules that have worked for previous generations.
Modern Christians (don't group with fundamentalists, they're nuts) don't fear homosexuality, it's just not agreed with: "Hate the sin, love the sinner" thinking.
Modern Christianity emphasizes science for the good of humanity and ANY social structure that emphasizes this is supported. When that scientific research, social institution or gender issue HURTS others, than it's frowned upon or argued against. These are my views.

Answer 3

While there are some people who just react against homosexuality as a lifestyle and unfairly treat homosexuals, I don't think the response is based on fact of modernity.

As someone pointed out, homosexual behavior -- while a minority -- has still been known in every culture. The only thing I would say that is "modern" about homosexuality is how it's now viewed as an "identity" issue rather than a behavior.

You're also being pretty vague in your comments about traditional roles. Do you mean purely fundamentalist gender roles (the "caveman" attitude), or are you including evangelical gender roles (which see the genders as inherently different and thus with different strengths and weaknesses, while still following a Biblical model), or are you saying that the genders are completely the same and can do the exact same things?

Gender roles (gender identity) and homosexuality (sexual preference) also are not equivalent concepts, as even the homosexual/transgender movement would be likely to point out.

Anyway, I would see the debate over homosexuality as far more than fear of modernity, since evangelicals (for example) are pretty much against homosexual behavior and yet embrace technology and modern-day social institutions like there's no tomorrow. They've very tech-savvy.

From comments I've seen, I think many heteros have both an intellectual repulsion as well as a gut-level repulsion to the behavior, even if they usually have an attitude of allowing everyone to do as they please.

Answer 4

It sounds like you have already formulated you answer in your details. It looks more like an agenda thing to me. However, if you are truly interested in an answer, I'll try to give one.

On a superficial level, you may be right. It would be so much easier if we just turned a blind eye to the things that are wrong. Society has no backbone and just wants to get along. I believe modernity has nothing to do with the dilemma. All kinds of sin and corruption have been in society as far back as any recorded history.

On a deeper, spiritual, moral, and ethical level, you are wrong. Sin hurts people. Maybe not at first, but the result is always the same. Spiritual death.

God is the originator of equality. You and I are on equal footing in Gods eyes. Yes, women have come a long way, and Christianity has a lot to do with that. Look around the world. In what other country can women have so much freedom than in the United States?


EDIT:
My favorite quote: "If God does not judge the United States, then He owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology". Billy Graham

Answer 5

Most of anyone's fears are based on a lack of acceptance due to a lack of understanding of what is unknown. I am a heterosexual male that has and will always be attracted to women. I have never been nor will I ever be attracted to another male. However, I have known and many of my friends have been and are homosexuals. It has been through conversation and getting to know them that I have learned to understand and accept their attraction to the same sex and their relationships with men and women, depending on their sexual preference. It is not a religious issue nor is it a moral issue, however it is an issue of the individual's genetic make up along with their intellectual and emotional development depending on their environment.

Homosexuals are equally as productive and unproductive in society as heterosexuals, and are as creative as any individual in problem solving along with being innovative.

I believe the issue with Christian fundamentalists is the fact that homosexuals cannot and do not reproduce, therefore contradicting the idea or the illusion of what creates and makes a family. It is also the sexual activity between homosexuals that I feel confuses most Christian fundamentalists.

Fortunately, homosexuality is much more socially acceptable today than it was 10 or 20 years ago, but it still has a long way to go. In my eyes, homosexuals have had to face and deal with too much descrimination and too many hate crimes solely because of their sexual preference, but once again, it goes to show you what we are capable of doing as human beings.

Answer 6

It's not a "fear" issue. No born-again Christian "fears" these things. Traditional gender roles are not harmful; they simply cause many people to feel uncomfortable because the post-modern mind doesn't like being told what to do. As a wife and mother, (with a college education), I believe that my most important job, outside of being a disciple of Christ, is supporting my husband in his job as leader of the home. My next responsibility is raising our children. Watch children at play sometime; you will find that boys and girls, for the most part, tend very naturally toward these "gender roles."

Answer 7

Personally, I think that they are "rejection-phobics". They want so much the acceptance of the wider culture and are afraid of being called bigoted or intolerant. I think there is also a woeful ignorance about the source of our sinful bents, especially pertaining to someone bent toward homosexuality. The bible teaches that our sinful bents have spiritual origins. Not understanding this concept, they assume that our bents must be physiological in nature. Thus, the alcoholic has a disease A mass murderer is psychopathic. And a homosexual is born that way from the womb. Having a clear understanding of the opening chapters in Genesis is able to keep true Christians rooted in the reality of the world we live in, rather than being swept away by the naturalistic and psycho-babbling explanations of the secular world which deny the notion of personal responsibility for our lives.

Answer 8

Fear is undoubtedly part of it - fear and ignorance. "Traditional" gender roles are only traditional in Judeo-Christian European-based cultures, Islam, and a few other scattered cultures. Those roles are not "traditional" in other cultures. Unfortunately, fundamentalists of any religion tend to have a fantasy view of what life was like "back then." They also are misinformed as to how homosexuality truly affects society, which by and large is a positive effect rather than a negative one. How sad for gay children growing up in such families.

Answer 9

I tend to agree with you that America will be far better off the more equal the involvement of both men and women in society can be. I think that is true if you substitute men and women with black and white, or gay or straight.

My issue is that Christianity shouldn't be about America. We shouldn't equate being christian with democracy, the Republican party, or even (dare I say) George Bush.

Christians shouldn't fear Modernity. Christians should be fearing for the people cought up in Modernity. I believe that leading a gay lifestyle is a sin... but I believe that marital infidility is a sin as well. I shouldn't be fearing the one sin over the other. I should be seeking people in both groups out and sharing Christ.

Christianity is about people, not issues. If America wants to legalize gay marriage, then America should do it. It doesn't mean that Christians should agree with it, or vote to support it, but they shouldn't be saying "Christ hates gays". They should be saying "Christ hates sin". If we as Christians are in such a rush to make gay marriage illegal why aren't we rushing to outlaw marital infidility or pornography, or hunger, or poverty?

Ultimately, I think we [Christians] fear modernity because its easier to fight ideas like gay marriage, modern science, and modern social institutions, from our BMW's and with our wallets, than things like poverty and racial injustice with our hands from the soup kitchens. It doesn't get in the way of lacross practice.

Answer 10

The "Christians Fear" is not that of the homosexuality. It is the decadence that "seems" to follow. As you would gladly hold hands with the environmentalist, for they wish to save the world from the decadent humans, so would you not want to save the world from civilizational ruin through ill behavior on behalf of humans. Honesty, this has NOTHING to do with Modernity. Homosexuality has been around since the picture/written word of mankind.