Homosexuality: Nurture VS Nature?

Question

Personally to me homosexuality is nature. People that have normal parents can be homosexual, which is viable proof it isn't nurture.
I know that no one could have changed my sexuality or taught me my sexuality, because sexuality is inate. I grew up always being atracted to man. So why would it be so different for a woman to grow up with inate feelings of being sexually atracted to another woman and not a man? And vice versa for men having an inate sexual attraction to another man and not a woman.

What are you thoughts on the subject??

Answer 1

I agree...I grew up with straight parents, knowing no one gay and never even meeting anyone gay until after I realized I was... so, there was no "nurture" or other influence in my life to make me gay...I was born a lesbian.

and to the expected long-winded, Bible-thumping spiel from Daniel L and others......read this and then shut up!

Dear Conservative Christian,



Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I
have learned a great deal from you, and I try to share that knowledge
with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.


I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.


a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They
claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?


b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my eye i require reading glasses would my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.


Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.

Answer 2

I'm assuming you believe in the Bible. Think back to when God created Adam. God gave Adam a wife, a woman, created to fit with the needs of a man. According to the Bible a woman is a compliment or completement of man. The Bible gives no suggestion or idea that this same thing can be accomplished with a person of the same sex. When the Bible speaks of unions that are acceptable in the sight of our Creator it speaks of a man and a woman. If God were responsible for making a person gay, are we to assume that He would not admit it, or make some comment to help us understand that this is a normal part of His purpose? Although many homosexuals say that homosexuality is only condemned in the Hebrew scriptures, it is strongly condemned in the Greek as well. Romans 1:24-32 Notice this scripture talks about homosexuals being "given up" by God, "disapproved" "disgraceful sexual appetite" "changing the natural use of themselves, " "contrary to nature." You can accept what the homosexual community tells you, or you can accept what the Bible clearly states. It is one thing to do what you want in spite of what the Bible says. It is entirely another to try to change what the Bible is saying. If you choose to live that lifestyle, that is your God-given right to make a choice in that matter. All of us will stand before the judgement seat of God, and in no way am I trying to condemn you. Jesus Christ is the judge that God gives us. Jesus is a very loving individual, but that does not mean that we can just ignore what the Bible says when it does not fit what we want to do. When Jesus judges a person, won't he take notice of how we responded to what we read from his Father's word? I have a struggle with my sexual desires too, so please do not think I am judging. But, having the same kind of struggle I feel more inclined to speak with you to let you know that you do have a CHOICE in this matter. Other persons who have been homosexual have changed. See 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 The motivation for changing is knowing that this is something that God does not like, out of love for Him, we are willing to fight against something that brings us a great deal of physical pleasure. Why? Because we realize that is not what He intended for us to be doing, and it is obviously something He does not like. Of course, you will find others that will support what you think, and will tell you it's ok. But, I ask you, whose opinion matters to you most, God, or other people? Who are you trying to please, yourself, other people, or God?

Answer 3

I believe it is both, Nurture and Nature. The two feed off each other. If you are having homosexual tendencies, a bad family life can increase that nature.

As for the Bible, God made it clear what he thought about homosexuality. But He also let us know what He thought about the sinner. He wishes that no man perish, but that all men come to repentence.

God Loves you no matter what you do. He calls you to Him wherever you are in life. He doesn't call you to change, He calls you to a personal relation with him.

God bless

Answer 4

I think it's mostly nature, but there's some "nurture" in it, too, because our situations help determine some things about us. For example, I grew up in a poor family, so my favorite foods are things like mac and cheese and hamburger helper - but someone who grew up in a rich family might say leg of lamb. Someone who was born into a very strict, unaccepting (of homosexuality) family might have been born with the ability to be homosexual, and later in life may fantasize about homosexual encounters, but may never actually "discover" that they are homosexual because circumstances didn't allow it.

Answer 5

The issue really isn't whether homosexuality is nature vs. nurture. The issue is with what a person chooses to do about whatever homosexual feelings he/she may possess. Homosexuality itself might not be a choice, but engaging in homosexual behavior certainly is.

Answer 6

Basically everyone outside of the Pat Robertson/Jerry Falwell crowd recognizes that sexuality is something a person is born with. All credible scientific studies have overwhelmingly concluded that sexuality is caused by nature.

Answer 7

We'll say "envinronmental" vs. "biological". I have zero evidence to back this up, and i'm saying that up front, but I feel like it's probably a mixture of both. Other psychological phemonena are evaluated on a bio-psycho-social model. I think that makes sense that there'd be contributions from all those areas.

Answer 8

I was taught that being gay was evil and they would hurt me. Yet here I am loving guys and gals. Two siblings who are raised the same can end up different. They've found an actual chromosome difference in gays, also gay women have been found to release male pheromones. How can that be changed by your parents?

Answer 9

Homosexuality in most cases is caused by a decision to live like that. In a few cases it can be inferred that a person is homosexual because they were born that way.

Answer 10

It's nature

And to Daniel L....the reason homosexuality wasn't spoken of as a normal thing in the bible is because god didn't write the bible a bunch of old men did and they wrote it based on their beliefs