Why do religious folks try to rationalise their objections to homosexuality?

Question

I see religious folks come out with all sorts of amusing rationalisations for objecting to homosexuality - "It's not natural" (is flying to the moon natural?); "It doesn't produce children" (we don't say infertile couples should split up); "It harms marriage" (how can more marriage harm marriage?) and so on. Then they quote some bit of scripture almost as an afterthought. Is the scripture not enough, by itself? Why not just say "My religion says it's wrong, so it's wrong, end of story"?

KellyBelle: So you agree it is pure rationalisation?

Answer 1

They need to make it more than a religious matter to get public policy changed to suit their predjudices...

It's funny, I keep hearing there will be total meltdown of society if gays are allowed to marry. But it’s funny I can never get a lucid and concrete map of how this disaster will unfold. There has been gay marriage in several Scandanvian countries for almost a decade now and these societies are still thriving.

I'd like to ask the conservative Christians who were protesting outside the Massachusetts court house when gays were getting their legal marriage papers for the first time, what happened afterward? Did the sky fall down? Were their families ruined? Did it prevent them from practicing their faith? Did it infringe on their American freedoms? Did it turn them gay too? Or did they get up the next day and go about their business like any other day? It’s been almost ONE YEAR since gays were allowed to marry in that state and it seems the only thing that was hurt was certain people’s religious pride.

Look there is difference between practical social needs of the public and a person's religious biases. Even Jesus knew that. Things like food, shelter, clothing, health; personal well being and all the associating aspects of these are not anyone's right to deny a person. How could someone in good conscience DO that?

However certain Christians WANT to be able to discriminate and since biblical justification is not enough to do it legally, they need to demonize gay people and use scare tactics.

Answer 2

here's their dilemna: in the coming years, a homosexuality gene will be identified and then they'll be forced to argue that God bestows behavior on us (genetically) that he then punishes as an eternal sin.

That's why we hear the constant mantra from these whackjobs that "it's a lifestyle choice," because if it ISN'T a lifestyle choice, it's God's choice. Simply put, nature vs. nuture.

These people are so ignorant as to believe that someone such as Ted Haggard - whose very livlihood depended on being straight - somehow "chose" to be gay!

What a joke!

Answer 3

Would you rather they not think of it at all?
At least by seeing that they are rationalizing, you notice that they have taken your issue into consideration.

edit: Ah, perhaps you seek permission, or validation? Am I only somewhat enlightened?

Oh, and I thought of another thing: there is a part of religion...any religion, ....where the adherents are required to "put to death" self. Maybe that's what they did, and it irks them to see it not done in someone else?

Answer 4

Because "My religion says it's wrong" doesn't fly in court. If religious people want to be able to legislate religious edicts into actual secular law, they have to make them at least SOUND a little bit like a legitimate objection. That shallow resemblance is good enough for most people.

Answer 5

They're just ignorant. I’m religious but I don’t think its wrong. That would be defeating the purpose of preaching God's word. He loves, so it would be absurd to teach people that He hates. People take things from the bible and run with them like there’s no tomorrow. Yeah its not natural but did those people ever stop to think that God could be trying to teach them not to judge? That we are all different and to embrace that? They’re just stuck in their own ways and too ignorant to take a look at themselves. lol. Homophobic society and homophobic religious leaders push homosexuals away from God because of all the bull s.h.i.t. They say....its really sad because God loves them just like He loves you and I. People like that, including people in my own family, make me sick!

Answer 6

I can understand your question. Admittedly, many folks do just that. However, I do not resort to such statements as "it is unnatural" or "it does not produce children." And yes, scripture is enough - more than enough. When I am asked why there is objection to sexual intimacy between persons of the same gender, I cite to God's word the Bible. And that citing is not restricted to one or two scriptures. Moreover, the explanations are accompanied by reason and logic rather than emotion and personal opinions.

I do not believe it is wrong because my religion says so. I believe it is wrong because God's word the Bible says so - more than once and in more than one place.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 7

These bigots have lost ground on every reason they cane think of to justify their prejudice against homosexuals, and the only thing they have left is to use and abuse the Holy Bible to justify it. The most amusing point to their ranting and raving is that they call themselves Christians (follower of Christ) when there is no record anywhere that He ever said anything against homosexuals.............I find that strange.

Answer 8

Toronto city council recently installed a stop sign at a busy corner in my neighborhood. Their reason? -- local residents demanded it.

It hasn't improved traffic flow or made anybody any safer, and in fact there were studies that suggested it would achieve neither of those results. Nevertheless, when asked why they did it, they invariably give those reasons rather than the actual reason ("half a dozen know-nothings wanted it").

Nobody is fooled. They're simply giving the reason that will cause the least grief for them; and nobody really expects them to behave in any other fashion.

Answer 9

Well, they don't realize in a way it is natural, there are Homosexual animals, other than human.. but they will not acknowledge this, just judge others

Answer 10

One of my good friends is Gay, actually I know alot of Gay people. I love them.
I'm a christian. And simple answer to your question..

Because they're religious..
Confused?
Okay..
It gets preached alot at my church, God hates religion.. basically because religious people go against his word, they judge and control and become very legalistic and see the world as black and white.
I.. I'm an open minded christian, I believe in God, but if someone wants to be Gay then be Gay..
Others can't help if they're Gay..
The idea of a female with a female or a male with a male disturbs me (even before becoming a christian) simply because..
Males and females were made differently to be together.
Sex is a thing between a male and a female..
My gay friends don't wanna hear about my christianity as much as I don't wanna hear about their penises being up someone's bum. So we just keep those area's of our lives to ourselves.