Why do you think homosexuality is such a large issue among MOST Christians?

Question

I am Christian myself but I don't find it all that hard to believe that homosexuality is gene based since we see the same effects in animals. Gluttony and lust are both sinful and natural, most natural human instincts = sin. I know the general Christian Conservative groups frown upon it even though it is not mentioned nearly as much as adultery in the Bible, which is part of the Ten Commandments, yet it seems to be a bigger issue than adultery, which I absolutely despise:

adultery breaks up marriages; it robs children of financial resources; it is one of the most deadly behaviors a child can experience; it causes stress, emotional upheavals, resentment, bitterness and destruction; it scars children and complicates their futures, and adultery is DISHONEST, DECEPTIVE and DECIETFUL behavior

Even is someone doesn't believe in the Bible, it can still be viewed as unacceptable because it is unnatural. If the development of human ethics is a result of Natural Selection then homosexuality might be ethically unacceptable in this way; the specific gene mutation that is causing homosexuality would conflict with the natural forces to reproduce and pass on those genes. If it is by choice and has nothing to do with genes then it is still in opposition with the natural forces of Nature. My personal opinion on the matter is that if these individuals choose by their own free will to have same sex partners, then it shouldn't be up to society to allow them or disallow them. And their free will, whether granted by nature, chance or God; is to choose that. If it is genetics then their genes are LESS likely to be passed on and nature will do its thing.

So my next question to you is; should it be up to society to put restrictions on this who wish to have same sex partners?

I am sorry if the question is offensive, but it is sincere. If I do not have all my facts straight, please feel free to correct me.

Answer 1

You have very well balanced views. More than being taken word for word literal, the Bible is there to induce thought and help you actually communicate with God for the true meaning. Seems you are in toch with Him.

I could see that homosexuality would be a sin if by actual preferential choice. But scientifically and medically it is demonstrated that is rarely the case. Remember too that at the time of Jesus, the lame and ill were excluded from the temple. They were considered impure. Jesus sought to end that practice. There was a time too that medicine and surgery were considered sins as those interferred with God's plans. Remember the writings of the Bible are over 1900 years old. But the Bile is not a dead book. It continues in our minds. And the Bible has to be combined with more recent knowlege, scientific, medical, technological or otherwise. Taken too literally, the Bible would compel real Christians to live like Jesus. No not the values Jesus taught but the life itself. In tents or masonary buildings devoid of water, electricity, or plumbing. Riding donkeys and horses. Wearing bedouin clothing, without eyeglasses, power scooters, dentures, hearing aids, canned or frozen foods, hospitals, doctors, dentists. Get the picture? We change with the times. Overall the main principles of the Bible apply as much as ever. But we must change as technology and knowledge increase. And this is the sort of thing that allowed me to cease being an athiest and become a Christian (currently attend Episcopal but probably more inclined as Presbyterian or Methodist) I encourage more Christians to voice an affiliation. Let others know what your believs are. Christianity is very diverse. One denomination should not be confused as the belief and views of all.

Answer 2

Homosexuality is such an issue because it is publicly visible. People are uncomfortable when they see two men or two women lovers in public.
Much like gluttony. A thin person who eats a very large meal is said to have a healthy appetite, but a fat person is called a glutton even while eating small portions.
If what we see makes us uncomfortable we think it must be wrong and because the Bible says what it does about homosexuality, people think they are valid in their treatment of the people of homosexuality.

However, this is NOT how God views homosexuality. The act is sin. The person is a sinner, but EVERY person is a sinner!
Jesus Christ's accomplishment on the cross is for the homosexual as well as the man or woman who lusts after the opposite sex in their heart.

Answer 3

The reason that homosexuality is such a big issue among most Christians is because it is one of the few prejudices that still receives broad societal support. The Christian opposition to homosexuality is particular, of course, but is a reflection of the general tolerance for homophobia among society, as a whole.

If societal pressure were to mount to drop homophobia as an acceptable prejudice, the church at large would, eventually, drop it, just as it has by and large ended its opposition to racial equality.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

I agree with you mostly. What I tell christians is that homosexuals living in America know what the bible says about it. Christians have been sure to drill that in. I want to know is, where is the love? I want people to know that I love homosexuals. Homosexuality as well as the other big "christian sin", abortion, were both around in Jesus' time, and he said nothing about either. Not that I personally agree with either, but I choose love and grace. That doesn't mean I ignore it, rather I know the transforming power of God's grace, and the insane damage that is done by judging and condemning. Although, I don't think homosexuality is natural or healthy. I just know that my God is a God of love, a God of grace, and a God of passion.

Answer 6

First, because the Bible condemns it.
How is a baby made naturally?It cannot be done with 2 men or 2 women.
A man's body was not made to receive another man neither was a woman's body made for another woman.
Now, what IF it is NOT a gene based thing, but MENTAL?
Did you know the American Psychological Association used to confirm it as a mental illness/UNTIL the 7 of the 10 board members were replaced by homosexuals?
They said because a percentage of every population has them it is normal.Well a certain percentage of them were molested as children meaning that there are a certain percentage of child molesters in every nation.Does that mean child molesters should also be looked at the same way as homosexuals?
I mean if there just being a percentage of a certain group with deviant behavior makes it "normal" then pedophilia, rape murder etc should be accepted as normal too.It isnt though,not yet anyway.
I have known several homosexuals, many start as bi sexual, many were molested.I think it is psychological not a gene.
One last thing to consider, JESUS healed the blind and lame right?
They were NOT condemned for being born that way right?
Now if the Bible condemns homosexuality and they were born that way, if they asked to be delivered from those desires how much MORE would JESUS heal them of that abnormality seeing it IS condemned unlike being born blind or lame.After JESUS healed one blind man, HE told him to go and sin no more lest a worse thing come upon him.

Answer 7

I think you make some interesting points. I think it is a big deal with a lot of Christians because it's a safe sin to demonize. They aren't tempted by it. They find it disgusting. It is easier to focus on then the sins they actually commit everyday.

I think the bible forbids homosexuality. We can argue our points, share our opinions, but it would be disingenuous to change the source material.

That said, I do not think any civil rights should be denied to homosexuals--ever, or at all. People need to be treated like people. They need to be given the same respect that anyone else gets. It is wrong to single them, or anyone else out for censure or persecution.

I find this attitude deplorable, and I don't really believe most people when they say "love the sinner, hate the sin". I do think in some real way they direct hatred toward homosexuals because it's easy to do.

Oh and I don't think sexual preference is a choice for anyone. You are attracted to whom you are attracted to.

My thoughts.

Answer 8

I personally do not care what your sexual preference is. To simply say all people who do not condone homosexuality are homophobes. Is just as ignorant as people believing they can tell you are going to hell for a same sexual relationship. Both sides need to chill out, Christians need to stop judging. Leave that up to ones higher power. People in the same-sex community need to stop believing that ever person that does not believe in their life style is a closet homosexual. Both sides need a reality check. Love is rare enough, who cares if someone finds that love in a same sex relationship or a relationship with the opposite sex.
All that being said, a true homosexual society would never survive natural selection. No way to reproduce! Which is why I believe the Old Testament takes such a hard lined stance against same sex relationships or marriage. You know man shall not lay down with man as he does with women. The Jewish race was struggling for its own survival. To allow people to enter into relationships where they could not bear fruit and multiply was a direct sin to ones own races survival. Not to mention Romans practiced homosexuality and most Jews hated the Romans, for their occupation of Jewish lands. Funny, I do not see a line in the bible that says women should not lie down with women as she does with man. I do generally believe the bible is anti-same sex relationships do to the procreation problem, adultry, sex without marrage, unnatural to the creation of life and so on. As I have said before society has no right telling us who can marry in a civil ceromony, or whether on can have a partner of the same sex or not. We should not judge this either. That is for God alone, and no one relly knows what his or her judgement would be. Legally we should all be on an equal footing. Peace!!! Love!!! Health!!! Harmony!!! If you find true love, who cares what others think!!!

Answer 9

As a species we take a very strange view when it comes to sexuality. Even with hetrosexual partnerships our relationship with sex is an uneasy one - we taught contradictory messages about sex; we are taught that is obscene and dangerous, but natural and enjoyable; Violence is more acceptable on television than nudity and sex; our most powerful curse word, the F-word is linked with sex; parents generally find it difficult to talk about the subject to their children and visa versa; if you show your penis in public you will be arrested and charged with obscenity.... this arbitary body part!

So baring in mind our extreme sensitivity to sexuality, it is easy to see why homosexuality in particular evokes disgust among a large segment of the population. People cringe at the thought of two men having sex. Christians however are far more vocal about their beliefs because they hide behind the bible - the word of God. Somewhere in the bible it says that homosexuality is an abomination. Atheists on the other hand cannot make this argument and most tend to remain quiet on this subject although they maybe more expressive about their views in the privacy of their own home.

Personally I am very liberal and do not care about other people's sexual behaviour. I do not think that gay people have a choice though anymore than I chose to be hetrosexual. Our sexual preference is part of our genetic code.

Answer 10

Being homosexual is a genetic thing, but it's not like parkinson's disease in that you can't get it from a parent, and it doesn't have any generational link.

So saying that homosexuality will diminish by itself due to same-sex partners not producing offspring is incorrect.

If you had the choice, would you choose to be socially ostracised? Would you choose to be the victim of intrusive government laws? If human men are, as you say, always attracted to women and choose instead to be attracted to men, then finally, let me ask you: would you choose to sleep with a man?

Probably not. It's not a choice. That being said, it's not up to society to determine what happens to a particular group of people. I will vote time and time again to give people the freedom to do what they will, as long as it's not prohibiting others' freedom to do the same.