I saw a discussion today about being born gay. Of course some Christians immediately posted that in Corinthians Paul points out that a person can be recovered from homosexuality by believing in Christ.

It made me wonder about life outside of scripture. How many place other than the Bible is homosexuality considered a sin? It made me wonder why person would take one or two passages frim the Bible and ignore the mountains of information on homosexualty that exists outside the Bible.

What makes homosexualiy such a hot topic?

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hot topic...like everyone talking about it...interest in general

hot topic as in like a gay person can be fixed with the right direction.....

i am guessing the latter from the next sentence being about a gay person believing in christ...to be cured

my guess we talk things to death when we dont understand them..when they make us uncomfortable...when it does not fit in our comfort zone...

Because unless you are gay it is not something you are familiar with and you really can't understand it....I personally believe some people are born that way..others may be conditioned..either way it doesn't matter...I did not choose to be gay...I fought it most of my life until finally I thought to myself...this is stupid...I am a good person...if someone cannot accept me for who I truly am that's their problem....I believe there are no mistakes..every thing and everyone is created the way they are intentionally...the passages in the Bible were placed there IMO by people who didn't understand it and felt threatened by it...rulers and religious leaders who wanted to have a hold on people and make them behave a certain way...(as were other parts of the Bible) IMO.....Some people want to believe this stuff because it's easier than trying to understand it....Just like the way someone of different color use to be and sometimes is treated as inferior....what are they suppose to do bleach their skin.....gays shouldn't have to change (even if it were possible..which I don't believe is possible)anymore than someone who is different in some other way ...we are who we are....

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RevKathyV

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www.divinelightinterfaithministry.com

I think today most people recognize there's a combination of genetic and social factors that contribute to a person being homosexual ... some maybe more genetic and some social.. It could vary with the individual.

But as to the question of homosexuality being considered a sin it is probably taboo in most Western religions, i.e., Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Homosexual behavior is forbidden in the Baha'i Faith.


About homosexuality being a "hot topic" ... I think it has become more of a focus because of changing sexual mores in the US and Europe.. Recognizing same sex marriages is now legally a fact de accompli in the civil code and this is a recent developement in much of the US. In time it may not be so "hot" as other issues arise...

- Art

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"it benefits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."
- Johannes Kepler

It amazes me that Jesus came and forgave everyone and yet those who claim to follow him condemn a brother/sister for being Gay and a multitude of other so called "sins"
He didnt teach out of a book but brought a new law

The Law of Love

Jesus said "I have taken your sins away" - Gone, done deal, finish, The end
Do we believe him ?
Do we have the faith to take his word for that ?

He said to " Love all as yourself "
"This is the age for forgivness" was the simple message
When you do this you will find that both you and all brothers are innocent - That is the expereince of God - To know SELF

Did Jesus say Love all except Gays ?


God Loves us ALL equally with no exceptions

So

Why do some condemn others ?

Quite simply because they believe in a God that would do that to them

And that is Hell - yet only in the mind of the thinker

Tony, are you saying to be gay is a sin...but we should not judge those that are gay(sinning)????

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IMO, fear makes homosexuality a hot topic. We fear what we do not understand. A straight person may not be able to understand why a gay person would be attracted to a person of the same sex. Some straight people fear "being converted" to being gay; I don't think that can really happen, either you are gay or not. No matter for the reason behind the fear, that is all it really comes down to being; fear.

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I seriously doubt that magical methods can change a person's sexual orientation. It is born in my opinion. As a definite heterosexual married man, I cannot conceive of the acts performed by homosexuals. I cannot see them choosing that as a "live style" any more than Africans choose to be black. Homosexuals may choose to abstain from homosexual acts out of religious taboos but that does not change his or her brain wiring.


I think it is considered wrong by most religions including Judeo-Islamo-Christianity. It likely was a barrier to increasing family size or tribal size as a practical matter. It was considered unnatural, and since all laws were the decrees of one God or another, it would be sinful as is eating pork to Jews and Muslims. It takes place in Bonobos regularly as a social bonding behaviour. There is clearly nothing evil or sinful about it. The greatest danger is some disease risks and the ever present risk of lethal attack by homophobic men (perhaps fearing their own hidden homosexual urges.)


I have a problem with anybody taking Biblical passages as though they were factual when clearly Genesis is entirely mythological as is the resurrection of Jesus. The major value of the Bible is as a history of the Jewish people from the legendary Adam and Eve to Moses and Joseph on this forum.

Homosexuality is complex in the way it induces such hatred from so many people. I understand what it is like to experience the hatred of a majority of Americans toward Atheists. I mention this because I see a parallel in those who hate us and hate gay people. I think that many religious people believe that homosexuality is sinful. Evangelical Christians believe that non-belief is sinful. That is one fact.

Many Christians especially in America who are particular intense in their hatred do so because they are dealing with internal or repressed feelings. I believe that the anti-homosexual (homophobe) has homosexual urges but fears them as either sinful or unnatural and contrary to God's laws. There is also the feeling that being homosexual means that a man is less of a "he-man", "Macho," or "tough bloke." The word "sissy" used in my country meant several things; gay, cowardly, or simply effeminate in behaviour. We all know the reality is that I never suspected that actor Rock Hudson was gay. He was never effeminate or would most chaps have picked a fight with him.

So the homosexual is the actual physical reality of the kind of person the homophobe fears he may become if he ever ceases his suppression of his evil inner urges for same sex persons. So he hates the man who makes him feel uncomfortable.

The Anti-Atheist is similar in the sense that most religious people likely have some doubt about the very irrational and self-contradicting theme of Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. Some admit to fighting doubts. I have heard evangelists admit that Satan is constantly tempting them (inner doubts.) They are fighting ideas that are clearly rational but sinful. So the living Atheist who is articulate and intelligent is very threatening to the Christian Fundamentalist. The Fundamentalist does not really believe he is actively persecuted. He feels that Satan is persecuting him by presenting articulate atheists to stoke his inner doubts. The Evangelical then hates an Atheist who talks about why he does not believe in Gods or presents analytical rational analysis and sceptical criticism of religious belief. The Evangelical does not fear a 5% minority of mostly unarmed, intellectuals, scientists, and college professors who are often rather pacifist. They cannot inspire fear in the Fundamentalist. The Atheist's very existence and rational dialog is the threat to light the fuse of the time bomb of doubt and apostasy that may erupt and destroy the Fundamentalist's belief system along with the cherished belief in immortality. This delusion of immortality may even be seen by the conservative Christian as life threatening (afterlife threatening.)

60 years ago, many American men feared and hated African Americans. They suspected Blacks could achieve economic success, even take their jobs, and marry their daughters. This led to vicious hatred in the form of lynching, Jim Crowe laws, and levels of continuing discrimination outside the protection of the Civil Rights Act. I am strongly convinced that Barack Obama is running a nearly ties competition in the polls with dodgy and confused John McCain. The Republicans are a totally discredited party. McCain offers no plan. He only attacks Obama in terms that have racist overtones. Conscious and subconscious fear of Black Men is the only reason that Obama is not leading McCain at least 75% to McCain's 25%. The reality is that McCain is running a virtual tie in the polls despite his horrible dementia and the party of criminals. But racism is still alive (conscious and subconscious) enough to make many Democrats even decide to vote Republican at the risk of destroying America. Joe Six-pack has a 14 year old blonde daughter. He worries that a positive image of Obama might lead her to date black males. Despite his being laid off from his job in Exxon-Mobile whose profits were in hundred billions of dollars and petrol prices are highest in US history. But Joe looks at his daughter on the way to cast his always democrat vote and pushes the button for McCain.

But there are many Christians are secure in compartmentalising their religious belief and secure in their sexuality, so they see no real threat from Gays or Atheists.

Amergin

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Militant Agnostic: I don't know, and neither do you. There is no evidence of God so belief is optional.

Very good post, Amergin!

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RevKathyV

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www.divinelightinterfaithministry.com

Because in some circles it's taaaaaaaaa-boo.

Homosexuality is a choice first and foremost. I can believe someone is born gay but I would require one to consider that the choice to become gay may have been planned in the spiritual realm before incarnating into a physical existence.

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