Eight
items
appear below:
1 Is
Homosexuality Evil?
Straughen
2 Homosexuality and the Bible
Anon
3 Homosexuality and the Bible—Reply Straughen
4 Homosexuality
and the Bible
Anon
5 Homosexuality
and the Bible
Straughen
6 Homosexuality
Anon
7 Regarding Homosexuality
Straughen
8 Immorality is a Killer
Anon
IS HOMOSEXUALITY EVIL?
Kirk Straughen
(Investigator 141, 2011
November)
Introduction
There is
little doubt
that some sections of the Christian community consider homosexuality to
be a grievous sin, a fact exemplified by the Pope's condemnation of
this variation of human behavior:
Pope
John
Paul II
yesterday labelled gays "unnatural and evil" in his strongest outburst
yet against homosexuality.
The
Pontiff made his
uncompromising remarks after tens of thousands marched in a gay pride
festival through Rome.
But
his remarks were
greeted with fury by gays in Ireland, who dubbed him "sick". Speaking
from his balcony to the faithful in St Peter's Square, the Pope said:
"The Church cannot silence the truth, because this would not help
discern what is good from what is evil.
www.thefreelibrary.com/POPE%3A+GAYS+ARE+EVIL%3B+Fury+at+Pontiff's+attack+on+homosexuals-a063251770
Why does
the Pope believe
homosexuality is evil, and is this a justifiable conclusion based on
sound empirical evidence? Have homosexuals caused AIDS (a common
misconception), are they a threat to society so grave they must be
suppressed? The purpose of this article is to examine such questions
and more.
Scripture
and Prejudice
The
Bible makes it quite
clear that same gender sexual relations are not to be tolerated.
Indeed, the Old Testament goes so far as to demand the death penalty
for such behavior:
"If a
man
lies with a
male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they
shall be put to death, their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus
20:13)
"Do
not be deceived;
neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,
nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers
will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Why
should consensual sex
between same gender couples incur the death penalty? Why should
homosexuals be compared to thieves and robbers? The Pope (and other
Christians of a similar view) believes homosexuality is wrong simply
because the Bible tells him so.
This is
the only
conclusion that be reached. No sound reason is given in the Bible.
Homosexuality is considered an abomination by the person who wrote
these passages of scripture, and other individuals have uncritically
accepted these statements as irrefutable facts.
Homosexuality
is not the
only thing that some authors of scripture considered to be an
abomination. Consider the following example: "A woman shall not wear
anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's
garment; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord
your God." (Deuteronomy 22:5)
Many
women today wear
jeans, which were at one time exclusively male clothing. According to
the Bible they are an abomination (the same word that is used to
describe homosexuality) in the eyes of God. And yet we don't hear the
Pope describing women who wear jeans as abhorrent in the eyes of God
and opposed to His moral requirements (the basic theological definition
of abomination), which is what the Bible would have us believe they
are. Clearly, the concept of abomination is not based on any rational
grounds.
Is
homosexuality
unnatural and evil? All things that occur in the natural world are
invariably natural. In my opinion the only thing that can be considered
unnatural is something that is completely contrary to nature, which of
course is the supernatural. Homosexuality is certainly not
supernatural. Therefore, it can be considered a natural variation of
human sexuality.
Is
homosexuality evil? If
something is to be considered evil then there must be sound empirical
evidence for the harm that it causes. Does such evidence exist for
homosexuality? One of the accusations I have heard is that
homosexuality caused HIV/AIDS. I shall now examine this claim.
Did
Homosexuality Cause
HIV/AIDS?
Researchers
studying the
origins of HIV have concluded that the virus developed in Africa from
the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) which was transmitted to humans
in the following way:
"The
most
commonly
accepted theory is that of the 'hunter'. In this scenario, SIVcpz was
transferred to humans as a result of chimps being killed and eaten or
their blood getting into cuts or wounds on the hunter. Normally the
hunter's body would have fought off SIV, but on a few occasions it
adapted itself within its new human host and become HIV-1. The fact
that there were several different early strains of HIV, each with a
slightly different genetic make-up (the most common of which was HIV-1
group M), would support this theory: every time it passed from a
chimpanzee to a man, it would have developed in a slightly different
way within his body, and thus produced a slightly different strain.
An
article published in The
Lancet in 2004, also shows how retroviral transfer from
primates to
hunters is still occurring even today. In a sample of 1099 individuals
in Cameroon, they discovered ten (1%) were infected with SFV (Simian
Foamy Virus), an illness which, like SIV, was previously thought only
to infect primates. All these infections were believed to have been
acquired through the butchering and consumption of monkey and ape meat.
Discoveries such as this have led to calls for an outright ban on
bushmeat hunting to prevent simian viruses being passed to humans."
www.avert.org/origin-aids-hiv.htm
Sexually
transmitted
diseases (STDs) are not caused by a person's sexuality. Viruses mutate
naturally, and unfortunately some of these mutations will prove to be
pathogenic to humans. STDs are, however, spread by engaging in
unprotected/unsafe sex. In Africa, for example, HIV/AIDS is spread
predominantly by heterosexual men.
For more
information on
the causes of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa, please refer to the
following URL:
www.avert.org/aids-africa-questions.htm
For
information on STD
preventative measures, please refer to:
www.ehow.com/how_16296_have-safe-sex.html
Mindless
Hatred and its
Consequences
Irrational
hatred and
discrimination can have serious consequences for society, as is
exemplified by Uganda's proposed anti-homosexual bill, which advocates
the following penalties: "The bill creates a new
category of crime called "Aggravated Homosexuality," which calls for
death by hanging for gays or lesbians who have sex with anyone under 18
and for so-called "serial offenders."
The bill
also calls for
seven years in prison for "attempt to commit homosexuality," five years
for landlords who knowingly house gays, three years for anyone,
including parents, who fail to hand gay children over to the police
within 24 hours and the extradition of gay Ugandans living abroad.
The
bill's sponsor, David
Bahati, now insists the death penalty only applies to homosexual
paedophiles."
abcnews.go.com/Nightline/anti-homosexuality-bill-uganda-global
-uproar/story?id=10045436&page=1
Unfortunately,
the origin
of this dangerous legislation may have been inspired by visiting
American anti-gay fundamentalists who promote hatred and fear of
homosexuals:
"The
bill has
an American
genesis of sorts, inspired to a large extent by the visits of U.S.
evangelicals who are involved with a movement that promotes
Christianity's role in getting homosexuals to become "ex-gays" through
prayer and faith. Ugandan supporters of the bill appear to be
particularly impressed by the ideas of Scott Lively, a California
conservative preacher who has written a book, The Pink Swastika, about
what he calls the links between Nazism and a gay agenda for world
domination, which, by itself, would have raised the anti-colonial
sensitivities of Ugandan society. Says the Rev. Kapya Kaoma, an
Episcopalian priest from Zambia who authored a recent report on
anti-gay politics in Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya: "The U.S. culture wars
have been exported to Africa."
www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1946645,00.html
The
articles I have read
indicate that some African preachers are whipping up their
congregations into a state of frenzied fear and loathing for
homosexuals. Under such circumstances there is a real danger of a witch
hunt mentality developing that could very well lead to the commission
of atrocities.
Hopefully,
continued
outrage and pressure from the international community and human rights
groups will prevent this dangerous legislation, which clearly legalizes
and encourages persecution, from being enacted.
Conclusion
There is
no sound reason
why homosexuality should be considered evil or harmful to society.
Homosexuals didn't cause HIV/AIDS, which is spread predominately by
unsafe sex between heterosexuals. Furthermore, our jails are full of
heterosexuals who have committed rape and murder, so we can't claim
that heterosexuals are somehow better than homosexuals and less prone
to criminal acts.
Although
I'm not opposed
to homosexuality I certainly don't advocate free love or indiscriminate
sex with multiple partners. Such hazardous behavior clearly places many
people at risk. Sex at its best is not a selfish indulgence; rather it
should be an expression of love for another human being. These
conclusions are rational — they are based on evidence, rather than the
authority of religion. For further information on avoiding sexual
exploitation see the following URL:
www.healthyplace.com/sex/good-sex/the-difference-between-healthy-and-unhealthy-sex/menu-id-66/
HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE
BIBLE
Anonymous
(Investigator 142, 2012
January)
HISTORY
The
Kinsey Report (1948)
estimated that 4% of U.S. males were exclusively homosexual. By 1969
homosexuals had formed 150 organizations in the USA to fight legal
restrictions. When police raided a gay bar called Stonewall Inn,
homosexuals rioted and chanted "Gay is good". From this event the Gay
Liberation movement began:
Gay
Liberation is a
revolutionary homosexual group of women and men formed with the
realisation that complete sexual liberation for all people cannot come
about unless existing social institutions are abolished. (Founding
Statement)
Gay
Liberation assumed
the central importance of the sex drive with homosexuality a normal
variant and that attempts to constrain sexuality sparks frustration and
violence.
However,
60% of 2,500
American psychiatrists who answered a questionnaire believed:
"homosexuality is usually a pathological adaptation, as opposed to
a normal variation". (Time, February 20, 1978)
South
Australia passed
same sex superannuation legislation in 2004. Under this legislation the
gay lover of Don Dunstan (1970s SA premier) sought a spouse pension of
$107,000 per year. (Sunday Herald Sun, August 17, 2006, p. 9)
Spain
condoned "same-sex
unions" in 2004, India decriminalized gay sex between consenting adults
in 2009, Iceland's female Prime Minister married her female partner and
Argentina approved same-sex marriage in 2010, and Brazil
recognized legal rights of same-sex partners in "stable civil unions"
in 2011.
"Gay
marriage", i.e. the
redefinition of marriage, has so far failed in Australia. A letter by
Lindsay Dent congratulated the Federal Government for preserving "the
true meaning of marriage — the lifelong exclusive union between a man
and a woman…" The letter added: "Right now two people are perfectly
free to share a house, inherit from each other's wills, give each other
legal powers of medical and financial attorney and sign legal deeds
about shared property…whether or not a sexual relationship is
involved." (Sunday Mail, June 25, 2006, p. 83)
Some
"Christian" clerics
sanctioned homosexual sex:
Last
month at
a one-day
conference in New York, ninety clergymen from the Episcopal dioceses of
New York, Connecticut, Long Island, and Newark generally agreed that
homosexual acts between consenting adults should be judged as "morally
neutral". (Christianity Today, January 19, 1968, p. 24)
Peter
Jensen, Archbishop
of Sydney, however, declared, "The basic question is one of the
authority of God's revelation in the Bible... Anglican leaders around
the world...must determine whether they and their churches will be
faithful to God's revelation in the face of secularist pressure to
conform." (Murray 2003)
THE
BIBLE
The
table below lists
behaviors condemned in four Bible passages.
| I
Corinthians 6:9-10 |
I
Corinthians 5:11 |
Galatians 5:20-21 |
Leviticus 20:1-17 |
| fornication |
Sexual
immorality |
fornication |
|
| idolatry |
idolatry |
idolatry |
idolatry
|
| adultery |
|
|
adultery
|
| homosexuality
|
|
|
homosexual
sex |
| greed
|
greed
|
|
|
| drunkenness
|
drunkenness
|
drunkenness
|
|
| reviling |
reviling |
enmity,
strife |
cursing
one's parents |
| robbery |
robbery |
|
|
|
|
sorcery |
spiritism |
|
|
divisions,
sects |
|
|
|
jealousy,
envy |
|
|
|
|
bestiality |
|
|
|
incest |
Observe that
homosexuality is listed with antisocial behaviors that arise by choice
or imitation and can be subdued. I Corinthians 6:9-11 states this
directly: "Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes,
sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers — none of
these will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you
used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified…" (NRSV)
Where
the NRSV here has
"male prostitutes, sodomites" other translations have "homosexuals".
The Greek is "arsenokoites" which Robert Arthur in Homosexuality
In The Light Of Biblical Language and Culture
(1977)
claims meant "temple prostitute".
The New
Bible
Dictionary
(1982) argues against "arsenokoites" meaning male prostitute:
"Linguistic evidence to support this view is lacking… Paul intended to
condemn homosexual conduct (but not homosexual people) in the most
general and theologically broad terms he knew." (p. 488)
I
checked 12 Bible
translations — one has "abusers of themselves with men", the others
either "homosexuals" or "sodomites". (Likewise in 1 Timothy 1:10 where
"arsenokoites" also occurs.)
CURABLE?
Hatterer
(1970), a
psychiatrist, regarded homosexuals as "psychiatrically ill" and
successfully treated hundreds. World Christian magazine gave
the
story of "Susan" a lesbian of many "one night stands" and several
longer relationships who stopped this lifestyle. (1987 March/April
p. 19)
Wilson
(2006), however,
reported:
Martina
Navratilova…tennis legend turned lesbian activist…protested against
experiments at two US universities aimed at manipulating the hormones
of sheep to make homosexual rams develop an interest in ewes.
Navratilova
and the
lobby
group Ethical Treatment of Animals say the US government-funded
experiments are cruel and have potentially dangerous implications for
gay people if the idea takes hold that homosexuality can be cured…
Wilson
went on to
describe a Norwegian museum exhibition which documented homosexual
behaviour in 500 species proving that "same-sex activity is not against
nature."
New
Scientist
reports
that brain scans: "gave us probably the best evidence yet that our
brains are hardwired before birth to be gay or straight, suggesting
that nature not nurture governs sexual orientation." (December 27/28,
2008, p. 33) LeVay (2010), himself a homosexual, argues: "sexual
orientation emerges from the prenatal sexual differentiation of the
brain".
Episcopal
cleric N.C.
Spong claims: "St Paul did not realize that the inclination is inborn."
(Living in Sin, l988)
Spong is wrong because Paul does "realize that
the inclination is inborn", for Paul writes that sin is "in the flesh".
(Romans 8:3-8; 5:12) The tendency toward all sin — whether, adultery,
racism, alcoholism, thievery, etc — is inborn. Discussing the
neuroscience of the "Seven Deadly Sins" Ridgway & Parsons (2010)
say: "And the evidence is clear: nature wants us to be bad."
The
notion that
practicing homosexuals are helpless to stop is refuted whenever some
cease practicing. One minister, for example, writes that he renounced
his secret homosexuality and "received Christ's transformation to
heterosexuality". (ACCatalyst, December 2010) Evangelist Luis Palau in Healthy
Habits for Spiritual Growth (1995) tells of "Kenneth" who "rebelled
against God" and "flaunted his lifestyle" but got AIDS and "repented".
Some
Christian ministries
focus on homosexuals. Exodus South Pacific, for example, is: "a
coalition of Christian ministries in the South Pacific region whose
prime goal is to offer a way back for those who have gone down the part
of homosexuality…"
The Sunday
Herald Sun
(September 2009, p. 11) reported a protest outside a Baptist church
during a meeting "aimed at guiding young people away from
homosexuality." The congregation included 25 "sexually confused"
persons and the meeting-organizer said she used to be a lesbian. The
protesters were angry that "young gay men and women were being told to
overcome their sexuality."
SODOM
and GOMORRAH
The
Advertiser
reported:
Democrats
state leader
Sandra Kanck has attacked those "consumed by hate and bigotry" for
selectively using the Bible to oppose homosexuality…
She
was speaking in the
Legislative Council…during debate on a Bill to give de facto same-sex
couples the same rights as de facto heterosexual couples…
She
said the Bible, in
particular Genesis Chapters 18 and 19, also talked about "gang rape" of
young virginal women and incest, which those opposing same-sex
relationships conveniently ignored…
But
Family First leader
Andrew Evans — a former preacher — labelled her approach to the Bible
as "foolish, unprofessional and ridiculous".
"Just
because the Bible
records events of history doesn't make them right," he said. (September
30, 2006, p. 21)
The
parliamentarians were
referring to Sodom and Gomorrah about which Genesis states: "How great
is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin!"
(18:20)
According
to Genesis,
most male inhabitants of these towns were homosexuals. In the story two
"angels" in human form visited Sodom. "Lot", a "righteous" man, invited
these strangers to stay in his house and "made them a feast" but a
crowd of homosexuals gathered and clamoured to rape the visitors.
(19:1-11)
Lot
tried to distract
them: "I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Look, I have two
daughters who have not known a man [i.e. virgins]; let me bring them
out to you, and do to them as you please; only do nothing to these men,
for they have come under the shelter of my roof." (19:7-8) Hospitality
to travellers and protecting them defined the "righteous man" in
ancient Palestine. Lot probably hoped to defuse the situation by
impressing on the homosexuals their wickedness — so evil that a father
would offer his own daughters to prevent their intentions. However, the
angels took charge and the daughters were spared. (19:9-11)
Ezekiel
16:49-50 states:
"This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she…did not aid the poor and
needy. They were haughty, and did abominable things…" "Abominable" or
"abhorrent" things is the Hebrew "toh-geh-vah" which occurs 116 times
and includes such activities as idolatry (Jeremiah 44:4, 22),
séances, divination, human sacrifice, homosexual sex, incest,
bestiality. (Leviticus 18:9-26)
SELF
CONTROL
The
Bible calls for
sexual self-restraint among singles, and only one marriage partner if
married. Jesus said:
"For
there
are eunuchs
who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made
eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves
eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this
who can." (Matthew 19:12)
Some
atheists
misrepresent Jesus as teaching "all men should castrate themselves."
The preceding verses (19:10-11), however, show Jesus is referring to
singleness. Jesus says "made themselves eunuchs" rather than "stayed
single" to emphasize that it's singleness without sex, just as eunuchs
don't have sex, and not singleness while consorting with prostitutes.
Sexual
abstinence by
homosexuals is no more difficult than self-denial by heterosexual
singles including spinsters, the divorced, and the disabled in
wheelchairs. It's also no more difficult than self control over other
temptations such as drunkenness, thieving, gambling, child-molesting,
slothfulness, gossiping, smoking, lying, etc. All could argue, "My
problem began before my birth." But the biblical reply to all is:
For
the grace
of God has
appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety,
and worldly passions, and…live lives that are self-controlled, upright,
and godly, while we wait for … our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
(Titus 2:11-13)
The
Bible condemns
"fornication" (which includes adultery, unmarried sex, prostitution and
rape). (Proverbs 7; Jeremiah. 5:7-8; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; Ephesians
5:3-5; Hebrews 12:16)
Successful obedience requires restraining one's
imagination:
But I
say to
you that
every one who looks at a woman with lust has already committed
adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)
Let no
one say when he
is
tempted, ‘I am tempted by God', for God … tempts no one; but each one
is
tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire
when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is fullgrown
brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)
Let us
live
honourably … not in debauchery … and make no provision for the flesh,
to
gratify its desires. (Romans 13:13-14)
Revelation
commends
"Everyone who conquers" (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21) i.e.
everyone who resists the world's temptations.
LEGAL
SANCTION?
Christians
do not execute
homosexuals as in Moses' law (Leviticus 20:13), because the law was for
ancient Israel (Psalm 147:19-20) and is replaced by a "better
covenant". (Hebrews 8:7-13)
Christians
obey secular
laws except when these conflict with God's requirements. (Romans 13;
Acts 5:29)
Some
want to stop
homosexual sex by legislation. This is understandable because it would
reduce temptation, just as laws against racism means fewer people
become racists. However, enforcing Christian ethics with legislation
succeeds only when almost everyone agrees e.g. punishing child abusers
or allocating pensions for the aged.
Society
cannot be forced
into full biblical obedience because genetics, including "original
sin", makes people "slaves of sin" (Romans 6:17) and it's therefore
impossible for them to obey without "repentance", "love of God" and
"faith":
For
the love
of God is
this, that we obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory
that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world
but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (I John 4:3-5)
Christians in the
Roman
Empire raised children and followed the Bible — despite idolatry,
homosexual sex, infanticide, rape of slaves, and untold slaughter in
amphitheatres being normal — and can also succeed today.
OBJECTIONS
ANSWERED
British
theologian
Christopher Rowland (The Guardian, October 4, 2003) argued that the New
Testament teaches tolerance. Peter, for example, accepted the
conversion of the Roman centurion Cornelius, thereby inviting Pagans,
not just Jews, to follow Christ, and Paul abrogated the rules that
prevented Jews and Pagans from eating together.
Rowland
concluded
from this:
What
both
Peter and Paul
were doing was rejecting precedent and tradition in the light of
experience. They read scripture in a way that was determined by the
experience of the love of Christ and the obvious marks of God's
presence in the lives of those who, according to the law, should be
outsiders. In so doing, they laid down an approach to reading the Bible
which should be central to Christianity…
The
appeal to precedent
and tradition may have to be jettisoned in favour of the recognition
that the same gift is at work in gay and lesbian Christians as in
heterosexual Christians…
Christian
inclusiveness,
however, accepts all people, but not all behaviours and customs. Upon
the conversion of Cornelius, Peter declared:
I
truly
understand that
God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and
does what is right is acceptable to him. (Acts 10:34-35)
Sunday
Mail
columnist
Peter Goers defended gay marriage with "not one of those who quoted the
Bible referred to the commandments that we should love our neighbours
as ourselves and treat others as we would like to be treated." (Sunday
Mail, November 7, 2004) However, Christians "treat others as we would
like to be treated" by being examples of good conduct, helpful to
people in need, and critics of harmful conduct.
The
Bishop of Oxford,
Richard Harries, nominated a homosexual as bishop of Bradford to
protest "the cruel homophobia within the church". (Murray 2003) Blaze
magazine (5 May, 2011) reported the "International Day Against
Homophobia" and on two pages used the words "homophobia" or
"homophobic" 18 times.
A phobia
is an irrational
fear severe enough to disrupt one's life. Guide to Psychiatry
(1974)
does not list disapproval of homosexuality as a phobia, instead
discusses possibilities for curing homosexuals!
"Homophobia"
is in most
instances a false label and its frequent use an attempt to convince by
repetition. It's like if pedophiles and rapists accused their critics
of "pedo-phobia" and "rapo-phobia".
Biblical
right and wrong
is not "mindless prejudice" but based on principles that promote
health, long life, peace and prosperity. (Proverbs 3:1-2; 12:28; 21:21)
Biblical ethics, therefore, are objective and their rightness
measurable.
Regarding
homosexuals:
their life expectancy is 20 years below heterosexuals and their AIDs
rate 20 times higher. In round figures, the sexual "freedom" of the
20th century produced 2000 million cases of sexually transmitted
disease, 200 million deaths, 2000 million abortions, and 1000 million
cases of child sexual abuse, besides creating violent emotions leading
to conflict and countless murders. The costs exceed the deaths,
injuries and waste of all 20th-century wars. If that's not evil, then
what is?
Atheists
cite seemingly
pointless commands like the prohibition of wearing clothing of the
other sex (Deuteronomy 22:5) and claim the Bible contains "prejudice".
Many commands in Moses' Law functioned to separate Israelites from
Canaanite customs and religion. The 22:5 command was possibly directed
against idol-worship and/or immorality that involved cross-dressing. A
Christian applying this command today would avoid practices that
precede or lead to sinful actions.
Another
argument is:
"Nowhere does the Bible condemn the life of love of a Christian who
happens to love a person of the same sex." "Love", however, has several
meanings. If by "love" is meant "sodomy" then the Bible does
condemn it. If "love" refers to "agape", the affection guided by
Christian ethics (I Corinthians 13), then yes — this love can be
personal, but wants for others what's best and therefore discourages
"gay sex".
Romans
1:26-29 states:
God
gave them up to
degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for
unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural
intercourse with women for one another. Men committed shameless acts
with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their
error… Though they know God's decree that those who do such things
deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those practise them.
Some
homosexuals claim:
"Romans refers to people who commit sexual acts that are unnatural to
themselves, such as heterosexuals trying to be homosexuals. It does not
condemn practising homosexuals who had the inclination from
childhood."
Such
reasoning, however,
would justify every evil — e.g. "Only murderers who commit murder when
it's unnatural to themselves should be condemned, not murderers so
inclined from childhood."
The
Bible exposes our
rationalizations and cautions us:
You
call evil
good and
good evil, put darkness for light and light for darkness, bitter for
sweet and sweet for bitter. (Isaiah 5:20)
The
heart is deceitful
above all things, and desperately corrupt. (Jeremiah 17:9)
This
is the way of an
adulteress: she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done no
wrong.' (Proverbs 30:20)
There
is a way that
seems
right to a person, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12;
21:2)
CONCLUSION:
Christians
are: "God's
own people called into his marvellous light to proclaim God." (I Peter
2:9)
Prior to
the 2010 Gay and
Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney, Haydn Sennitt and his wife:
…appeared
on
the ABC to
share my testimony of how I came out of the gay life in the strength of
Christ… I felt that someone had to stand up for the truth and be a
light on a hill in a very, very, dark spiritual place: the place of the
gay world. (Eternity, May 2010)
After
the World Wars
divorce became easier, adultery and defacto relationships multiplied,
and prostitution and brothels were legalized. With more varieties of
sex acceptable it became inconsistent to keep homosexual sex illegal.
It's a "slippery slope" however, because others "love" polygamy, or a
sibling, parent, dog, goat, dolphin, child or tree, and likewise want
"complete sexual liberation" and "equal rights".
Remember:
"Sodom and
Gomorrah … indulged in sexual immorally and pursued unnatural lust
[and]
serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire." (Jude
7)
REFERENCES:
Allman,
L.R. & Jaffe,
D.T. 1978 Abnormal Psychology in the Life Cycle
Hatterer,
L. J. 1970 Changing
Homosexuality in the Male
LeVay,
S. 2010 Gay,
Straight and the Reason Why
Murray,
J. The
Weekend Australian, June 14-15, 2003, p 18
Ridgway,
A. &
Parsons, P. The Science of the Seven Deadly Sins, Focus,
February 2010, pp 27-34
Sim, M.
1974 Guide to
Psychiatry, Third Edition
Williams,
D. 1978 Will
Homosexuality Split The Church?
Wilson,
P. The
Weekend Australian, November 18-19, 2006, p. 25.
Homosexuality and the
Bible — Reply to Anonymous
(Investigator 143, 2012
March)
I have read Anonymous' article and am unable to find
anything in it
that can be considered sound evidence that homosexuality is harmful to
individuals or society as a whole. Rather than supplying sound evidence
Anonymous has simply reiterated traditional Christian attitudes which
view homosexuality as wrong.
Before this discussion can go any further Anonymous needs to succinctly
outline the prime reasons and provide sound supporting evidence
(referring to mythical Sodom and Gomorrah cannot be considered sound
evidence) as to why homosexuality is wrong. Once the religious
posturing has been eliminated from his reply it might be clearer as to
the exact nature of his reasoning.
Kirk Straughen
Homosexuality and the
Bible
(Investigator 144, 2012
May)
Mr Straughen (#143) claims I failed in #142 give
"sound evidence that
homosexuality is harmful." However, I listed some of the harm of
homosexual conduct (as distinct from the mere temptation or tendency)
on page 37.
A behavior does not require a 100% death rate effective immediately to
be considered harmful. Smoking, drink-driving, speeding, identity
theft, child abuse and a host of other actions would, if there were no
legislation against them, still leave most people alive and society
functional (at least for a while). Yet we have legislation that
discourages such behavior with judicial penalties.
Christians are obligated (by instructions in the Bible) to be examples
of Godly conduct but not use force to make others conform. People are
"slaves of sin" (Romans 6:17) and find it difficult to change even if
forced. A helpful report is "Do Gays Have a Choice" in Scientific
American Mind, May/June 2009 (which claims that many have chosen to
stop).
Regarding Sodom and Gomorrah being "mythical": In #50 I estimated the
Old Testament names about 900 geographical locations of which over 300
have been identified and another 200 tentatively identified. This long
term trend of discovery suggests confirmation of Sodom and Gomorrah is
only a matter of time.
The notion that rocks can drop from Space (which is apparently how
Sodom and Gomorrah perished) was ridiculed for centuries but became
scientific fact in the 1980s. (See #62) The New Testament uses Sodom
and Gomorrah's destruction as an example of what's coming worldwide.
(II Peter 2:6; 3:7-12) How terrible it would be if homosexuality and
other sins distract or cost governments and nations so much that they
fail to act appropriately or in time to prevent the end of the world by
worldwide fire.
Anon
HOMOSEXUALITY and the
BIBLE
(Investigator 145, 2012
July)
I read Anonymous' reply (Letters, No. 144) and am
unable to find in it
any sound evidence that can lead to the conclusion homosexuality is
morally reprehensible.
Anonymous refers to HIV infections in his earlier reply (No. 142, p
37). Heterosexuals are also prone to HIV infections. The problem isn't
so much a person's sexuality, but rather failing to take precautions
(such as the use of condoms) to prevent infection.
If a homosexual couple is in a long term loving relationship — no
domestic violence, no unfaithfulness, each supporting the other on
their journey through life — then what is wrong with that?
Anonymous also refers to mythical Sodom and Gomorrah as if they were
established facts. Would he care to name a reputable archaeological
journal that has published an article confirming the discovery of these
cities?
Kirk Straughen
HOMOSEXUALITY
(Investigator 146, 2012
September)
Millions of homosexuals dead or sick from AIDS, and
the near wreck of
some national economies when AIDS spread to immoral heterosexuals and
to drug addicts, is harm and economic damage roughly equivalent to
history's greatest wars.
Gonorrhoea is returning with new incurable strains, most likely to be
passed on by "sex workers and men who have sex with men". (New
Scientist, 16 June, 2012, p. 16)
Straughen's limitation of homosexuality to "long term loving
relationships" (#145) is one of the arguments of pedophiles who claim
adult sex with kids is OK if it is "loving" and "caring".
This gets us into possible psychological harm such as depression,
reduced ability to cope with life's stresses, poor decision making, and
influencing others negatively by example. Such harms, however, involve
lengthier analysis than quoting death estimates and economic damage,
whereas I prefer to keep evidence for the Bible simple.
Straughen wants Sodom and Gomorrah in a "reputable archaeological
journal", concerning which I repeat the point already made:
Archaeologists have identified hundreds of Old Testament geographical
locations and this trend has continued into the third millennium.
Simply extrapolate and make a plausible prediction!
Anonymous
Regarding Homosexuality
Kirk
Straughen
(Investigator
147, 2012
November)
Anonymous (No 146, page 5) refers to millions of homosexuals being
infected with AIDS, and attempts to denigrate homosexual relationships
by comparing them to paedophiles.
Is homosexuality wrong because of HIV/AIDS? I think the answer is "no."
HIV/AIDS wasn't caused by homosexuals any more than syphilis was caused
by heterosexuals. The issue isn't one of sexuality but of infection,
the need for prevention through safe sex, and continued research for a
cure. Consider the following:
Syphilis spread throughout Europe in the 1490s and was particularly
lethal in its original manifestation. The disease was fulminant and the
skin eruptions were especially gruesome. It caused genital sores,
advanced to a general rash, and then developed into particularly ugly
abscesses and scabs over the entire body. The sores changed to open
ulcers that could erode bone and destroy tissue, especially eyes, lips,
nose, throat, and genitals. As with most epidemics, the victims were
blamed for the disease (debauchery, lechery, etc.) and frequently
ostracized.
The bellicose nature of the regimes of the time, with their many
standing armies, extensive use of mercenaries, and frequent battles,
was conducive to rapid and efficient spread via the usual "camp
followers" of the warring parties. The disease reached Germany and
Switzerland in 1495, England and Holland in 1496. Vasco da Gama's crew
carried it around the Cape in 1497 causing an outbreak in India in
1498, which in turn spread eastward. China and Japan were affected in
1505, a full fifteen years before the arrival of Portuguese sailors in
Canton. (1)
Should we condemn heterosexuality for the spread of syphilis, which was
the equivalent of HIV/AIDS in times past? Should we view
heterosexuality as somehow wrong or immoral? Again, the answer is "no."
The problem lies not in a person's sexual orientation, but rather in
lack of preventative measures.
Can homosexuals be compared to paedophiles? I think not. Consensual sex
between adults isn't exploitative, but sexual relations between adults
and children are because minors are neither emotionally nor physically
ready to enter into such relationships.
I think Anonymous has had ample opportunity to demonstrate
homosexuality is morally reprehensible. However, rather than provide
sound arguments he has merely (in my opinion) resorted to prejudiced
statements in an attempt to prove his case.
Reference:
1 http://uhavax.hartford.edu/bug1/histepi.htm#syph
IMMORALITY IS A KILLER
Anonymous
(Investigator 148, 2013
January)
I have previously estimated 200 million deaths from
sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) in the 20th century, mainly from syphilis
(before penicillin went mainstream) and hepatitis-B. Another 1500
million others got sick (often repeatedly).
AIDS killed about 20 million. The disease entered the human population
between 1902 and 1921 (New Scientist, 16 April, 2011, p. 12) but
remained undetected until 1981.
Mr Straughen (#147) says "AIDS wasn't caused by homosexuals…" The
physical environment however is what it is and the Bible provides
ethics for health and life within that environment. Someone who kills
or wounds others by shooting won't avoid prison by arguing "I didn't
manufacture these bullets" or "I didn't create humans so weak that
bullets can kill them."
Haydn Sennitt (2012) who lived a "gay life" writes: "gay sex is very
dangerous… I had to keep having health checks to make sure I hadn't
picked up hepatitis, AIDS, or blood toxicity… Jesus called people to
forsake sexual immorality and give people life to the full (Jn 10:10)
and he offers that love to gay people too."
Straughen claims that I "compared homosexuals to pedophiles". What I
compared was an argument both groups use — the erroneous argument "We
can do this lovingly without hurting anyone."
Some STIs are now identified as causes of cancer and Alzheimers: Human
Papilloma Virus (HPV) is one cause of cervical cancer which killed
300,000 women per year until Gardasil vaccine, developed in 2006,
reduced cervical cancer 77%. (The Advertiser, November 16, 2012, p. 1)
The New England Journal of Medicine reported: "Oral HPV
infection is strongly associated with oropharyngeal cancer among
subjects with or without the established risk factors of tobacco and
alcohol use." (May 10, 2007, pp 1944-1956) There are 40 types of HPV —
some cause genital warts and others cancers of the vulva, vagina,
penis, anus, tongue, tonsils and throat.
Another consequence of rejecting biblical counsel is dementia. Zukerman
(2011) reports "about one in five people with HIV end up with
early-onset dementia". This happens whether they take antiretroviral
drugs or not.
Some researchers implicate Herpes in Alzheimer's. Geddes (2007)
reported: "New evidence has supported the growing suspicion of a link
between the herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and Alzheimer's, especially
in people who carry a specific gene variant … present in about half of
all people who develop Alzheimer's… About 80 per cent of elderly people
carry HSV-1, so any exacerbating effect could be having a huge impact."
There are also diseases (such as the common cold) which are not STIs
but which spread when people touch or breathe the same air.
New
Scientist reports: "Today about a third of the world's
population … carry the TB bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in
their
lungs. In most cases it remains dormant, or latent, but one in 10 of
those infected develop the active disease… It typically passes between
people in crowded sleeping areas, though it is possible that simply
sharing a long-haul flight may be enough." (24 March, 2007, pp
44-47) If sharing a flight is enough, then sharing bodies as in
immoral sex is also enough. Tuberculosis kills millions every year and
the latest strains are resistant to almost all medicinal drugs.
"Climate warming is allowing disease-causing bacteria, viruses and
fungi to move into new areas…" (The Advertiser, June 22, 2002) STIs,
even prior to climate warming, are becoming resistant to antibiotics.
In 2007 gonorrhoea which was virtually conquered by the 1960s became a
"superbug." (Weekend Australian April 13-14, 2007) Perhaps future "safe
sex" will require giant condoms that envelope people from head to toe.
Straughen asks: "Should we condemn heterosexuality for the spread of
syphilis?" No not heterosexuality, but its misuse through immorality.
Biblical standards, I've argued before, are objective in that the
intention behind them is longer life, better health, prosperity, sound
mind, and peace.
People who defend harmful conduct and still consider themselves good
and decent have to distort their thinking, and such distortion may
carry over into acceptance of other evils.
Criminals for example usually have to be liars too, to avoid getting
caught. Racists who persecute may broaden out to outright murder
especially if, like the Nazis, they achieve political power. Similarly
adults who practice and justify immorality may broaden out and defend
seeking ever younger partners. Ankerberg and Weldon (1993) write:
"homosexuals who comprise approximately 1-4 percent of the world's
population are responsible for between 30 and 40 percent of all
recorded [child] molestations."
Straughen wants to argue in terms of "moral reprehensibility" whatever
that means but I make it simple by consulting available statistics.
Living the best life, the biblical life, is difficult but that's not an
excuse to do otherwise or to deceive myself by defining dangerous
conduct as good.
Biblical morality entered the world when modern medicine and
antibiotics were unknown and literacy and education were rare. Millions
of people doubtless lived better, healthier lives because of the Bible.
The fact that flouting Bible morality still kills millions every year,
despite modern medical progress, demonstrates how wise and objective
biblical morality is, and how misguided the people who oppose it!
Biblical morality shows "God cares for you." (I Peter 5:6-7)
REFERENCES:
Ankerberg, J. & Weldon, J. 1993 The Myth of Safe Sex,
Moody, p. 153
Geddes, L. Is herpes making Alzheimer's worse? New Scientist, 3
November, 2007, p. 12
Sennitt, H. What I learned about health, living a gay life, Eternity,
October 2012, p. 12
Zukerman, W. How HIV infection leads to dementia, New Scientist,
9 July 2011, p. 10.