toldailytopic: Is homosexuality genetic?

[Nathon Detroit]

The TheologyOnline.com TOPIC OF THE DAY for September 24th, 2010 10:55 AM

toldailytopic: Is homosexuality genetic?

Take the topic above and run with it! Slice it, dice it, give us your general thoughts about it. Everyday there will be a new TOL Topic of the Day.
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[Nydhogg]

Current scientific "consensus" (there's some disagreement but it's the prevailing view) is that a homosexual orientation or tending towards it are largely caused by the hormonal environment of the fetus in the womb.

Genetics *might* play a part. Environment and culture and upbringing and all that stuff plays a part more in attitudes towards sex than on sexual identity and orientation, though.

 

[Granite]

Yep, what he said. Genetics may play a role in many cases but even something as simple as birth order appears to contribute.

 

[MrDeets]

In response to the "its genetics" thing... what about identical twins? Don't they share the same genes? Wouldn't they both be either gay or straight, not a mixture??

In any event, we all have a choice when it comes to acting on our sinful impulses. Sin is sin, sometimes we give in, sometimes we don't. We all have a choice, its just that some of us aren't enslaved to our flesh and our desires, and some are... thats the beauty of salvation in Christ- we are no longer slaves to sin!! Romans 6:6.:thumb:

 

[aSeattleConserv]

We need to help these poor lost souls, not encourage them by saying that they were "born that way".

http://www.narth.com/docs/istheregene.html

 

[zoo22]

We need to help these poor lost souls, not encourage them by saying that they were "born that way".

http://www.narth.com/docs/istheregene.html

Yeah, always good to ignore trying to understand the causes of things one doesn't approve of. That's why they make paper bags, right? For putting over heads?

 

[desertfox]

I think it is important to understand the term "homosexual" in light of current culture as opposed to its meaning in scripture. There is definitely a contrast there. The term itself in our modern culture is defined by a person's inclination toward a certain gender as far as personal attraction goes and is thus an issue of identity, but that definition would be completely foreign to biblical writers and their intended audience. In Scripture, the word is defined simply as those who actively participate in homosexual sex.
So to answer the topic's question, I would say that it is definitely likely that the inclination itself could be genetic, as people are "inclined" to do all sorts of things, regarless of the moral implications of those inclinations. But to understand it in light of scripture, having an inclination toward homosexuality, does not a homosexual make any more than being born with a talent for playing piano does not in and of itself make you a piano player.

 

[Krsto]

Yeah, always good to ignore trying to understand the causes of things one doesn't approve of. That's why they make paper bags, right? For putting over heads?

OK but let's not confuse cause with influence as the homosexual lobby tends to do.

 

[CabinetMaker]

We need to help these poor lost souls, not encourage them by saying that they were "born that way".

http://www.narth.com/docs/istheregene.html

We are ALL born sinners. We are ALL deserving of death.

 

[Ktoyou]

There are several sources on the net, pick and choose

http://www.godandscience.org/evolution/genetics_of_homosexuality.html
http://allpsych.com/journal/homosexuality.html
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1925

My opinion, there seems to be a predisposing phenotype of homosexuality in males, but not in females.

Sexual orientation is more socially constructed in females, compared to males/

 

[Ktoyou]

We need to help these poor lost souls, not encourage them by saying that they were "born that way".

http://www.narth.com/docs/istheregene.html

This is taking 'picking' too far; in fact, you hate them more than you care about their souls. :luigi:

 

[alwight]

In response to the "its genetics" thing... what about identical twins? Don't they share the same genes? Wouldn't they both be either gay or straight, not a mixture??

This is a good point.
From my albeit very brief research so far it seems statistically that in identical twins where at least one is gay then the chances that the other one is also gay is just over 50%. For fraternal only twins the figure seem to be just over 20%.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/user/scotts/bulgarians/nature-nurture/bailey-pillard.html

...waits on a more informed opinion than mine or those that want to execute those that dare to actually be gay.

 

[The Horn]

If homosexuality were purely a "choice" as conservatives who are "opposed" to it claim, why would gay people "choose" to live a lifestyle where they are constantly at risk of being treated so badly,descriminated against, taunted,bullied, fired from their jobs,
not allowed to serve in the military openly, and even physically attacked or murdered, and rejected by their parents and families?
Does this make any sense?

 

[oatmeal]

The TheologyOnline.com TOPIC OF THE DAY for September 24th, 2010 10:55 AM

toldailytopic: Is homosexuality genetic?

Take the topic above and run with it! Slice it, dice it, give us your general thoughts about it. Everyday there will be a new TOL Topic of the Day.
If you want to make suggestions for the Topic of the Day send a Tweet to @toldailytopic or @theologyonline or send it to us via Facebook.

Scripture teaches us that all men are dead in trespasses and in sin. Ephesians 2:1. Until of course, they get born again. Those trespasses and sins include a lot of things including homosexuality.

We all need a lord and savior from sin. Is all sin genetic?

oatmeal

 

[oatmeal]

If homosexuality were purely a "choice" as conservatives who are "opposed" to it claim, why would gay people "choose" to live a lifestyle where they are constantly at risk of being treated so badly,descriminated against, taunted,bullied, fired from their jobs,
not allowed to serve in the military openly, and even physically attacked or murdered, and rejected by their parents and families?
Does this make any sense?

Why would anyone choose to murder, to molest children, to rape?

I guess they were ill informed, seduced, without God, etc.

Who wants to be known as a child molester? Yet people choose to do it.

oatmeal

 

[MrDeets]

Excerpts from "Gay Revolutionary" by Michael Swift, first published in Gay Community News, 1987.

Sounds like a super tolerant, family oriented bunch. If you care to read the whole thing, the link is at the bottom.

"We shall sodomize your sons, emblems of your feeble masculinity, of your shallow dreams and vulgar lies. We shall seduce them in your schools, in your dormitories, in your gymnasiums, in your locker rooms, in your sports arenas, in your seminaries, in your youth groups, in your movie theater bathrooms, in your army bunkhouses, in your truck stops, in your all male clubs, in your houses of Congress, wherever men are with men together. Your sons shall become our minions and do our bidding. They will be recast in our image. They will come to crave and adore us.....

The exquisite society to emerge will be governed by an elite comprised of gay poets. One of the major requirements for a position of power in the new society of homoeroticism will be indulgence in the Greek passion. Any man contaminated with heterosexual lust will be automatically barred from a position of influence. All males who insist on remaining stupidly heterosexual will be tried in homosexual courts of justice and will become invisible men.

We shall rewrite history, history filled and debased with your heterosexual lies and distortions. We shall portray the homosexuality of the great leaders and thinkers who have shaped the world. We will demonstrate that homosexuality and intelligence and imagination are inextricably linked, and that homosexuality is a requirement for true nobility, true beauty in a man.We shall be victorious because we are fueled with the ferocious bitterness of the oppressed who have been forced to play seemingly bit parts in your dumb, heterosexual shows throughout the ages. We too are capable of firing guns and manning the barricades of the ultimate revolution.

Tremble, hetero swine, when we appear before you without our masks."

http://www.dadi.org/homagnda.htm

 

[MrDeets]

Oh yeah- this was re-added after the article gained fame. Even still, if any other magazine printed such hate, EVEN IF IT WERE fantasy, toward gays, the world would end. But here's the original preface anyways


"This essay is an outré, madness, a tragic, cruel fantasy, an eruption of inner rage, on how the oppressed desperately dream of being the oppressor."

 

[alwight]

Excerpts from "Gay Revolutionary" by Michael Swift, first published in Gay Community News, 1987.

Sounds like a super tolerant, family oriented bunch. If you care to read the whole thing, the link is at the bottom.

"We shall sodomize your sons, emblems of your feeble masculinity, of your shallow dreams and vulgar lies. We shall seduce them in your schools, in your dormitories, in your gymnasiums, in your locker rooms, in your sports arenas, in your seminaries, in your youth groups, in your movie theater bathrooms, in your army bunkhouses, in your truck stops, in your all male clubs, in your houses of Congress, wherever men are with men together. Your sons shall become our minions and do our bidding. They will be recast in our image. They will come to crave and adore us.....

The exquisite society to emerge will be governed by an elite comprised of gay poets. One of the major requirements for a position of power in the new society of homoeroticism will be indulgence in the Greek passion. Any man contaminated with heterosexual lust will be automatically barred from a position of influence. All males who insist on remaining stupidly heterosexual will be tried in homosexual courts of justice and will become invisible men.

We shall rewrite history, history filled and debased with your heterosexual lies and distortions. We shall portray the homosexuality of the great leaders and thinkers who have shaped the world. We will demonstrate that homosexuality and intelligence and imagination are inextricably linked, and that homosexuality is a requirement for true nobility, true beauty in a man.We shall be victorious because we are fueled with the ferocious bitterness of the oppressed who have been forced to play seemingly bit parts in your dumb, heterosexual shows throughout the ages. We too are capable of firing guns and manning the barricades of the ultimate revolution.

Tremble, hetero swine, when we appear before you without our masks."

http://www.dadi.org/homagnda.htm

You do realise this is satire?

Satirical responses
A satirical article by Michael Swift which appeared in the Gay Community News in February 1987 entitled "Gay Revolutionary", describes a scenario in which homosexual men dominate American society and suppress all things heterosexual. This was reprinted in Congressional Record without the opening disclaimer which made it clear that the article's text was not intended to be taken literally.[27]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexual_agenda

 

[Ktoyou]

Why would anyone choose to murder, to molest children, to rape?

I guess they were ill informed,

I hardly think they are that ill informed! :juggle::chew:

 

[Lighthouse]

I think it is important to understand the term "homosexual" in light of current culture as opposed to its meaning in scripture. There is definitely a contrast there. The term itself in our modern culture is defined by a person's inclination toward a certain gender as far as personal attraction goes and is thus an issue of identity, but that definition would be completely foreign to biblical writers and their intended audience. In Scripture, the word is defined simply as those who actively participate in homosexual sex.
So to answer the topic's question, I would say that it is definitely likely that the inclination itself could be genetic, as people are "inclined" to do all sorts of things, regarless of the moral implications of those inclinations. But to understand it in light of scripture, having an inclination toward homosexuality, does not a homosexual make any more than being born with a talent for playing piano does not in and of itself make you a piano player.

Good illustration, seeing as how no one is born with a talent for playing the piano.

We are ALL born sinners. We are ALL deserving of death.

Do we all deserve execution?