Good information on 'Born Gay' Studies

[hatsoff]

Behaviors are always choices to some degree or another. Sexual orientation, though it may be colored by one's experiences (which are largely resultant from various choices), is almost never a choice itself.

Edited February 12, 2007 by hatsoff

[Floatingaxe]

Behaviors are always choices to some degree or another. Sexual orientation, though it may be colored by one's experiences (which are largely resultant from various choices), is almost never a choice itself.

I differ with you. Today, most people who claim homosexuality are simply in rebellion and are choosing it for that reason. Those who are into that lifestyle because of past abuse are dealing with compulsions that were formed psychologically, and are deep, not genetic --but can be demonic/generational...they need spiritual deliverance.

[Oh Hamburgers!]

The original link is no longer working, did it relocate?

[artsylady]

Shucks. It's gone. If I have time, I'll try to find it.

I wouldn't say homosexuality is a 'choice' any more than I would say a person who wants their legs cut off is a 'choice'. I would say it is a compulsion so strong, it makes them feel like they have no choice.

How do we address this as Christians? I would say that when it comes to the gay agenda (which we all know they have) we stand up and fight against it through prayer and letter writing, voting etc. (all done in a loving way of course)

On an individual basis, when we meet homosexuals in our daily lives? We love them. I wouldn't get into discussions with them. I would build a friendship first. That's the way I would handle it anyway. I think God leads people differently though.

[MeCajunboy]

for the record, i've never known a gay man to hate women either... although many lesbians hate men, generally because they've been abused by them. and lots of gay men do not act like women.... and lots do.

Thank you for you open and earnest statement. It may shed light on one particular reason why this happens to some people and not all! While I'm quite sure that, since sexuality is generally controlled by our hormones, I'm not convinced that ALL homosexuals were abused. Just that there are other abnomalities that help to determine the preference. And I wouldn't be surprised if other chemical make-ups in our bodies are cause and effect as well.

What's always interest me in the matter is how effective God can be for one who "has a choice!" I've known quite are few here in New Orleans, La who are quick to admit that "they have turned from their turtured sin of homosexuality and God has worked miracles in their lives.. A few hit rock bottom before they found God.

Any thoughts

Cajunboy

[georgesbluegirl]

Today, most people who claim homosexuality are simply in rebellion and are choosing it for that reason.

Then why do so many people have such a hard time coming "out of the closet" - if they ever do?

Just something I thought I'd throw in given the reference to the 10% vs. 5% etc. estimates - most of the "1 in 8" or "1 in 10" claims date back to the Kinsey numbers from the earliest mass studies of sexuality ever undertaken. These studies were groundbreaking and their importance cannot be argued (and they provided many valuable insights that have shaped how we look at sexuality today). However, current estimates of practicing homosexuals vary somewhere between 3-5% as far as I have heard. Kinsey had a "scale" he used to evaluate where someone stood between "completely homosexual" and "completely heterosexual." One of the greatest contributions that his study made was to paint sexuality as shades of gray - to view sexuality as a spectrum rather than "this" or "that." However, he took his estimate of homosexuality (I think it might have been of male homosexuality, but I'd have to double check that) from the percentage of subjects who had ever described any homosexual experience or desire rather than those who consistently practiced homosexuality. This doesn't undermine the success and importance of the project as a whole, but we need to be aware of how the study worked/how conceptions of sexuality have changed when we talk about it.

[Floatingaxe]

QUOTE

Today, most people who claim homosexuality are simply in rebellion and are choosing it for that reason.

Then why do so many people have such a hard time coming "out of the closet" - if they ever do?

Because they are influenced, hopefully, as we all are, by opinion of others. They are human, after all.

[Smalcald]

Shucks. It's gone. If I have time, I'll try to find it.

I wouldn't say homosexuality is a 'choice' any more than I would say a person who wants their legs cut off is a 'choice'. I would say it is a compulsion so strong, it makes them feel like they have no choice.

How do we address this as Christians? I would say that when it comes to the gay agenda (which we all know they have) we stand up and fight against it through prayer and letter writing, voting etc. (all done in a loving way of course)

On an individual basis, when we meet homosexuals in our daily lives? We love them. I wouldn't get into discussions with them. I would build a friendship first. That's the way I would handle it anyway. I think God leads people differently though.

I basically agree.

[Karen C.]

Behaviors are always choices to some degree or another. Sexual orientation, though it may be colored by one's experiences (which are largely resultant from various choices), is almost never a choice itself.

I differ with you. Today, most people who claim homosexuality are simply in rebellion and are choosing it for that reason. Those who are into that lifestyle because of past abuse are dealing with compulsions that were formed psychologically, and are deep, not genetic --but can be demonic/generational...they need spiritual deliverance.

you go Girl~ I taught a class in a womens prison on sexual abuse. It was a Christ centered program. Most of the women that came had had or were in a lesbian relationships at one point in their lives. Most fell in the catagory from childhood sexual molestation. Some of them from extreme situations. That is why in deliverance I always address emotional traumas because THAT is where the devil comes in with his lies... most of them are generational curses.. you will find it in the family tree...

[georgesbluegirl]

Um, don't you think that maybe sexual abuse occurring in childhood had more of an influence over their mental well-being in the sense that it affected their future as a criminal? And that maybe, for troubled women who spend a good deal of their lives in the single-sex environment of a jail, homosexual relationships are the only tangible option? This doesn't mean that all homosexual relationships are a product of choice - I'm arguing against that in general. But given, once again, the sexual "spectrum," it makes sense that women who have never experienced a loving relationship would turn to those around them - other women. This does NOT link homosexuality/lesbianism with criminality, but it is a suggestion as to why homosexual relationships may be more prevalent in prison. Human sexuality is a very amorphous and fascinating thing.