Good information on 'Born Gay' Studies

[Floatingaxe]

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.

Oh yeah---this thread draws out the comment of sexuality as "fascinating"? Now that's just Yuck!

It is easily tainted by the touch of the evil one. What is fascinating is the purity of God's design in sexuality. What you are finding fascinating is the spectrum of the taint of sin upon it!

[SaturnV]

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.

Oh yeah---this thread draws out the comment of sexuality as "fascinating"? Yuck!

It is easily tainted by the touch of the evil one.

I'm sure she meant that comment from a psychologist's standpoint. And, from a purely academic view, it is.

Homosexuality is probably like a lot of other things in psychology-partly genetic and partly environmental. Alcoholism, for example, is often a matter of choice and environmental causes, but there are also genetic conditions that can make someone more susceptible to it. Such factors are usually expressed in terms of percentages-risk factors for alcoholism being 90% environmental and 10% genetic, for example (No, I did not look those figures up).

I wouldn't doubt that homosexuality has a large genetic component, but I'd be quite surprised if it was solely genetic. There's usually not just one cause for anything when it comes to the human mind.

OT: As a fan of Voltaire's, I must point out to artsylady that Voltaire was a deist, not an atheist, and that his last words were spoken to his servant Morand: "Adieu, mon cher Morand, je me meurs." ("Goodbye, my dear Morand, I am dead). He never recanted on his deathbed.

[Floatingaxe]

I don't believe that homosexuality is a choice, and I'm a straight Christian.

I know many gays and lesbians would would much rather be straight, but they can't help who they are. There are vey few passages in the Bible which discuss homosexuality, and the ones that do are misterpreted I think. If anyone has them collectively handy, please post, and we'll discuss.

I also find it troubling when people say "homosexuality is a choice" when they haven't walked an inch in their shoes. I don't think gays and lesbians choose to be gay anymore than we choose to be straight.

I don't have to walk in someone's shoes to determine the "validity" of the sin they choose, or the depths to which a demonic stronghold has taken root.

It is either a rebellious choice---in some it is---or it is a demonic stronghold in that life. Either way, God can break it.

[seanpont]

I don't believe that homosexuality is a choice, and I'm a straight Christian.

I know many gays and lesbians would would much rather be straight, but they can't help who they are. There are vey few passages in the Bible which discuss homosexuality, and the ones that do are misterpreted I think. If anyone has them collectively handy, please post, and we'll discuss.

I also find it troubling when people say "homosexuality is a choice" when they haven't walked an inch in their shoes. I don't think gays and lesbians choose to be gay anymore than we choose to be straight.

I don't have to walk in someone's shoes to determine the "validity" of the sin they choose, or the depths to which a demonic stronghold has taken root.

It is either a rebellious choice---in some it is---or it is a demonic stronghold in that life. Either way, God can break it.

What about the 450 species of animals that exhibit homosexual behavior? Is it a choice or demons?

[Floatingaxe]

I don't believe that homosexuality is a choice, and I'm a straight Christian.

I know many gays and lesbians would would much rather be straight, but they can't help who they are. There are vey few passages in the Bible which discuss homosexuality, and the ones that do are misterpreted I think. If anyone has them collectively handy, please post, and we'll discuss.

I also find it troubling when people say "homosexuality is a choice" when they haven't walked an inch in their shoes. I don't think gays and lesbians choose to be gay anymore than we choose to be straight.

I don't have to walk in someone's shoes to determine the "validity" of the sin they choose, or the depths to which a demonic stronghold has taken root.

It is either a rebellious choice---in some it is---or it is a demonic stronghold in that life. Either way, God can break it.

What about the 450 species of animals that exhibit homosexual behavior? Is it a choice or demons?

Animals don't have to deal with sin. We aren't anything like animals--we are a separate flesh creation, made in the image of God Himself. We are above fauna, and we have the ability to be righteous...but we also have the ability to be evil--also unlike animals. Homosexuality is an example of the depths of the evil that mankind can sink to.

[georgesbluegirl]

Well, if you want to get technical, we're great apes.

[Floatingaxe]

Well, if you want to get technical, we're great apes.

Getting real is far more desirable! No, we are not great apes.

[hatsoff]

These are the species within the Hominidae (hominid) family:

Pan troglodytes (chimpanzee)

Pan paniscus (bonobo)

Gorilla gorilla (western gorilla)

Gorilla beringei (eastern gorilla)

Pongo pygmaeus (bornean orangutan)

Pongo abelii (sumatran orangutan)

Homo sapiens (human)

In laypersons' terms, "great ape" can mean any species within Hominidae, though often an exception is made for humans, despite the greatest deviance from the rest apparently occuring in orangutans.

Edited February 14, 2007 by hatsoff

[Oh Hamburgers!]

Animals don't have to deal with sin, that is correct. In fact, can animals sin? I for one don't think they can, because they can't distinguish between right and wrong, and don't really have free will. From my viewpoint, all animals can do is think about their present situation. Find food, don't be food, find a mate, make some babies, and die, that is how I view animals and their thoughts. What good is homosexuality for an animal though? Very few animals have sex for pleasure, most have sex to advance their species. If an animal is homosexual, why is it homosexual? It is definitly a strange thing, I am not about to assume I have the answers.

Yes we are above animals, but I think we can all agree there are still many similarities between us and animals in many physical respects. Even if you believe in creationism, it is still easy to recognize many similar mammalic traits we possess.

[hatsoff]

The success of Dr. Irene Pepperberg's model/rival technique in training Psittacus erithacus erithacus (Congo African grey parrot) seems to suggest it can in fact differentiate between perspectives.

Edited February 14, 2007 by hatsoff