AboutJohn of AllFaith Expertise To varying degrees I have worked and studied with many different groups including:
The Noahides, Gaudiya Vaisnavism, Swami Muktinanda's Sidha Yoga Foundation, the Yoga Society (of Sri Ramamurti Mishra), Sikhism, various Pagan and neo-Pagan groups, Sunni Islam (Wahabi), Taoism, various Buddhist sects (including the Dharmad Hatu of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche), various diverse Hindu sects, numerous Christian denominations and movements, and have been involved with numerous other groups and movements too numerous to mention. I refer to my personal beliefs as AllFaith.
See my questions and answers at allfaith.com/questions
A Statement to Students about Plagiarism any why I answer questions:
Plagiarism is a crime.
Plagiarism can end careers, lead to expulsion from school, the loss of financial aid, and can even result in fines and imprisonment in some cases. Its not worth it!
Despite this a small percentage of those who ask questions at AllExperts, Yahoo Answers etc. copy and paste our answers as their own, often without giving credit. This is plagiarism. Its not worth it!
We all know that one can google a homework question and in many cases find an easy response, but so can your teachers! Many teachers are aware that some students do this and catch their cheating students.
To read more about this go to the following link. Its a conversation between one such teacher from a respectable institution of learning and me: where she writes: ...I have had over 20 students copy your work in the past 3 months...
Understand that if you plagiarize you are cheating your instructors, your answerer, your fellow students, everyone who respects you... and ultimately yourself. Its just not worth it!
Please use our answers to help in your research, not to replace it.
Learn, don't cheat.
Experience Experience: A lifetime spent Reaching for the One.
I hold an MA in Religious Studies from JFKU. I hold three Christian ordinations. I hold a counseling ordination from the Interfaith Seminaries of Santa Cruz. I am an initiated Vaishnava bramana (Gopinath Gaudiya matha and ISKCON), have practical experience with many other branches Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Paganism, Wicca (Welsh Traditionalist mainly), Judaism and other traditions. I own and manage AllFaith.com
Question Ok, so I do believe in the possibilty of being born gay, just like I believe that some people are born with certain genetic defects. Do I think that this means God "made" them that way...No, it means that they were born that way. Just as the man in the Bible was born blind as to no fault of his own. Just like I think I was born to be angry at people that drive slow. Now does that make it ok for me to yell and curse at someone that drives slow...NO, it does not.
So back to my question! Just because someone is born gay does that make it ok for them to act out on that behavior??
If our Bible, Gods written path for our lives states that it is an abomination for women to exchange passions with other women. I have read and read on this subject, I have seen how many try to make that particular passage about idolatry, but it still says that women exchanging sex with other women is an abomination. Also, our Bible does not address homosexuality, but it does not directly address rape or child molestation as a sin. All of us come from the same being, we are created because of God, so you cant tell me that homosexuality did not exist back in Jesus time. Perhaps the word homosexual didnt exist but the behavior did.
So, just because someone is "born" gay or is pre-disposed to same sex attractions, how does that make it OK according to God's written word??
Answer Hi Shannon,
Homosexuality exists in all species of life on this planet. It is not a defect. It is part of God's design.
--- Just because someone is born gay does that make it ok for them to act out on that behavior??
There are two issue here. There is a natural same gender sexual orientation. Not all gay people are "born gay" (most are) and it doesn't matter either way. In my opinion the vast majority of people have a bisexual orientation and choose, due to programing, culture etc. to embrace a heterosexual orientation.
All humans are responsible for they choose to do and not to do. Religious beliefs, cultural norms etc. go into defining what is considered "normal" and "acceptable" behavior. For some, a heterosexual couple kissing in public is consider inappropriate behavior. As you asked this question in the comparative religions section of AllExperts I would have to refer to the particular traditions.
What is acceptable? that varies culture and culture and the definitions change over time.
However in my opinion homosexuality is perfectly normal and for homosexuals to engage in homosexual actions is normal. Like heterosexual they will need to comply with the cultural norms to be "accepted." Many gay people find that in order to gain equal rights and acceptance they have to push the envelope of accepted behavior a bit. This is partly how change happens. Blacks had to do sit-ins at lunch counters, women burned their bras etc.
--- If our Bible, Gods written path for our lives states that it is an abomination for women to exchange passions with other women
"If" being the correct term. It does not.
There is not a single verse in the real Bible (the King James/Textus Receptus) condemning homosexuals. There are about 6 verses that can be twisted to support this view. Of these, only one CAN be taken as a reference to lesbians.
Gay and lesbian Christians are under the same rules as everyone else: monogamy, etc.
--- I have seen how many try to make that particular passage about idolatry, but it still says that women exchanging sex with other women is an abomination.
No it doesn't.
Even among those who misapply the verses the only possible reference to lesbians says: "... for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature..." There is not reference to that being an abomination.
That word is only used in the Levitical verse and there the word "to-ay-baw" in the Hebrew is used and it specifically refers to idolatrous practices that are displeasing to God.
The context of the Romans 1 section is the same: Idolatry, whether you choose to accept this or not. Read the entire context rather than taking verses willy nilly. There is not way of these verses are talking about consensus same gender relationships.
It was common in the Pagan religions of the day to engage in what is usually called temple protestation. that's actually a judgmental term. The actual idea was that the worshiper entered into a religious frenzy and physically and spiritually merged with a priest or priestess of the temple in order to consummate their religious experience. The ecstatic release of orgasm was viewed much the way Christians view the "outpouring the Holy Spirit" in charismatic circles. This was a very popular religious discipline! Not only did one receive the blessings of the god or goddess, one also a powerful sexual experience. It was like therapy.
This is what was being condemned in these verses.
--- Also, our Bible does not address homosexuality, but it does not directly address rape or child molestation as a sin. All of us come from the same being, we are created because of God, so you cant tell me that homosexuality did not exist back in Jesus time.
What has child molestation got to do with homosexuality? You are aware of the fact that something like 90% of all child molesters are heterosexual right?
Certainly homosexuality existed back then. It has always existed, it is part of nature. It was common. King Saul's son Jonathan was gay and he and David (who became king after Saul) were lovers according to the Bible:
II Samuel 1:26 tells us that after Saul and Jonathan's death, David remembered his lover fondly and lamented: "I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been unto me. Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women."
Their marriage rite is even described in the Bible. I'll be happy to show this if you wish, just ask via follow-up.
--- Perhaps the word homosexual didnt exist but the behavior did.
Several words existed then for homosexuality and none of them are used because it was not considered to anything worth noting in the Scriptures.
--- So, just because someone is "born" gay or is pre-disposed to same sex attractions, how does that make it OK according to God's written word??
God's word says nothing negative in the subject.
Biblically speaking gay people should marry, be monogamous and faithful to their spouses and live like all other Christians.
