How do we encourage the science of homosexuality?

by sabastious 44 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  sabastious

  At one point in my life I chose to stop listening to my religion's advice to not research outside of their framework. About the time I made that decision was when the gay marriage debate was going very strong; and still is to this day. Back then I felt like my state of California was leading the front on it to stop the bigotry and oppression once and for all.

  It was a hot topic for me because I was questioning the Bible and my faith so I started researching the Science of Homosexulality. To me, if homosexuality can be explained scientifically then it would help the gay community's cause by nullifying the Bible; or at the very least nullify the verses explicitly daming homosexuality.

  In my experience, homophobia is almost always connected to a religious faith, the most common being Christianity in my country. The Bible's choice of language when describing homosexuality is extremely strong and is what gives energy to the Christian Right and similar extreme ends of the Religious Spectrum. If homosexulaity can be scientifically proven to be biologically natural, it should then rightly not be considered an indulgence in wrongdoing.

  To me, the answer to this question would prove the Bible as false because it would expose the writer's ignorance to biology therefore could not be God's word.

  But finding the answer proved very difficult. I came across a peculiar problem while attempting to find out the answer. Many have brought up an odd, yet interesting, counter argument: If homosexuality can be scientifically explained then how do we know it's not a mental disorder?

  At this point the humanitarian aspect of the science of homosexuality takes a turn because this is a valid point and merrits consideration. Science cannot abandon it's methods because of humanitarian cause or anything for that matter.

  At this point how does the science of homosexuality move on objectively? As long as Christianity, with it's full spectrum, exists then the Christian Right will always say that homosexuality is a mental disorder and they will assemble psuedo-scientists to add credibility to their agument. They will not be defeated because they cannot allow their sacred text to go down. They will go down first.

  -Sab
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  DanaBug

  To me, the answer to this question would prove the Bible as false because it would expose the writer's ignorance to biology therefore could not be God's word.

  I think it's the same as creationism. You would think all the evidence against creationism would prove the Bible false and people would actually read that evidence and change their minds. And they have their psuedo-scientists for that too. People will continue to believe what they want, even if it's not true, for various reasons. I do think the next generations will be much less homophobic until it gradually disappears. We're learning and progressing, slowly but surely.
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  Mad Sweeney

  We're learning and progressing, slowly but surely.

  I hope to live long enough to see extreme religion become a footnote of history but I'm not holding my breath. If my grandkids grow up in a more tolerant world than I grew up in, that will be a start. Baby steps.
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  Scooby-Doo

  Homosexuality occurs in nature, is considered 'of nature' and is therefore natural. I hate when homophobes use that term, unnatural. Call them abnormal if you want because they are certainly not 'of the norm' but don't call them unnatural, because that is wrong.

  Homosexuality is not a mental disorder because it in no way prevents the person from functioning in a healthy manner. Gay people still are able, and frequently do breed... both naturally and artificially. Mental disorder classification doesn't take 'sin' into account, that is why homosexuality is not a mental disorder.

  I don't know if homosexuality is a result of genetics, stabile behaviour occuring in 10% of the species or a labile behaviour influenced by a number of contributing factors. Personally, i take the stance of the many animal behaviour specialists out there and agree with the notion that it doesn't matter. These people function healthily and should be allowed to do so, in peace.

  I'm not sure how anyone could encourage the need for science to disprove the Bible, i'm sure that most people in the biological and psychological fields of science and medicine would rather invest their time on something of more importance.
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  sabastious

  I hope to live long enough to see extreme religion become a footnote of history but I'm not holding my breath.

  Don't hold your breath because you might pass out and miss the revolution that is at our doorstep.

  -Sab
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  unshackled

  Homosexuality is found in over 450 species. Homophobia is found in only one. Which one seems unnatural?
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  Pika_Chu

  At this point how does the science of homosexuality move on objectively? As long as Christianity, with it's full spectrum, exists then the Christian Right will always say that homosexuality is a mental disorder and they will assemble psuedo-scientists to add credibility to their agument. They will not be defeated because they cannot allow their sacred text to go down. They will go down first.

  Exactly. As with ANY area where science and the Bible conflict, science is always questioned. The Christian Right will attack gay marrriage just like they'll continue to attack the theory of evolution, and similar scientific priniciples. Science is Religion's worse nightmare. Nobody questions gravity. Of course not, it has nothing to do with God. The questioning of science is really only motivated by religion. If it's motivated by genuine skepticism, then it just amounts to peer review and a true quest for knowledge. If not, it's because it hurt someone's feelings and they start with a number of conclusions/assumptions (the Bible is infallible, it is God's word, and by that, they mean the ONLY true God, the Bible must be taken literally, etc.), and gather "evidence" in an attempt to prove these unfounded claims. Science is a practice in rationality and works the opposite way.
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  aSphereisnotaCircle

  Some people are born hermaphrodites.

  What does god intend for them?

  According to the bible, it would be a sin for them to marry and have sex with anyone, male or female.

  Doctors can assign a sex to the infant, but later in life some of these people discover they were assigned the wrong sex. Would it be sinful to switch back to the other gender? Would that make them a homo?

  I think being a homosexual is as sinful as being a hermaphrodite, in other words, not at all.
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  DanaBug

  If my grandkids grow up in a more tolerant world than I grew up in, that will be a start. Baby steps.

  We grew up in a more tolerant world than our grandparents did. That's progress. I'd like to see an end to extreme religion too. I sometimes wonder if it's just a mental defect, lol! Maybe we should be encouraging the science on that.

  Homosexuality occurs in nature, is considered 'of nature' and is therefore natural. I hate when homophobes use that term, unnatural. Call them abnormal if you want because they are certainly not 'of the norm' but don't call them unnatural, because that is wrong.

  This is a really good point and something I just recently looked at. What does it say about God if he designed all these creatures like this? I'm not saying that all these things are okay; as humans we limit what's okay to what doesn't infringe on the rights of someone else.

  Researchers have observed monogamy, promiscuity, sex between species, sexual arousal from objects or places, sex apparently via duress or coercion, copulation with dead animals, homosexual, heterosexual and bisexualsexual behaviour, and situational sexual behaviour and a range of other practices among animals other than humans. Related studies have noted diversity in sexed bodies and gendered behaviour, such as intersex and transgender animals.

  Current understanding is that many species that were formerly believed monogamous have now been proven to be promiscuous or opportunistic in nature; a wide range of species appear both to masturbate and to use objects as tools to help them do so; in many species animals try to give and get sexual stimulation with others where procreation is not the aim; and homosexual behaviour has now been observed among 1,500 species and in 500 of those it is well documented. [ 1 ]

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_sexual_behaviour
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  Pika_Chu

  @asphereisnotacircle:

  This was one of my #1 reasons for questioning the WT and the Bible in general. Without giving too much info, I can say this point really hits home...