Homosexuality

[StrandgecK]

I know I'm new here.. so hopefully this isint stirring the poo to much.
I'm just curious what everyone thinks about why so many people (or you if you are) are opposed to people being homosexual? I'll keep my opinion for now, just to keep it a simple question.

[I, Brian]

As this is on the "Politics and Society" board, we should limit the scope of this thread to representing any positions, perceptions, opinions, etc - from an entirely sociological perspective.

To actually explore the various religious positions to the subject shuold really be a cause for a post on the relevant religious board, asking for the relevant religious positions, perceptions, opinions, etc.

[Baud]

I think I have read the following somewhere. In the distant past (and even not so distant), the strenght of a tribe/clan/nation depended solely on manpower. People were needed to grow crops, raise cattle and fight wars. Basically, the more people you had the stronger you were. Homosexuality did not at that time allow breeding, and was therefore a threat to the growth, expansion and at term survival of the tribe/clan/nation. Although there is probably something to this argument, I don't know if it is the whole picture, though.

Baud

[brucegdc]

Originally Posted by I, Brian

As this is on the "Politics and Society" board, we should limit the scope of this thread to representing any positions, perceptions, opinions, etc - from an entirely sociological perspective.

To actually explore the various religious positions to the subject shuold really be a cause for a post on the relevant religious board, asking for the relevant religious positions, perceptions, opinions, etc.

Nicely put, Brian.

And a good distinction to make, I think. Personally, I can't think of a reason from a current sociological perspective to have anything against homosexuality. It's between consenting adults (and if it's not, it's rape, no matter what the genders), and doesn't hurt anyone. And from a historical perspective, many of the dominant western cultures have been neutral or pro-homosexuality - often in conjunction with heterosexuality. (e.g. the Spartans - who encouraged relationships between members of their army as a way to bond).

Of course, it's a bit of a hot topic over here in the USA right now - what with mayors of major cities deciding to issue marriage licenses for same-gender couples, and counties in New Mexico realizing the only obstacle in law to same-gender marriage there was the fact the form has one space labelled "male" and one "female". Plus the constitutional challenges in a few states.

[nil]

Originally Posted by brucegdc

Nicely put, Brian.

And a good distinction to make, I think. Personally, I can't think of a reason from a current sociological perspective to have anything against homosexuality. It's between consenting adults (and if it's not, it's rape, no matter what the genders), and doesn't hurt anyone. And from a historical perspective, many of the dominant western cultures have been neutral or pro-homosexuality - often in conjunction with heterosexuality. (e.g. the Spartans - who encouraged relationships between members of their army as a way to bond).

Of course, it's a bit of a hot topic over here in the USA right now - what with mayors of major cities deciding to issue marriage licenses for same-gender couples, and counties in New Mexico realizing the only obstacle in law to same-gender marriage there was the fact the form has one space labelled "male" and one "female". Plus the constitutional challenges in a few states.

God has not given his consent.

[miclason]

Religious beliefs not being taken into consideration for this post:
First off, let me start by saying that I do not think this is a matter of choice, really...
I was married to a gay man...(I believe) he really, truly, honestly loved me, but, he just couldn't go against what, for him, is instinct...
That being said, I feel that I was subjected to a terrible marriage (lot of psychological pain) mainly because my ex didn't WANT to be gay...he felt that it was terribly wrong and, trying to be someone he wasn't 24/7 made him extremely irritable...he was a very unhappy man...we divorced about 5 years ago and, he has since "come out of the closet"....several common friends tell me he has become a much calmer, centered and all-around pleasant person ever since...

[truthseeker]

Amazing how the same topic, different forum, can take so much tension off the responses.

[Kaldayen]

The first page was calm on the other forum too... matter of time..

miclason, thank you for the story. I guess a lot of pain could have been avoided if your ex-husband had had support in an open-minded society.
___
Kal

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by StrandgecK

I'm just curious what everyone thinks about why so many people (or you if you are) are opposed to people being homosexual?

Religious beliefs.

For some people it may be the disgust of something alien to themselves. The first time I witnessed two males kiss I was quite young and fairly distressed, it didn't seem right. My opinion has changed, but with some people there seems to be a refusal to accept it as normal and healthy.

[Flame]

We're all born into sin, and we all have the capablity to sin. It is inevitable that we WILL sin! This is why we MUST be born again. God can give us a new a new mind, heart, and will to do the things that please him. But, he wont force it on us. He wants us to choose the change, before we he changes us. God is not a dictator, he wont force anything on us.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I thought, for the purposes of this thread, we were going to try to keep religious perspectives out of it.

Originally Posted by Jaiket

For some people it may be the disgust of something alien to themselves. The first time I witnessed two males kiss I was quite young and fairly distressed, it didn't seem right.

Now, see, this is a perspective I can understand (not least because there is the potential for change with education). Many homosexuals, myself included, have this reaction to some extent when we witness a male and female kissing - it just doesn't seem right, it feels weird and maybe a bit disgusting. But hey, we're only ten percent of the population (more or less), we know we're a minority and that male-female is "normal". It's just not normal for us. And I think that anything that increases the amount of love in the world is a good thing, even if it's not my personal cup of tea.

[Kaldayen]

Flame, if you want to argue on that using religious beliefs, that thread may be of interest to you :

http://www.comparative-religion.com/...=homosexuality

Scarlet, I must say that when I see a man and a woman kissing, I don't think it's weird... I think that thought would be shifting the balance way too far. So I guess I'm not part of your "many homosexuals" 's stats.

Living in one of the most open-minded city in North America, I still never kiss my lover in the street... When a straight couple kisses, most think that they're cute, but when a gay couple kisses, most think of it as an open provocation (gays included).

Originally Posted by Scarlet

And I think that anything that increases the amount of love in the world is a good thing

That, I agree though
___
Kal

[Flame]

Kaldayen,

I dont wish to argue anything. The truth of what I said is already obvious, and you already know it. If you ever lied, or broke any of God's Commandments, you're already condemned and guilty.

You need a Savior,

Flame

[bgruagach]

If you look at the reactions kids give to seeing public displays of affection like kissing, they tend to say "YUCK!" no matter what their genders are.

I wonder if homophobia is just this childhood reaction built up as one grows up through societal reinforcement. And just like kids get over the "yuck" response to opposite-sex kissing, they can get over it with same-sex kissing regardless whether they want to participate in it themselves or not.

Do people get upset when they see a couple kissing where you're not personally attracted to either of the pair? If not, then why should this be the case for either opposite-sex or same-sex kissing?

It just makes me wonder.

[Flame]

I heard a gay dude say that gay men are more likely to have maritial affairs, because "men are dogs," he said.

Is that true?