Difference between revisions of "God condemns homosexuality"

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==Overview==
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<hide>
[[category:claims]]It is often claimed, especially by [[religious extremist]]s, that [[God]] condemns [[homosexuality]].
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[[page type::article]]
==Reference==
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[[thing type::claim]]
* Wikipedia: [[wikipedia:The Bible and homosexuality|The Bible and homosexuality]]
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[[category:claims]]
* [http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibl1.htm information on homosexuality and the Bible]
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[[category:religion]]
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[[category:God]]
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</hide>
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[[File:404142 519155091435269 390706744 n.jpg|300px|right]]
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==About==
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It is often claimed, especially by [[religious extremist]]s, that [[God]] condemns [[homosexuality]].
 +
===Conclusions===
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In order to establish that God actually does condemn homosexuality ''and'' that we, as humans, should similarly condemn it, there are a number of hurdles to overcome and missing pieces of information to fill in; see [[/counterpoints]].
 +
 
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Even examining the question purely within a [[Bible/canon/homosexuality|scriptural framework]], it is far from clear that God views homosexuality with disfavor.
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It does seem clear, from both of these points, that those who claim that God unequivocally condemns homosexuality are either engaging in [[fearmongery]] or have themselves been deceived by such.
 +
 
 
==Specific Religions==
 
==Specific Religions==
 
===Christianity===
 
===Christianity===
 
Christians who oppose homosexuality usually support this argument with various passages in the [[Bible]]:
 
Christians who oppose homosexuality usually support this argument with various passages in the [[Bible]]:
* [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=leviticus%2018:22&version=31 Leviticus 18:22]: "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." (This of course says nothing regarding lesbianism.) All of [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=leviticus%2018;&version=31; Leviticus 18] seems to concern laws regarding sexual relationships. ''I have been told, however, that the Levitican laws are not to be taken as current law as they are "unfulfilled". Obviously not everyone agrees with that... --[[User:Woozle|Woozle]] 16:08, 15 April 2007 (EDT)''
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* '''Leviticus''':
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** [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=leviticus%2018:22&version=31 Leviticus 18:22]: "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." All of [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=leviticus%2018&version=NIV Leviticus 18] seems to concern laws regarding sexual relationships.
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** [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2020:13&version=NIV Leviticus 20:13]: "If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."
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**  Neither of these quotes say anything regarding [[lesbianism]], however.
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** ''I have been told, however, that the Levitican laws are not to be taken as current law as they are "unfulfilled". Obviously not everyone agrees with that... --[[User:Woozle|Woozle]] 16:08, 15 April 2007 (EDT)''
 
* [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=53&chapter=6&version=9 1 Corinthians 6]:9,10: "...Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men... will inherit God's kingdom."
 
* [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=53&chapter=6&version=9 1 Corinthians 6]:9,10: "...Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men... will inherit God's kingdom."
==Counterpoints==
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* Romans 1:26 - ''For this reason, God delivered them to degrading passions as their females exchanged their natural sexual function for one that is unnatural.'' This can arguably be interpreted as condemning lesbianism, in much the same way that a cloud can be interpreted as a bunny-rabbit. To me, it sounds more like a condemnation of artificial insemination or uterine replicators (which, as of this writing, have not yet been developed -- but presumably God knew we would get around to it eventually, and wanted to make sure that we knew well in advance that it was wicked). Either way, it doesn't explain what the problem is; the [[naturalistic fallacy|equivalence of "unnatural=bad"]] is assumed, and opens up the question of whether the many other unnatural things we do (e.g. modern health care, driving cars, wearing clothes) are also bad (and if so, why aren't they condemned as well?).
===[[Rational]] Counterpoints===
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* [[Westboro Baptist Church]] quotes "[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201;&version=9; Romans 1]:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have in them that do them." apparently as justification for killing homosexuals, presumably in reference to verse 27: "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet."
* There is no real evidence that a being such as [[God]] exists, much less that this being's opinions on ''anything'' are known, and still less that such opinions are accurately reflected by any of the various monotheistic religious [[scripture]]s, much less those condemning homosexuality in particular.
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* However: assuming (1) that there is an entity who is arguably God as described in various scriptural works, and (2) that the condemnations of homosexuality in those works are accurate reflections of that entity's opinion at the time of writing:
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===Islam===
** Even if God condemned homosexuality in the past (722 BC or earlier, when the [[wikipedia:Priestly source|sources for the relevant books of the Bible]] were first distributed), there is no reason to assume that he has not changed his mind:
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[[Islam]] is particularly harsh against homosexuality, which carries the [[death penalty]] under [[Islamic law]].
*** Homosexuality does not seem especially harmful, so why would God continue to believe that it was sinful?
 
*** In view of the growing acceptance of homosexuality worldwide, one would expect a God entity as described in the Bible to have issued some new condemnations of homosexuality or perhaps even punishments for tolerating it, if that being truly continued to condemn it.
 
** Assuming God continues to condemn homosexuality, regardless of whether this continuance has been made known to us:
 
*** Why has God not bothered to explain ''why'' homosexuality really is bad, so that we can understand why all the contrary evidence should be ignored? The fact that God has not offered such an explanation casts severe doubt on either (a) the idea that God really does condemn it, or (b) that he has the best interests of humanity at heart.
 
*** In the absence of any such explanation, claiming that we humans must ''also'' condemn it because of this is purely an [[argument from authority]].
 
  
===Doctrinal Counterpoints===
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It is ironic that the [[religious right]] is so harsh on Islam, which shares their views on homosexuality much more than do other varieties of Christianity.
It is widely believed that "[http://www.daylightatheism.org/2006/05/sin-of-sodom.html The Sin of Sodom]" was homosexuality; this is not the case. Sodom's sin was actually being "arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezekiel%2016:49&version=31 Ezekiel 16:49, NIV translation])
 
  
See [[wikipedia:The Bible and homosexuality|The Bible and homosexuality]] for many more points to consider.
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==Counterpoints==
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* [[/counterpoints|rational]]
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* [[Bible/canon/homosexuality|doctrinal]]
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==Links==
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===Reference===
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* Wikipedia: [[wikipedia:The Bible and homosexuality|The Bible and homosexuality]]
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* [http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibl1.htm information on homosexuality and the Bible]
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===Filed Links===
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{{links/news}}

Latest revision as of 14:39, 13 April 2015

404142 519155091435269 390706744 n.jpg

About

It is often claimed, especially by religious extremists, that God condemns homosexuality.

Conclusions

In order to establish that God actually does condemn homosexuality and that we, as humans, should similarly condemn it, there are a number of hurdles to overcome and missing pieces of information to fill in; see /counterpoints.

Even examining the question purely within a scriptural framework, it is far from clear that God views homosexuality with disfavor.

It does seem clear, from both of these points, that those who claim that God unequivocally condemns homosexuality are either engaging in fearmongery or have themselves been deceived by such.

Specific Religions

Christianity

Christians who oppose homosexuality usually support this argument with various passages in the Bible:

  • Leviticus:
    • Leviticus 18:22: "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable." All of Leviticus 18 seems to concern laws regarding sexual relationships.
    • Leviticus 20:13: "If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."
    • Neither of these quotes say anything regarding lesbianism, however.
    • I have been told, however, that the Levitican laws are not to be taken as current law as they are "unfulfilled". Obviously not everyone agrees with that... --Woozle 16:08, 15 April 2007 (EDT)
  • 1 Corinthians 6:9,10: "...Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men... will inherit God's kingdom."
  • Romans 1:26 - For this reason, God delivered them to degrading passions as their females exchanged their natural sexual function for one that is unnatural. This can arguably be interpreted as condemning lesbianism, in much the same way that a cloud can be interpreted as a bunny-rabbit. To me, it sounds more like a condemnation of artificial insemination or uterine replicators (which, as of this writing, have not yet been developed -- but presumably God knew we would get around to it eventually, and wanted to make sure that we knew well in advance that it was wicked). Either way, it doesn't explain what the problem is; the equivalence of "unnatural=bad" is assumed, and opens up the question of whether the many other unnatural things we do (e.g. modern health care, driving cars, wearing clothes) are also bad (and if so, why aren't they condemned as well?).
  • Westboro Baptist Church quotes "Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have in them that do them." apparently as justification for killing homosexuals, presumably in reference to verse 27: "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet."

Islam

Islam is particularly harsh against homosexuality, which carries the death penalty under Islamic law.

It is ironic that the religious right is so harsh on Islam, which shares their views on homosexuality much more than do other varieties of Christianity.

Counterpoints

Links

Reference

Filed Links