Does Gay Justify Divorce?

[brightlights]

This is what happened with my mum and dad.

It was better than them both being unhappy.

Perhaps this is a false dilemma. Why are these the only two options?

 

[quatona]

How's that?

If there´s no such thing as homosexuality, how can you ask questions in regards to homosexuality?

 

[SilverBear]

I think part of the problem is our 20th century ideas and values. The notion of homosexuality (or heterosexuality for that matter) is a 20th century notion. No one would have defined themselves in terms of sexual preference before our age.

the word is not the idea. The word homosexual was coined in the 19th century. The concept of homosexuality existed long before it had a singular name.

 

[brightlights]

If there´s no such thing as homosexuality, how can you ask questions in regards to homosexuality?

Well homosexuality and heterosexuality as concepts are obviously cultural phenomena. But I don't believe that these concepts accurately describe reality.

 

[brightlights]

the word is not the idea. The word homosexual was coined in the 19th century. The concept of homosexuality existed long before it had a singular name.

Did it?

 

[Larniavc]

Perhaps this is a false dilemma. Why are these the only two options?

Because staying together made them unhappy.

Seems common sense to go for the option that led to greater happiness.

 

[quatona]

Well homosexuality and heterosexuality as concepts are obviously cultural phenomena. But I don't believe that these concepts accurately describe reality.

Well, I can just speak for myself, but my heterosexuality doesn´t appear to be a cultural phenomenon to me. It describes my attractions, and they´re as real as it gets.
If anything in your question is "obviously" a cultural phenomenon, it would be marriage.

 

[quatona]

Did it?

Do you think that before the 19th century people were sexually attracted to both genders, in general?

 

[brightlights]

Do you think that before the 19th century people were sexually attracted to both genders, in general?

I think that sexuality has always been a spectrum and is subject to change over time. I don't think that sexual attraction is a useful identifying feature.

 

[hedrick]

I would argue that no single answer to the original question. There's a spectrum of sexual preference, so it's stronger for some than others. And people have different attitudes and feelings.

I think divorce is a last resort, for when remaining in a marriage is more harmful than breaking it. I understand that homosexuality might well produce such a situation, but I wouldn't say it's automatic.

 

[loveofourlord]

If there was less stigma about being gay there be less issues of this.

 

[quatona]

I think that sexuality has always been a spectrum and is subject to change over time. I don't think that sexual attraction is a useful identifying feature.

...but apparently you felt the need to ask a question in which it is the key component.

 

[SilverBear]

Did it?

Concepts exist before they have English names. In this case we can find the concept discussed in the Rigveta which is around 4,000 years old.

 

[brightlights]

Concepts exist before they have English names. In this case we can find the concept discussed in the Rigveta which is around 4,000 years old.

You can find the concept of sexual orientation discussed in a 4,000 year old document? Could you cite this?