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Please explain to me why homosexuality is anathema to God.

Is it strange to enforce this physical limitation when the afterlife's more importnt?

  • Yes.

  • No.

  • I've never given it much thought before ...


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AetheriusLamia

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By the way, guys ... this thread isn't about debating whether or not you feel homosexuality is wrong. Reread the first post: It's about explaining your view about why God doesn't like homosexuality, and what it is that makes homosexuality wrong.

Example:

Murder is anathema to God because it deprives a fellow human being of the blessing of life that God gave him or her, and it fosters further feelings of hatred.

Now you do the same for homosexuality. Note that saying "because the Bible says so" is not sufficient nor appropriate for this thread. The question is not, "is it wrong?" The question for conversation here is, "Why would God feel that it's wrong?" (Or rather, "make it wrong", since God invented morality.)
The closest to this has been on the second page, where someone stated it was a mockery of God's design for women complementing men.

This user then failed to explain why it was a mockery or why God is against other unions that are explicitly seen in nature. (I've owned gay cats before, and they've done studies with penguins and so forth.)

Most of us are well aware that the English translations of the Bible are inconclusive regarding homosexuality. That is, those of us who have taken the time to research the issue, and read multiple translations in regard to the matter. If you're one of those people who only reads one Bible that happens to say "practicing homosexual", "homosexual offender", or even "sodomite" yet in your mind you only associate the sins of Sodom with homosexuality, I'm sorry, but it's not nearly that simple. (And if you've read more of the Bible, you know Sodom was guilty of far more than mere homosexuality.)

Common conclusions are that it is not addressed at all, ("Yeshua never said anything about it,") else it was specific actions involving homosexuality that Paul condemned, or else Paul's understanding of homosexuality was limited and biased his writing: many Christians understand that the Bible must be understood in the historical context in which it was written, as stated by the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church. Apart from that, many say the condemnation in Leviticus was due to ceremonial uncleanliness, and the implication is clear that Yeshua has as much a problem with gay marriage as he did with breaking the sabbath.

Yet many still read "homosexual offenders" and think, "gee, it must be an offense to be gay," or Paul writing "burned with lust for one another and turned away from what is natural" must, necessarily, mean that homosexuals are perverse people that perform wicked, obscene acts. Even in college, I know a girl, fundamentalist, nondenominational, who underlined the verse in her Bible and wrote "practicing homosexuals" in the margin, so as to make it clear to herself that it was only "practicing" homosexuals who were to burn in hell: even with a literal interpretation, something inside her told her it wasn't right for God to condemn people merely for being gay, regardless of whether they acted on it or not. (She later interprets Romans to mean that you can turn away from homosexuality as you can from adultery, so the only true homosexuals are practicing homosexuals ... a bit contradictory, but oh well.)

Of course, thinking these things require making assumptions on your part, otherwise "homosexual offender" could mean any number of things, and likewise, what is Paul calling natural? How did they burn with lust? What did they lust for? These things are not explicitly stated, so either you accept that it's unclear, or you make assumptions.

This being said, the dominant ideology -- especially here, is that God cannot stand homosexuality. Some take it a step further, that not only does God hate the sin of homosexuality, but that God will damn homosexuals to eternal damnation, unlike sinners engaging in every other sin (except that of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, which Catholic doctrine says is the one unforgiveable sin -- since it requires rejecting God's forgiveness).

My question is, why? It makes no sense at all for a loving God to behave in this manner. Let me tell you my understanding of homosexuality:

Two people meet each other. They like each other. They go out with each other more regularly. They find that they really like each other. They fall in love, get married, maybe even have children.

In other words, it's identical to heterosexuality. The only difference? Instead of being fertile, they would be infertile. Just like inferile heterosexual couples, they would adopt children.

Here's the root of my confusion. God is beyond gender, right? Christ and Paul both say that in heaven there is neither male or female. Throughout the entire New Testament -- and even parts of the Old Testament -- there is an emphasis in focusing on the afterlife; and logically this makes sense, since life on Earth is over in the blink of an eye, and then you spend eternity in Heaven or hell, right? (Frankly this makes no sense to me at all, but that's what Christians are to believe.) In addition to focusing on the heavenly instead of the earthly, you are to love your neighbor as yourself, and to love God.

Why, on earth, after all of this doctrine, are you then supposed to care about what your physical body looks like? How could it possibly matter what your physical, sexual reproductive organs look like? Why would God care if they're on the outside or the inside?

To me, that's the same as telling me God doesn't want me to be with someone whose skin color is different (or rather, the same).

And so I'm asking that you explain this to me:
Let's say Leviticus condemns gay sex because it is immoral. What is it about the physical circumstances that makes it immoral? Why is God fine with a skin color difference but not a reproductive organ difference?

In Genesis 2, the author explains that heterosexual marriage occurs because God made woman from man. Where is marriage defined? Upon what evidence to we base our current definition of marriage?

Let's say two people have psychological and biological problems that cause them to like each other. Why would God find that intolerable?

The above scenarios make no logical sense to me whatsoever. Thank you for reading this entire post.
 

AetheriusLamia

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God does not become offended. He doesn't allow it in our best intrest.
You're not explaining very much.

The only argument I can think of that stems from your comment is childbirth, and with the overpopulation of the planet and all the children needing good homes, that reason seems largely irrelevant, not to mention those heterosexual couples that do not desire children.
 
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AetheriusLamia

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Same-sex love is not anathema to God, nor is it a sin. That's just some people projecting their prejudices onto God, to try to justify those prejudices.
I already know how you feel, Ohioprof. The point of this thread is for those who disagree with you (I suppose, with us) to help me understand their argument and sentiments about God.
 
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david_x

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You're not explaining very much.

The only argument I can think of that stems from your comment is childbirth, and with the overpopulation of the planet and all the children needing good homes, that reason seems largely irrelevant, not to mention those heterosexual couples that do not desire children.

You asked why it was a sin. It is a sin because it is harmful. That's all there really is to it.
 
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Phinehas2

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Dear AetheriusLamia
If you don't like the word anathema, then fine, sin. Why is God offended by two adults who love each other and want to live together and raise children?
I think if you look again the point made to you was that sin is sin whether pride, lust or same-sex unions. If you are saying same-sex sex isnt then why are pride and lust not sin when the word of God in the Bible says they are?

No as to why God is offended, well I dont think we know except that He is and because He made woman for man?
Anyway how can two people of the same sex rasie their children? Maybe you have answered your own question two people of the same-sex cant produce children so maybe such a lie is offensive to God.
 
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AetheriusLamia

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Phinehas, I have difficulty understanding your posts due to the way you phrase your sentences, and your grammar. Please work on it.
Anyway how can two people of the same sex rasie their children?
I thought I already answered this in the first post: They would adopt and the family would be like any other sterile heterosexual couple. Or do you believe it to also be a sin for two sterile heterosexuals to marry and adopt children?
 
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Phinehas2

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Dear Aetheriuslamia,
You will find that there are generally two groups here, those who believe as I do have no trouble understanding me, and indeed we each understanding the Bible.
Let me ask you what exactly in my post did you not understand? Do you understand what lust and pride mean?
I thought I already answered this in the first post: They would adopt and the family would be like any other sterile heterosexual couple. Or do you believe it to also be a sin for two sterile heterosexuals to marry and adopt children?
No you have just once again answered your misunderstanding of my point. I am not saying two people of the same-sex cant raise children I am pointing out to you that two adults of the same sex cant raise their children as in procreation .. so what you are proposing is not the same at all.
A couple of opposite sex can only not produce between themselves if they are sterile, a same sex couple cant even produce between them if they are fertile.
 
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Jet_A_Jockey

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Hello AL,
How did they burn with lust?
it kind of explains itself, kind of like me itching to reply to your post :)
What did they lust for?
that which is unnatural. and what is unnatural you may ask? each other.

These things are not explicitly stated, so either you accept that it's unclear, or you make assumptions.
its about as clear as that glass window on the windex commercial that the guy walks into :D

This being said, the dominant ideology -- especially here, is that God cannot stand homosexuality. Some take it a step further, that not only does God hate the sin of homosexuality, but that God will damn homosexuals to eternal damnation, unlike sinners engaging in every other sin (except that of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, which Catholic doctrine says is the one unforgiveable sin -- since it requires rejecting God's forgiveness).
Good thing only God is the ultimate Judge. We can speculate all we want, but it changes nothing. And to deny repentance of something that the heart is convicted of as sinful is bound to have repercussions, regardless of what it is.

My question is, why? It makes no sense at all for a loving God to behave in this manner.
In what manner does He behave?

Here's the root of my confusion. God is beyond gender, right? Christ and Paul both say that in heaven there is neither male or female. Throughout the entire New Testament -- and even parts of the Old Testament -- there is an emphasis in focusing on the afterlife; and logically this makes sense, since life on Earth is over in the blink of an eye, and then you spend eternity in Heaven or hell, right? (Frankly this makes no sense to me at all, but that's what Christians are to believe.) In addition to focusing on the heavenly instead of the earthly, you are to love your neighbor as yourself, and to love God.

You have the commandments switched, Love God > Love neighbor. And yes it is a difficult thing to really dwell on, temporal actions = eternal consequences, but thats a whole different topic honestly.

Why, on earth, after all of this doctrine, are you then supposed to care about what your physical body looks like? How could it possibly matter what your physical, sexual reproductive organs look like? Why would God care if they're on the outside or the inside?

To me, that's the same as telling me God doesn't want me to be with someone whose skin color is different (or rather, the same).

And so I'm asking that you explain this to me:
Let's say Leviticus condemns gay sex because it is immoral. What is it about the physical circumstances that makes it immoral? Why is God fine with a skin color difference but not a reproductive organ difference?
Possibly because it could be seen as a mockery to His creation, His helper to man, which is woman, and vice versa.

In Genesis 2, the author explains that heterosexual marriage occurs because God made woman from man. Where is marriage defined? Upon what evidence to we base our current definition of marriage?
between that and the whole procreation thing I think it defines it pretty well.

Let's say two people have psychological and biological problems that cause them to like each other. Why would God find that intolerable?
If their psychological problems caused them to go on killing sprees, why would God find that intolerable?

The above scenarios make no logical sense to me whatsoever. Thank you for reading this entire post.
Thank you for writing it.
 
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Catholicon

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Anyway how can two people of the same sex rasie their children? Maybe you have answered your own question two people of the same-sex cant produce children so maybe such a lie is offensive to God.

In the same way a single parent can raise a child.

Except there are two people working together to raise the child.
 
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Phinehas2

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Dear Catholicon,
In the same way a single parent can raise a child.

Except there are two people working together to raise the child.
As I highlighted the key and operative word, I see you have missed it. The statement made is misleading, the child of a same-sex couple isn’t theirs, it can only be one of theirs as the other has adopted it.... otherwise yes I agree.
 
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MercyBurst

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If you don't like the word anathema, then fine, sin. Why is God offended by two adults who love each other and want to live together and raise children?

Because God didn't design a stork factory or a babies-r-us retail department store. God designed a father and a mother to produce children and rear them. God wasn't thinking of a sperm and egg bank when He created humanity.
 
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walloffire

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Because God didn't design a stork factory or a babies-r-us retail department store. God designed a father and a mother to produce children and rear them. God wasn't thinking of a sperm and egg bank when He created humanity.

MAJOR props 2 u.

Glory be to Christ, the son of the living God.
 
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