What IS 'homosexuality' anyhow ...?

[KCKID]

We bandy around the term ‘homosexuality’ so much on these Christian debate forums that a newcomer to the issue might be forgiven for being puzzled as to what ‘homosexuality’ actually is.

The newcomer might also wonder why the Bible is used so often to condemn ‘homosexuality’ when, in actuality, there are less than a handful of some rather vague scriptural references that may or may not refer to the modern definition of what we today term 'homosexuality'.

While I personally am anti-anti-gay (did you get that?) for reasons I’ve given previously, I have not condoned sexual promiscuity by either heterosexuals or homosexuals. But, while I have not condoned promiscuity by either sexual persuasion I also hurriedly add that what others do in private is none of my business. Besides that, many of us – possibly including a number of Christians who participate on this forum - have been promiscuous at some point or other in their lives.

Anyway, what, precisely, IS ‘homosexuality’ that Christians get so hot under the collar about? Is it:

1. one’s sexual attraction to another of the same gender but not realized …as in not practiced? Is it:

2. one’s sexual attraction to another of the same gender that IS realized …as in practiced? Or is it:

3. either of the above?

What, precisely, IS ‘homosexual practice’ that Christians get so hot under the collar about? Is it:

1. sodomy? Is it:

2. the showing of affection to another of the same gender as in kissing, petting, sexual practices OTHER than sodomy? Or is it:

3. either of the above.

If we could define once and for all exactly WHAT ‘homosexuality’ IS from a biblical perspective then perhaps we all might know precisely what each other is talking about. There is a great deal of frustration produced on this forum over this issue and, oftentimes I feel that we're talking at - and over - each other at cross purposes.

 

[Apollo Celestio]

It is used for attraction as well has lifestyle, perhaps we could request everyone use certain words for clarification purposes and post a sticky FAQ? I don't get hot under the collar usually except when you have fools trying to say human babies are "parasitic growths with unique DNA and can be terminated if that is more convenient for the mother." Homosexuality from the biblical perspective is probably same sex sex. And Romans 1:26-27 is NOT vague.. lol

 

[OllieFranz]

And Romans 1:26-27 is NOT vague.. lol

You are right, it is not vague. It is quite clear if you understand the context, which includes Paul's history and education, the divisions and expectations of the churches in Rome and the purpose of the letter in general.But it does not say what you apparently think it says.

If you pick verses out of context, you can show that the Bible says almost anything. There are several verses that say "There is no God." But when you look at the context, most of them are God saying that other than Him, there is no God, or a "fool" claiming there is no God. The context is as important as the text. There is an old saying: "Text without context is pretext."

 

[Apollo Celestio]

You are right, it is not vague. It is quite clear if you understand the context, which includes Paul's history and education, the divisions and expectations of the churches in Rome and the purpose of the letter in general.But it does not say what you apparently think it says.

If you pick verses out of context, you can show that the Bible says almost anything. There are several verses that say "There is no God." But when you look at the context, most of them are God saying that other than Him, there is no God, or a "fool" claiming there is no God. The context is as important as the text. There is an old saying: "Text without context is pretext."

Only when it comes to homosexuality though, right?

 

[OllieFranz]

Only when it comes to homosexuality though, right?

If you are asking if context is only important when the issue is homosexuality, the answer is no. It is important to understand the Scriptures and how they relate to our lives in all aspects of those lives. You referenced a specific verse, and you (mis)applied it to homosexuality. I pointed out the need for context in that verse and in every verse. If anyone is reading the Bible differently when it comes to this one issue than he reads it in regard to other issues, it is not me.

If you are asking me if I think you are not understanding the Scriptures only in regard to homosexuality, or if I think you are confused in other areas as well, I have to say I don't know. I don't know you or your beliefs in other areas well enough to tell.

 

[Polycarp1]

I think there's one other important aspect to 'homosexuality' that keeps getting overlooked, because of the focus of the 'antis' on sexual conduct and "lust" (looking up the definition of list as a sin might be instructive) and the 'pros' tendency to react to what the antis are saying.

I doubt that any person sporting marriage rings on this board married his/her spouse exclusively to be able to have sex without sinning. That is one element of a desire to form a complete lifelong union of every element of one's life with the beloved: helpmeet in sorrow or adversity, sharer of joys and hopes, most intimate friend and companion, one's 'other half' as it were.... Nobody wants to get married just to have sex; it's quite easy to do so without such a commitment, if one has a mind to.

Homosexuality is the state of forming a romantic and sexual attraction exclusively or predominantly towards a person or persons of the same sex. To be sure, there are people who gratify their lusts in anonymous encounters, picking a partner up at a bar or some such trysting place purely for sexual purposes. But that does not describe the majority of people, whether their orientation is hetero-, homo-, or bisexual. And those who claim it does are revealing only a bankruptcy in what should be Christian charity towards others.

 

[KCKID]

I'm not bumping this thread up merely to toot my own horn ...um, so to speak. I really WOULD like to hear from some of the staunch 'anti-gays' as to what THEY perceive homosexuality to be.

Hint: If it ain't sodomy that is under discussion then what is the problem?

 

[jamielindas]

To be sure, there are people who gratify their lusts in anonymous encounters, picking a partner up at a bar or some such trysting place purely for sexual purposes. But that does not describe the majority of people, whether their orientation is hetero-, homo-, or bisexual. And those who claim it does are revealing only a bankruptcy in what should be Christian charity towards others.

Here here!
I think that is something that people keep forgetting. The sexual nature of our species in NOT confined so homosexuality. There are TONS of straight men and women that have this same behavior of seeking anonymous sex.

 

[Stinker]

What IS 'homosexuality' anyhow ...?


I have found that heterosexual males who have been taught to hate homosexual males, primarily hate them because the homosexual lacks the inner masculinity that is filled with femininity. This makes them sissies. The gay sexual practice is only secondary to these haters.

Perhaps these kinds of gays are sissies, but, there are gays that do not have near this level of femininity. These are males that only have the level of femininity to effect their sexual attraction. Men such as Rock Hudson and Raymond Burr (Perry Mason) & (Ironside)


Then there are the male Psychologically Transgendered. These are the males with the mind or thinking of a female and are different from the other feminine males (who do not want their body to be female) in that the psychologically Transgendered do long for their feminine body.