D
dumbseeker
Guest
I was reading something about Israel. The material says homosexuality is well-recognized and accepted in Israel. Can anyone explain to me why? I thought Israel was a country full of religious Jews.
- Status
D
dzheremi
Guest
Israel is not a city. 
Also, Israeli society is pretty secular. Wikipedia’s page on homosexual rights in Israel (not the greatest source, I know, but it at least includes linked sources) has this to say:
Israel is considered the most progressive and tolerant country in the Middle East in terms of gay rights.[citation needed] In November 2005, a groundbreaking court decision in Israel ruled that a lesbian spouse could officially adopt a child born to her current partner, by artificial insemination from an anonymous sperm donor; this ruling was despite protests by the Orthodox Jewish parliamentary parties (which are a minority). Common law marriage has already been similarly achieved (which grants most of the official marriage rights to the spouse), but full official gay marriage has not yet been sanctioned. However, same-sex marriages performed elsewhere are recognized.
Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and Cyprus are the only countries in the Middle East[1] where homosexuality between consenting adults in private is not illegal and homosexuals are not persecuted under law. In most other Middle Eastern countries homosexuality is illegal, often punishable by flogging and even hanging. Until 2007, Israel was the only country in Asia where homosexuals were protected by anti-discrimination laws.[2] Israel remains the only country in the Middle East to provide such legal protection.
Out Magazine has named Tel Aviv “the gay capital of the Middle East.”[3]
Also, Israeli society is pretty secular. Wikipedia’s page on homosexual rights in Israel (not the greatest source, I know, but it at least includes linked sources) has this to say:
Israel is considered the most progressive and tolerant country in the Middle East in terms of gay rights.[citation needed] In November 2005, a groundbreaking court decision in Israel ruled that a lesbian spouse could officially adopt a child born to her current partner, by artificial insemination from an anonymous sperm donor; this ruling was despite protests by the Orthodox Jewish parliamentary parties (which are a minority). Common law marriage has already been similarly achieved (which grants most of the official marriage rights to the spouse), but full official gay marriage has not yet been sanctioned. However, same-sex marriages performed elsewhere are recognized.
Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and Cyprus are the only countries in the Middle East[1] where homosexuality between consenting adults in private is not illegal and homosexuals are not persecuted under law. In most other Middle Eastern countries homosexuality is illegal, often punishable by flogging and even hanging. Until 2007, Israel was the only country in Asia where homosexuals were protected by anti-discrimination laws.[2] Israel remains the only country in the Middle East to provide such legal protection.
Out Magazine has named Tel Aviv “the gay capital of the Middle East.”[3]
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bpbasilphx
Guest
I thought Israel was a country full of religious Jews.
**Hardly. Where did you get that idea? Most of the 19-20 century Zionsis were actually non-observant, socialistic, agnostic, or out and out atheist.
So the country seems to remain today. Special arrangements have to be made for Orthodox/Haredi Jews there in the armed services.d Would they be doing so if the country as a whole was all that observant?**
**Hardly. Where did you get that idea? Most of the 19-20 century Zionsis were actually non-observant, socialistic, agnostic, or out and out atheist.
So the country seems to remain today. Special arrangements have to be made for Orthodox/Haredi Jews there in the armed services.d Would they be doing so if the country as a whole was all that observant?**
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bpbasilphx
Guest
BTW–why are so many people on these fora so fascinated–yea, even obsessed–with homosexuality?
OTHER PEOPLE’S homosexuality, that is.
OTHER PEOPLE’S homosexuality, that is.
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notself
Guest
I could be wrong, but it appears that Catholics feel that homosexual acts are particularly threatening to the family and a more serious sin than just plain old fornication and adultery. Although, they appear to find those acts fascinating as well.
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Eucharisted
Guest
We are not fascinated nor obessed over unnatural and sinful acts like homosexual acts, but we are against them, and so long as they are promoted and people demand we change our teachings, so long will we promote chastity and defend the Catholic Church.
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Hisalone
Guest
Homosexuality is a barameter of the corruption level of a society.
Are you homosexual?
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dzheremi
Guest
How inappropriate.
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notself
Guest
I don’t think you are correctly representing the teachings of the Catholic Church. I could be wrong, but I think the Church teaches that homosexuality is disordered, but that a homosexual can be a good Catholic as long as the homosexual does not act on his or her sexual preferences.
Personally, I think that pedophilia is a barometer of the moral corruption level of society.
L
LutheranDK
Guest
Although paedophilia is, and should be, a MUCH more reprehensible act in society’s view, both it and homophilia are morally despicable.
I would assume (although I don’t know, not being RC) that the RC church says that ALL sexual perversions (homophilia, paedophilia, etc) are “disordered”, but that a person with that perversion can be a good RC, as long as he/she doesn’t live out that preference?
Oh, and to the OP:
Israel is a country full of SECULAR Jews. Even in Jerusalem, I believe the majority is still secular, although the orthodox are getting there…
K
KingAlfred
Guest
It’s probably a result of a secular-progressive sub-culture within Israeli society. Religious Jews probably don’t approve of it. A good example of this strain of Jewish consciousness is the triumph of Communism in Russia in the early 20th Century. The majority of Bolsheviks were secular Jews. In fact, the Revolution was equivalent to a Jewish revolt. In time, its Jewish dominance was undone by Stalin, just as violently as it was established. Winston Churchill wrote a well known treatise on the dangers of the secular, Jewish attraction to Marxism. He was referring to idealistic, *non-religious *Jewish zealots who saw in Communism a more relevant and convincing source of human salvation than the Jewish religion. There exists compelling historical evidence supporting his assertions.
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Hisalone
Guest
How so?
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Hisalone
Guest
The bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin no better nor worse than some other sins including fornication, drunkedness larceny etc
Homosexuality is not a disorder it is a sin.
Would you say a drunk can be a good Catholic as long as he doesnt drink or a hetrosexual can be Catholic if they dont fornicate? No Why is it necessary to pander to the homosexual community?
A
Aramis
Guest
The bible teaches that the sexual act of man with man is a sin, and of man with beast is a sin, and of woman with beast is a sin. It says nothing about attraction of man to man, only of the sinfulness of sex-act between two men, and the resultant death penalty!
It also says that having sex with another’s wife is a sin. It also says that coveting another’s wife is a sin. Cheating on one’s own wife is also a sin.
The bible teaches that the act is wrong, and is silent on the temptation itself. Coveting, however, isn’t the same as being tempted.
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Hisalone
Guest
The bible teaches that the sexual act of a man with a woman other than his wife is sin.
Jesus teaches that even looking on a woman to lust after her is a sin. I take that to mean that if a man looks after a man to lust after him then that is a sin. If a man is attracted to another man then the temptation of having sex with that man either in fantasy or in the flesh is what must be dealt with.
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Dale_M
Guest
But as I recall, the gay pride celebration in Jerusalem has been pretty controversial.
This is from 2006:
time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1558015,00.html
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notself
Guest
Of course an alcoholic can be a good Catholic as long as he is sober. Homosexuality, the sexual preference for someone of the same sex, is not a sin. The ACT of homosexual sex is the sin. That is what the Church says as I understand it.
If you are saying that a mere urge to have inappropriate sex makes one a bad Catholic, then you need to back that position with a quote from Church teaching.
Perhaps we are misunderstanding one another’s posts.
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bpbasilphx
Guest
Homosexuality is a barameter of the corruption level of a society.
Are you homosexual?
**Why do you want to know? Are you asking me for a date?
I only date in my own species.**
Are you homosexual?
**Why do you want to know? Are you asking me for a date?
I only date in my own species.**
C
catholicscot
Guest
The Catechism tells it different
A person who is homosexual can be a perfectly good Catholic provided they are chaste. Homosexual acts are never licit but it is never a sin to be tempted. We are all tempted with one thing or another. Sin lies in accepting the temptation and then acting upon it.
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Hisalone
Guest
Those most sensitive to the observation of others are those that are being observed.
Do you believe that homosexual behavior is a sin?
- Status