I don't think homosexuality is a sin

[ILoveTheLordGod]

Okay, personally I don’t believe that people are born homosexual, but I do believe that homosexuals are usually because of the environmental factors.

I do agree that homosexual ACTS are sins.
Homosexuality == Homosexual acts.

Homosexuality is a preference of gender. You can’t choose to prefer this and hate that. It’s in the drives. It’s not a choice either, and it’s definitely not their fault that they are homosexual.

Take this for example:
Let’s say you like the taste of chocolate. You cannot command yourself to dislike the taste, but you can definitely command yourself not to eat it at all.

I treat it this way: Homosexuality is a temptation while the homosexual acts are sins.

What are your thoughts?

 

[thistle]

Okay, personally I don’t believe that people are born homosexual, but I do believe that homosexuals are usually because of the environmental factors.

I do agree that homosexual ACTS are sins.
Homosexuality == Homosexual acts.

Homosexuality is a preference of gender. You can’t choose to prefer this and hate that. It’s in the drives. It’s not a choice either, and it’s definitely not their fault that they are homosexual.

Take this for example:
Let’s say you like the taste of chocolate. You cannot command yourself to dislike the taste, but you can definitely command yourself not to eat it at all.

I treat it this way: Homosexuality is a temptation while the homosexual acts are sins.

What are your thoughts?

Not sure what your point is.

The Church teaches that same sex attraction is not a sin but sexual activity between same sexes is a sin.
How is that different from what you said?

 

[Soldier_Of_God]

The Catholic church condemns homosexual acts, not the person that has homosexual feelings. With that said, I would agree somewhat with you on your position.

 

[Fink]

Okay, personally I don’t believe that people are born homosexual, but I do believe that homosexuals are usually because of the environmental factors.

I treat it this way: Homosexuality is a temptation while the homosexual acts are sins.

What are your thoughts?

Totally agree. That`s what the Church teaches.

If only the people who suffer from SSA would take notice of what the Church is saying to them; rather than listening to the agitators who misrepresent her!

 

[DaveBj]

In my own thoughts on this subject I differentiate between unrequited feelings of same-sex attraction (“homophilia”) and actual sexual acts between individuals of the same gender ("homosexuality). The language does provide the resources to differentiate between the two concepts.

 

[ILoveTheLordGod]

Ah, okay. Thanks for letting me know. I posted this because tons of sites say that homosexuality is a sin.

I was trying to make it clear that homosexuality == homosexual acts.

One of my closest friends is a homosexual female (good thing I’m a guy).

 

[Seatuck]

Ah, okay. Thanks for letting me know. I posted this because tons of sites say that homosexuality is a sin.

I was trying to make it clear that homosexuality == homosexual acts.

One of my closest friends is a homosexual female (good thing I’m a guy).

This is a Catholic site.
It also depends upon the definition used. When the majority of people say someone is homosexual they mean practicing . Hence the homosexuality = sin. People with Same Sex Attraction who are practicing chastity or who are struggling to do so tend to not talk about it or label themselves as “homosexual” . Although some do.

Here’s the section of the catechism that pertains to the discussion-

Chastity and homosexuality
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a6.htm

 

[Scoobyshme]

Ah, okay. Thanks for letting me know. I posted this because tons of sites say that homosexuality is a sin.

I was trying to make it clear that homosexuality == homosexual acts.

One of my closest friends is a homosexual female (good thing I’m a guy).

Well, consider this, from a philosophical view.

If you had a strong inclination to steal, but never stole anything, would you go around identifying yourself as a thief?

If you had a strong inclination to murder, but never murdered anyone, would you go around identifying yourself as a murderer?

They why do homosexuals identify themselves as homosexual, unless they are actively committing the sin?

I think it’s a all a big political ploy to try to somehow legitimize gravely sinful behavior and to have society accept gravely disordered and sinful behavior as somehow “normal.” Not really surprising for a society of death that allows murder of the most innocent of us (abortion).

 

[LemonAndLime]

I agree that it is NOT a choice.

If it was a choice, why would someone choose to be gay in a country where you can be killed for it?

I do think you are born with it. It can’t be culture, as not every culture is the same, and there is SSA in every culture/continent/country you go. So if its not nurture, it must be nature.

 

[Hokomai]

Well, consider this, from a philosophical view.

If you had a strong inclination to steal, but never stole anything, would you go around identifying yourself as a thief?

If you had a strong inclination to murder, but never murdered anyone, would you go around identifying yourself as a murderer?

They why do homosexuals identify themselves as homosexual, unless they are actively committing the sin?

Because sexuality is about more than having sex.

 

[SwizzleStick]

SSA is not a sin. Homosexual acts are sinful. That is what the Church teaches.

 

[boncrayon]

I agree that God loves the homosexual, but is saddened by the sin. I also think that a person proclaiming themselves as homosexual is bill boarding their preference for a homosexual encounter and setting up the promiscuous action.

Lust is not an act, but is a deadly sin. Promiscuity is a string of sinful acts. Idolizing someone (idolitry) is also a deadly sin. Tempting, coercing or misleading someone else for one’s sexual gratification is also a grave sin.

 

[exnihilo]

I agree that it is NOT a choice.

If it was a choice, why would someone choose to be gay in a country where you can be killed for it?

I do think you are born with it. It can’t be culture, as not every culture is the same, and there is SSA in every culture/continent/country you go. So if its not nurture, it must be nature.

Then why would someone chose to steal when you can be killed for it in some countries? Man can and does choose things that lead to death. That would seem to be fundamental to faith too as man can choose to reject God leading to damnation.

Furthermore we can influence what we desire. It seems pretty evident that people can fall into evil. Each choice takes us down a path. A person who decides to steal something is going to be more comfortable stealing again. And conversely those who choose what is right are lead down a path. This would seem to be central to the idea of sanctification.

Not only can we make choices regarding what we do but we can make choices regarding what we think. A treatment that has success in psychology is getting people to examine and control their thoughts. If you have negative thoughts with practice you can learn to dismiss them.

So yes we do have desires but there is plenty of evidence we can both not act on them but also to some extent tame them.

 

[Joe_5859]

So if its not nurture, it must be nature.

Not to start that debate again, but it could be a combination of the two. Not that my opinion on the matter is worth a whole lot, but I think that’s the most likely.

Not that it matters that much from a moral theology perspective anyway. Whether it’s nature, nurture, or a combination of the two, those with SSA (as are we all) are called to chastity according to their state in life.

 

[meltzerboy]

Okay, personally I don’t believe that people are born homosexual, but I do believe that homosexuals are usually because of the environmental factors.

I do agree that homosexual ACTS are sins.
Homosexuality == Homosexual acts.

Homosexuality is a preference of gender. You can’t choose to prefer this and hate that. It’s in the drives. It’s not a choice either, and it’s definitely not their fault that they are homosexual.

Take this for example:
Let’s say you like the taste of chocolate. You cannot command yourself to dislike the taste, but you can definitely command yourself not to eat it at all.

I treat it this way: Homosexuality is a temptation while the homosexual acts are sins.

What are your thoughts?

Your last statement totally conforms with the teachings of Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodox Judaism.

 

[exnihilo]

SSA is not a sin. Homosexual acts are sinful. That is what the Church teaches.

I have a question on that. In Matthew 5:28 Jesus says ‘But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart’. I’m not sure what the Church teaches regarding this but would same sex lust be a sin as well? So both the acts and a lust would be sinful.

 

[Joe_5859]

I have a question on that. In Matthew 5:28 Jesus says ‘But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart’. I’m not sure what the Church teaches regarding this but would same sex lust be a sin as well? So both the acts and a lust would be sinful.

Of course. If lusting after someone on the opposite sex is a sin, then why would lusting after someone of the same sex not be?

But sometimes people have difficulty distinguishing between whether they are actually lusting or whether they are simply being tempted. For that, I would suggest talking it out with a good confessor and/or spiritual director.

 

[exnihilo]

Of course. If lusting after someone on the opposite sex is a sin, then why would lusting after someone of the same sex not be?

Well I would certainly think so myself. The reason for raising it as a question is that I see people posting that homosexual acts are sinful but not the attraction. I dont see the lusting in your heart aspect of homosexuality mentioned. Of course I understand we are posting to a forum not writing tight expositions on morality. But I wouldn’t want people to forget about that aspect of sin. Especially because it is by entertaining thoughts and desires that we often go astray physically.

 

[jomoco]

Looked at objectively, I believe homosexuals in many ways are God’s most hardworked of creations, being born with their polarity backward, completely aware they are tragically different. They are nevertheless slaves to the instinct to reproduce, and become as one with God, despite their fallen flawed nature, which so closely mirrors today’s heterosexual man’s current world of deception and lies, that it may well be God’s way of branding our collective fallen state into our hides, a genetic reminder that we are all fallen and in sore need of some day obtaining His understanding, and forgiveness.

Hopefully in heaven all polarities are in perfect synchronization and balance, spinning up the tachometer of God’s race car through to the stars!

Just my opinion of course, that God made homosexuals on purpose, with a specific intent, vital to His purpose, His most hardworked cadre of angels unaware, treasured by Him, and precious to Him.

jomoco

 

[Swiss_Guy]

Okay, personally I don’t believe that people are born homosexual, but I do believe that homosexuals are usually because of the environmental factors.

I do agree that homosexual ACTS are sins.
Homosexuality == Homosexual acts.

Homosexuality is a preference of gender. You can’t choose to prefer this and hate that. It’s in the drives. It’s not a choice either, and it’s definitely not their fault that they are homosexual.

Take this for example:
Let’s say you like the taste of chocolate. You cannot command yourself to dislike the taste, but you can definitely command yourself not to eat it at all.

I treat it this way: Homosexuality is a temptation while the homosexual acts are sins.

What are your thoughts?

I agree.