Is Homosexuality Genetic?

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Maso said:
It’s… Demonic Possession

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Possesed am I?

*Grabs holy water and starts throwing it on me

"the power of christ compels me! the power of christ compels me!

I’m sorry, but homosexuals are NOT possesed by demons
 
Arandur said:
I’m not sure how important the question is, though. Even with inclinations and predispositions, genetic or developmental, action is ultimately a choice. Children tend to carry on some of the traits of their parents, but if those conditioned traits are negative, is it okay for them to continue acting that way? Likewise with genetic predispostions. Violence in the first case and alcoholism in the second case come to mind as examples of what I’m trying to point out.
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For someone who believes everything the Catholic church teaches it means nothing of course. I disagree with the church, so it matters to me.
 
Teen4Christ said:
Possesed am I?

*Grabs holy water and starts throwing it on me

"the power of christ compels me! the power of christ compels me!

I’m sorry, but homosexuals are NOT possesed by demons
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Can you twist your head around 180 degrees?
 
pathia said:
Do you believe Nicolosi’s theories then?
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To be honest, I don’t really know. I’m not so sure Dr. Nicolosi is all that credible, especially given the fact that he dedicated his book “Striving For Gender Identity” to a priest; I think that indicates that, before even conducting any research, he had drawn a conclusion and method of therapy.

In addition, I think you have to question the motives of any psychologist who tells their patients to effectively deprive themselves of a healthy, sexual relationship. He determined that for some gay men - whom he refers to as "non-gay homosexuals - the best option is to live a celibate life, because the homosexual attraction is not likely to disappear and the heterosexual lifestyle may not be desirable. Unless homosexuality is proven to be a social ill, such advice is not conducive. (There are some studies which indicate that homosexuality may lead to certain problems, such as bi-polar disorder, increase risk of suicidal thoughts, etc. The general consensus among the APA is that these are wrought by non-acceptance. This may or may not be true, considering studies have been done in other societies and similar results were noted. However, the studies are few and one should not draw conclusions - yet.)

So, in short, I would have to say that I question his motives and therefore do not subscribe to his theories. I’m not saying they are utterly ridiculous, because I don’t know. I think more research and study needs to be done before any final conclusion is reached.
 
pathia said:
For someone who believes everything the Catholic church teaches it means nothing of course. I disagree with the church, so it matters to me.
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But why does it matter to you?

If you take the approach that something that can’t be helped, whether because you are genetically or developmentally predispositioned to it, makes it okay for you to do it, are you willing to be consistent with that line of reasoning?

To be consistent, it must be okay for an abusive alcoholic to continue to be one, if he is genetically predisposed to be so. It must be okay for someone born with higher levels of testosterone and perhaps other conditions that may make him more aggressive to be more aggressive, even violent. It must be okay for very sexually-charged individuals with high sex drives to be promiscuous, or even if they keep sex within marriage, to demand considerably more sex from their spouse than their spouse may desire.

If you want to use a philosophical approach other than Catholic Christianity to look at the subject of homosexuality, then you still must carry out that approach logically. I know of no approaches that attempt to determine an ethical system of behavior that would be substantially changed by a genetic predisposition argument, because if they were, they would have to give a pass to so many other behaviors. If it were consistent but still justified the behavior, it would cease to be a moral philosophy, because it would have to conclude that humans are merely animals controlled by urges who are not responsible for their actions because they have no choice in the matter. That approach is easily attacked, however, and contrary to the experience of every reasoning human being.

So, how do you approach the question, and why then do genetics matter to you? How do you handle other predispositions on the moral scale?
 
Even with inclinations and predispositions, genetic or developmental, action is ultimately a choice. Children tend to carry on some of the traits of their parents, but if those conditioned traits are negative, is it okay for them to continue acting that way? Likewise with genetic predispostions. Violence in the first case and alcoholism in the second case come to mind as examples of what I’m trying to point out.
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Certainly homosexual activity is a choice, but so is heterosexual activity. What isn’t a choice, however, is sexual orientation. One simply cannot choose is or her sexual orientation. So, what needs to be asked is this: Is there a good reason to discourage the homosexual lifestyle? Are there social problems specific to the homosexual lifestyle? Basically, is it harmful? If not, there is no reason to discourage it - other than religious reasons.
 
To be honest, I don’t care a whit, politically, about homosexuality. The most pressing moral issue, for Catholics and non-Catholics, is not whether homosexuality is genetic, changeable, etc., but the deliberate killing of another human being; i.e., abortion.

Consider this scenario - politically:

The Democrats agree to criminalize abortion so long as the Republicans agree to legalize same-sex marriage.

I would be the first to vote “nay” on Prop 8.

It’s not likely ever to happen, but I think it brings some perspective to the issue. Homosexuals are human beings, alive and well, and we won’t let them marry, but we’ll let women kill their children.

Nobody else sees a problem with that?

Some might call me a bad Catholic for allowing one “evil” to prevent another evil, but so be it.
 
Personally, I don’t believe that homosexuality is genetic. I have never read anything that was “scientific” to prove that there was indeed and most certainly a homosexual gene. However, I have read that genetic factors may contribute to homosexual behavior when combined with various social and environmental factors. Nevertheless, as far as the Church goes this would not make the behavior acceptable.

However, I felt if there ever came a day, which I doubt there would, where the causal factors of homosexuality were found to be purely genetic, the Church would not change its stance. As Catholics, we are called to go beyond natural inclinations.

Just food for thought. Consider the following:
Assist me, that I may continually labour to overcome nature, to correspond with Thy grace, to keep Thy commandments, and to work out my salvation. (Taken from: A Universal Prayer For All Things Necessary To Salvation).
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People possess many natural inclinations and genetic dispositions for many things, but it does not necessarily excuse their behavior. For those who suffer from this predisposition, think of it as a Purgative experience and know as long as you strive to overcome your burden that your reward will be great.

Pax.
 
doesn’t the fact that in identical twins sometimes one is gay and one straight prove homosexuality isn’t genetic?
 
ChristIsLord said:
doesn’t the fact that in identical twins sometimes one is gay and one straight prove homosexuality isn’t genetic?
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It proves without doubt that homosexuality is not entirely genetic, or even mostly genetic. But it also proves that genetics play a part - although, in my opinion, a small one.
 
Benedict108 said:
People possess many natural inclinations and genetic dispositions for many things, but it does not necessarily excuse their behavior. For those who suffer from this predisposition, think of it as a Purgative experience and know as long as you strive to overcome your burden that your reward will be great.

Pax.
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so, we get to punished more for reasons completely unknown to us, yet were all created equal, but if we give in to our nature, which is a punishment, well be punished more?
 
iamme said:
they dont have matching fingerprints or retinal scans either.
that proves nothing.
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fingerprints aren’t genetic though so not sure how it helps your argument. plus fingerprints are very similar with tiny differences, hardly akin to someones entire sexual identity being polar opposite., not sure about retinal scans, i think it points more to a sociological reason for homosexuality and that it is in fact either a choice or a sexual deviancy similar to other sexual deviancies which aren’t genetic either.
 
Neolithic said:
If homosexuality was as innate as some would have you believe, then when one identical twin was homosexual, the other would be homosexual 100% of the time, not 40% of the time.

The argument that your genes “made you do it” carries no weight whatsoever. For example, you may be biologically equipped and ready to engage in sexual acts at an early age, but whether or not you actually do depends on how you were raised- or, your environment.

Early environment - how we perceive the world at an early age - ultimately shapes us for the rest of our lives. Homosexuality, in my opinion (and I am a psychologist), is not innate nor a choice; it is developed at an early age.

Whether or not it is reversible is open to discussion.
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Thank you for the answer to my question. Pardon me if I came off rude or crude. I feel bad about it now…
 
iamme said:
they dont have matching fingerprints or retinal scans either.
that proves nothing.
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Monozygotic twins do not share the same fingerprint patterns because it’s not a genetic characteristic. Environmental factors in the womb, such as position, growth rate, and nutrition are the determining factors. There will be similar patterns because of genetics, but it is ultimately environment which determines fingerprint patterns.

Rental blood vessels weave in too complex a way for genetics to determine it, and that, too, in part, is determined by environment.

So that which you mention actually has much in common with homosexuality, insomuch as genetics play a small role.
 
chrisb said:
Thank you for the answer to my question. Pardon me if I came off rude or crude. I feel bad about it now…
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Not a problem. Homosexuality is like abortion: a testy issue and sometimes people think someone is saying one thing and they actually aren’t. I do it all the time.
 
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