is it a sin?

[GregoryPalamas]

VERY good post !!! The last paragrpah is worth special attention and praise.

Thank you kind sir. These are conclusion I came to years ago. Some of my friends state this even better. It is providential that my priest, Father Thomas Loya, spoke of the same matter this morning on Relavent Radio. He is very much involved in Theology of the Body International.

CDL

 

[goofyjim]

But we’ve got to teach at some point that it is okay to have same sex attraction otherwise those who do will attempt suicide. I know personally someone who attempted to hang himself over this. I think it’s plain lack of compassion to just try to ignore it and wish it away. It is a phenomenon that has survived the generations and will continue to do so.

 

[GregoryPalamas]

But we’ve got to teach at some point that it is okay to have same sex attraction otherwise those who do will attempt suicide. I know personally someone who attempted to hang himself over this. I think it’s plain lack of compassion to just try to ignore it and wish it away. It is a phenomenon that has survived the generations and will continue to do so.

So will the temptations to overeat and laziness and gossip and drinking too much be ok?. People are tempted to commit suicide and sometimes do over those things as well. I know this very well. It is not “ok”, whatever that means, to be preoccupied with these temptations to commit evil. The preoccupation is called idolatry. If we resist evil it will fly away. That is what the Apostles promised us and I believe it. It may take a lifetime of resisting but the promise is still true.

What does “ok” mean in the context that you are using it? Was it ok that my mom suffered from depression and took to drinking binges until it killed her. Would it have been ok that she suffered from depression?

The residuals effects of original sin is not “ok” in my book. We may have to suffer from some of these effects but I’ll be damned if I’ll call them ok.

CDL

 

[AnonymousOne]

Just because seeing other guys naked in the locker room makes you think of sex, that doesn’t mean that you’re homosexual or that the sexual feelings you experience are an actual attraction to the guys you see. It could simply be that seeing other guys without their clothes on makes you think of sex. It would be kind of odd if it didn’t. I don’t know from your post whether it’s more than that, but if that’s what you mean, then I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[mikeledes]

You said you can’t avoid the locker room, right. I guess the best advice I can think of right now is to try to keep your attention on what you have to do - don’t look at the others - and pray to God for strength to overcome the temptation. Remember, you’re not committing sin when you are tempted. You sin when you fall into temptation.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[Mirdath]

I have always found that cultivating the idea of ‘mental privacy’ is very helpful, around members of both sexes. I am bisexual, and often find the human form very beautiful, but I genuinely do not ‘notice’ it in a physical sense unless I wish to, and/or am given specific instruction to do so.

As to ‘mental privacy,’ perhaps thinking of how it is in cultures where occasional group nudity (either and both sexes) isn’t unusual or worrisome, and even visualize a ‘modesty screen’ before your eyes might help. Basically, try not to stare, is what I’m sayin’ here! And that’s good advice whether around members of any and all sexes. Chastity really begins in the mind, first and foremost.

I agree with others though, it really isn’t anything to worry about in the ‘oh noes, am I gay?’ sense. Just accord your friends internal respect, and yourself as well, and you’ll be okay.

 

[goofyjim]

So will the temptations to overeat and laziness and gossip and drinking too much be ok?. People are tempted to commit suicide and sometimes do over those things as well. I know this very well. It is not “ok”, whatever that means, to be preoccupied with these temptations to commit evil. The preoccupation is called idolatry. If we resist evil it will fly away. That is what the Apostles promised us and I believe it. It may take a lifetime of resisting but the promise is still true.

What does “ok” mean in the context that you are using it? Was it ok that my mom suffered from depression and took to drinking binges until it killed her. Would it have been ok that she suffered from depression?

The residuals effects of original sin is not “ok” in my book. We may have to suffer from some of these effects but I’ll be damned if I’ll call them ok.

CDL

Exactly the attitude that drives them to commit suicide. Since we are “all” under the residual effects of original sin why should one not rejected to such an extent that they feel so unwanted in life. If someone comes to me with this situation I will tell them the behavior puts them at risk but the attraction alone makes them no less a person in my eyes. There is nothing wrong with same sex attraction.

 

[emily47017]

i think the disagreement here is mostly conflation of the words “wrong” and “sin”. the desire isn’t sinful. desire for suicide, booze, binge/purge, adultery or any other unhealthy thing isn’t sinful.

as goofyjim has posted elsewhere, it’s a cross that we must bear however we can – without resorting to sinful behavior. even jesus asked god to take away his cross, but submitted to god’s will that he bear it. we’re called to emulate christ in this; we can pray to have the desire taken away, but if it’s god’s will that we bear it, then all right. we’ll bear it.

maybe the AMA will someday find some physiological explanation, or maybe they won’t. maybe the APA will someday find some developmental connection, or maybe they won’t. (i don’t buy the freudian theories put forward by NARTH… freud had some great ideas that have changed the way we think about the mind and personality, but for heaven’s sake, not everything can be traced back to our poor, put-upon parents!) ultimately, it doesn’t really matter. we are wild and beautiful creatures, just as the creator intended, and we just have to do the best we can.

blessings,
emily

 

[GregoryPalamas]

Goofy Jim and Emily,

Do either of you believe that God intended us to have these strong temptations?

CDL

 

[goofyjim]

Goofy Jim and Emily,

Do either of you believe that God intended us to have these strong temptations?

CDL

If he hadn’t intended it for osme of us he would never have had to prescribe a law against the acts themselves. The Bible forbids the acts not the attraction.

 

[Riley259]

Homosexuality, like every other sinful tendency - greed, lust, hatred and so on - is part of the fabric of our polluted and sinful nature. Homosexual acts are the manifestation of a sinful heart.

The Bible warns us plainly: ‘Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God’ (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Among the other forms that human depravity manifests itself, homosexuals are included in the list of people who would not inherit the kingdom of God.

Clearly then, the Bible teaches that homosexuality is sin. God would certainly not judge us and exclude us from heaven because of a disease. Like every other sin, it could be forgiven through repentance (admitting that it is sin and forsaking it) and faith in Christ Jesus.

Some excuse homosexuality claiming that it is either a psychiatric or genetic disorder. It is neither. The American Psychiatric Association does not recognize homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder any longer. Moreover, there is no sound scientific evidence that homosexuality is a genetic disease. Again, the APA admits that: “to date there are no replicated scientific studies supporting any specific biological etiology for homosexuality.”

psych.org/public_info/gaylesbianbisexualissues22701.pdf

This link didn’t come up - any chance you could provide it again? Thanks.

 

[Riley259]

Thank you kind sir. These are conclusion I came to years ago. Some of my friends state this even better. It is providential that my priest, Father Thomas Loya, spoke of the same matter this morning on Relavent Radio. He is very much involved in Theology of the Body International.

CDL

I thought it was a great post as well. Would you happen to have a link to that radio show with Father Loya?

 

[Maxply]

For a look at how homosexuality has been politicized (thus creating social approval for homosexuality), read:

Homosexuality and the Politics of Truth.

In a democracy, a loud and rich minority can DEFINITELY sway public opinion!

 

[emily47017]

Do either of you believe that God intended us to have these strong temptations?

are you implying you’ve never felt strong temptation to do evil? never wanted to shake a baby who wouldn’t stop crying? never wanted to punch someone in the nose for insulting you? never wanted to leap into bed with someone not your wife? never wanted to tell a big, juicy lie?

when god created us in his image, none of these things were a part of the plan. original sin turned the plan on its head. god doesn’t want us to suffer in these ways, but adam and eve chose sin and now we have to make the best of it.

nobody here is saying that temptation is all hunky-dory. what we’re saying is, temptation is. we turn aside from it, walk away from it, fight it off if we can, and pray that god will take it away entirely. if it keeps coming back, we have to keep turning aside, turning aside, turning aside. it’s not fun.

beating ourselves up over it and blaming ourselves for being tempted is what drives some of us to despair. if we’re going to keep living, we have to learn compassion for ourselves and for all other sinners.