Eight items appear below:


1   Is Homosexuality Evil?                              Straughen
2   Homosexuality and the Bible                    Anon
3   Homosexuality and the Bible
—Reply      Straughen
4  
Homosexuality and the Bible                    Anon
5  
Homosexuality and the Bible                    Straughen
6   Homosexuality                                            Anon
7   Regarding Homosexuality                         Straughen
8   Immorality is a Killer                                   Anon


IS HOMOSEXUALITY EVIL?

Kirk Straughen

(Investigator 141, 2011 November)

Introduction

There is little doubt that some sections of the Christian community consider homosexuality to be a grievous sin, a fact exemplified by the Pope's condemnation of this variation of human behavior:
Pope John Paul II yesterday labelled gays "unnatural and evil" in his strongest outburst yet against homosexuality.

The Pontiff made his uncompromising remarks after tens of thousands marched in a gay pride festival through Rome.

But his remarks were greeted with fury by gays in Ireland, who dubbed him "sick". Speaking from his balcony to the faithful in St Peter's Square, the Pope said: "The Church cannot silence the truth, because this would not help discern what is good from what is evil.

www.thefreelibrary.com/POPE%3A+GAYS+ARE+EVIL%3B+Fury+at+Pontiff's+attack+on+homosexuals-a063251770

Why does the Pope believe homosexuality is evil, and is this a justifiable conclusion based on sound empirical evidence? Have homosexuals caused AIDS (a common misconception), are they a threat to society so grave they must be suppressed? The purpose of this article is to examine such questions and more.


Scripture and Prejudice

The Bible makes it quite clear that same gender sexual relations are not to be tolerated. Indeed, the Old Testament goes so far as to demand the death penalty for such behavior:
"If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death, their blood shall be upon them." (Leviticus 20:13)

"Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Why should consensual sex between same gender couples incur the death penalty? Why should homosexuals be compared to thieves and robbers? The Pope (and other Christians of a similar view) believes homosexuality is wrong simply because the Bible tells him so.

This is the only conclusion that be reached. No sound reason is given in the Bible. Homosexuality is considered an abomination by the person who wrote these passages of scripture, and other individuals have uncritically accepted these statements as irrefutable facts.

Homosexuality is not the only thing that some authors of scripture considered to be an abomination. Consider the following example: "A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 22:5)

Many women today wear jeans, which were at one time exclusively male clothing. According to the Bible they are an abomination (the same word that is used to describe homosexuality) in the eyes of God. And yet we don't hear the Pope describing women who wear jeans as abhorrent in the eyes of God and opposed to His moral requirements (the basic theological definition of abomination), which is what the Bible would have us believe they are. Clearly, the concept of abomination is not based on any rational grounds.

Is homosexuality unnatural and evil? All things that occur in the natural world are invariably natural. In my opinion the only thing that can be considered unnatural is something that is completely contrary to nature, which of course is the supernatural. Homosexuality is certainly not supernatural. Therefore, it can be considered a natural variation of human sexuality.

Is homosexuality evil? If something is to be considered evil then there must be sound empirical evidence for the harm that it causes. Does such evidence exist for homosexuality? One of the accusations I have heard is that homosexuality caused HIV/AIDS. I shall now examine this claim.


Did Homosexuality Cause HIV/AIDS?

Researchers studying the origins of HIV have concluded that the virus developed in Africa from the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) which was transmitted to humans in the following way:
"The most commonly accepted theory is that of the 'hunter'. In this scenario, SIVcpz was transferred to humans as a result of chimps being killed and eaten or their blood getting into cuts or wounds on the hunter. Normally the hunter's body would have fought off SIV, but on a few occasions it adapted itself within its new human host and become HIV-1. The fact that there were several different early strains of HIV, each with a slightly different genetic make-up (the most common of which was HIV-1 group M), would support this theory: every time it passed from a chimpanzee to a man, it would have developed in a slightly different way within his body, and thus produced a slightly different strain.
An article published in The Lancet in 2004, also shows how retroviral transfer from primates to hunters is still occurring even today. In a sample of 1099 individuals in Cameroon, they discovered ten (1%) were infected with SFV (Simian Foamy Virus), an illness which, like SIV, was previously thought only to infect primates. All these infections were believed to have been acquired through the butchering and consumption of monkey and ape meat. Discoveries such as this have led to calls for an outright ban on bushmeat hunting to prevent simian viruses being passed to humans."
www.avert.org/origin-aids-hiv.htm

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are not caused by a person's sexuality. Viruses mutate naturally, and unfortunately some of these mutations will prove to be pathogenic to humans. STDs are, however, spread by engaging in unprotected/unsafe sex. In Africa, for example, HIV/AIDS is spread predominantly by heterosexual men.

For more information on the causes of the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa, please refer to the following URL:
    www.avert.org/aids-africa-questions.htm

For information on STD preventative measures, please refer to:
    www.ehow.com/how_16296_have-safe-sex.html


Mindless Hatred and its Consequences

Irrational hatred and discrimination can have serious consequences for society, as is exemplified by Uganda's proposed anti-homosexual bill, which advocates the following penalties: "The bill creates a new category of crime called "Aggravated Homosexuality," which calls for death by hanging for gays or lesbians who have sex with anyone under 18 and for so-called "serial offenders."

The bill also calls for seven years in prison for "attempt to commit homosexuality," five years for landlords who knowingly house gays, three years for anyone, including parents, who fail to hand gay children over to the police within 24 hours and the extradition of gay Ugandans living abroad.

The bill's sponsor, David Bahati, now insists the death penalty only applies to homosexual paedophiles."
abcnews.go.com/Nightline/anti-homosexuality-bill-uganda-global -uproar/story?id=10045436&page=1

Unfortunately, the origin of this dangerous legislation may have been inspired by visiting American anti-gay fundamentalists who promote hatred and fear of homosexuals:
"The bill has an American genesis of sorts, inspired to a large extent by the visits of U.S. evangelicals who are involved with a movement that promotes Christianity's role in getting homosexuals to become "ex-gays" through prayer and faith. Ugandan supporters of the bill appear to be particularly impressed by the ideas of Scott Lively, a California conservative preacher who has written a book, The Pink Swastika, about what he calls the links between Nazism and a gay agenda for world domination, which, by itself, would have raised the anti-colonial sensitivities of Ugandan society. Says the Rev. Kapya Kaoma, an Episcopalian priest from Zambia who authored a recent report on anti-gay politics in Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya: "The U.S. culture wars have been exported to Africa."
www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1946645,00.html
The articles I have read indicate that some African preachers are whipping up their congregations into a state of frenzied fear and loathing for homosexuals. Under such circumstances there is a real danger of a witch hunt mentality developing that could very well lead to the commission of atrocities.

Hopefully, continued outrage and pressure from the international community and human rights groups will prevent this dangerous legislation, which clearly legalizes and encourages persecution, from being enacted.


Conclusion


There is no sound reason why homosexuality should be considered evil or harmful to society. Homosexuals didn't cause HIV/AIDS, which is spread predominately by unsafe sex between heterosexuals. Furthermore, our jails are full of heterosexuals who have committed rape and murder, so we can't claim that heterosexuals are somehow better than homosexuals and less prone to criminal acts.

Although I'm not opposed to homosexuality I certainly don't advocate free love or indiscriminate sex with multiple partners. Such hazardous behavior clearly places many people at risk. Sex at its best is not a selfish indulgence; rather it should be an expression of love for another human being. These conclusions are rational — they are based on evidence, rather than the authority of religion. For further information on avoiding sexual exploitation see the following URL:

    www.healthyplace.com/sex/good-sex/the-difference-between-healthy-and-unhealthy-sex/menu-id-66/

 



HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE BIBLE

Anonymous


(Investigator 142, 2012 January)


HISTORY

The Kinsey Report (1948) estimated that 4% of U.S. males were exclusively homosexual. By 1969 homosexuals had formed 150 organizations in the USA to fight legal restrictions. When police raided a gay bar called Stonewall Inn, homosexuals rioted and chanted "Gay is good". From this event the Gay Liberation movement began:
Gay Liberation is a revolutionary homosexual group of women and men formed with the realisation that complete sexual liberation for all people cannot come about unless existing social institutions are abolished. (Founding Statement)
Gay Liberation assumed the central importance of the sex drive with homosexuality a normal variant and that attempts to constrain sexuality sparks frustration and violence.

However, 60% of 2,500 American psychiatrists who answered a questionnaire believed: "homosexuality is usually a pathological adaptation, as opposed to a normal variation". (Time, February 20, 1978)

South Australia passed same sex superannuation legislation in 2004. Under this legislation the gay lover of Don Dunstan (1970s SA premier) sought a spouse pension of $107,000 per year. (Sunday Herald Sun, August 17, 2006, p. 9)

Spain condoned "same-sex unions" in 2004, India decriminalized gay sex between consenting adults in 2009, Iceland's female Prime Minister married her female partner and Argentina approved same-sex marriage in  2010, and Brazil recognized legal rights of same-sex partners in "stable civil unions" in 2011.

"Gay marriage", i.e. the redefinition of marriage, has so far failed in Australia. A letter by Lindsay Dent congratulated the Federal Government for preserving "the true meaning of marriage — the lifelong exclusive union between a man and a woman…" The letter added: "Right now two people are perfectly free to share a house, inherit from each other's wills, give each other legal powers of medical and financial attorney and sign legal deeds about shared property…whether or not a sexual relationship is involved." (Sunday Mail, June 25, 2006, p. 83)

Some "Christian" clerics sanctioned homosexual sex: 
Last month at a one-day conference in New York, ninety clergymen from the Episcopal dioceses of New York, Connecticut, Long Island, and Newark generally agreed that homosexual acts between consenting adults should be judged as "morally neutral". (Christianity Today, January 19, 1968, p. 24)
Peter Jensen, Archbishop of Sydney, however, declared, "The basic question is one of the authority of God's revelation in the Bible... Anglican leaders around the world...must determine whether they and their churches will be faithful to God's revelation in the face of secularist pressure to conform." (Murray 2003)


THE BIBLE

The table below lists behaviors condemned in four Bible passages.

I Corinthians  6:9-10 I Corinthians  5:11 Galatians 5:20-21 Leviticus 20:1-17
fornication Sexual immorality fornication
idolatry idolatry idolatry idolatry
adultery

adultery
homosexuality

homosexual sex
greed greed

drunkenness drunkenness drunkenness
reviling reviling enmity, strife cursing  one's parents
robbery robbery



sorcery spiritism


divisions, sects


jealousy, envy



bestiality



incest
        

Observe that homosexuality is listed with antisocial behaviors that arise by choice or imitation and can be subdued. I Corinthians 6:9-11 states this directly: "Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers — none of these will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified…" (NRSV)

Where the NRSV here has "male prostitutes, sodomites" other translations have "homosexuals". The Greek is "arsenokoites" which Robert Arthur in Homosexuality In The Light Of Biblical Language and Culture (1977) claims meant "temple prostitute".
 
The New Bible Dictionary (1982) argues against "arsenokoites" meaning male prostitute: "Linguistic evidence to support this view is lacking… Paul intended to condemn homosexual conduct (but not homosexual people) in the most general and theologically broad terms he knew." (p. 488)

I checked 12 Bible translations — one has "abusers of themselves with men", the others either "homosexuals" or "sodomites". (Likewise in 1 Timothy 1:10 where "arsenokoites" also occurs.)


CURABLE?

Hatterer (1970), a psychiatrist, regarded homosexuals as "psychiatrically ill" and successfully treated hundreds. World Christian magazine gave the story of "Susan" a lesbian of many "one night stands" and several longer relationships who stopped this lifestyle. (1987 March/April p. 19)

Wilson (2006), however, reported:
Martina Navratilova…tennis legend turned lesbian activist…protested against experiments at two US universities aimed at manipulating the hormones of sheep to make homosexual rams develop an interest in ewes.

Navratilova and the lobby group Ethical Treatment of Animals say the US government-funded experiments are cruel and have potentially dangerous implications for gay people if the idea takes hold that homosexuality can be cured…
Wilson went on to describe a Norwegian museum exhibition which documented homosexual behaviour in 500 species proving that "same-sex activity is not against nature."

New Scientist reports that brain scans: "gave us probably the best evidence yet that our brains are hardwired before birth to be gay or straight, suggesting that nature not nurture governs sexual orientation." (December 27/28, 2008, p. 33) LeVay (2010), himself a homosexual, argues: "sexual orientation emerges from the prenatal sexual differentiation of the brain".  

Episcopal cleric N.C. Spong claims: "St Paul did not realize that the inclination is inborn." (Living in Sin, l988)

Spong is wrong because Paul does "realize that the inclination is inborn", for Paul writes that sin is "in the flesh". (Romans 8:3-8; 5:12) The tendency toward all sin — whether, adultery, racism, alcoholism, thievery, etc — is inborn. Discussing the neuroscience of the "Seven Deadly Sins" Ridgway & Parsons (2010) say: "And the evidence is clear: nature wants us to be bad."


The notion that practicing homosexuals are helpless to stop is refuted whenever some cease practicing. One minister, for example, writes that he renounced his secret homosexuality and "received Christ's transformation to heterosexuality". (ACCatalyst, December 2010) Evangelist Luis Palau in Healthy Habits for Spiritual Growth (1995) tells of "Kenneth" who "rebelled against God" and "flaunted his lifestyle" but got AIDS and "repented".

Some Christian ministries focus on homosexuals. Exodus South Pacific, for example, is: "a coalition of Christian ministries in the South Pacific region whose prime goal is to offer a way back for those who have gone down the part of homosexuality…"

The Sunday Herald Sun (September 2009, p. 11) reported a protest outside a Baptist church during a meeting "aimed at guiding young people away from homosexuality." The congregation included 25 "sexually confused" persons and the meeting-organizer said she used to be a lesbian. The protesters were angry that "young gay men and women were being told to overcome their sexuality."


SODOM and GOMORRAH

The Advertiser reported:
Democrats state leader Sandra Kanck has attacked those "consumed by hate and bigotry" for selectively using the Bible to oppose homosexuality…

She was speaking in the Legislative Council…during debate on a Bill to give de facto same-sex couples the same rights as de facto heterosexual couples…

She said the Bible, in particular Genesis Chapters 18 and 19, also talked about "gang rape" of young virginal women and incest, which those opposing same-sex relationships conveniently ignored…

But Family First leader Andrew Evans — a former preacher — labelled her approach to the Bible as "foolish, unprofessional and ridiculous".

"Just because the Bible records events of history doesn't make them right," he said. (September 30, 2006, p. 21)
The parliamentarians were referring to Sodom and Gomorrah about which Genesis states: "How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin!" (18:20)

According to Genesis, most male inhabitants of these towns were homosexuals. In the story two "angels" in human form visited Sodom. "Lot", a "righteous" man, invited these strangers to stay in his house and "made them a feast" but a crowd of homosexuals gathered and clamoured to rape the visitors. (19:1-11)

Lot tried to distract them: "I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Look, I have two daughters who have not known a man [i.e. virgins]; let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please; only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof." (19:7-8) Hospitality to travellers and protecting them defined the "righteous man" in ancient Palestine. Lot probably hoped to defuse the situation by impressing on the homosexuals their wickedness — so evil that a father would offer his own daughters to prevent their intentions. However, the angels took charge and the daughters were spared. (19:9-11)

Ezekiel 16:49-50 states: "This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she…did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty, and did abominable things…" "Abominable" or "abhorrent" things is the Hebrew "toh-geh-vah" which occurs 116 times and includes such activities as idolatry (Jeremiah 44:4, 22), séances, divination, human sacrifice, homosexual sex, incest, bestiality. (Leviticus 18:9-26)


SELF CONTROL

The Bible calls for sexual self-restraint among singles, and only one marriage partner if married. Jesus said:
"For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can." (Matthew 19:12)
Some atheists misrepresent Jesus as teaching "all men should castrate themselves." The preceding verses (19:10-11), however, show Jesus is referring to singleness. Jesus says "made themselves eunuchs" rather than "stayed single" to emphasize that it's singleness without sex, just as eunuchs don't have sex, and not singleness while consorting with prostitutes.  

Sexual abstinence by homosexuals is no more difficult than self-denial by heterosexual singles including spinsters, the divorced, and the disabled in wheelchairs. It's also no more difficult than self control over other temptations such as drunkenness, thieving, gambling, child-molesting, slothfulness, gossiping, smoking, lying, etc. All could argue, "My problem began before my birth." But the biblical reply to all is:
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety, and worldly passions, and…live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for … our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13)
The Bible condemns "fornication" (which includes adultery, unmarried sex, prostitution and rape). (Proverbs 7; Jeremiah. 5:7-8; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; Ephesians 5:3-5; Hebrews 12:16)

Successful obedience requires restraining one's imagination:

But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)

Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God', for God … tempts no one; but each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is fullgrown brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)

Let us live honourably … not in debauchery … and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:13-14)
Revelation commends "Everyone who conquers" (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21) i.e. everyone who resists the world's temptations.


LEGAL SANCTION?

Christians do not execute homosexuals as in Moses' law (Leviticus 20:13), because the law was for ancient Israel (Psalm 147:19-20) and is replaced by a "better covenant". (Hebrews 8:7-13)

Christians obey secular laws except when these conflict with God's requirements. (Romans 13; Acts 5:29)

Some want to stop homosexual sex by legislation. This is understandable because it would reduce temptation, just as laws against racism means fewer people become racists. However, enforcing Christian ethics with legislation succeeds only when almost everyone agrees e.g. punishing child abusers or allocating pensions for the aged.

Society cannot be forced into full biblical obedience because genetics, including "original sin", makes people "slaves of sin" (Romans 6:17) and it's therefore impossible for them to obey without "repentance", "love of God" and "faith":
For the love of God is this, that we obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (I John 4:3-5)
Christians in the Roman Empire raised children and followed the Bible — despite idolatry, homosexual sex, infanticide, rape of slaves, and untold slaughter in amphitheatres being normal — and can also succeed today.


OBJECTIONS ANSWERED

British theologian Christopher Rowland (The Guardian, October 4, 2003) argued that the New Testament teaches tolerance. Peter, for example, accepted the conversion of the Roman centurion Cornelius, thereby inviting Pagans, not just Jews, to follow Christ, and Paul abrogated the rules that prevented Jews and Pagans from eating together.

 Rowland concluded from this:
What both Peter and Paul were doing was rejecting precedent and tradition in the light of experience. They read scripture in a way that was determined by the experience of the love of Christ and the obvious marks of God's presence in the lives of those who, according to the law, should be outsiders. In so doing, they laid down an approach to reading the Bible which should be central to Christianity…

The appeal to precedent and tradition may have to be jettisoned in favour of the recognition that the same gift is at work in gay and lesbian Christians as in heterosexual Christians… 
Christian inclusiveness, however, accepts all people, but not all behaviours and customs. Upon the conversion of Cornelius, Peter declared:
I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. (Acts 10:34-35)
Sunday Mail columnist Peter Goers defended gay marriage with "not one of those who quoted the Bible referred to the commandments that we should love our neighbours as ourselves and treat others as we would like to be treated." (Sunday Mail, November 7, 2004) However, Christians "treat others as we would like to be treated" by being examples of good conduct, helpful to people in need, and critics of harmful conduct.

The Bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries, nominated a homosexual as bishop of Bradford to protest "the cruel homophobia within the church". (Murray 2003) Blaze magazine (5 May, 2011) reported the "International Day Against Homophobia" and on two pages used the words "homophobia" or "homophobic" 18 times.

A phobia is an irrational fear severe enough to disrupt one's life. Guide to Psychiatry (1974) does not list disapproval of homosexuality as a phobia, instead discusses possibilities for curing homosexuals!

"Homophobia" is in most instances a false label and its frequent use an attempt to convince by repetition. It's like if pedophiles and rapists accused their critics of "pedo-phobia" and "rapo-phobia".

Biblical right and wrong is not "mindless prejudice" but based on principles that promote health, long life, peace and prosperity. (Proverbs 3:1-2; 12:28; 21:21) Biblical ethics, therefore, are objective and their rightness measurable.

Regarding homosexuals: their life expectancy is 20 years below heterosexuals and their AIDs rate 20 times higher. In round figures, the sexual "freedom" of the 20th century produced 2000 million cases of sexually transmitted disease, 200 million deaths, 2000 million abortions, and 1000 million cases of child sexual abuse, besides creating violent emotions leading to conflict and countless murders. The costs exceed the deaths, injuries and waste of all 20th-century wars. If that's not evil, then what is?

Atheists cite seemingly pointless commands like the prohibition of wearing clothing of the other sex (Deuteronomy 22:5) and claim the Bible contains "prejudice". Many commands in Moses' Law functioned to separate Israelites from Canaanite customs and religion. The 22:5 command was possibly directed against idol-worship and/or immorality that involved cross-dressing. A Christian applying this command today would avoid practices that precede or lead to sinful actions.

Another argument is: "Nowhere does the Bible condemn the life of love of a Christian who happens to love a person of the same sex." "Love", however, has several meanings.  If by "love" is meant "sodomy" then the Bible does condemn it. If "love" refers to "agape", the affection guided by Christian ethics (I Corinthians 13), then yes — this love can be personal, but wants for others what's best and therefore discourages "gay sex".

Romans 1:26-29 states:
 God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error… Though they know God's decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those practise them.
Some homosexuals claim: "Romans refers to people who commit sexual acts that are unnatural to themselves, such as heterosexuals trying to be homosexuals. It does not condemn practising homosexuals who had the inclination from childhood."

Such reasoning, however, would justify every evil — e.g. "Only murderers who commit murder when it's unnatural to themselves should be condemned, not murderers so inclined from childhood."

The Bible exposes our rationalizations and cautions us:
You call evil good and good evil, put darkness for light and light for darkness, bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (Isaiah 5:20)

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt. (Jeremiah 17:9)

This is the way of an adulteress: she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done no wrong.' (Proverbs 30:20)

There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12; 21:2)


CONCLUSION:

Christians are: "God's own people called into his marvellous light to proclaim God." (I Peter 2:9)

Prior to the 2010 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney, Haydn Sennitt and his wife:
…appeared on the ABC to share my testimony of how I came out of the gay life in the strength of Christ… I felt that someone had to stand up for the truth and be a light on a hill in a very, very, dark spiritual place: the place of the gay world. (Eternity, May 2010)
After the World Wars divorce became easier, adultery and defacto relationships multiplied, and prostitution and brothels were legalized. With more varieties of sex acceptable it became inconsistent to keep homosexual sex illegal. It's a "slippery slope" however, because others "love" polygamy, or a sibling, parent, dog, goat, dolphin, child or tree, and likewise want "complete sexual liberation" and "equal rights".

Remember: "Sodom and Gomorrah … indulged in sexual immorally and pursued unnatural lust [and] serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire." (Jude 7)


REFERENCES:

Allman, L.R. & Jaffe, D.T. 1978 Abnormal Psychology in the Life Cycle
Hatterer, L. J. 1970 Changing Homosexuality in the Male
LeVay, S. 2010 Gay, Straight and the Reason Why
Murray, J. The Weekend Australian, June 14-15, 2003, p 18
Ridgway, A. & Parsons, P. The Science of the Seven Deadly Sins, Focus, February 2010, pp 27-34
Sim, M. 1974 Guide to Psychiatry, Third Edition
Williams, D. 1978 Will Homosexuality Split The Church?
Wilson, P. The Weekend Australian, November 18-19, 2006, p. 25.
 




Homosexuality and the Bible — Reply to Anonymous

(Investigator 143, 2012 March)


I have read Anonymous' article and am unable to find anything in it that can be considered sound evidence that homosexuality is harmful to individuals or society as a whole. Rather than supplying sound evidence Anonymous has simply reiterated traditional Christian attitudes which view homosexuality as wrong.

Before this discussion can go any further Anonymous needs to succinctly outline the prime reasons and provide sound supporting evidence (referring to mythical Sodom and Gomorrah cannot be considered sound evidence) as to why homosexuality is wrong. Once the religious posturing has been eliminated from his reply it might be clearer as to the exact nature of his reasoning.

Kirk Straughen

 



Homosexuality and the Bible

(Investigator 144, 2012 May)


Mr Straughen (#143) claims I failed in #142 give "sound evidence that homosexuality is harmful." However, I listed some of the harm of homosexual conduct (as distinct from the mere temptation or tendency) on page 37.

A behavior does not require a 100% death rate effective immediately to be considered harmful. Smoking, drink-driving, speeding, identity theft, child abuse and a host of other actions would, if there were no legislation against them, still leave most people alive and society functional (at least for a while). Yet we have legislation that discourages such behavior with judicial penalties.

Christians are obligated (by instructions in the Bible) to be examples of Godly conduct but not use force to make others conform. People are "slaves of sin" (Romans 6:17) and find it difficult to change even if forced. A helpful report is "Do Gays Have a Choice" in Scientific American Mind, May/June 2009 (which claims that many have chosen to stop).

Regarding Sodom and Gomorrah being "mythical": In #50 I estimated the Old Testament names about 900 geographical locations of which over 300 have been identified and another 200 tentatively identified. This long term trend of discovery suggests confirmation of Sodom and Gomorrah is only a matter of time.

The notion that rocks can drop from Space (which is apparently how Sodom and Gomorrah perished) was ridiculed for centuries but became scientific fact in the 1980s. (See #62) The New Testament uses Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction as an example of what's coming worldwide. (II Peter 2:6; 3:7-12) How terrible it would be if homosexuality and other sins distract or cost governments and nations so much that they fail to act appropriately or in time to prevent the end of the world by worldwide fire.

Anon





HOMOSEXUALITY and the BIBLE

(Investigator 145, 2012 July)


I read Anonymous' reply (Letters, No. 144) and am unable to find in it any sound evidence that can lead to the conclusion homosexuality is morally reprehensible.

Anonymous refers to HIV infections in his earlier reply (No. 142, p 37). Heterosexuals are also prone to HIV infections. The problem isn't so much a person's sexuality, but rather failing to take precautions (such as the use of condoms) to prevent infection.

If a homosexual couple is in a long term loving relationship — no domestic violence, no unfaithfulness, each supporting the other on their journey through life — then what is wrong with that?

Anonymous also refers to mythical Sodom and Gomorrah as if they were established facts. Would he care to name a reputable archaeological journal that has published an article confirming the discovery of these cities?

Kirk Straughen




HOMOSEXUALITY

(Investigator 146, 2012 September)


Millions of homosexuals dead or sick from AIDS, and the near wreck of some national economies when AIDS spread to immoral heterosexuals and to drug addicts, is harm and economic damage roughly equivalent to history's greatest wars.

Gonorrhoea is returning with new incurable strains, most likely to be passed on by "sex workers and men who have sex with men". (New Scientist, 16 June, 2012, p. 16)

Straughen's limitation of homosexuality to "long term loving relationships" (#145) is one of the arguments of pedophiles who claim adult sex with kids is OK if it is "loving" and "caring".

This gets us into possible psychological harm such as depression, reduced ability to cope with life's stresses, poor decision making, and influencing others negatively by example. Such harms, however, involve lengthier analysis than quoting death estimates and economic damage, whereas I prefer to keep evidence for the Bible simple.

Straughen wants Sodom and Gomorrah in a "reputable archaeological journal", concerning which I repeat the point already made: Archaeologists have identified hundreds of Old Testament geographical locations and this trend has continued into the third millennium. Simply extrapolate and make a plausible prediction!

Anonymous
 


Regarding Homosexuality

Kirk Straughen

(Investigator 147, 2012 November)


Anonymous (No 146, page 5) refers to millions of homosexuals being infected with AIDS, and attempts to denigrate homosexual relationships by comparing them to paedophiles.

Is homosexuality wrong because of HIV/AIDS? I think the answer is "no." HIV/AIDS wasn't caused by homosexuals any more than syphilis was caused by heterosexuals. The issue isn't one of sexuality but of infection, the need for prevention through safe sex, and continued research for a cure. Consider the following:

Syphilis spread throughout Europe in the 1490s and was particularly lethal in its original manifestation. The disease was fulminant and the skin eruptions were especially gruesome. It caused genital sores, advanced to a general rash, and then developed into particularly ugly abscesses and scabs over the entire body. The sores changed to open ulcers that could erode bone and destroy tissue, especially eyes, lips, nose, throat, and genitals. As with most epidemics, the victims were blamed for the disease (debauchery, lechery, etc.) and frequently ostracized.

The bellicose nature of the regimes of the time, with their many standing armies, extensive use of mercenaries, and frequent battles, was conducive to rapid and efficient spread via the usual "camp followers" of the warring parties. The disease reached Germany and Switzerland in 1495, England and Holland in 1496. Vasco da Gama's crew carried it around the Cape in 1497 causing an outbreak in India in 1498, which in turn spread eastward. China and Japan were affected in 1505, a full fifteen years before the arrival of Portuguese sailors in Canton. (1)

Should we condemn heterosexuality for the spread of syphilis, which was the equivalent of HIV/AIDS in times past? Should we view heterosexuality as somehow wrong or immoral? Again, the answer is "no." The problem lies not in a person's sexual orientation, but rather in lack of preventative measures.

Can homosexuals be compared to paedophiles? I think not. Consensual sex between adults isn't exploitative, but sexual relations between adults and children are because minors are neither emotionally nor physically ready to enter into such relationships.

I think Anonymous has had ample opportunity to demonstrate homosexuality is morally reprehensible. However, rather than provide sound arguments he has merely (in my opinion) resorted to prejudiced statements in an attempt to prove his case.

Reference:

1 http://uhavax.hartford.edu/bug1/histepi.htm#syph

 



IMMORALITY IS A KILLER

Anonymous

(Investigator 148, 2013 January)


I have previously estimated 200 million deaths from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the 20th century, mainly from syphilis (before penicillin went mainstream) and hepatitis-B. Another 1500 million others got sick (often repeatedly).

AIDS killed about 20 million. The disease entered the human population between 1902 and 1921 (New Scientist, 16 April, 2011, p. 12) but remained undetected until 1981.

Mr Straughen (#147) says "AIDS wasn't caused by homosexuals…" The physical environment however is what it is and the Bible provides ethics for health and life within that environment. Someone who kills or wounds others by shooting won't avoid prison by arguing "I didn't manufacture these bullets" or "I didn't create humans so weak that bullets can kill them."

Haydn Sennitt (2012) who lived a "gay life" writes: "gay sex is very dangerous… I had to keep having health checks to make sure I hadn't picked up hepatitis, AIDS, or blood toxicity… Jesus called people to forsake sexual immorality and give people life to the full (Jn 10:10) and he offers that love to gay people too."

Straughen claims that I "compared homosexuals to pedophiles". What I compared was an argument both groups use — the erroneous argument "We can do this lovingly without hurting anyone."

Some STIs are now identified as causes of cancer and Alzheimers: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is one cause of cervical cancer which killed 300,000 women per year until Gardasil vaccine, developed in 2006, reduced cervical cancer 77%. (The Advertiser, November 16, 2012, p. 1)

The New England Journal of Medicine reported: "Oral HPV infection is strongly associated with oropharyngeal cancer among subjects with or without the established risk factors of tobacco and alcohol use." (May 10, 2007, pp 1944-1956) There are 40 types of HPV — some cause genital warts and others cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, tongue, tonsils and throat.

Another consequence of rejecting biblical counsel is dementia. Zukerman (2011) reports "about one in five people with HIV end up with early-onset dementia". This happens whether they take antiretroviral drugs or not.

Some researchers implicate Herpes in Alzheimer's. Geddes (2007) reported: "New evidence has supported the growing suspicion of a link between the herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and Alzheimer's, especially in people who carry a specific gene variant … present in about half of all people who develop Alzheimer's… About 80 per cent of elderly people carry HSV-1, so any exacerbating effect could be having a huge impact."

There are also diseases (such as the common cold) which are not STIs but which spread when people touch or breathe the same air.

New Scientist
reports: "Today about a third of the world's population … carry the TB bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in their lungs. In most cases it remains dormant, or latent, but one in 10 of those infected develop the active disease… It typically passes between people in crowded sleeping areas, though it is possible that simply sharing a long-haul flight may be enough." (24 March, 2007, pp 44-47)  If sharing a flight is enough, then sharing bodies as in immoral sex is also enough. Tuberculosis kills millions every year and the latest strains are resistant to almost all medicinal drugs.

"Climate warming is allowing disease-causing bacteria, viruses and fungi to move into new areas…" (The Advertiser, June 22, 2002) STIs, even prior to climate warming, are becoming resistant to antibiotics. In 2007 gonorrhoea which was virtually conquered by the 1960s became a "superbug." (Weekend Australian April 13-14, 2007) Perhaps future "safe sex" will require giant condoms that envelope people from head to toe.

Straughen asks: "Should we condemn heterosexuality for the spread of syphilis?" No not heterosexuality, but its misuse through immorality. Biblical standards, I've argued before, are objective in that the intention behind them is longer life, better health, prosperity, sound mind, and peace.

People who defend harmful conduct and still consider themselves good and decent have to distort their thinking, and such distortion may carry over into acceptance of other evils.

Criminals for example usually have to be liars too, to avoid getting caught. Racists who persecute may broaden out to outright murder especially if, like the Nazis, they achieve political power. Similarly adults who practice and justify immorality may broaden out and defend seeking ever younger partners. Ankerberg and Weldon (1993) write: "homosexuals who comprise approximately 1-4 percent of the world's population are responsible for between 30 and 40 percent of all recorded [child] molestations."

Straughen wants to argue in terms of "moral reprehensibility" whatever that means but I make it simple by consulting available statistics. Living the best life, the biblical life, is difficult but that's not an excuse to do otherwise or to deceive myself by defining dangerous conduct as good.

Biblical morality entered the world when modern medicine and antibiotics were unknown and literacy and education were rare. Millions of people doubtless lived better, healthier lives because of the Bible. The fact that flouting Bible morality still kills millions every year, despite modern medical progress, demonstrates how wise and objective biblical morality is, and how misguided the people who oppose it!

Biblical morality shows "God cares for you." (I Peter 5:6-7)


REFERENCES:

Ankerberg, J. & Weldon, J. 1993 The Myth of Safe Sex, Moody, p. 153

Geddes, L. Is herpes making Alzheimer's worse? New Scientist, 3 November, 2007, p. 12

Sennitt, H. What I learned about health, living a gay life, Eternity, October 2012, p. 12

Zukerman, W. How HIV infection leads to dementia, New Scientist, 9 July 2011, p. 10.



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