The morality of homosexuality

[Upchurch]

The question of the (im)morality of homosexuality was brought up over in Politics. I thought I'd see where the majority of this section of society stood on the matter.

 

[Crossbow]

I really do not care about anyone's sexual preference provided that it involves consenting adults.

 

[Upchurch]

I really do not care about anyone's sexual preference provided that it involves consenting adults.

I had hoped that was implied by asking about homosexuality and not about pediphilia or rape, but just to be clear, I am talking about adult conscentual homosexuality.

 

[Yahweh]

First, I'd like to define what I think is immorallity: Any act that done that results in money loss, damages, or otherwise hurts another in any way is considered immoral.

Homosexuality doesnt appear to hurt anyone. At most, the only damage it does to others is "looking really disgusting".

Before you say homosexuality is immoral, you have to ask yourself "What is it about homosexuality that offends me?". And if you come up with the "its not normal" excuse, [buzzer] try again.

 

[triadboy]

Depends on the definition of 'immoral'.

If you define 'moral' from a heterosexual point-of-view, then being homosexual is, by definition, immoral.

If you define it from a homosexual point-of-view, then I imagine being immoral is overseeing other people's lives and forcing correction to your standards.

I personally don't care what people do in the privacy of their own bedrooms. I find most homosexuals I've met to be funny, intelligent, cultured and pleasant to be around.

 

[Fade]

Well I'm sure you all know how I voted.

I mean, homos are so gross that it just HAS to be immoral.

 

[Upchurch]

Depends on the definition of 'immoral'.

If you define 'moral' from a heterosexual point-of-view, then being homosexual is, by definition, immoral.

I disagree. different sexuality doesn't equal immoral sexuality. Is being white immoral from a black person's point of view or vice versa?

And just to clarify some more, do you consider homosexuality immoral from you perspective of morality?

 

[Jet Grind]

Homosexuality is not immoral in the least. Of course this is coming from a libertarian point of view, so nothing is immoral unless it involes the initiation, threat, or deligation of force.

 

[Crossbow]

I had hoped that was implied by asking about homosexuality and not about pediphilia or rape, but just to be clear, I am talking about adult conscentual homosexuality.

You are correct of course and I figured that is what you meant as well. I was not trying to be difficult, it is just the usual CYA qualification for the benifit of those who are not quite as understanding.

 

[Charlie Monoxide]

For the most part, I've felt somewhat indifferent about homosexuality. Human sexuality is very diverse and there is no single definition of "normal".

I think the advent of gay rights came about due to the AIDS crisis. I'm sure many people were not aware of how extensive homosexuality (both men and women) is in society and it took something like AIDS to make it more mainstream.

I'm looking forward to seeing more politicians and other community leaders coming out of the closet. The defense department policy of "don't ask don't tell" is downright silly.

I'm always amazed that some people equate homosexuality with pedophilia. Everytime some gay news is on TV they show transvestites. Looks like the gay community have a long way to go yet.

I'm happy that Canada (and a couple of European countries) have allowed gay marriages.

Being somewhat of a wag I felt that gay men upped the male/female ratio in my favour. The problem with that observation is that I forgot about lesbians.

Charlie (I did live in the Castro for 8 months) Monoxide

 

[Yahweh]

Well I'm sure you all know how I voted.

I mean, homos are so gross that it just HAS to be immoral.

Good point?

 

[triadboy]

I disagree. different sexuality doesn't equal immoral sexuality. Is being white immoral from a black person's point of view or vice versa?

Of course not, but immorality implies an 'act'. Being black or white is not an 'act'.

Can you name a different sexuality that doesn't equal immoral sexuality? (No fair using abstinence - I'm thinking goats here)

And just to clarify some more, do you consider homosexuality immoral from you perspective of morality?

From my perspective - no.

 

[Yahweh]

For the most part, I've felt somewhat indifferent about homosexuality. Human sexuality is very diverse and there is no single definition of "normal".

I think the advent of gay rights came about due to the AIDS crisis. I'm sure many people were not aware of how extensive homosexuality (both men and women) is in society and it took something like AIDS to make it more mainstream.

I'm looking forward to seeing more politicians and other community leaders coming out of the closet. The defense department policy of "don't ask don't tell" is downright silly.

I'm always amazed that some people equate homosexuality with pedophilia. Everytime some gay news is on TV they show transvestites. Looks like the gay community have a long way to go yet.

I'm happy that Canada (and a couple of European countries) have allowed gay marriages.

Being somewhat of a wag I felt that gay men upped the male/female ratio in my favour. The problem with that observation is that I forgot about lesbians.

Charlie (I did live in the Castro for 8 months) Monoxide

For a while, AIDS was concered a "gay disease". Then some (straight) famous NBA star contracted the disease and lo and behold we realized that AIDS could be transmitted through hetero sex (it probably took years of scientific research to figure out that mystery).

As far as the "dont ask dont tell" policy, its is probably a good move to neither ask nor tell. Too many people can be influenced (usually negatively) if a politician comes out the closet. It also keeps idiots from unnecessarily harassing and abusing gay people.

"some people equate homosexuality with pedophilia"... isnt it the only time you hear about homosexuality now is when a young boy is molested. And now NAMBLA... what bunch of people... f**king idiots dont realize that even consentual sex with young boys (meaning under 16) is illegal.

 

[calladus]

Well I'm sure you all know how I voted.

I mean, homos are so gross that it just HAS to be immoral.

Gross = immoral?

Okay, I vote that we make the eating of raw oysters to be immoral!

If you don't deep fry your oysters, then you are living in SIN!

What other gross things can we deem immoral?

 

[Dancing David]

Eating animals is immoral.

There is no real reason for homosexuality to be immoral, if something does not harm the self or others, how can it be immoral.

 

[Fade]

Gross = immoral?

Okay, I vote that we make the eating of raw oysters to be immoral!

If you don't deep fry your oysters, then you are living in SIN!

What other gross things can we deem immoral?

Whoosh.

 

[Upchurch]

I was not trying to be difficult, it is just the usual CYA qualification for the benifit of those who are not quite as understanding.

I figured as much, which is why I tried to clarify as much as possible.

What amazes me, and maybe it's just to early to know for sure, is what overwelming agreement (90.62% as of this writing) there is on this board that homosexuality isn't immoral.

 

[Pahansiri]

The question is too vague and not that my friend Upchurch thinks this way but it is worded or presented in a way that so many Christians see homosexuality.
1- that it is sex
2- 2- it is evil sex.

Homosexuality is not just sex anymore then heterosexuality is just sex. It is a small part of a relationship.

As to immoral?

Is it immoral to love another being? To care about and for them to seek to spend time and perhaps ones life with this person.

How can that be?

As to the sexual part of homosexuality being immoral.

If one feels it is, don’t do it. Simple really.

The Bible says most sex is immoral also many OT things are seen as abominations and we have posted these many times and don’t need to rehash it but this includes also divorce and yet 60% of Christians divorce yet we don’t see many carrying signs that say “GOD HATES divorcees”

Or any of the others such things said to be immoral. Christian ( and others of course)etc lie, cheat, steal etc yet love to turn a blind eye to the things they do because it is something THEY do so it is OK or God will forgive them.

billiefan2000 is a perfect example of this, it is easy to point out his lies, his bearing of false witness, speaking with a sharp tongue, name calling all things the Bible say will send you to hell fire. Yet billiefan2000 just ignores these because he wants to spend hour after hour on the computer doing this, attacking anyone not like him and then yelling that anything said against his beliefs are bad non-Christians attacking him.

He and many love to attack what others hold dear but cry foul when it is done to them. Hypocrisy.

billiefan2000 tells me his attacks are out of love and he is helping and “saving people” so it is OK.

He believes he is helping people, I have pointed out he just sits on a computer for most of the day attacking and cutting and pasting others words or hate and attacks on non-Christians.

I have offered if he really wishes to help others he should feed someone who is hungry, help someone who has no home get shelter, teach some to read etc etc. My sweet young friend seems to just ignore this.

I have spoken to many once Gay hating Christians who when their sweet child looked them in the eye and told them they were gay, changed their mind because it was not THEIR Child not the child of another.

What is immoral is hate.
What is moral is love.

Gay people do things sexually that harm others but not at any higher rate then non gays.

Funny we here people like billiefan2000 and Falwell, Pat R etc say Gay men are sex crazy and have many partners.

A few points here.
1st of course they judge all by perhaps some, there is NO way they can know what ALL gays or anyone do.

2nd They say that about gay males but not lesbians. Why?
Because this has everything to do with being male and nothing to do with being gay, well just a bit as to being gay and that is this.

Go into any single bar and grab a college kid and tell him he can nail every girl in the bar every night. What will he do, nail as many as he can every night every night as many new as he can physically before MR wee wee will not again arise.

Girls for the most part will not allow this or seek this, this is everything to do with endocrine/ hormonal make up.

Now in a group of people all gay males, all ( or most) thinking like and acting like a male well, it is like the non gay kid in a bar of 100 woman who will all have sex with him.

As Buddhist our precept concerning sex is against sexual misconduct, seek to avoid sexual misconduct. That being sexual activity that causes suffering to self or the other person.. Respect.

Just what I believe.

 

[Keneke]

I voted "it depends".

Firstly, it does NOT depend upon the antiquated laws of morality as determined by religion. That, we can all agree on.

Now then, let's look at the word moral - Of or concerned with the judgement of being good or conforming to good behavior. (American Heritage, 3rd ed.) Using this definition, what is *good* for the human race?

Reproduction is good for the human race. That's how we live on, that's the sole purpose of life itself. To live, and to prosper. Therefore, being heterosexual is good. Therefore, homosexuality may be thought of as immoral.

However, there are reasons for seeing the opposite side, if we look deeper. I read of a theory that homosexuality is an escape valve for the "failures" of a species (meaning, the non-reproductive ones) to vent and release their reproductive urges without harming the child-bearing members of the species. Because a person's sex drive is so strong, it may not be able to be completely turned off if the situation calls for non-sexuality. Instead, it may only be re-directed. That's why there's masturbation; it is considered a distraction from sex until the right time. Such may also be the same for homosexuality. A man may subconsciously know that his DNA is not suitable, and therefore changes his sexuality appropriately. In this instance, homosexuality may be another important function in life, and therefore not immoral.

All in all, I'd say this sort of thing (and most things) cannot always be judged by a black and white morality, so I vote "It depends".

 

[The Mad Linguist]

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