Circular reasoning 101
Jun. 1st, 2007 09:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
velvetpageThe Bible says (arguably, but let's leave that aside for the moment) that homosexuality is a sin. It also says that God will not test people beyond what they can endure. That means that homosexuality must be a lifestyle choice, because if it isn't, then you're left with two choices: either God is an abusive parent, holding His children responsible for behaviours that are out of their control, or homosexuality is not a sin after all.
Many Christians start with "homosexuality is a sin," arrive at the logical conclusion - it must therefore be a lifestyle choice - and look for science to back them up in that belief, thereby proving that it is, in fact, a sin. When something comes out in research that backs up the opposite hypothesis (which happens frequently) Christians must deny it, or face the choices above, neither of which is palatable.
I've long since decided, of course, that the Bible doesn't in fact condemn the modern version of homosexuality - that is, two equal partners in a loving, committed relationship akin to marriage. By accepting this, I leave myself open to the probability that homosexuality is, in fact, inborn - either genetic, or a result of hormonal influences in the womb, and most likely both.
Many Christians start with "homosexuality is a sin," arrive at the logical conclusion - it must therefore be a lifestyle choice - and look for science to back them up in that belief, thereby proving that it is, in fact, a sin. When something comes out in research that backs up the opposite hypothesis (which happens frequently) Christians must deny it, or face the choices above, neither of which is palatable.
I've long since decided, of course, that the Bible doesn't in fact condemn the modern version of homosexuality - that is, two equal partners in a loving, committed relationship akin to marriage. By accepting this, I leave myself open to the probability that homosexuality is, in fact, inborn - either genetic, or a result of hormonal influences in the womb, and most likely both.