Why is sexuality a choice?

[Willamena]

You're kidding, right?

I think it's a rhetorical question.

 

[yourhopeboundheart]

The population-machine is overfed, especially in India and China. It's not such a bad thing if certain people don't ever reproduce.

agreed. for once. =)

 

[TheKnight]

You have it exactly right.

But you can add to that one of the reasons there is an unwillingness to accept that sexuality is not a choice is it would logically contradict their view of God. Why would God place additional burdens on some of his children but not others. And for those who believe that merely being homosexual is a sin than why would God purposely create human beings to unable to remove themselves from sin? It takes away the concept of choice.

By maintaining sexuality is a choice it removes all burden from the believer to examine their own theology.

It doesn't remove all burden. Because they still have to deal with the fact that the vast majority of homo/bi/transsexuals claim that they never chose to be attracted to the same/both sex(es).

For most religions (Biblical Christianity included) homosexuality isn't necessarily something that people choose. But in the religions that do prohibit homosexual behavior, whether or not you chose to be that way is irrelevant because it doesn't make you participate in sexual acts with members of the same sex. It simply makes you want to.

 

[no-body]

Obviously to stifle their own conscious and empathy. If you can shift the blame on the person you can be justified in your persecution if they don't change. I'm not sure if it's worse to be so out front with your hate and expect them to live a lie or to want them to remain celibate.

How does one choose anything?

Zadok

Every time I hear a phrase from your group on sexuality I think of 1984, you guys are great at doublespeak.

 

[MW0082]

It's not a choice, your sexuality is something you're born with. Christians and some other religious folks will NEVER admit this, for it shows their god with flaws. Now not only does god not accept the flaws he creates within is, but could never ever be a flawwed character.....

 

[Midnight Pete]

It's not a choice, your sexuality is something you're born with. Christians and some other religious folks will NEVER admit this, for it shows their god with flaws. Now not only does god not accept the flaws he creates within is, but could never ever be a flawwed character.....

I agree with you that sexual orientation is not a choice. I think it's more important how you *express* that sexuality. You have control over how you behave.

 

[gerobbins]

Ask yourself this question when asking if sexuality is a choice. If you are a heterosexual have you choosen to be a heterosexual?

 

[AxisMundi]

Forgive me if this has been asked several times. I was wondering why so many faiths not only look down on sexuality but believe it's a choice? I see so much of this especially among abrahamic faiths, maybe it's just me. I was curious if this attitude is compltely natural or if it more or less geared from a set of beliefs one is raised by in childhood. The reason this puzzles me is for a long time as heterosexual, I had trouble in the suspision of disbelief. I know for sure that even if I wanted to be I could never be attracted to a female. I had a relative who was kicked out of the house for admitting his sexual orientation and his mom will pop in every now and then being nice and then trying to set him up with a date. It's as if she doesn't seem to "get it". Then she'd try to get us to help him out with his "disorder".

I was just curious as to why people would assume even after so much of the pain they endure from a community that isn't willing to tolerate it, why it's not only deemed as a choice but a great and evil sin. I still cannot put myself in the position of that said person choosing their lifestyle so maybe in someway I myself am limited?

1. Sex is a prime theopolitical control device. What better way to control someone than to grab them by the johnson (or related female parts)?

"Damn, that Mrs. Robinson looks gooo-oood today. Oh crap, better go and pray or I'm going to Hell".

2. Procreation is simply the best way to pound out new adherents, thus expanding the theopolitical powerbase.

3. Controlling sex also controls a clear succession of inheritance. For many centuries, if a man died without a male heir, the Catholic Church took all of his property and put his wife/daughters in a convent.

 

[Nerthus]

I agree with you that sexual orientation is not a choice. I think it's more important how you *express* that sexuality. You have control over how you behave.

Perhaps, by why should one control their attraction, or love for someone? It's their choice, so if they want to, then fine. But, it should never be forced onto someone.

Could you stop having a relationship with a female, and have one with a male, if you were attracted to them? Being pressured to do this, or threatened (often even worse) with Hell etc?

 

[AxisMundi]

I agree with you that sexual orientation is not a choice. I think it's more important how you *express* that sexuality. You have control over how you behave.

Clarify please.

Do you support someone living a lie, whether they are forced to pusically or urged to by religion?

 

[Duck]

It doesn't remove all burden. Because they still have to deal with the fact that the vast majority of homo/bi/transsexuals claim that they never chose to be attracted to the same/both sex(es).

For most religions (Biblical Christianity included) homosexuality isn't necessarily something that people choose. But in the religions that do prohibit homosexual behavior, whether or not you chose to be that way is irrelevant because it doesn't make you participate in sexual acts with members of the same sex. It simply makes you want to.

Ah, but here's the rub...In those religions that prohibit homosexual behavior, there is also quite often the tenet that thinking about doing something (looking at someone with lust in your heart is the equivalent of committing adultery -- sound familiar? Something the Christ said, yes?) is the same as having done that action. So, if homosexual behavior (as in the actual sexing) is prohibited religiously, and homosexual desire is just as bad (thinking is the same as doing), then what is the poor gay kid to do? I mean, despite hearing a bunch of "love the sinner, hate the sin" bs, his religion damns him no matter what, if he gets laid -> straight to hell, if he gets excited -> straight to hell, if he has a fantasy about Brad Pitt -> straight to hell. It is no wonder that gay kids commit and attempt suicide at higher frequencies than hetero kids.

 

[MW0082]

I agree with you that sexual orientation is not a choice. I think it's more important how you *express* that sexuality. You have control over how you behave.

Umm no, I am only attracted to men and I am a man. I CANNOT HAVE SEX WITH WOMEN. Not by choice either, it just does not work. Nothign happens lookign at a women. The only way to express intimacy and feelings of love and such is with another man. So gays are to never act upon their feelings? thats such a catch 22 with religion and this is why religion will never be whole, always fragments all disagreeing and never on the same level......

 

[Zadok]

Forgive me if this has been asked several times. I was wondering why so many faiths not only look down on sexuality but believe it's a choice? I see so much of this especially among abrahamic faiths, maybe it's just me. I was curious if this attitude is compltely natural or if it more or less geared from a set of beliefs one is raised by in childhood. The reason this puzzles me is for a long time as heterosexual, I had trouble in the suspision of disbelief. I know for sure that even if I wanted to be I could never be attracted to a female. I had a relative who was kicked out of the house for admitting his sexual orientation and his mom will pop in every now and then being nice and then trying to set him up with a date. It's as if she doesn't seem to "get it". Then she'd try to get us to help him out with his "disorder".

I was just curious as to why people would assume even after so much of the pain they endure from a community that isn't willing to tolerate it, why it's not only deemed as a choice but a great and evil sin. I still cannot put myself in the position of that said person choosing their lifestyle so maybe in someway I myself am limited?

It depends on how a person defines sexuality. If we define sex as a contributing factor to sexuality (which most everybody I know does) and the evolving genetic purpose of sexuality is for a species to propagate itself through reproduction – it make no sense to attempt or choose to attempt sexuality in a manner to which a species cannot propagate another generation.

Some may argue that their particular contribution to the future gene pool is not necessary or even desirable. I do not know why anyone would even question that!

Zadok

 

[MW0082]

It depends on how a person defines sexuality. If we define sex as a contributing factor to sexuality (which most everybody I know does) and the evolving genetic purpose of sexuality is for a species to propagate itself through reproduction – it make no sense to attempt or choose to attempt sexuality in a manner to which a species cannot propagate another generation.

Some may argue that their particular contribution to the future gene pool is not necessary or even desirable. I do not know why anyone would even question that!

Zadok

The issue with that is people do have sex with out the pre-notion of preocreating. No one gets hot and bothered about bringing a child into this world, we get hot an dbothered because we are sexually attracted to them. Sex is not the defining source for sexuality either........

Sexuality is much much more than that, it's what you like and how you like and where you like it. It defines how we live our very lives. Some people move to certain parts of the world just because they are attracted to a specific color of skin, or culture, or mannerisms. It is beyond the scope of simple sex unfortunatley...