I WAS seventeen then. A lesbian, who said that she was in love with me, approached me. Disgusted and flabbergasted I went home and cried.
Looking back now, I realized how childish I was, how immature and how ridiculous. Having known both gays and lesbians as very good
friends make me realize that we are the same human beings with difference preference in sex.
What is normal and what is abnormal? According a famous psychologist, normal is when all partners are consent, homosexual are consent, therefore, normal. Homosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by sexual desire or romantic love exclusively, or almost exclusively, for people who identified as being of the same sex.
Considerable debate continues over what determines a person's sexual orientation (especially with regard to genetic VS environment) factors, whether that orientation is immutable or chosen.
The Abrahamic religion view homosexuality as sin, while Buddhism, Shinto and others do not judge their behavior so harshly. In some cultures like ours, it is still considered a perversion by many. In the pre-industrial western societies, homosexuality was considered immoral by the bourgeoisie, while the lower and the upper class generally accepted. With the rise of Urbanization and the nuclear family, homosexuality became less tolerated and even outlawed in some cases. THE LEGALISATION AND LEGAL EQUALITY OF HOMOSEXUAL ACTS.TOGETHER WITH LEGAL STATUS FOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND NON-GENDER SPECIFIC CIVIL UNIONS is one of the major goals of the gay rights activism.
The earliest western documents concerning Homosexual relationship come from ancient Greece (BC). In Asia, same-sex love has been a central feature of everyday life, in China since at least 600 BC E, and in Japan for over thousand years. In Melanesia, homosexuality that was part of the culture became less tolerant since the introduction of Christianity by the European missionaries.
Homosexual behavior appears to be fairly common amongst birds and mammals such as apes and giraffes. Some believe that this behavior has its origin in male social organization and social dominance. A march 2004 study states that homosexuality in a male sheep, which is thought to be somewhat analogous to that in humans, is related to a region in their brain which is called the "ovine sexually dimorphic nucleus".
The sexual orientation of pre-modern figures is a topic of intense controversy. It may be accepted, for example, that the sex lives of historical figures such as Alexander the Great, Plato, Hadrian, Virgil, Leonardo de Vinci, Michelangelo and Christopher Marlowe included were centered upon relationship with the people of their own gender.
Homosexuality with special reference to Christianity
The question of whether Homosexuality is a sin has become a matter of theological debate among Christians. Many view that homosexual is (and always have been) a sin. Some faiths condemn it. The Biblical passages most often used to condemn homosexual are:
~ Leviticus 18:22, 20:13,
~ Romans 1:26 -32
~ Corinthians 6:9-10
Christian theologians who do not believe homosexuality to be a sin argue that the traditionalists have misinterpreted the pertinent Bible passages or quoted them selectively. For example, they consider the original Hebrew in Leviticus to be ambiguous to whether "male" means adult or little boy.( As we see in the ancient tradition of male love which Ganymede, cup - boy to the gods, symbolized the ideal boyfriend.
Moslem writers in medieval Arab lands and in Persia wrote odes to the beautiful Christian wine boys who served them in the taverns and shared their beds at night. Among Moslems the practice of pederasty was widespread, if not universal (as documented by Richard Burton, André Gide and many others), and has survived into modern times. It continues to surface despite efforts to keep it, as it did after the American invasion of Afghanistan, when the same-sex love customs of KANDAHAR in which adult men take on adolescent lovers, became widely known). They also pointed out that Leviticus also condemns many other things that modern Christians do, including haircuts, eating shellfish, wearing fabrics made from two different fibres (e.g. Wool/ cotton blends and planting two crops in a single field.
We could go on discussing forever, however I would like to end this article on a light tone with a letter from an American resident to Dr Laura Schlessinger. Dr L S is a us radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in her radio show. Recently, she said, Homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstances. The following is an open letter to her, penned by a US resident, which was posted on the Internet.
Dear Laura,
Thank you so much for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you however, regarding some of the other specific laws and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bull on an altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates pleasing odour to the Lord- Lev 1: 9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I mite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. At this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period uncleanness Lev: 15:19 - 24. The problem is, however, how do I tell?. I have tried asking, most women take offense.
4: Lev: 25:44 States that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35; clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev: 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexual. I don't agree. Can you help?
7. Lev: 21:20 states that I may not approach the alter of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Leviticus: 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Leviticus 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same filed, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/ polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev 24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Many churches in the States and Canada affirm that homosexuals are welcome in the church ministry (amidst intense debate).
The resolution;
A) All persons, regardless of their sexual orientation, who profess Jesus Christ and obedience to Him, are welcome to be full members of the church.
B) All members of the church are eligible to be considered for the ordered Ministry, was passed in 1988 in Canada.
With this I lay my case.
Moii Hmar writes for the first time to e-pao.net
You can email the writer at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on 13th December 2004.
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