How many Atheists in the world so far? I ask because the reason people are so against this is because people are religious
A major misnomer in this debate is that any preference influenced by empiricle factors is a choice. I've been heavily ridiculed in the past for arguing that empiricism absolutely plays a role in sexual preference, simply because of a prevailing sentiment that if I don't think they were "born this way" then I must be suggesting that it was a decision made by an individual. It's not a matter of "genetic or choice," because an individual quality that isn't purely dependent on genetic factors shouldn't suggest that it is therefore a choice. I strongly believe both genetics, and personal experience play a role in sexual preference. Neither should imply that there's a choice involved.
I'm not trying to bring religion into this but my friend who is Catholic doesn't believe in atheism... Obviously. Yet agrees that anyone can be with anybody. How does that work? Does it make sense to just pick and choose what you want to believe it's a sin and what is not?
i agree, i don't think it's black and white. i'd say sexuality is on a spectrum, and your actions are influenced by social pressures as well as your level of desire. to put it simply most people have at least a little attraction to their own sex, but social pressures make you either repress or embrace it. i was just referring to those that are hellbent on convincing themselves and others that it's one or the other.
fallenphoenix was saying the debate is dumb because even if it is a choice it doesn't change anything. This is the exact way I feel. I think the entire choice debate is false because neither side is right (every human is different) and even if one side was proven correct it shouldn't change anything politically or morally. Consenting adults.
What did I just read? Ok I'll make it more clear cut. Did you ever make a conscious decision to be sexually attracted to women or men? Did you ever sit down and analyze the pros and cons of both and decide you liked one or the other or both?
I agree that it shouldn't make any difference in any moral or political way. It only fascinates me as a polarizing topic in the nature vs nurture debate. Understanding that dynamic has implications beyond social rights.
The act that makes a person gay is their loins stirring at the sight/thought of a same sex individual. Having sex with the person is just satisfying a want for pleasure. If someone of the same sex gets your engines going, but you choose to abstain, you might not be a practicing homosexual, but you're still gay. Despite what high-school logic dictates, actually having straight sex isn't a right of passage needed to be heterosexual. Also, it does apply to other things. Probably other feelings or preferences, because applying them to feelings of tangible objects & monetary values is painfully stupid.
I don't know if it's genetic or a choice, but always love to see the reductio ad absurdum by both sides.
Why you talking about feeling?? His post was clear... Does your penis get hard when you see an attractive man in a sexual manner (assuming you're a man)? Get hard... The action of getting hard. Your penis. Does it happen when looking at men... Or women... Or both?? Not complicated.
You do realize that getting an erection, or lack of one,does not necessarily determine your preference.
Oh man, if that were the case people would have a preference for some pretty odd things. Like track pants and the perfect breeze.
I was raised catholic, but there's just so many contradictions that it really has pushed me away. I'm straight, but I can't understand why people are so against gays. It's their right to love who they want to. Even the Pope has stated different comments regarding this and the unhealthy obsession that christians have against gays. The bible has a lot of ridiculous things in there, like no man shall cut their hair. how many christians have gotten a haircut? BTW the current pope is awesome! more on what he has done during his tenure: http://themetapicture.com/finally-a-pope-that-acts-like-a-pope/
This is ignorance, lunacy and arrogance on full display here. Religion did not invent the original concept of marriage and certainly does not hold monopoly over it. Are all those silly non-religious folks not married in your eyes? I guess that's not really a big deal when eternal damnation await them anyway eh.
so I guess Christians pick and choose which laws of the God they want to obey and condemn others who go against these laws. There are so many ridiculous and outdated stuff in the Bible that's a "sin" and yet Christians instead of taking the Bible as a guide to live a good life, Christians use the Bible as the absolute book of rules, so Christians condemn and judge others who commit these "sins" (general speaking of Christians). Not to mention they will ignore the "sins" they broke but that's okay as long as we all condemn gays and gay marriage. What happen to love thy neighbor as thy self? Also there really isn't a clear cut passage in the bible where being gay is a sin. You can read here on how the Bible can be interpreted: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-lose/what-does-the-bible-reall_b_990444.html
