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From: Pucc-H:aeq@CS-Mordred
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: 'Gay Rights':  A conflict of values
Message-ID: <1464@pucc-h>
Date: Fri, 9-Nov-84 04:38:59 EST
Article-I.D.: pucc-h.1464
Posted: Fri Nov  9 04:38:59 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 11-Nov-84 20:30:04 EST
References: <283@haddock.UUCP>
Organization: High-level Operating Systems Experts [HOSE], Inc.
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From Jim Campbell (haddock!jimc):

> It seems apparent to me that you [Brunson] hold the individual personally 
> responsible for the sexuality he/she has as if it were the individual's
> choice whether or not to be gay.  The logical reason I offer against your
> simple refusal to associate with homosexuals is this: sexuality is not a
> matter of taste, and just as you did not sit down and decide to be
> heterosexual (which I am assuming you are), homosexuals did not make the
> decision to be gay either.  I consider it against my religion (Catholic) to
> blame anyone for something which he/she cannot control.  In fact, recent
> scientific findings suggest that one's sexuality is determined before birth.

In a sense, an individual's sexuality is indeed a matter of choice.  But the
choice is between believing that the other sex is a friend or an enemy.  There
may be variants on this; one time when I had to battle some strong homosexual
feelings was a time when I felt that God would (for reasons of His own) never
allow me to have an intimate relationship with a woman -- the result of which
would be that if I tried, God would ensure that I got badly hurt; so a woman
would be, in a way, an enemy.  (Mind you, this is one of several aspects of my
view of God that have been mellowed out in the last couple of years.)  My
thesis is that confirmed homosexuals became convinced very early on -- in early
childhood, perhaps -- that the other sex was somehow an enemy, and that being
intimate with an other-sex person would be extremely threatening.  However, the
mere fact that their belief is very deep-seated, and probably based on very deep
wounds, does not mean that it can't be changed.  Having God's love and power to
assist helps a lot.

In other words, homosexuals and heterosexuals both decided their sexuality,
probably not consciously, but decided nevertheless.  I don't blame homosexuals
for their choice; given the data presented to them, that undoubtedly seemed the
best choice at the time, the one that reflected their perception of reality.
But they can be given different data, about reality the way it actually is,
and enabled to choose differently.  This could even be done without God, but
why do that when He's available and wants to help?

-- 
-- Jeff Sargent
{decvax|harpo|ihnp4|inuxc|seismo|ucbvax}!pur-ee!pucc-h:aeq
"I'm not asking for anyone's bleeding charity."
"Then do.  At once.  Ask for the Bleeding Charity."