http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/1995 A Rare Bird, A Strange Duck, One Funky Blog Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:28:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/1995#comment-3334 Tom Smith Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/wordpress/archive/2001#comment-3334 Interesting.<br /><br />I really think the world of Fr. Jim Wehner, having known him for some time. Thanks for giving him the benefit of the doubt, at least until he can clear up his comments himself.
I really think the world of Fr. Jim Wehner, having known him for some time. Thanks for giving him the benefit of the doubt, at least until he can clear up his comments himself.]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/1995#comment-3335 dlw Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/wordpress/archive/2001#comment-3335 I think Wehner is right that homosexuality is both chosen and not chosen. But his treatment of how it is chosen falls short, I think. Apparently, we can learn or be open to engaging in homosexual acts, even if we have heterosexual orientations. As I recall, there is a lot of controversy over the notion of bisexuality, whether we are in fact all on a spectrum wrt our sexuality or whether we are able to choose to learn to engage in same-sex acts, such as those that prevailed in pagan culture during New Testament times. And as Christians, we have every right to participate in making the norms of our culture such as to discourage the development of these sorts of habits. I myself fear that gay-rights activists tend to encourage these sorts of habits with their biologically deterministic rhetoric and often libertarian viewpoints. <br /><br />One of the most popular recent presentations of this phenomena would be in "Kissing Jessica Stein". <br /><br />But it seems to me that a lot of the heat over this issue is due to how homosexuality is a heterogenous phenomena and yet people tend to treat it as homogenous(as if it were all chosen or not chosen at all.). My own study of the scientific research suggests that the hormonal balance that forms in our brains while we are fetuses does impact who we are sexually attracted to later on in life. This goes beyond the usual appeal to genetics, and suggests that with time we may be able to prevent the onset of people having homosexual orientations. <br /><br />The real question is whether it would be desirable to prevent the onset of homosexual orientations. <br /><br />I had a long <a href="http://wetzell.blogspot.com/2004/11/god-is-not-gay-rights-activist-nor.html#c110209129980559123">exchange</a> on this issue with a gay-rights supporter friend of mine from when I was in grad-school. It was a good exchange where to make his point, he even gave me his understanding of Christianity. And, fortunately, we are still friends. <br /><br />dlw
One of the most popular recent presentations of this phenomena would be in "Kissing Jessica Stein".

But it seems to me that a lot of the heat over this issue is due to how homosexuality is a heterogenous phenomena and yet people tend to treat it as homogenous(as if it were all chosen or not chosen at all.). My own study of the scientific research suggests that the hormonal balance that forms in our brains while we are fetuses does impact who we are sexually attracted to later on in life. This goes beyond the usual appeal to genetics, and suggests that with time we may be able to prevent the onset of people having homosexual orientations.

The real question is whether it would be desirable to prevent the onset of homosexual orientations.

I had a long exchange on this issue with a gay-rights supporter friend of mine from when I was in grad-school. It was a good exchange where to make his point, he even gave me his understanding of Christianity. And, fortunately, we are still friends.

dlw]]>