From: Alexanian, Moorad (alexanian@uncw.edu)
Date: Wed Jan 22 2003 - 14:26:56 EST
Regarding your statement that choice is not a causative agent in homosexuals, I should like to quote to you what you quoted to me: "That's a claim, of course. And it is that claim which is in question. ...Stating the claim without addressing the issue is simply stating an opinion. As such, simply not interesting." I ask you then, why is your opinion more valuable than mine? Moorad
-----Original Message-----
From: John Burgeson [mailto:burgythree@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2003 11:45 AM
To: grayt@lamar.colostate.edu; asa@calvin.edu
Subject: Re: An interesting essay for evangelicals
Terry posted some sound comments; I reply in part:
>>Why? Does the existence of a genetic or physical-chemical basis for some
>>sinful behavior excuse it? >>
Good point, Terry. Absolutely not.
>>If our fallenness extends to our genomes then there's really nothing
>>surprising about finding a genetic or physical-chemical basis for
>>homosexual tendencies or any other tendencies that might be deemed sinful.
>>If someone has a particular disposition toward some sin for whatever
>>reason--genetic, upbringing, hormonal imbalances, abusive past, etc.--they
>>simply must take greater care in resisting that particular sin.>>
As an expansion of your first sentence, again, I agree.
>>I think it's a big mistake to define "normal" as "whatever is in the
>>genome". For the Christian, normal is what scripture, rightly interpreted,
>>says. >>
Again, I agree.
So where does this leave us? The question of where homosexual orientation
arises in an individual can be answered in three ways, nature, nurture or
choice. What I perceive through my own studies and from knowing a fair
number of Christians who are practicing homosexuals -- all within a two
person long term relationship, is that "choice" is not the causative agent
in the vast majority of cases, and that "nurture" is probably not the
causative agent in most cases.
Now if "choice" WERE a causative agent, I think a case against homosexual
activity might be made. Maybe. But it is not.
Terry observes that the issue, therefore MUST come down to what we, as
Christians, perceive to be the will of God on the matter. And I agree 100%
with that statement.
Where some Christians disagree with one another is, of course, on what God's
will necessarily is. We might, for example, agree on the exegesis of Romans
1 but disagree on the heurmenutics (sp?) of Romans 1. And other scriptures
too, of course.
John W. Burgeson (Burgy)
www.burgy.50megs.com
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