From: George Murphy (gmurphy@raex.com)
Date: Mon Mar 24 2003 - 09:41:16 EST
RFaussette@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 3/22/03 11:37:03 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> burgythree@hotmail.com writes:
>
> > Would it not have been more in the spirit of scientific honesty, Moorad, to
> > have pointed out (1) that the word "homosexuals" means an orientation, not
> > an activity and that the translation above is challenged by many biblical
> > scholars?
> >
> >
>
> If by orientation, you mean genetic orientation, would you kindly provide
> evidence for that. If not, then what is "scientifically honest" or dishonest?
> You read Lamm's religious argument. Is the brother of the president of
> Yeshiva University not a Biblical scholar? I''m sure that learned family
> would disagree with you. What is the alternate translation of which you speak?
> rich
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> In a message dated 3/22/03 11:37:03 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> burgythree@hotmail.com writes:
>
> Would it not have been more in the spirit of scientific
> honesty, Moorad, to
> have pointed out (1) that the word "homosexuals" means an
> orientation, not
> an activity and that the translation above is challenged by
> many biblical
> scholars?
>
> If by orientation, you mean genetic orientation, would you kindly
> provide evidence for that. If not, then what is "scientifically
> honest" or dishonest? You read Lamm's religious argument. Is the
> brother of the president of Yeshiva University not a Biblical scholar?
> I''m sure that learned family would disagree with you. What is the
> alternate translation of which you speak?
The evidence for homosexual orientation which is strictly "genetic," in the
sense of being encoded in DNA, is weak to non-existent. The evidence for such
orientation formed at a very early age, while anecdotal, is stronger though not
logically compelling. It is possible for some conditions to be developed before birth,
& in that sense be "inherited," without being strictly "genetic" - e.g., fetal alcohol
syndrome.
The professional position of someone's brother is irrelevant to the question of
that person's expertise - otherwise I would be a forensic pathologist.
I don't say this to argue for acceptance of homosexuality: Burgy will testify
that I am considerably more hesitant than he in that regard. But the signal to noise
ratio on this issue in general is so low that it behoves us - whatever our views on it -
to do what we can to improve that situation.
Shalom,
George
George L. Murphy
gmurphy@raex.com
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
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