Why did God create homosexuality?

[Guitar's Cry]

The Bible states that if a man lies with another man they should both be stoned to death. It's my belief that homosexuals are born that way and have no choice over who they're attracted to just like a heterosexual. If this is true why would God create homosexuals when he seems so opposed to their nature? I believe in the God of the Old Testament and believe that he is righteous but I'm confused by this. Did God create homosexuals purely to destroy them or is there something else going on? Does he want a homosexual man to be celibate or to go against his nature and procreate with a woman? Is God offering him the chance to make a huge sacrifice to the highest by denying himself? What are your thoughts?

Because the Old Testament is the mythologized history and politics of an ancient culture. Assuming it is the definitive Word of God is dangerous and impractical.

 

[Kooky]

It is not my belief that they are born this way, and I don't really like the terminology "homosexual" or "heterosexual" at all for various reasons. So really I just would say, as my answer to the title question, "He didn't."

Do you believe that gay people are somehow perversely attracted to persecution, ostracism, bullying and harassment? Or is there another reason why you think they, in your eyes, deliberately choose to be attracted to the same sex despite the social stigma and the many, many dangers and barriers attached to it?

 

[Lain]

Do you believe that gay people are somehow perversely attracted to persecution, ostracism, bullying and harassment? Or is there another reason why you think they, in your eyes, deliberately choose to be attracted to the same sex despite the social stigma and the many, many dangers and barriers attached to it?

I didn't mention a choice in the post you quoted at all.

 

[Kooky]

I didn't mention a choice in the post you quoted at all.

If being attracted to people of their own sex was not their free choice as a result of free will (the only domain where the Christian God chooses not to intervene), then what other force would create that effect, and why would that force not be part of God's creation?

 

[Lain]

If being attracted to people of their own sex was not their free choice as a result of free will (the only domain where the Christian God chooses not to intervene), then what other force would create that effect, and why would that force not be part of God's creation?

"Evil is not but good is," as St. Athanasius says. Not every thought and not every desire that comes by (according to Christians) is "yours," and true desires can become corrupted. Sometimes people can will this, sometimes it just comes to them like being cold or hot.

 

[blü 2]

The Bible states that if a man lies with another man they should both be stoned to death. It's my belief that homosexuals are born that way and have no choice over who they're attracted to just like a heterosexual. If this is true why would God create homosexuals when he seems so opposed to their nature? I believe in the God of the Old Testament and believe that he is righteous but I'm confused by this. Did God create homosexuals purely to destroy them or is there something else going on? Does he want a homosexual man to be celibate or to go against his nature and procreate with a woman? Is God offering him the chance to make a huge sacrifice to the highest by denying himself? What are your thoughts?

I don't know.

But it's possible the answer will cast some light on [his] divorce from Asherah.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

He didn't create homosexuals. He created humans to have various degrees of physiological, biological, and psychological attraction to other people. The labels homosexual, heterosexual, and bisexual just refers to the sex of the other person one is attracted to. It's a label that references both sex attraction in relation to each other, nothing more. The bible doesn't talk about sexual orientation (to whom one's attraction is oriented). It talks about actions (without reference to who is attracted to who and the nature thereof).

The Church says homosexuals should be celibate. The bible doesn't mention this.

Christian homosexuals (heterosexuals and bisexuals) do not need to make a sacrifice because of their attractions. The sex of the other person doesn't make one person's attraction more normal than the other. The christian god focuses on what people Do. So if you're gay, straight, bisexual and be with someone of the same sex that's a no-no. Sexual orientation (homo/hetero/bi) have nothing to do with it.

When contemplating and trying to figure out God's motives for doing what you say He did (not that you have ANY way of knowing the truth of your own words, mind you - and if you do have such a way, please do share! That would be amazing... but I am obviously not going to hold my breath), which is (your words here): "He created humans to have various degrees of physiological, biological, and psychological attraction to other people", while simultaneously requiring that humans not act on some of the urges He gave them because those actions are a (again your words) "no-no", one would obviously turn to the ideas that God is either testing people in various unfair/unequal ways, is a sadist, or likes playing tricks for His own amusement. In other words, it is very VERY difficult to imagine a "good" reason God would purposefully create people with direct, psychologically embedded urges to do things He then goes on to forbid. Which would lead one to (very often I would think) conclude that God is not "good." That He's kind of a butt, and should probably stick to making clouds and rocks and other things that don't require any actual abstract thoughts or extensive planning. He really seems to screw that stuff up quite a lot. Unless there is some other explanation? And if there is, I am sure you have reality-driven evidence that ties such explanation directly to the subject matter, right?

Oh... also... if you don't necessarily even believe in any of this, then what the hell are you doing talking about it with any sort of authority? Saying "What God does is..." for example. Very hard not to see you as thinking you know what God did or is doing when you state things that way, I am afraid.

 

[Suave]

Most of the land is peach-colored on the map.

The anti-God over-populationists have been around for over 100 years. What’s the point? They can’t stop it. They all going to die anyway, so why do they care?

Regardless, we all keep going and are doing great!

I'm very concerned about unsustainable global population growth and the consequential problems of overcrowding on future generations of humankind. Perhaps we should consider a three child policy whereby anybody who procreates more than a few offspring would get sterilized by public health authorities having the fertility of over-populators removed. I figure the aforementioned three child policy would likely reduce global human population growth from an unsustainable half percent annual growth rate to a more manageable quarter percent annual growth rate over the next century.

 

[Kooky]

"Evil is not but good is," as St. Athanasius says.

That argument makes no sense in the context of our conversation, sorry.
Same sex attraction is not the absence of heterosexuality in the manner that evil is the absence of good. They are not polar opposites conceptually, but different expressions/instances of the same underlying principle (sexual attraction).

Not every thought and not every desire that comes by (according to Christians) is "yours," and true desires can become corrupted. Sometimes people can will this, sometimes it just comes to them like being cold or hot.

Who creates desires, if it is not your God?

 

[Nimos]

Ok then, why would God create a sexual feeling in someone when it's forbidden to act on that impulse? I believe that men who are attracted to other men were born with those impulses inherent in them. I believe that God created these men to feel this way as God creates everything in the natural world. Why would he do this when the consequences if they act upon their feelings are so severe? To reach God involves sacrifice. Maybe this is why he created these feelings? It's the only explanation I can come up with but I'm open to other interpretations.

God does give a partial reason for why he don't want it, as the verse state it is considered an abomination, but also it makes people "unclean". Apparently those before the Jews did it and God doesn't like that.

Leviticus 20:13
13 - If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Leviticus 18:22-30
22 - You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
23 - And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.
24 - “Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean,
25 - and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.
26 - But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you
27 - (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean),
28 - lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.
29 - For everyone who does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people.
30 - So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the LORD your God.”

The interesting things is that God changed his view on how this should be punished in just a couple of pages, slightly confusing . First they should just be cut off from their people, two pages later they shall be put to death.

Why God would allow homosexuality's to exist in the first place is a good question. There doesn't seem to be any beneficial reasons for it to exists, just as there doesn't seem to be any downside to it either.

From what I can see from some of the replies you have gotten, some talk about free will, you yourself mention sacrifice, I have heard other explanations that it is a test, which I guess is sort of like what you mean by sacrificing as well? But personally I don't think any of these explanations make any sense.

In regards to free will, I don't see what this has to do with it at all. And even if it were the case, God ought to let people act on it as they please, otherwise what is the point for free will, if you should get killed for it and God explicitly say that it is their own fault. Which could be another way of saying that God is not going to look at this lightly.

Sacrificing/test as you mentioned, I don't buy either, at least not if we are talking about a just God, why is it that certain people should have to sacrifice in regards to this, when others doesn't have to? Also this idea falls apart I think, the moment we look at the animal kingdom. Because a lot of other species do homosexual acts as well, but I think it is a bit of a longshot trying to justify that God is also testing or demanding sacrifice from these animals, who clearly doesn't seem to care at all. So why would God allow or make it possible for animals to be homosexuals', that doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense.

Personally I think this is linked to the role of man and women. The bible puts men above women and as the head of the family, basically being able to do what they want. Like selling their daughters etc. so for men to take the "role" of a women, I think would have been seen as a step down the ladder in regards to this hierarchy. At least I think that is the most obvious explanation, when taking into account the time, history and how the bible in general speak about the different genders.

 

[Kooky]

I'm very concerned about unsustainable global population growth and the consequential problems of overcrowding on future generations of humankind.

We could simply reduce Western industrial economies to preindustrial levels.
No need to destroy our environment for phones, cars, or big McMansions when mudhuts and rikshas would do the trick.

But of course, people in the West would rather choose genocide and forced sterilization of the third world, than to give up their luxurious living standards and rapacious capitalist economy.

 

[DNB]

Do you believe that gay people are somehow perversely attracted to persecution, ostracism, bullying and harassment? Or is there another reason why you think they, in your eyes, deliberately choose to be attracted to the same sex despite the social stigma and the many, many dangers and barriers attached to it?

What about gang-bangers, drug dealers, prostitutes, strippers, obese people (due to gluttony), or any other type of social misfit, has the stigma of their vocation or practices deterred them from acting out on, or flaunting their desires? Who can account for the audacity of certain people, or even the intrigue of some to be viewed as a non-conformist or revolutionary?

 

[Kooky]

What about gang-bangers, drug dealers, prostitutes, strippers,

All of these people you list are receiving monetary gain from their trouble and are actively pursueing a dangerous activity.

Are you argueing that a secret cabal is paying gay people for their trouble? Or does the logic of your argument simply not extend beyond rote expressions of disdain and disgust?

 

[Koldo]

The Bible states that if a man lies with another man they should both be stoned to death. It's my belief that homosexuals are born that way and have no choice over who they're attracted to just like a heterosexual. If this is true why would God create homosexuals when he seems so opposed to their nature? I believe in the God of the Old Testament and believe that he is righteous but I'm confused by this. Did God create homosexuals purely to destroy them or is there something else going on? Does he want a homosexual man to be celibate or to go against his nature and procreate with a woman? Is God offering him the chance to make a huge sacrifice to the highest by denying himself? What are your thoughts?

It really doesn't make sense, right?

 

[pearl]

I don’t believe homosexuals are born that way or that God creates them to be that way.

Do you believe heterosexuals are 'born' that way? If so, do you remember when it was that you made a decision, chose to, be a heterosexual? Or did you go with what seemed to you to be your 'natural' sexuality.

God commands everyone, including homosexuals, to control their sexual impulses and live moral lives. Yes, a homosexual would need to live a celibate life or choose to marry the opposite sex.

According to a religious response, not according to a faith response where it is possible for homosexuals to live by Kingdom ideals.

 

[DNB]

The Bible states that if a man lies with another man they should both be stoned to death. It's my belief that homosexuals are born that way and have no choice over who they're attracted to just like a heterosexual. If this is true why would God create homosexuals when he seems so opposed to their nature? I believe in the God of the Old Testament and believe that he is righteous but I'm confused by this. Did God create homosexuals purely to destroy them or is there something else going on? Does he want a homosexual man to be celibate or to go against his nature and procreate with a woman? Is God offering him the chance to make a huge sacrifice to the highest by denying himself? What are your thoughts?

People have countless innate desires that need to be curbed, irrespective of how and where that they are derived from. Certain persons have anger or greed issues, children have to be curbed from their desires of selfishness or frivolity, some have to control their impulses towards gluttony or promiscuity. All desires and attractions are not from God, neither are they intrinsic nor incontrollable. No one is born into this world perfect, mature, grounded or in control, we all have to train ourselves to be disciplined, responsible, self-controlled and respectful (just for starters).

As much as a person prone to aggression must refrain from his desires, so does a one who finds themselves attracted to certain sexual perversions - hetero or homosexuals alike. Homosexuality is an unhealthy lifestyle, as much as promiscuity or S&M, or any other sexual practice that is not derived from love for the person, and reverence for the Creator's design and purpose for the universe and all that it contains.

 

[DNB]

All of these people you list are receiving monetary gain from their trouble and are actively pursueing a dangerous activity.

Are you argueing that a secret cabal is paying gay people for their trouble? Or does the logic of your argument simply not extend beyond rote expressions of disdain and disgust?

I am talking about people's indifference on how they are perceived in society. ...remember, that was the point that you initially attempted to make?

 

[Kooky]

I am talking about people's indifference on how they are perceived in society. ...remember, that was the point that you initially attempted to make?

No, that was not my point, though I suppose it is easy to miss if one really doesn't want to deal with the argument.
I was mentioning persecution, ostracism, bullying and harassment, all of which you chose to omit in favor of contorting my point into some nonsense about "people's indifference on how they are perceived in society".

Do you think that persecution is a form of perception?
Was the atrocity the pagan Roman Emperors committed simply that they "perceived" Christians "differently", in your opinion? Do you literally see no difference between morally judging somebody and hurting them physically and mentally?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

When contemplating and trying to figure out God's motives for doing what you say He did (not that you have ANY way of knowing the truth of your own words, mind you - and if you do have such a way, please do share! That would be amazing... but I am obviously not going to hold my breath), which is (your words here): "He created humans to have various degrees of physiological, biological, and psychological attraction to other people", while simultaneously requiring that humans not act on some of the urges He gave them because those actions are a (again your words) "no-no", one would obviously turn to the ideas that God is either testing people in various unfair/unequal ways, is a sadist, or likes playing tricks for His own amusement. In other words, it is very VERY difficult to imagine a "good" reason God would purposefully create people with direct, psychologically embedded urges to do things He then goes on to forbid. Which would lead one to (very often I would think) conclude that God is not "good." That He's kind of a butt, and should probably stick to making clouds and rocks and other things that don't require any actual abstract thoughts or extensive planning. He really seems to screw that stuff up quite a lot. Unless there is some other explanation? And if there is, I am sure you have reality-driven evidence that ties such explanation directly to the subject matter, right?

Oh... also... if you don't necessarily even believe in any of this, then what the hell are you doing talking about it with any sort of authority? Saying "What God does is..." for example. Very hard not to see you as thinking you know what God did or is doing when you state things that way, I am afraid.

I don't have personal attachment to care what the Bible says about God is true or not. I'm just pointing out what I read in the bible and how I understand it to be.

I play devil's advocate because I feel I can give opinions about topics I disagree with from a reflective light.

In the bible (I'll say) God created humans with attraction. It says nothing about sexual orientation. The church is the one who says homosexuals should be celibate. The bible talks about what one does in regards to sin.

 

[The Hammer]

It is not my belief that they are born this way, and I don't really like the terminology "homosexual" or "heterosexual" at all for various reasons.

We're not born this way? How'd it happen?

What would you rather I call myself? Man-****er? Women licker?