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Why is religion so fascinated with homosexuality?

Evangelicalhumanist

"Truth" isn't a thing...
Premium Member
So as we natter away (yet again) in another thread about homosexuality, I'm curious about something: why are religious types, especially conservatives, so interested? Why do they care so much?

Here's a little quote from a gay priest, Malcolm Johnston, in his book "Diary of a Gay Priest: The Tightrope Walker:"

"It is condemned. It is expressly forbidden in Scripture...Four General Councils forbid it, Luther and Zwingli weighed in against it, and until recently it was distasteful to most people. What is it? Lending money at interest."

Shakespeare created one of his greatest villains (Shylock) based on the practice of taking usance (interest). Jews prospered all over the Christian world because kings and nobles needed to borrow money, but their own subjects, unable to charge interest, were unwilling to spot them large sums.

So why aren't conservative Christians railing against lending at interest?

American Christians were loathe to give up their slaves -- claiming it was permitted, even encouraged by Scripture. But they gave them up eventually, but long, long before they were willing to give up their hatred towards gays.

Even though Jesus couldn't even be bothered mentioning the subject!

So, Christians -- enlighten us. Why is this topic so important that it occupies so much of these forums?
 

Lain

Well-Known Member
So, Christians -- enlighten us. Why is this topic so important that it occupies so much of these forums?

It isn't that important (according to me), in my experience it only gets brought up a lot because people have intense feelings associated with their sexuality for some reason. I think usury is more important and interesting, the whole world is filled with that unnatural evil in my view.

Here is the famous Usury FAQ if any are interested in a detailed and historically researched Catholic view on the matter.
 
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SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
It does seem rather a Fundamentalist/Evangelical Christian focused thing. I mean other religions aren’t exactly waving pride flags but my own religious background was somewhat accepting towards “teh gayz.”
Maybe because our deities are always so extravagantly flamboyant, I mean it would be a bit hypocritical to be very homophobic lol

And in fairness most of the more “liberal” sects of Christianity couldn’t care less about homosexuality. Some are even welcoming.

In saying that, personally I think it comes down to control. The old divide and conquer strategy. It’s easier to control the masses if they have a scapegoat.
And what better scapegoat is there than a minority? Especially one that you can point to scripture (arguably) which condemns it.

Whenever I see very radical anti LGBTQ+ preaching from Christians I’m forcibly reminded of the old Jesus meme
You know the one where he’s like
“Remember. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Love them like I loved you.”
And his followers are like
“But Jesus, what if they’re gay or worship other gods?”
And Jesus is like
“Did I ****ing stutter?”
 

Psalm23

Well-Known Member
So as we natter away (yet again) in another thread about homosexuality, I'm curious about something: why are religious types, especially conservatives, so interested? Why do they care so much?

Here's a little quote from a gay priest, Malcolm Johnston, in his book "Diary of a Gay Priest: The Tightrope Walker:"

"It is condemned. It is expressly forbidden in Scripture...Four General Councils forbid it, Luther and Zwingli weighed in against it, and until recently it was distasteful to most people. What is it? Lending money at interest."

Shakespeare created one of his greatest villains (Shylock) based on the practice of taking usance (interest). Jews prospered all over the Christian world because kings and nobles needed to borrow money, but their own subjects, unable to charge interest, were unwilling to spot them large sums.

So why aren't conservative Christians railing against lending at interest?

American Christians were loathe to give up their slaves -- claiming it was permitted, even encouraged by Scripture. But they gave them up eventually, but long, long before they were willing to give up their hatred towards gays.

Even though Jesus couldn't even be bothered mentioning the subject!

So, Christians -- enlighten us. Why is this topic so important that it occupies so much of these forums?


I think homosexuality is a part of culture so that may be one reason it is discussed often.

I think unfortunately that homosexuality is brought up at times as a tool to condemn or judge others not like oneself.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
It isn't.

It's homosexuals who made a massive issue of it.

Before this it was more focused on pretty much any and everything else.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
Once in a blue moon I wonder how a christian feels or changes their sentiments later in life when they find out they are gay or have a child who stopped loving them because how the parent defined gay people and their child. Those who changed their views or biases tend to make me think those who do/cannot maybe either don't want to challenge their own biases that affect people they say jesus wants them to love or they do not know what sexuality means in light of maybe their generation or assuming if they step out of the box they are sinning.

Maybe in majority of the cases they just don't know, don't understand, or have never been challenged otherwise (that or have cognitive dissonance to accept that challenge if it means telling them they hurt others not just it being a differences of opinion)

I think it goes beyond "as a christian I believe homosexuality is a sin (or they're not born that way, or television made them that way, so on and so forth). That or I could just be in denial :( I've thankfully never had that upbringing but those who do, I wouldn't know how to address.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
In the US it's totally the opposite.
I don't see massive issues with it in Mediaeval Christianity or in the Classical Era. It's just not spoken about as much as anything else. Homosexuality didn't even exist as a concept until the late 19th century, so it couldn't have been an issue.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I don't really hear homosexuality discussed to any tremendous extent in Hinduism.

I spent the larger part of my life as a Neopagan. Homosexuality was discussed, but never negatively, and always part of the order of things.

I'm confused why we(on the boards) have a tendency to view Christianity as representative of all religions.
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
So as we natter away (yet again) in another thread about homosexuality, I'm curious about something: why are religious types, especially conservatives, so interested? Why do they care so much?

Here's a little quote from a gay priest, Malcolm Johnston, in his book "Diary of a Gay Priest: The Tightrope Walker:"

"It is condemned. It is expressly forbidden in Scripture...Four General Councils forbid it, Luther and Zwingli weighed in against it, and until recently it was distasteful to most people. What is it? Lending money at interest."

Shakespeare created one of his greatest villains (Shylock) based on the practice of taking usance (interest). Jews prospered all over the Christian world because kings and nobles needed to borrow money, but their own subjects, unable to charge interest, were unwilling to spot them large sums.

So why aren't conservative Christians railing against lending at interest?

American Christians were loathe to give up their slaves -- claiming it was permitted, even encouraged by Scripture. But they gave them up eventually, but long, long before they were willing to give up their hatred towards gays.

Even though Jesus couldn't even be bothered mentioning the subject!

So, Christians -- enlighten us. Why is this topic so important that it occupies so much of these forums?
It doesn't. Apart from the threads you and a handful of homosexuals start about it. :D
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
As an aside, a friend once told me apparently folks on this board think I'm homophobic. Well, I have religious disagreements with SSM, that's true, but there are homosexual folks in all groups and if any friend of mine, religious, atheist, I don't care, likes the same sex - I'm not bothered. I have way more pressing religious issues to care about. It's not an issue for me at all.
 

SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
I don't see massive issues with it in Mediaeval Christianity or in the Classical Era. It's just not spoken about as much as anything else. Homosexuality didn't even exist as a concept until the late 19th century, so it couldn't have been an issue.
That doesn’t really mean homophobia wasn’t around. I mean back during the Middle Ages people who “practiced sodomy” were often burnt at the stake. Indeed sodomy was even outlawed specifically I think in like 1533.
It’s been a while since history class, so forgive me if I got that wrong.

Although weirdly lesbians often got away with it even back during the Middle Ages. Which is a bit odd but whatever.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
That doesn’t really mean homophobia wasn’t around. I mean back during the Middle Ages people who “practiced sodomy” were often burnt at the stake. Indeed sodomy was even outlawed specifically I think in like 1533.
It’s been a while since history class, so forgive me if I got that wrong.

Although weirdly lesbians often got away with it even back during the Middle Ages. Which is a bit odd but whatever.
It was about the perceived gender switching. Lesbians and other women who used fake phalluses were prosecuted. It was about the law against a man acting as a woman and vice versa. This is how it was viewed pretty much from the Classical Era to the late Victorian Era. Being homosexual, having attraction to the same sex, even the sex (as with non-penetrative lesbianism) wasn't the issue.
 

Kooky

Freedom from Sanity
It's not religion that is fascinated by homosexuality, it is the patriarchy - that is, the patriarchs, and those who serve them. Homosexuality serves as a stand-in for everything the fundamentalist macho despises, because it so perfectly crosses the wires between expectations of male sexual and social identity on one hand, and Abrahamism's expectations of male sexual and moral dominance on the other.
 

Kooky

Freedom from Sanity
Once in a blue moon I wonder how a christian feels or changes their sentiments later in life when they find out they are gay or have a child who stopped loving them because how the parent defined gay people and their child.
In many cases they seem to just double down, adding self hatred to the already existing mix of disdain and disgust. There is a prevalent undercurrent in fundamentalist macho discourse about what can only be colloquially referred to as men "catching the gay", which to me seems specifically adressed to Abrahamist men insecure in their own sexuality.
 

SomeRandom

Still learning to be wise
Staff member
Premium Member
It was about the perceived gender switching. Lesbians and other women who used fake phalluses were prosecuted. It was about the law against a man acting as a woman and vice versa. This is how it was viewed pretty much from Classical times to the late Victorian Era. Being homosexual, having attraction to the same sex, even the sex (as with non-penetrative lesbianism) wasn't the issue.
That does sound vaguely familiar. Like I said been a while since history class.

I still think the modern homophobia espoused is merely a control tool
 

74x12

Well-Known Member
So as we natter away (yet again) in another thread about homosexuality, I'm curious about something: why are religious types, especially conservatives, so interested? Why do they care so much?

Here's a little quote from a gay priest, Malcolm Johnston, in his book "Diary of a Gay Priest: The Tightrope Walker:"

"It is condemned. It is expressly forbidden in Scripture...Four General Councils forbid it, Luther and Zwingli weighed in against it, and until recently it was distasteful to most people. What is it? Lending money at interest."

Shakespeare created one of his greatest villains (Shylock) based on the practice of taking usance (interest). Jews prospered all over the Christian world because kings and nobles needed to borrow money, but their own subjects, unable to charge interest, were unwilling to spot them large sums.

So why aren't conservative Christians railing against lending at interest?

American Christians were loathe to give up their slaves -- claiming it was permitted, even encouraged by Scripture. But they gave them up eventually, but long, long before they were willing to give up their hatred towards gays.

Even though Jesus couldn't even be bothered mentioning the subject!

So, Christians -- enlighten us. Why is this topic so important that it occupies so much of these forums?
I rarely talk about it. The fact is though, homosexuals are coming after us Christians. We're being targeted. I say live and let live; but homosexuals are becoming militant at this point and purposely target Christians. They go to a Christian baker and try to force him to make a gay wedding cake when they know he isn't going to because it's against his personal faith.

And that's wrong. Homosexuals also are targeting children. They want to teach Christian's children that Christianity is bad and homosexuality is right. So when homosexuals start coming after us; then that's on them. We'll fight back for sure. Why don't they try these tactics against Muslims? Because they know the result. They are scared of Muslims so they leave them alone. They should be scared of us Christians too. Not because we're going to blow ourselves up or anything but because we will make them pay in political, legal and monetary ways that the won't like. Christians will stand up for themselves more and more. We will resist the more we are pressed into a corner and forced to resist.

Other than that we don't care. I don't care what people do in their bedroom just don't try to force it on me.

To me it's no different than other sins in the Bible like fornication; sex outside of marriage. It's none of my business. I believe in freedom for all and live and let live. I don't hate gays lol. That's ridiculous.
 
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