It would also call into question the morality of conversion therapy. As if it is in fact just a behaviour, then conversion therapy would be no more immoral than the programs people would use to quit smoking or over eating.
I think the Greeks and Romans had it right. These are behaviors people engage in. They have a preference for one "flavor" or another and sometimes that preference is fluid or context-dependent. I don't see any value in creating rigid identity around such behaviors because that comes with a whole bunch of other expectations and not just from others.
It's a completely different way to view human relationships. We are prisoners of our cultural mindset. It's interesting to consider how other cultures viewed gay relationships. I used to view the ones I read about in ancient Rome from a 21st century perspective. Now I don't.
This is a BIG problem in our modern discourse. We judge history based on our contemporary sensibilities. For example, judging Thomas Jefferson harshly because he was a slaveholder from the benefit of our slave-free existence is too easy. Slavery was the water Jefferson was swimming in. In the case of sexuality, it may be us that has it backwards. Maybe the ancients knew something we didn't. That we shouldn't categorize others (and perhaps more harmful, ourselves) because of sexual behaviors (as long as they don't cross the line of age of consent, etc).
Yeah, I had the same issue on slavery, of course. What I grow tired of is that everyone in America only learns about what America did. For whatever reason there's this mindset among Americans that we have to trash our history and overly focus on our sins and I just think we need more perspective sometimes.
When you start reading a little bit of history and you see slavery was the way of the world until 200-some years ago, you know, it doesn't excuse us but you just have to take it in context. That's why I read history. It gives you a lot more perspective on where we are today.
Is homosexuality an inherent characteristic?
I ‘think’ the science on this isn’t completely settled. Some partisans on both sides want to pretend it is. : )
I agree. So how then is it treated like an inherent characteristic in terms of law?
Well, the People who vote the most say it is, so here we are. My view is it should be a state issue. But others will disagree.
It would also call into question the morality of conversion therapy. As if it is in fact just a behaviour, then conversion therapy would be no more immoral than the programs people would use to quit smoking or over eating.
I think the Greeks and Romans had it right. These are behaviors people engage in. They have a preference for one "flavor" or another and sometimes that preference is fluid or context-dependent. I don't see any value in creating rigid identity around such behaviors because that comes with a whole bunch of other expectations and not just from others.
It's a completely different way to view human relationships. We are prisoners of our cultural mindset. It's interesting to consider how other cultures viewed gay relationships. I used to view the ones I read about in ancient Rome from a 21st century perspective. Now I don't.
This is a BIG problem in our modern discourse. We judge history based on our contemporary sensibilities. For example, judging Thomas Jefferson harshly because he was a slaveholder from the benefit of our slave-free existence is too easy. Slavery was the water Jefferson was swimming in. In the case of sexuality, it may be us that has it backwards. Maybe the ancients knew something we didn't. That we shouldn't categorize others (and perhaps more harmful, ourselves) because of sexual behaviors (as long as they don't cross the line of age of consent, etc).
Yeah, I had the same issue on slavery, of course. What I grow tired of is that everyone in America only learns about what America did. For whatever reason there's this mindset among Americans that we have to trash our history and overly focus on our sins and I just think we need more perspective sometimes.
When you start reading a little bit of history and you see slavery was the way of the world until 200-some years ago, you know, it doesn't excuse us but you just have to take it in context. That's why I read history. It gives you a lot more perspective on where we are today.