Question 1

How do different world religions view the subject of homosexuality?

Accepted Answer

In many religions, scripture and doctrine are interpreted to strictly prohibit any form of homosexuality (Kubicek et al., 2009; Yarhouse & Tan, 2005). The tension between an individual’s religious and homosexual thoughts, feelings, or actions can result in stress, depression, continual fear of damnation, low self-esteem, and feelings of worthlessness. (Barton, 2010; Kubicek et al., 2009). The present day doctrines of the world's major religions and their denominations vary vastly in their attitudes toward sexual orientations. Among the religious denominations which generally reject these orientations, there are many different types of opposition, ranging from quietly discouraging homosexual activity, explicitly forbidding same-sex sexual practices among their adherents and actively opposing social acceptance of homosexuality, supporting criminal sanctions up to capital punishment, and even to condoning extrajudicial killings.

Among the religions that originated in ancient and medieval India, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, teachings regarding homosexuality are less clear than among the Abrahamic traditions, and religious authorities voice diverse opinions. In 2005, an authority figure of Sikhism condemned same-sex marriage and the practice of homosexuality. However, many people in Sikhism do not oppose gay marriage. Hinduism is diverse, with no supreme governing body, but the majority of swamis opposed same-sex relationships in a 2004 survey, and a minority supported them. Ancient religious texts such as the Vedas often refer to people of a third gender known as hijra, who are neither female nor male. Some see this third gender as an ancient parallel to modern western lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex identities. The Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have traditionally forbidden sodomy, believing and teaching that such behavior is sinful. The Torah (first five books of the Hebrew Bible) is the primary source for Jewish views on homosexuality. It states that: "[A man] shall not lie with another man as [he would] with a woman, it is an abomination" (Leviticus 18:22). Like many similar commandments, the stated punishment for willful violation is the death penalty, although in practice rabbinic Judaism no longer believes it has the authority to implement death penalties.) All of the major Islamic schools disapprove of homosexuality. Islam views same-sex desires as an unnatural temptation, and sexual relations are seen as a transgression of the natural role and aim of sexual activity. Islamic teachings (in the hadith tradition) presume same-sex attraction, extol abstention and (in the Qur'an) condemn consummation.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_and_religion
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1037&context=intuition

Question 2

What is the general public view on Homosexuality?

Accepted Answer

LGBT movements are opposed by a variety of individuals and organizations. They may have a personal, political or religious prejudice to gay rights, homosexual relations or gay people. Opponents say same-sex relationships are not marriages, that legalization of same-sex marriage will open the door for the legalization of polygamy, that it is unnatural and that it encourages unhealthy behavior. Some social conservatives believe that all sexual relationships with people other than an opposite-sex spouse undermines the traditional family and that children should be reared in homes with both a father and a mother. As society in some countries (mostly in Western Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Taiwan) has become more accepting of homosexuality, there therefore has also been the emergence of many groups that desire to end homosexuality.

Some people worry that gay rights conflict with individuals' freedom of speech, religious freedoms in the workplace, and the ability to run churches, charitable organizations and other religious organizations that hold opposing social and cultural views to LGBT rights. There is also concern that religious organizations might be forced to accept and perform same-sex marriages or risk losing their tax-exempt status.

Few also feel that inclusion of teachings on homosexuality in public schools, the coming out of teachers or counselors as gay or supporting gay rights ideologies will play a significant role in transforming public ideas about lesbian and gay individual and would corrupt young children’s minds.

Many gay rights supporters argue that teachings about the diverse sexual orientations that exist outside of heterosexuality are pertinent to creating students that are well informed about the world around them. However, sex education curriculum alone cannot teach youth about factors associated with sexual orientation but instead schools should implement policies that create safe school learning environments and foster support for LGBT youth. If schools provide unbiased, factual information about sexual orientation, along with supportive counseling programs for these homosexual youth it will transform the way society treats homosexuality.

Many opponents of LGBT social movements have attributed their indifference toward homosexuality as being a result of the immoral values that it may instill in children who are exposed to homosexual individuals.

Location also affects ideas towards same-sex marriage; residents of rural and southern areas are significantly more opposed to same-sex marriage in comparison to residents elsewhere. Gays and lesbians that live in rural areas face many challenges, including: sparse populations and the traditional culture held closely by the small population of most rural areas, generally hostile social climates towards gays relative to urban areas, and less social and institution support and access compared to urban areas.

Resource:Wikipedia.org

Question 3

What are some of the false views on homosexuality that is being promoted?

Accepted Answer

The narrative in churches and Christian circles is changing today. What was previously termed sin and which had no place in the church is today being openly celebrated.
I recently heard a talk on interpreting the Bible in the light of the verses that talk about homosexuality: The speaker says that we have to put the verses in the Bible in context to the times they were written in and not take literal sense of it because it was written for that time and that place and in today’s modern age these verses hold no sense at all. For example, when Paul decries the practice of homosexuality and pederasty which was a practice in those days, he is writing only for that time and age because this was a practice prevalent then, where older men would have relationships with young boys. So the verses from Romans is not relevant in today’s context and can be overlooked. 
You can be a gay and can be a Christian too – More and more theological seminaries are promoting this kind of a narrative saying that God did not only create male and female but there were other genders too. So if you are born other than a male or female or are inclined to feel a certain way then it is alright. You will still be a part of God’s kingdom.
When we talk about Genesis and when God created man, he said – it is not good for a man to be alone. He needs a partner. So, when we talk about LGBT people in the Church we cannot withhold from them the gift of partnership that God has already granted for everyone. Similarly, marriage is a gift of God given to everyone. So, we cannot stop LGBT people being married in the church.

These are all false views being propagated by Christians making light of what God has clearly called an abomination. While it is true that we ought to understand scripture in its original context and time, it doesn’t mean that certain truths apply regardless of the time or age we live in, and that the embedded principle always stand true. We promote our belief systems by putting words into God’s mouth and reinterpreting the Word of God to mean something utterly different from what He intended. Be aware that professors and theologians in top universities and seminaries are promoting this kind of philosophy. How corrupted we have become that we attribute such interpretations to a God who is Holy. Scripture does not support or encourage this.
There is a shift in church teachings, behaviours and acceptance of same sex relationships and marriage. Some churches are more supportive by accepting and encouraging the LGBTQ community.
They say God loves LGBTQ people and because of this one statement ideologies are changing. When Christian ideology and the LGBT ideology come together it is going to create a revolution. There is an open invitation to all people to come love the community and be supportive towards it. This is being done in subtle ways by bringing the concept of love and God’s love and diminishing the thought of it being a sin. But sometimes, love sounds like a big NO.

Resources:
https://youtu.be/zWvLJNaVgrI
https://www.hrc.org/resources/what-does-the-bible-say-about-homosexuality

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PERCEPTION

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How do different world religions view the subject of homosexuality?

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