tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post115656360819192647..comments2023-10-24T04:29:23.693-06:00Comments on Atheist Ethicist: Is Homosexuality an 'Illness'?Alonzo Fyfehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-17628861770960144982010-08-26T05:46:11.073-06:002010-08-26T05:46:11.073-06:00anonymous
At the very least homosexuality impairs...<b>anonymous</b><br /><br /><i>At the very least homosexuality impairs procreation. The impairment of any other system in our mind or body is universally accepted as an impairment, why not homosexuality?</i><br /><br />First, homosexuality does not impair procreation in the biological sense. Consider, for example, the ant, or the common bee. They do not engage in any sexual activity at all. Yet, they procreate quite effectively by providing assistance to family members (the hive queen) who does the procreating for them. Homosexuals procreate by providing assistance to their relations.<br /><br />Second, modern technology makes it quite easy for female homosexuals, at least, to procreate.<br /><br />Third, procreation has no intrinsic value. The human race currently is procreating itswelf into a great deal of misery and suffering through overpopulation. Methods to reduce procreation are essential to our future well-being, If we do not stabalize our population through various types of limits on procreation, we are going to suffer some severe consequences.<br /><br />An "ailment" is a condition that tends to thwart desires. There is nothing about a desire for a sexual relationship with somebody of the same gender that is necessarily desire-thwarting. So there is nothing about it that can be justly considered to classify it as an "ailment".<br /><br />However, there are people who have learned prejudices against others who might want to convince themselves that they have reason to look down on and denigrate others (and, in far too many cases, are taught to view even themselves in an unjustified negative light). That's where the idea that homosexuality is an illness comes from. It's a learned prejudice.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-89716389309587648582010-08-26T00:19:18.545-06:002010-08-26T00:19:18.545-06:00Its understandable that one would go through such ...Its understandable that one would go through such pains to avoid the obvious. Anyone who's had a bad cold can relate to having a desire to avoid the negative results of others finding out you're sick. In the case of homosexuality, the social stigma at best and violence at worst experienced by gays is reason enough to seek an alternative to the reality that homosexuality is a malfunctioning of the reproductive system. <br /><br />Procreation is second only to survival in importance to the success of any organism. If we fail to procreate we cease to exist....<br /><br />Any condition that prevents reproduction or makes it difficult is universally accepted to be either a defect, illness, or injury, and there are volumes written on how to avoid or treat these conditions. <br /><br />Male/Female attraction is a mechanism that facilitates procreation. While its possible to procreate without it, Its difficult to imagine that we would be in the same evolutionary space that we find ourselves today without it.<br /><br />At the very least homosexuality impairs procreation. The impairment of any other system in our mind or body is universally accepted as an impairment, why not homosexuality?<br /><br />Religious ignorance!!<br /><br />Yes that's right the people who told us the world was flat are at it again... <br /><br />Who would ever want to seek help for a condition knowing that they would receive the DEATH PENALTY. Unfortunately this is to often the result of "Gods love" being filtered through man's hate and ignorance.<br /><br />Epilepsy, Mental Illness, Birth Defects, Tremors, even blindness, were often thought by primitive man to be punishments from god , or the result of evil spirits. These unfortunate souls were subjected to barbaric treatment as a result.<br /><br />Now the homosexual community has swung to the opposite extreme, and are suggesting that homosexuality is normal....<br /><br />Many choose not to correct ailments that aren't significantly affecting their quality of life, or find that the available treatments risk lowering their quality of life. If you're happy being gay that's fine. Clearly there's no proven treatment. but why condemn those who would like to try to restore the normal functioning of there bodies and minds.<br /><br />Ironically neither the religious zealots nor the Gay activists seem willing to deviate from their extreme positions....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-80572707882980210412008-11-10T05:22:00.000-07:002008-11-10T05:22:00.000-07:00To build on a part of Enasz's answer . . . The ide...To build on a part of Enasz's answer . . . <BR/><BR/>The idea that homosexuals are 'lacking as individuals and searching for happiness' is a claim like the claim that blacks were happier as slaves and women were happier in the home pregnant and barefoot as opposed to being engaged in the world of politics and business with men.<BR/><BR/>People who do harm to others go to great strains to convince themselves that what they do is not harm. They convince themselves, "I am doing good, becaus my victims suffer without my meddling." With these mental gymnastics they give themselves permission to do harm without guilt.<BR/><BR/>But there is no evidence to back up these claims. There is only the desire of those who seek to act in ways harmful to others to believe that they are true in order to deflect the guilt of wrongdoing.Alonzo Fyfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05687777216426347054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-60378405028935857842008-11-09T21:06:00.000-07:002008-11-09T21:06:00.000-07:00Alonzo, where does the spiritual realm play into t...<I>Alonzo, where does the spiritual realm play into this scenerio?</I><BR/><BR/>At the risk of answering for Alonzo, I would say that the spiritual realm doesn't play into this scenario anywhere, at all. There is no need and no justification for introducing an imaginary realm into this concept that has no bearing on the real world and real people.<BR/><BR/><I>Suppose that two people who act out homosexual acts towards one another are still searching and not satisfied?</I><BR/><BR/>Then they should probably break up and look for partners that they are more compatible with, no? This happens quite frequently in both the hetero- and homosexual worlds. I'd say it's a pretty common human condition, which is why there is a period of courtship before people decide they are compatible enough to make a life together.<BR/><BR/><I>So why do those who practice homosexualtiy seem to be lacking as individuals searching for hapiness? </I><BR/><BR/>You've been fed a giant pack of lies if you believe this. Homosexuals are no different from heterosexuals in these terms. There are plenty people of both persuasions who are happy and fulfilled, and plenty who are miserable in bad relationships. Hell, the hetero divorce-rate is 50% - glass houses etc. If anything causes homosexual couples to be less fulfilled than hetero ones it is attributable to the bigotry and discrimination they face from a hateful society, and not some defect of the "soul".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-79385044481429771402008-11-09T01:21:00.000-07:002008-11-09T01:21:00.000-07:00Alonzo, where does the spiritual realm play into t...Alonzo, where does the spiritual realm play into this scenerio? Suppose that two people who act out homosexual acts towards one another are still searching and not satisfied? Suppose they are operating their lives in a manner in which the originator of life has not designed them to do? Would this not be a hindrance to their hapiness and thus make them ill. Would you drive a car in the ocean? Of course not, as it was not designed to be driven in water. So why do those who practice homosexualtiy seem to be lacking as individuals searching for hapiness? Perhaps the mere reative mind to the eros is just a form of weakness? Since our mind is the tool that drives our behavior, we must protect it. Pleasure is always fun for a season. However, sometimes there is a cost to the actions. Perhaps the cost is a spiritual lack that never gets filled until they turn from their own selfish behavior?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16594468.post-1156631662417317912006-08-26T16:34:00.000-06:002006-08-26T16:34:00.000-06:00Alonzo,Well thought out and thought provoking post...Alonzo,<BR/>Well thought out and thought provoking post. Here is a twist. A couple has a child. They imagine and desire a future where their child has their own children and so on, making them grandparents and great grandparents etc.. We might say that they wish to be reproductively successful in an evolutionary sense.<BR/><BR/>Now it appears that some persons might have a very legitimate desire to avoid either concieving or rearing a child that might turn out to be homosexual.<BR/><BR/>IF we understood enough about what caused homosexuality, whether it is genetic, embryonic or post-birth-social development, or a combination of all three; would it be morally wrong to take measures to avoid having or raising a homosexual child?<BR/><BR/>What do you think?<BR/><BR/>On a side note, in this scenario the homosexuality of another person other than one's own offspring is irrelevant. <BR/><BR/>Also, it should go without saying, (but I will): that regardless of the outcome of the sexual orientation of one's child, I think one is still obligated to give that child the love and support that any other child should recieve from their parents.Sheldonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03743116454273042629noreply@blogger.com