Posted on 06/26/2014 7:09:25 PM PDT by NetAddicted
CHICAGO – The results of a comprehensive scientific study released earlier this year suggest that homosexuality cannot be directly traced to a ‘gay gene,’ but is instead dependent on a variety of factors, including environmental and social influences.
Pro-homosexual activists have long claimed that homosexuality and abnormal “sexual orientations” are primarily caused by genetic factors. They argue that individuals with a hereditary “gay gene” are predisposed toward same-sex attractions and thus unable to appreciate traditional marriages.
However, scientific findings released earlier this year during the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago call this premise into question. During the meeting, Michael Bailey of Northwestern University unveiled comprehensive research results which suggest that genetics alone do not determine “sexual orientation.”
In his research, Bailey and other scientists examined the DNA of 400 men who described themselves as homosexual. Ultimately, the researchers concluded that homosexuality cannot be traced to specific genes.
“The genes were neither sufficient, nor necessary, to make any of the men gay,” wrote Ian Sample, science correspondent for The Guardian.
The findings show that it is impossible to accurately predict a person’s sexual behavior by solely examining DNA.
“The flawed thinking behind a genetic test for sexual orientation is clear from studies of twins, which show that the identical twin of a gay man, who carries an exact replica of his brother’s DNA, is more likely to be straight than gay,” The Guardian article continues. “That means even a perfect genetic test that picked up every gene linked to sexual orientation would still be less effective than flipping a coin.”
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Alan Sanders, a Northwestern University professor who led the recent study, confirmed that the “gay gene” theory is largely unfounded.
“We don’t think genetics is the whole story,” Sanders stated, according to The Telegraph. “It’s not.”
Though the scientists maintained that genetics do at least partly influence sexual orientation, these recent findings undermine the belief that homosexuality is predetermined. Environmental factors, such as the absence of a father or an unhealthy domestic upbringing, might play significant roles.
Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association says the scientific findings show that homosexual behavior is ultimately an individual choice.
“Without a genetic causation, sexual preference in behavior is clearly a choice, a choice which no one is compelled to make,” Fischer wrote in a column last week. “And that choice can be evaluated in any number of ways, including whether or not it is good for human health and whether or not same-sex households are sub-optimal nurturing environments for vulnerable young children.”
“If homosexual conduct is ultimately a matter of choice,” Fischer continued, “then the homosexual lobby has nothing, because homosexual conduct is clearly harmful to human beings in any number of ways, not the least of which is serving as the leading cause of HIV/AIDS, which can leave young men disease-ridden and destined for an early grave.”
“I am not persuaded that genes are even a contributing factor,” he added. “But even if they are, the great news is that if individuals are not biologically predetermined to pursue the homosexual lifestyle, then change is possible as a matter of scientific fact. This leads to one simple, salient truth: there is hope for the homosexual.”
It ‘seems to be’? Do tell what you mean by that statement, please.
maybe murder is ok because it exsists and we should teach its acceptance in school. jusayin.
The Guardian: Male sexual orientation influenced by genes, study shows
The Independent: Male homosexuality influenced by genes, US study finds
The Telegraph: Being homosexual is only partly due to gay gene, research finds
Christian Today: Research points to genetic element in homosexuality
All from earlier this year, when said study was released.
The last one is my absolute favorite, because the very first paragraph literally states 'It is nurture and environment more than nature and genes that determine sexual orientation in men, according to the most comprehensive study into the question of the 'gay gene' to date.'
No and if you seriously think what you had written is right then I suggest have a word with yourself.
Thanks, just saw it.
Is it any wonder why the left can push their agenda so much when we have some on our side who just don’t get it or actually agree with the left.
I took the opportunity to closely question each as to his or her specific beliefs and did my best to represent each individually according to his or her beliefs and not my own.
I represented each without fee as my contribution to their efforts. I am convinced that it serves little purpose for me to shovel Catholicism onto others or for others to shovel other religious views onto me. I am not changing. Most others are not changing either. I was educated by Jesuits so long ago that the Jebbies were still Catholic and still called God's Marines. I was properly catechized. I was not much affected by Vatican II.
I think that you may well find me a solid ally on matters of political conservatism which is, after all, the purpose of this website and a purpose and cause which has attracted implicitly the allegiance of all FReepers. Second to our obligations to God? Certainly. Nonetheless, we need not share every detail of creed in order to be allied on moral questions or simply political questions pending before our nation.
Please accept that, in refusing to be involved in fights here over religious doctrine with those who are not Catholic, I am not disparaging or dismissing you. I am respecting you on your terms. It is only when people here claim to be Catholic, as you do not, but are in error as to the Church and its doctrines and practices, that I tend to intervene but that is in-house between and among Catholics. I do not think it my place to be telling people outside the Catholic Church what they should believe or how they should practice.
If you and I were next door neighbors and saw each other face to face rather than on the internet, we might well become close and cordial friends, despite doctrinal differences.
May God bless you and yours!
Well said.
God bless you and yours!
While there may be a genetic component, I imagine it’s akin to the genetic component involving alcoholism. Some people are just susceptible to different behaviors. I wonder what our society would be like if alcoholics were forced on us as socially accepted by the politicians and courts? Why does homosexuality get the pass that alcoholism doesn’t?
Thanks! May God bless you and yours!
Thank you friend, and you and yours as well.
If a “dean of discipline” is what you say you want to be, it is a little odd to be shying away from lessons...
Personally, I don’t go for that. I assert that the “love of Christ first” approach is the superior one in any area of Christendom. EVERYTHING else, follows from it. That includes attempting to keep artefacts from interfering with it. “Vatican II” means little to me too — but it is neither demon nor angel; it is an artefact. It’s certainly reasonable to expect, that if I really DO believe evangelical doctrine, to ACT like I believe it, and not complain that the Roman Catholic Church won’t officially support this belief. That is to cede my very premise.
Why are we bothering to be “pro-life”? Well it is because God created life, loves it, and beseeches us to embrace His attitude. We’re not here to be ornery and brag about it. That is to volunteer for role casting as the devil.
Who created Satan?>>>
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving (1 Tim 4:3-4).
Satan wasn’t thankful, was cast out of heaven by St. Michael and since then satan’s goal was to ruin man.
The tagline is leftover from allegedly internal Catholic wars with SSPX schismatics (many of whose disciples gather at St. Mary's, Kansas). I don't agree with them either but they claim to be Catholic despite the SSPX having been declared a schism by John Paul II when he excommunicated their founder among others. The founder and one Brazilian bishop died excommunicated but Benedict XVI lifted the excommunication of the other leaders and got his hand bitten in response. It would be nearly impossible for non-Catholics to understand the war with the SSPX schism much less be actively interested in the details. I raise this not as a potential fruitless argument with you but to explain the Dean of Discipline tagline which is Catholic humor. Fra Tomas de Torquemada, O.P. ran the Spanish Inquisition at the time when the Muslims were driven from power in Spain. A group of Roman Catholics here waged war against the SSPX here and took the name Tomas de Torquemada Gentlemen's Club. We had a Ladies Auxiliary and I believe I am the last officer advertising the Club here in case it needs to reactivate. It would seem to be none of the concern of non-Catholics unless they CLAIM to be Catholic which you do not.
Having said all that, I am guessing that you want to forego alliance with Roman Catholics and I will respect your individual wishes. There are many fish in the sea. Goodbye!
I claim only to be generically Christian by faith, not to be “Roman Catholic.”
Thanks for explaining that it’s an inside Roman Catholic joke. As you might appreciate this is a small-c catholic forum and what’s taglined here is looked at by everybody. I had this idea of someone who wanted to crack a whip at all comers and I said hey, this is obviously over the top.
Not all Roman Catholics are strictly partitioned to that worship community in their thinking. Some observe commonalities in how Christ relates to them and how Christ relates to evangelicals. Neither are all evangelicals strictly partitioned to that worship community in their thinking. I find it a matter of great interest to see how Christ manifests Himself in various Christian worship communities.
If you choose not to care what people in other parts of Christendom think, then by tautology you choose not to care. Fine. I hope far more importantly that you’ve put personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to give you eternal life.
I am not sure what you mean by this.
Well, God designed us. First he talked with Moses to give us the ten basic commands of how to live; then he sent His Son to teach and refine the knowledge and offer salvation to those who follow the teachings and want the Holy Spirit to guide their decisions. The Holy Spirit is sort of like Tech Support. Adulthood is recognizing that you are a created being, and that the System Designer has the above recommendations for optimum functioning. With practice, living comes down to the simplicity of 1 and 0, just like computer code.
” The Holy Spirit is sort of like Tech Support. “
The first thing tech support says is to reboot and if that doesn’t work to turn the power off.
Ah, but then you would be without a computer and would miss out!
“Ah, but then you would be without a computer and would miss out! “
Next step is to power back on but humans don’t do this very well.
I think with the churches being in such disarray right now, it is hard to find a good mentor or to know what kind of teaching you are going to hear or what kind of congregation you will find when you enter a church cold. I very much recommend starting out by reading the "manual"; it's called Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (B.I.B.L.E.). If the prospect seems too daunting, start with the New Testament -- it's shorter -- and the Psalms. Then you can go back and read the Old Testament -- it is the history of Western Civ and future predictions made by the ancients from the time of the Hebrews to the time of Jesus.
What you may find is that technology changes, but people do not change -- we still have the same passions, fears, joys and shortcomings as people did 5,000 years ago. That's why the Bible says that our three-natured God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The guidance it gives is for all time.
It's important to get a good translation if you are not overly familiar with the Shakespearean English of the King James version. I have found the New Living translation very helpful. LIke with a computer, it's hard to really know what works without the "Help Desk", which would be the scriptures.
There are lots of resouces online as well, and if you ask in prayer with a heart open to the possibility, you will receive guidance and you will meet people in real life who can help a little or a lot along your path.
If you want to freepmail me, I'm usually around here.
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