Homosexuality and Christianity

The millennial debate about the varieties of human sexual desire, records of which can be found starting with some of the earliest writings surviving from antiquity, has also been preserved in some of the texts later gathered and included in the Christian Bible.

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Their possible interpretations are still being debated, and the question of whether homosexuality is moral or a sin has become a matter of intense theological debate among Christians. Many sects have experienced deep divisions over the topic, most notably the Anglican Communion upon the ordination of Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop in the world's third largest Christian denomination.

Related Topics:
Homosexuality - Moral - Sin - Theological - Christians - Anglican Communion - Ordination - Gene Robinson - Gay - Bishop - Christian denomination

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Conversely, resistance to religion-related condemnation of and "spiritual violence" (as it is termed by groups such as Soulforce) against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people has grown from the few isolated voices of past centuries into a social movement defending the right of all people to express their sexuality in a manner that is natural for that individual.

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Although the historically prevalent view among Christians was to regard homosexual intercourse as sinful, it is likewise true that they did not have the concept of a natural homosexual orientation. The belief in most previous societies was that they were attracted to both genders.

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Christian positions vary on Biblical interpretations and corresponding ethical guidelines regarding homosexuality vary, as evident between the world's two most populous denominations: the Anglican Communion (77 million) and the Roman Catholic Church (1.1 billion). Christians such as the Anglican Communion's leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, regard same-sex relationships as moral since the Bible does not mention a homosexual orientation, arguing that the denunciations, often under the presumption of it being unnatural are applicable to heterosexuals in light of scientific findings that it is natural for a minority of humans. Those who believe homosexuality is sinful interpret certain bible passages as condemning of all same-sex intercourse, often equating homosexuality as unnatural, as argued by the Roman Catholic Church's leader, Pope Benedict XVI.

Related Topics:
Anglican Communion - Archbishop of Canterbury - Rowan Williams - Roman Catholic Church - Pope Benedict XVI

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