Would Abrahamic Religions Be Less Homophobic if Gays Practiced Celibacy?

[Exarch]

quesiton; would the leaders of Christianity, Islam and Judaism be happy and less gay bashing if gays were celibate-like catholic priests?

so say someone claims to be a homosexual-he feels sexually attracted to a bloke's arse (ugh)-but decides not to act on it and rather, pursues a celibate platonic relationship? would religious leaders be happy?

Discuss

[Burnum]

quesiton; would the leaders of Christianity, Islam and Judaism be happy and less gay bashing if gays were celibate-like catholic priests?

so say someone claims to be a homosexual-he feels sexually attracted to a bloke's arse (ugh)-but decides not to act on it and rather, pursues a celibate platonic relationship? would religious leaders be happy?

Discuss

What about the homophobia in Buddhism, Hinduism and other assorted Chinese and Indian religions. Every religion pretty much condemns homosexuality as deviant practice.

[Exarch]

What about the homophobia in Buddhism, Hinduism and other assorted Chinese and Indian religions. Every religion pretty much condemns homosexuality as deviant practice.

sure we can discuss those as well, or lack thereof,

but the thread is about if gays practiced celibacy-would reliigous leaders from the abrahamic reliigons be happier-especially considering how rabid their holy texts get about ahem bum sex

[Gromovnik]

sure we can discuss those as well, or lack thereof,

but the thread is about if gays practiced celibacy-would reliigous leaders from the abrahamic reliigons be happier-especially considering how rabid their holy texts get about ahem bum sex

If they were in celibacy, I doubt they would be so gay...

[Sir Winston Churchill]

What about the homophobia in Buddhism, Hinduism and other assorted Chinese and Indian religions. Every religion pretty much condemns homosexuality as deviant practice.

I call bull. On all of that.

[Fiyenyaa]

I call bull. On all of that.

From what I understand from my small understanding of Buddhism from religious studies class, there isn't any scripture that specifically says "gay = wrong" like there is in Abrahamic religions; but the tenet "abstain from sexual immorality" is often interpreted as including homosexuality. This is probably as much a product of the socially conservative areas Buddhism tends to be prevelant in as it is of the religion.
Can't say anything about Hindusim et al, but that's my understanding of the Buddhist position.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

From what I understand from my small understanding of Buddhism from religious studies class, there isn't any scripture that specifically says "gay = wrong" like there is in Abrahamic religions; but the tenet "abstain from sexual immorality" is often interpreted as including homosexuality. This is probably as much a product of the socially conservative areas Buddhism tends to be prevelant in as it is of the religion.
Can't say anything about Hindusim et al, but that's my understanding of the Buddhist position.

Abstaining for sexual immorality doesn't mean to not be gay, it just means to not do what would be considered immoral in sexual practice that could otherwise get in the way of you attaining Enlightenment [by eliminating all desires]. For instance, rape. Rape is immoral and sexual, abstaining from it = good. Also I don't see where people are "often interpreting" it to include homosexuality, and I find it very hard to believe a religion such as Buddhism which prides itself on being the one religion to accept just about anything from anybody. You do not see Buddhist groups protesting against non-Buddhists, let alone gays. In Buddhism you are free to believe what you feel you believe through your own judgment and contemplation, but to accept all theories as possibilities and to be open to anything.

I find it hard that a religion such as that thinks homosexuality is wrong outside of the fact it's a desire, like sex in general, that could prevent you from attaining Enlightenment.

[Fiyenyaa]

Abstaining for sexual immorality doesn't mean to not be gay, it just means to not do what would be considered immoral in sexual practice that could otherwise get in the way of you attaining Enlightenment [by eliminating all desires]. For instance, rape. Rape is immoral and sexual, abstaining from it = good. Also I don't see where people are "often interpreting" it to include homosexuality, and I find it very hard to believe a religion such as Buddhism which prides itself on being the one religion to accept just about anything from anybody. You do not see Buddhist groups protesting against non-Buddhists, let alone gays. In Buddhism you are free to believe what you feel you believe through your own judgment and contemplation, but to accept all theories as possibilities and to be open to anything.

I find it hard that a religion such as that thinks homosexuality is wrong outside of the fact it's a desire, like sex in general, that could prevent you from attaining Enlightenment.

Well there are some who interpret sexual misconduct to mean homosexuality; like a little fella you may have heard of called the Dalai Lama. Maybe this isn't common, but it certainly is a view that occurs in the Buddhist world.
To be honest, I think your characterisation of Buddhism really applies best to Western Buddhism rather than the more traditional kinds like Mahayana, Theravada, or Vajrayana. It's all down to interpretation.

[Taiji]

Every religion pretty much condemns homosexuality as deviant practice.

I think you meant 'Pretty much every religion condemns homosexuality as deviant practice.'

Or else you're plain wrong. Taoists might say that you might need to find another source of yin ching, and need to pay more attention to balancing yang ching due to a likely excess.

Pretty much the same for girls also, but the other way around.

[MaximiIian]

Every religion pretty much condemns homosexuality as deviant practice.

Not really. Though it is worrying that some of the largest ones do. I blame their retaining some of the social mores rooted in Antiquity.

[Caliph]

Yes, remember it's the actual 'act' that God of the Abrahamic religions condems.. Plus if someone is gay but doesn't engage in homosexual relations at all, then it wouldn't matter at all to religious leaders wether he is gay or straight

[Orko]

Yes, remember it's the actual 'act' that God of the Abrahamic religions condems.. Plus if someone is gay but doesn't engage in homosexual relations at all, then it wouldn't matter at all to religious leaders wether he is gay or straight

Well, I'm not really sure they'll just be like "oh, well... Atleast they are not having sex".
A large part of these religious leaders condemn Homosexuality as unnatural, or an abomination, regardless of the act, and the explanation is quite simple, really - There is no purpose to Homosexuality if you can't actually do anything, so it's just a false temptation.

[Caliph]

Well, I'm not really sure they'll just be like "oh, well... Atleast they are not having sex".
A large part of these religious leaders condemn Homosexuality as unnatural, or an abomination, regardless of the act, and the explanation is quite simple, really - There is no purpose to Homosexuality if you can't actually do anything, so it's just a false temptation.

These leaders can condemn 'homosexuality' in general all they want, but you'd be hard pressed to find religious leaders condeming 'Non-practicing homosexuals' in particular.. Even when they do condemn homosexuals as opposed to homosexuality in general; most leaders at least in Islam (and I can't speak for all) are talking about Gays who are actively having gay sex and leading an open homosexual life.

[basics]

Exarch,

It is not man who made the Law, rather God, so in context our religious leaders have no say in the matter at all, especially if they claim to follow the same God who handed down what was to be, both Spiritually and Legally. Caliph put it rather well and one could add that how would we know who was gay if they hadn't done anything that gays do?

[Tacitursa]

Why did god create homosexuality in the first place would be a better question. I think everyone agree's this day and age that it isnt a choice, people are born homosexual.

God's a confused idiot it seems.

[Scorch]

Probably not. Not that gays should have to practice celibacy in order to appease people with nonsensical, childish views of the universe simply to be considered equal to other human beings.

[Saxon wårolord]

quesiton; would the leaders of Christianity, Islam and Judaism be happy and less gay bashing if gays were celibate-like catholic priests?

so say someone claims to be a homosexual-he feels sexually attracted to a bloke's arse (ugh)-but decides not to act on it and rather, pursues a celibate platonic relationship? would religious leaders be happy?

Discuss

What kind of dumb question is that?

Celibacy means being asexual thus ruling out both heterosexuality and faggotry in the process.

[Fiyenyaa]

It may do so, but it's a foolish propasition. It's similar to asking "would Abrahamic religions be less condemning of pre-marital sex if people didn't do it" - it's simply bad advice regarding a silly rule.

[Arch-hereticK]

Queens University in Belfast tracked the mortality of about 1,000 middle-aged men over the course of a decade. The study, published in 1997 in the British Medical Journal found that "men who reported the highest frequency of orgasm enjoyed a death rate half that of the laggards". The report also cited other studies to show that having sex even a few times a week may be associated with: improved sense of smell; reduced risk of heart disease; weight loss and overall fitness; reduced depression (in women); the relief or lessening of pain; less frequent colds and flu; better bladder control; better teeth; and improved prostate function. The report cited a study published by the British Journal of Urology International which indicated that men in their 20s can reduce by a third their chance of getting prostate cancer by ejaculating more than five times a week.

I also have a problem with abstinate-only education, as it doesn't mean those teenagers are less likely to have sex,(particularly gays) but more importantly they are less likely to use contraception.

Celibacy taken to an extreme can also lead to severe depression and even suicide.

[cfmonkey45]

Celibacy taken to an extreme can also lead to asbergers and even suicide.

Asperger's is a form of Autism that you're born with, so no.