Is homosexuality a sin?

[Surfah]

If homosexuality is not a choice, then is it not a sin?

[Bruincoug]

Originally Posted by Surfah

If homosexuality is not a choice, then is it not a sin?

within the last two decades, the Church has moved from "homosexuality is a sin" TO "homosexuality is not a sin, but homosexual behavior is"

that is, it's not your fault if you have homosexual desires -- just if you indulge them or fail to suppress them.

[Surfah]

Originally Posted by Bruincoug

within the last two decades, the Church has moved from "homosexuality is a sin" TO "homosexuality is not a sin, but homosexual behavior is"

that is, it's not your fault if you have homosexual desires -- just if you indulge them or fail to suppress them.

So, homosexual desires are okay but a heterosexual can commit adultery in his heart and the sin be just as actionable as the literal act?

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Surfah

So, homosexual desires are okay but a heterosexual can commit adultery in his heart and the sin be just as actionable as the literal act?

I don't think anybody actually believes that stuff about lust in the heart being as sinful as adultery. If the church really taught that, it'd basically be a license to go get jiggy all the time.

[BlueHair]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

I don't think anybody actually believes that stuff about lust in the heart being as sinful as adultery. If the church really taught that, it'd basically be a license to go get jiggy all the time.

Jinx

[Surfah]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

I don't think anybody actually believes that stuff about lust in the heart being as sinful as adultery. If the church really taught that, it'd basically be a license to go get jiggy all the time.

Point taken, but still, the mere thought is impure and I'm sure falls on the sin spectrum somewhere(I'm sure not where adultery itself lies). So wouldn't homosexual desires still be impure and unholy desires and therefore to some degree sinful?

I am just trying to see how the Church and others can reconcile the idea, as UtahDan put it, between impulse and action in two different sexual orientations.

[jay santos]

Yes it is a sin. But most people who would be upset by that notion have the wrong understanding of sin.

[Gidget]

Yeah what if one was to seek the proper counsel for their homosexual thoughts and not feel relieved or make much progress? Does the Church as a whole believe that if you try hard "enough" that the thoughts WILL go away?

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Gidget

Yeah what if one was to seek the proper counsel for their homosexual thoughts and not feel relieved or make much progress? Does the Church as a whole believe that if you try hard "enough" that the thoughts WILL go away?

I'm not sure the church has a teaching specific to homosexual impulses. I think the doctrine is more general: that the impulses are temptation to sin and that the atonement is strong enough to overcome all temptation.

It's quite possible there are some temptations we must struggle with our lifelong. Homosexuality is not the only sinful desire people fight, but it seems to be the only one folks are interested in normalizing.

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by Tex

I'm not sure the church has a teaching specific to homosexual impulses. I think the doctrine is more general: that the impulses are temptation to sin and that the atonement is strong enough to overcome all temptation.

It's quite possible there are some temptations we must struggle with our lifelong. Homosexuality is not the only sinful desire people fight, but it seems to be the only one folks are interested in normalizing.

Oh I don't know about that.

I'm interested in normalizing my desire to wanna to do it with a gal that I find funny and attractive, but according to many in the church leadership.....well nevermind.....