Ok, this might not seem to be in the right forum, but please read this and consider before moving it.
So, this thread is because of an argument me and my friend had one day in school. See, I don't know where it came from, but my friends started talking about homosexuality(?) during a conversation and then, someone said something about a Christian being gay, and I commented that you can't really be gay and be a Christian at the same time exactly because I thought that we as Christians discourage that. It's in the Bible and all that. But then, my friend, who is I'd say atheist, told me that I was being very judgmental and horrible for saying such a thing.
I tried to argue that I wasn't hating them. I've known some people who claim to be gay and they're not bad people. I'm just saying that it's discouraged to be homosexual in Christianity. My friend basically started calling me a bigot and screaming at the top of his lungs telling me to shut up and everything in a room with people. I'm glad only my friends were in the room, because I'd feel a lot more embarrassed if it wasn't. Sadly, the person was just so stubborn and everything I couldn't even talk to him about what I believe. He was also making it hard for someone else in the room, who was in our discussion, and wanted to hear a point I wanted to make about that subject.
My argument was that if it IS discouraged to be homosexual in the eyes of God, then not telling them that it is wrong would actually wrong them. I wouldn't be doing them a favor if I didn't tell them. Of course, then my friend, being very stubborn that day, told me that "homosexuality isn't a choice."
While at the time, I wasn't very sure of that idea... now it's sort of a gray area...
I sort of understand where he'd get that kind of idea. I mean, people's emotions and hormones and things like that can somewhat get out of hand. But does that mean it's not their choice... to be gay? Are they born with the mentality that they should be gay? It confused me.
That's why I want some opinions on this topic... Please be nice in this thread. It's a pretty touchy subject. I don't want to offend anyone. But is it a choice?

God doesn't say "oops," He made them male and female. The term "be fruitfull and multiply" was literal, for one, two of the same don't work physically.

tRIUNE : That has nothing to do with the fact of it being a choice or not....

dango989 : Well actually, it does. Because, what he's saying is that God made them to be in that way. Therefore, it is a choice. This is how I feel about this topic.
tRIUNE : that IS what you're saying right? lol

mdynasty926 : Absolutely that's what I'm saying just to be clear, lol. In other words God says "I made you this way and it is fruitful to be male and female, but you can chose to be unfruitful."

tRIUNE : Yeah See, my friend mentioned earlier claims that some people were "born gay" or I guess something along those lines. I guess I was pretty confused at that after the argument lol.

I heard an argument about it once that makes sense to me.

The argument basically stated that when people lust and respond positively to that lust (such as by, say, masturbating) they start to positively associate with what they lusted toward. Thus, people who lust toward those of their own sex (perhaps by experimentation) will come to think of their own sex sexually, resulting in bisexuality and ultimately homosexuality. On the other hand, people who lust toward those of the opposite sex will have heterosexual thoughts.

Thus, homosexuality is not a choice in and of itself, but a result of a choice. Theoretically, it may also be reversible, but the article I read the argument from didn't talk about that. What do you think?

Crawldragon : So ur saying homosexuality is the result of a choice, well, everyone was born with a sinful nature but not everyone was born gay. Having homosexual thoughts and acting on those thoughts are 2 different things, both of which are sinful scripturaly.

tRIUNE : I wasn't debating whether homosexuality was sinful. Merely whether it was the result of a choice or not. That was the question, that is my answer. I have no doubt that the act is sinful - the Bible is very explicit in this regard - but the impulse is the result of a choice as well just like anything else. That is the point I was making.

Crawldragon : Ok I understand what ur saying, interesting way to look at it.

I really see it the way Crawldragon does, the impulse is a temptation, it's whether you act on it that determines your sexuality. So just having a little thought every now and then, but still pushing the impulse away, isn't sinful in itself, but acting on it is. Also, seeing as this isn't simply a Christian discussion, but more one on whether it's a choice, I'm moving this to the Debate/Logic/News Discussion forum.

((moves))

There's a simple way to test this out to see if it's true. Choose to be homosexual for a day or a week and see how it works out. If you can truly be gay for that time then it is a choice.

Zamiel : fantastic response!

Now, I disagree with the reality of it... because it's not a single day of choices that might have lead someone to being gay. There are any number of factors that occurred in the development of any homosexual person that eventually resulted in their being gay so telling me to choose today to be gay when I've chosen/been groomed for many years not to be gay.

I personally don't know if it's genetic or environmental causes that cause homosexuality. I don't think every case falls into either category completely. That doesn't change the fact that homosexuals have the right in a democracy to be gay and to not be discriminated against.

geeogree : But... are you saying that it's a choice or not?
You're saying it's a long term thing and not something that just happens in one day, right?

well, that seems like a more reasonable explanation of how/why people are homosexual. I doubt someone wakes up one day and just decides to be gay or straight. The thousands of experiences and choices they face every day mold them into the people they become.

My last paragraph basically says that in the end it shouldn't matter if they're gay or not. They have the right to be gay if they want to be....

geeogree : While I agree with you that we should let them be gay if they want... I still think that they nee to stop comparing it to something like their ethnicity or gender. Being gay is not something that's an inaliable right, it's not the same as being discriminated against because you're black or you're a girl, or something like that; sure, you shouldn't turn them down simply because they're gay, but equating it to "race" or other such uncontrollable factors is not right.

bignatealpha : well, but I put it back to Zamiels point. Can you choose to be gay right now? Could you kiss a guy and feel totally okay with it? I doubt it. Now reverse that for a gay person. Is it any more of a choice for them than their race or ethnicity?

I'm not saying I know if it is or isn't.... but I think for some people it would be just as difficult to change their race as it would be to change their sexual preference.

geeogree : Difficult, but I believe it is still possible. Yeah, it will take years, but it's not the same. I've never seen anyone born gay. Things like that usually don't show up until teenage years, and can be avoided based on upbringing and social factors. However, people are born black, and can't change that without bleaching their skin, and that still doesn't change the fact that they are of African heritage.

bignatealpha : Yeah I heard some girls claim they have "phases"...(?)
So, I kind of believe it's a choice. Some people claim that, you're born that way or you have no choice. I don't really see how that works...

bignatealpha : Yeah but you don't see young kids being straight either so there's no real way to tell if they are gay or not till their teens.

mdynasty926 : Some people are just experimenters and risk takers. Don't judge the rest of the gay community based on their actions.