you guys make it sound way too simple. As if these people can just decide to not be gay anymore.

I think there is a big difference between being able to commit homosexual acts and truly being homosexual. Could I commit a homosexual act? Probably... but I wouldn't enjoy it. Could I actually be homosexual? Not likely.

You guys also realize that there are plenty of stuff that heterosexual couples do together that doesn't end with reproduction? Hell most people use birth control or have surgery so they can't have kids. There are plenty of straight couples who never have children. Does that help pass on genetics? It's not like they really need too reproduce anyway since we have a surplus of children out there to adopt.

Zamiel : My point is that it throws the idea of a homosexual gene out the window, because it would have died out long ago. Those adopted children wouldn't have the gene, so it'd be the same as if they didn't reproduce at all.
geeogree : I don't doubt that it's very hard to change, but I highly doubt it's actually impossible, just improbable.

bigNATE : Genes can skip generations. Just because my mother has blue eyes doesn't mean I'm going to, but my children might or my brother/sisters children might. Then their is also bisexuality.

Transsexuality is definitely not a choice, it is a brain defect occurring in both biological males and females, they definitely cannot help it and I don't know anyone who would WANT to be trapped in their own body and risk the ridicule/wrath of society.
I think homosexuality might be a variation of the same thing. I think it's a choice for girls but a brain thing for guys?

Plenty of things that hetero couples do are just as pointless (when it comes to reproduction) as things that gay couples may participate in. Whether or not you can "make" a child should not be the basis of a relationship, anyways. I am straight and I do not want to have children, ever. The idea does not interest me, in fact it disturbs me. I take birth control and when I'm older I may have my tubes tied.

Whatever the reason behind it, I don't really care if someone is gay or not. It might as well be their hair color for all I care. I have gay friends and straight friends alike.. Would I ever ridicule someone for being in a loving consensual relationship? No. The world needs more love.

geeogree : I know what you mean by that. I know that some people don't just turn gay after doing something homosexual. It's not like that. But I'm asking if you guys think whether or not living as a homosexual is a choice or not. There IS a big difference in living as a homosexual and committing a homosexual act.
Zamiel : Sure, but does that mean homosexuality can be a trait or a gene that can be passed down? Is that possible?

mdynasty926 : If it is a gene it can be dormant in a straight person but be dominant in one of their children.

Zamiel : But see that's the thing, can homosexuality be passed down like a trait or a gene? I know how genes work lol

Annette : A hermaphrodite is a person who possesses the sexual organs of both male and female. The Bible does not address hermaphroditism. Therefore, it is difficult to ascertain doctrinally the Lord's position about them. Nevertheless, what are we to make of hermaphrodites?

God's intention of the genders is that those born males act like males and those born females act like females. But, in rare instances there are babies born with the sexual organs of both sexes. Why is this? First of all, sin is in the world and it sometimes takes its tolls on our bodies resulting in various deformities. Nevertheless, in the case of hermaphroditism, the identity of the individual is still intended by God to be one or the other. After all, God would not make someone in contradiction to His created order and purpose. This means the hermaphrodite, thought physically ambiguous, does possess an identity of one or the other. It would seem best, then, to let the hermaphrodite grow and decide with which gender to side since he/she would know his/her own identity internally. If surgery is elected to make the decision permanent by altering the body to represent one or the other gender, then that seems like a reasonable choice to make.

Second, it appears that most, if not all, hermaphrodites have a definite side they take as they develop since there is an internal genetic (XX, XY) dominance even though there is an external ambiguity. It is the internal genetic dominance that determines male and female -- even though sometimes mutations occur that leave both sexual organs. In some cases, there are hermaphrodites who are distinctly male in appearance yet have female sexual organs. There are also those who appear decidedly feminine in physical appearance yet possess male sexual organs. Either way, the genetic dominance is the gender and the person will manifest that dominance as he or she matures.

tRIUNE : You seem to be mistaken. Hermaphrodite is definitely NOT the same thing as Gender Dysphoria and I would not compare it to homosexuality. You might want to read this website: http://www.transsexual.org/What.html

tRIUNE : First of all, this isn't really a Christian topic, so you should probably think for yourself instead of only considering God' opinion.

Secondly, is hermaphoditism in humans a real thing? Because I'm pretty sure it's not physically possible even if it was genetically.

I think we're going a tad bit off topic XD

To qoute a post I made in another thread similar to this-
"No simple, single cause for sexual orientation has been conclusively demonstrated, but research suggests that it is by a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences, with biological factors involving a complex interplay of genetic factors and the early uterine environment. Biological factors which may be related to the development of a heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual orientation include genes, prenatal hormones, and brain structure."

In any case, in most people it isnt just that they turn around and go one day "I'll be gay".
I'm not arguing that some people arn't gay because of enviroment, but as you can see above there are plenty of other reasons someone might be gay as well, and there are most certainly people who cannot help it.

mdynasty926 : says "I don't see how you can genetically be attracted to the same sex".
Well I listed some of the reasons, but to list one genetic option-
Each person normally has one pair of sex chromosomes in each cell. Females have two X chromosomes, whereas males have one X and one Y chromosome.
In rare cases a male can be born as with an XX chromosome set, effectively being a male on the outside but having a feminine genetic makeup.
This can affect hormones, build, mentality, etc.
Mind you this is just one limited example and doesnt touch on some of the other subjects listed above, at least one of which includes being passed through genes.

bigNATE : says "the way humans are built, it wouldn't make sense biologically for homosexuality to not be a choice. That gene would die out, as they wouldn't be able to reproduce, and so... it doesn't work that way"
Plenty of gay men and women get married and have children out of pressure to do so, brain washing, rape etc so I think that argument is flawed sorry.

Crawldragon : says "Secondly, is hermaphoditism in humans a real thing?"
Yes it is, but it is a rarity caused by a mutation in the genes when the fetous is forming that causes the parts of the body to form that way.
But it is just a small mutation and they are normally formed mostly of one or the other gender, just with a bit different downstairs.
I could tell you the specifics if you really wanted, but suffice to say there really are such things as hermaphrodites.
But you probally will never meet one or see one.

Oh, and to address the first post, you can be gay and be a christian, you just wouldnt act on it.
But it wouldnt change the fact that you would find the same gender attractive, just that you would either be a virgin your whole life or else you would have a shame marriage like I mentioned in my comment to nate.

DarkHyren : I see your point. But even so, if it were actually a gene that caused it, there wouldn't be nearly as many as there are today, because many homosexuals don't get married and have kids out of shame. Also, seeing as the other parent most likely would be heterosexual, their kids would only have a slight chance at gaining the genetic trait (assuming the homosexual gene would be recessive, which would make sense). I'm just saying I don't buy the homosexual gene argument. I really doubt there are actually situations where homosexuals can't change at all, no matter how long it takes.

bigNATE :

if it were actually a gene that caused it, there wouldn't be nearly as many as there are today

I think that's where environmental factors would start to play a bigger role: since homosexuality has become more acceptable over the years, people are becoming encouraged to experiment, thus causing more (open) homosexuality by choice. It becomes less as a result of genetics and more as a result of encouragement.

DarkHyren : Since it looks like you really know what you're talking about on homosexuality, I'm not going to argue about it because it seems very valid, but what did you mean by
"you can be gay and be a christian, you just wouldnt act on it."
Do you mean they might commit an act that would be homosexual, but they just wouldn't be homosexual in general?

I think what he meant was: You can be homosexual, not act on it, and therefore remain a christian since you are resisting your homosexual urges.

geeogree : Isn't that sort of the same thing? XD

no....

having homosexual tendencies but not acting on them is like being an alcoholic but not actually drinking.

mdynasty926 : I think I get what he's saying, geeo's got it right. Which is basically what all former homosexuals are: people who have learned to control the urge.