The Homosexuality Discussion

The whole discussion about homosexuality is more about morality than it is about constitutional rights or even human rights. Indeed it even boils down to whether morality is absolute or relative. Those who make laws on homosexuality cannot escape the fact that their decisions either come from an absolute morality perspective or a relative one. And whichever perspective it is needs to be defended in the public square. An important question also emerges from this discussion (if pursued long enough) and it is this: Is life all about a person’s happiness? If it is, then why should it be a homosexual’s happiness and not a heterosexual’s happiness and vice versa? If this world was created by a transcendent being (God) rather than mere chance plus matter plus time then our sense of morality must be hinged on his very nature. (Note that if there is no creator then there is no basis for absolute moral claims). If God created this world then it begs the question: Has he given us absolute freedom to make our own morality (i.e. change His morality) or has he only given us the freedom to decide how we want to react to his moral standards? Those who may be uncomfortable with the fact that I have invoked God into the discussion may want to consider this:

Let us just assume that the religious folks are biased because they bring a transcendent personality (God) into the whole discussion so we will ignore their whining since they are not objectively looking at the issues but only looking at things through the lens of their God or gods. We would still have a problem because if we ever consider anyone (religious or not) who is intolerant of the gay lifestyle as being in the wrong it means we have in our heads a sense of right and wrong, good and bad. Yet the only way to say that something is absolutely right or wrong (good or bad) is if there is indeed a moral law based on which we can make such distinctions. For this moral law to be absolute it must have been given by a transcendent being. For if this is not the case then the moral law is relative and subjective. It is this transcendent being whom the religious folks call God and the very person whom some may not want us to invoke into this homosexuality discussion. Alas without the God factor we have no objective moral basis to even condemn the intolerant people since they are also acting based on their moral standards.

Anyone who at this point holds to a relative morality is practically useless in this discussion about whether or not certain rights should be granted to homosexuals. Here is why: relative morality simply says “this may be good for you but bad for me. I am not going to impose my morality on you because I believe it is wrong and you also have your own morality which is good for you.” Such an individual cannot and should not contribute to any public discourse on moral issues since his contribution carries no weight. Relative morality breaks down communication (since words like good and bad, right and wrong may carry very different meanings to the people involved) and makes life unlivable.

While some think the religious folks in this country are being intolerant by speaking out against homosexuality I contend that they are only being consistent with their religious principles. Any public figure or politician who would tell us that he/she is personally against homosexuality yet will not seek to impose (or advocate for) his morality on this nation is inconsistent. Why? If he really believes something to be wrong why would he allow the nation to go in that direction? And how many more decisions is he going to make for this country with such an attitude? The Christian scriptures condemn homosexuality and a real Christian cannot be true to his Lord by preaching otherwise. The Christian is under obligation to preach and persuade the homosexual as well as all men and women who are engaged in all the forms of sins which the Bible so clearly talks about, to repent of their sins and reconcile with God.But I believe that for the Christian message to get through to the homosexual, it must be conveyed with compassion and the desire to see them change because God loves them and wants to save them from their sins rather than with hatred for the mere existence of the homosexual.