Reconciling Hearts Forum November 12, 2006

“A Biological Explanation for Human Orientation”

About 30 persons were in attendance

(Carol Abrahamson has notes on the DVD presentation. The notes here are an attempt to report on the questions and discussion points that were raised by those in attendance.)

à We need to be aware of the cultural and social context within which this “soft” research data is being offered. Although the intent of the persons doing the research may be very authentic, the results may be used in a variety of different ways, some of which may have never been intended by the authors of the work! For example, some would use evidence that sexual orientation has a genetic source to make a case that our goal should be to alter this genetic coding to “fix” homosexuality.

à We humans tend to try and “engineer” natural diversity into a smaller number of varieties to make things more manageable. This would be consistent with a societal view that we all ought to be heterosexual! But the natural world gives us plenty of evidence that this is not the natural order of things! The natural order values diversity.

à Are personality traits and temperaments genetically or environmentally determined? The question was asked because we expect people to change their behaviors and if these are genetically determined, perhaps this is unreasonable!

à Let’s say that in the “iceberg” analogy used by the presenter on the DVD that the iceberg of information regarding sexual orientation is totally uncovered and we then KNOW that sexual orientation is bio-physiologically determined. So what? What difference will it make about how people view this issue? This is the question we should be focusing on! Will the “facts” really make any difference about how people react and behave toward homosexuals in the church or elsewhere? We need to examine our hearts and the reasons for our feelings and beliefs and values regarding this issue if we are to make progress toward becoming a more welcoming congregation or community.

à If people believe and accept that God created persons as homosexuals just like God created other persons as heterosexuals, then it changes the discussion. The United Methodist Church generally respects God’s creation!

à Humans are not rational beings! We do not act rationally. So thinking that scientific, rational arguments are going to resolve this issue is not realistic. These are social issues that change over time. For example, what constitutes “manliness” is something that we invent and to change it takes a long time.

à Have their been any studies about whether the excretion or the sensing of pheromones is different for homosexuals and heterosexuals?

à I disagree about mankind not being rational! The “why” of things matters to us! It may not matter to some, but it will to many. Therefore, I think knowing why persons are homosexual may change the discussion and playing field for many people. When person X categorizes person Y as “not rational” it may just be that person X doesn’t understand the factors on which person Y is basing their decision!

à Characteristics of Bonobo Apes were commented on raising the possibility that the variety in their sexual practices (including male/female, male/male, and female/female behaviors) and their use of sexual behavior for conflict resolution pose interesting questions for theories of human evolution.

à I think we need to justify participating in this kind of enterprise (reconciling hearts) without resorting to the “why” questions about homosexuality. I want to look for some other reason to be here than “they can’t help being this way; they didn’t choose it!” I want there to be another, better, higher, reason to reach out to others about this. I think you do it by examining one heart at a time and understanding a rationale for treating people humanly, dealing with people kindly, and not excluding those who are different from us, no matter how. While science may have something to say about these things, I don’t think that is how we will address the struggles we have getting along with each other!

à This is such a tremendous societal problem! My gut feel is that we underestimate the numbers of gay people because our society is so cruel to them that they, by and large, do not come out! They seek to fit in so they will suffer less. And determining a genetic base will not solve the issue. There are genetic markers for Bi-Polar, ADD, etc, but the stigma attached to these conditions is still there and very real.

à The biological question is just one aspect of the issue! Even if we all agreed that homosexuality IS a choice and has no biological basis, shouldn’t we still reach out and welcome homosexual individuals into our church and into God’s love?