Asking Science – To gay or not gay
By: Blesson (October 31st, 2008)
The Ahmedabad Mirror (TOI) reported today news on the Delhi High court’s stand on a matter regarding the Center’s move on banning gay sex. Chief Justice A P Shah incidentally has asked the Centre, Quote: “show us some scientific report which says that gay sex should be criminalized”. Unquote Now that’s the Chief Justice demanding science, to prove that Gay sex is wrong and is an evil that is detrimental to the society. Apparently the Centre quoted some religious text condemning the act and had requested criminal provision against homosexual acts stating it is required to curb the spread of HIV infection. It further said that homosexual behavior is a reflection of a perverse mind and it could not be allowed in the society, things which are quite easily & intuitively perceivable, without a PhD in Science.
Brace yourself up as you read on! Now, intellectuals & law makers in our country need science to prove and tell them, if homosexuality is wrong? This surely gives us a glimpse in to people who hold the law in their hands, no wonder that justice is a joke in India. If things continue this way, surely it won’t take much time when we would be asked to prove scientifically whether murder, rape, and child abuse are truly evil and their effect on the society.
The other thing that I noticed is the audacity of the law makers which is quite stunning, just because the source of condemning an immoral, detrimental and abhorring act is from a religious text, they have just disregarded it and considered it to be irrelevant! Aren’t all the laws in a secular society founded up on the understanding of the true value of human beings! Well none of the science note books taught us that? Where did we get our morals from? Which branch of science taught us to treat another human being with respect and which law gives us the derivation of the value of someone else’s life? Science is a tool with which we can analyze things and which can give us insights in to various principles, but science is impotent to tell us what is good and what is evil.
Making a decision between good and evil is making a moral judgment and only a moral being can make one. Making a morally correct judgment means complying with a moral law, and a moral law undoubtedly points towards a moral law giver. Hence the anchor of the moral law lies on the moral law giver and there is no escape. So how can we separate the moral law from the moral law giver without being illogical? There can be no moral law without a moral law giver. Therefore, it becomes very important to know if the moral law giver is an Adolf Hitler, a guy promoting homosexuality, promiscuity, murder, or some one whose nature itself demands the highest moral standards based on the true value of human beings.
I would agree with the Chief Justice if he demands an enquiry in to the source of the religious text or starts a research in to the credibility of the law giver and his laws, as it is quite logical and very important. But to state that because a religious denomination condemns a particular act and in order to show ourselves as scientifically driven, we must at all cost, never agree to the evil nature of the acts and somehow prove that every religious stand is wrong, and evil acts do not exists, is really pathetic & senseless. In fact it is an act of trying to challenge any authority that seeks to impose any parameters on their freedom, while cleverly imposing their own parameters on others – reflections of a perverse mind that the Centre is rightly against.
If our society continues the degrading of human beings under the false pretense and counterfeit veneer of being super scientific and intellectual, then finally we will be forced to believe that every one is a protoplasmic guck, an accident of chance, a random arrangement of DNA’s with chemically driven automation and reflexes, a mere product of instinct, heredity and environment and when that happens morality and ethics is kicked out of the door.
How could we be able, to then condemn detestable acts like rape, murder, arson, child molestation, abortion, homosexuality etc.. as ultimately the road we have chosen just leads us to strangulation under the so much up-held scientific law – Survival of the fittest. Alternatively if we go by the philosophies and religious systems that degrade humans to be compared equal to animals (thanks to karmic laws, pantheistic & pluralistic beliefs) there isn’t much relief either as here too, we are bound to karmic laws. Where, if you truly adhere to its beliefs, you can’t question anyone’s actions, as that individual would claim to be acting based on the karmic laws or claim that the event never really occurred and it was all MAYA or an illusion. Again if we add to it casteism, un-touchability and other beliefs and laws that degrade the true value of human beings, it isn’t very appreciating.
Beneath all intellectual garb and verbiage is a covert desire to have a world without a HOLY God. To be honest, the real issue is not an absence of moral order in the world but the insistence on determining for oneself what is good and what is evil, in spite of what we intuitively know to be true. Human life can only have meaning and value in the reality of True God and because GOD has made human beings in his likeness. Hence every act that doesn’t fit the likeness of GOD, or dishonors & disrespects another human (read likeness of God) becomes unlawful and is an evil.
Tags: Bisexuals and Transgenders, Gay Marriages, Gays, Lesbians, Religion, science
November 5th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Science cannot reach even to 5% to wht God created …..and the value of each and every person in god’s eyes is much greater than the whole world but the laws and the principles really moulding the mindset of humanity into a shape where they find it difficult to see the plan and purpose of God….
November 26th, 2008 at 4:50 am
Time of Crusades and unacceptance of a person because he or she does not fit into the frames of the teachings and believes (for the sake of the argument lets call it religion) is over. Revolution has happened, disabled, gay, straight, yellow, black, male, female, transgender, etc. care less what preachers who believe in God in the morning, and molest kids at night. They carry their own cross, and are responsible only before whomever they believe in, not lawmakers or neighbor, or community. If you put sexuality and murder or rape into the same moral category, then I think it is time to educate yourself. I feel sorry for these people, I pray God they do not deny their own kid, who discovers that God created him/her gay, disabled, black, etc. and they realize they are different. It is not a choice, otherwise we all would be white, Christian, straight, fit…
November 27th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
There is always a choice…no matter what. Yes, it is absolutely true that we dont have a say in where we are born or colour of our skin or maybe to a certain extent, some physcial malfunctions…but we do have a choice in how we choose to respond to that. Simple example, Nick Vujicic, who was born with limbs, choose to honor and give glory to God for his life. In comparision to that, being gay (whilst even scientifically though some theories may have some amount of truth, for the rest I have my reservations), or anything else looks small. Each person have their battles, its nobody’s choice, but most times, we choose to see that glass half empty.
November 28th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Mike thanks for responding.
I would like to ask the following in response. When you say that rape is too much of an evil and should not be considered in the same manner as Homosexuality, Can you tell me what is the moral foundation on which you state that rape is wrong ?
If you say its just your instinct, naturalistic worldview or its the morality that you have developed based on your the evolutionary development or some kind of biological adaptations ( I scratch your back you scratch mine philosophy) that convinces you or makes you believe that rape is evil in itself, then be careful as you are undermining yourself.
Note well that “Survival of the fittest”, the main vein which is the foundation for this kind of belief would never be able to justify rape as evil, as with this belief, rape would be “good” as it helps us survive and would be very important for the extension of the human race! Or alternatively if your moral judgements are based on naturalistic worldview, which teaches humans have the same value as roaches, rats and monkeys, and that we are all just a bunch of chemicals, then should a person be tried for murder if he kills a fly ? or alternatively should rape, murder or child molestation be considered an evil? So I would request you to rethink and search for the foundations on the basis of which you describe rape as evil and homosexuality as right or good.
If your moral foundations are based on objective moral values, which is derived from a moral law giver, then how come is it possible that you obey one of his laws (in case of rape) and disregard the other ( in case of homosexuality)?
Mike, when you compared Racism with homosexuality, do note that your question implies double standards, you must raise the question univocally with equal meaning to both terms. Meaning when you talk about Racism it is an idea and when you talk about Homosexuality, you have involved a person in it and hence both the issues cannot be placed or dealt with from the same platform.
Further when we are dealing with Racism the idea, we understand that a person’s race, ethnicity is sacred and you cannot violate it, bible believing Christians have made a remarkable contribution towards it. When we react on homosexuality, this too is done because we believe that a person’s sexuality is sacred too.
How can you then sacralise one and de-sacralise the other? I wish you could answer this question, so I could answer yours.
God created man and then woman, because in the woman God designed all that the man would need in terms of companionship & emotional support. God invested this outside of himself in to the women. Sexuality is a gift from God.
Also do note that a disposition or a proclivity does not justify the expressing of that disposition or proclivity. Every able bodied men would confess the fact of desires in them. But that is not the reason to justify every proclivity; neither does it make it right. It goes across the board for all kind of sexuality be it hetero or homo.
Jesus you know loved the castaways in the society, He alone you would find of all world figures, was called the friend of sinners, he touched them, ate with them and communed with them. Jesus nor His words ever condemn people with proclivities as persons, but they do condemn the immoral acts as it is in violation of the morality that is based on His Character. I try to walk in His footsteps, I sympathise with those who struggle and do not think of myself higher than anyone else.
If someone says that they feel to be disposed as homosexuals then the good news is that they need not stay that way, Christ offers help, irrespective of the nature of proclivities, be it homo-hetero anger-rape –murder-jealousy etc.. The bent in the heart that bible generally calls sin has been dealt with at the Cross. I write to you because what I found myself to be disposed to naturally ( my sinful bent) got the forgiveness, promise, encouragement and inspiration to change for good, to change to God, in companionship with the person - Jesus Christ. At least you can make a choice here and no one is forced.
December 13th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Hi! This is a really nice website. Some amazing stories, some amazing thoughts, overall a forum for people to bare their hearts. I have seen quite a few articles on this website by well-meaning people who have stong views on a lot of subjects. I thank them for sharing their knowledge..but i have a question to ask. Is your view based on what you have seen first-hand or is it something you have been taught,read or understood? Eitherways, I am glad we have a common platform to talk about it.
Now,here’s something that really amuses me.Everyone talks of human rights and everyone talks of God. There are some who believe that the will of God is everything in life, yet the concept of “will” is completely different for each person. I am a bystander.
Who I am and what I believe in does not matter. Since I dont interfere in others’ affairs I should assume that others’ wont interfere in mine,but we both know thats not possible. Lets face it, everyone wants to play God, and if not that, then the second best to him. So here’s the deal. For the next few minutes, i will tell you the story of my life and hope that you will write to me on what you think..
Im in my late 20s. A software professional and a competent one at that. I have an older brother and a younger sister. We all live together in a nice quiet little bungalow we bought last year at Bopal, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. Im doing well professionally and have been promised a good raise and promotion this year, a rare achievement im told at this age. My parents are both god-fearing and have just retired from their respective careers. We are a relaxed and easy-going family whose idea of a holiday is watching a film together at home or playing boardgames together while drinking cups of steaming hot coffee. I have quite a big social circle and they all comprise of boys and girls whom i’ve grown up with. I do not smoke or drink or indulge in any vices that would contradict my upbringing.
So far, so good. Whats the catch? Well, Im in love. An uncommon phenomenon. Everyone falls in love sometime or the other. The only difference is some are smart to fall in love with someone who meets their notion of a partner while some like me just fall into it.
I dont know when I fell in love..an instant connection blossomed into close friendship and soon the lines between friendship and love got blurred. Although outwardly i was the same calm and relaxed person, i was dying inside. The person i love is unattainable. What my heart wants, my mind doesn’t. And at this juncture, since i might probably get some sympathetic readers, let me state, quite simply, that I am a guy in love with another guy.
Thats right. Are you surprised? or are you disgusted? Or a mix of both, maybe? You have every right to close this window and move on with other interesting blog posts or continue with mine, which may have started angering you by now.
No, my family has no history of homosexuality. No, this isnt some adverse reaction to child abuse or any trauma of that sort. No, i did not get mixed up in bad company. No, i have never met another homosexual in my life. No, I have not picked up this concept from the western world. I have never travelled outside India and watch only cricket matches and sports shows on tv. I also go to my worship place once every week to say a quiet prayer, not a prayer to demand something, just to say a hi! to God and thank him for the wonderful life he has given me. I respect all religious texts and love seeing the adoration my parents devote to it.
So..how did i get spoilt?
I am no philosopher. Im no messiah for homosexuality. Infact no one other than me knows about my preference. All i know is that I love someone and thats not because I want to challenge God or the wonderful things he wants for humans. Neither am i in love just to challenge societal norms or appear to be ‘cool’. Im not in love to experiment and neither have i got into this as an escape route to the drab routine of my day. Im just another normal guy who cannot stop thinking about the person he loves and will probably never confess it to a living soul..and if that is termed ‘disgusting’, ‘repulsive’ and ‘cheap’, i bow to you with folded hands and apologise.
Im sorry but my heart understands only love and not the strings that come attached with them.
Thank you for your time. What hurts me most is that I stay amongst you, yet Im not able to be one of you.
December 14th, 2008 at 3:48 am
prayas,
you summed it up perfectly..thank you..the bible does say…judge not lest you be judged..thank you for your insight