"Gay" gene now considered a myth

[Coach-Rev]

interesting article that debunks liberal acceptance of "gay" as normal

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/there-is-no-gay-gene-there-is-no-straight-gene-sexuality-is-just-complex-study-confirms?fbclid=IwAR1fsGVKscD4RVHgfyDL0Ahzqg4srzTXZw9PrtpCE8aG7SGPPCG-mu8lbJ8

[pearson]

interesting article that debunks liberal acceptance of "gay" as normal

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/there-is-no-gay-gene-there-is-no-straight-gene-sexuality-is-just-complex-study-confirms?fbclid=IwAR1fsGVKscD4RVHgfyDL0Ahzqg4srzTXZw9PrtpCE8aG7SGPPCG-mu8lbJ8

Given the actual language of the PBS story, Pr. Cottingham, I think your own description above is what Pr. Stoffregen would call an "interpretation."

Tom Pearson

[Coach-Rev]

perhaps my post, but not the thread title.

And from those trying to justify it as normal, I would expect that this will do nothing to sway them otherwise.

[Tom Eckstein]

interesting article that debunks liberal acceptance of "gay" as normal

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/there-is-no-gay-gene-there-is-no-straight-gene-sexuality-is-just-complex-study-confirms?fbclid=IwAR1fsGVKscD4RVHgfyDL0Ahzqg4srzTXZw9PrtpCE8aG7SGPPCG-mu8lbJ8

Even though science has shown that there is no "gay gene" per se, that doesn't change the fact that those who have same-sex desires did NOT choose to have those desires.  Of course, this fact doesn't mean one can affirm same-sex desire and behavior.  Scripture is clear that we all have a multitude of sinful desires that we didn't choose to have simply because we are conceived with a sinful nature in Adam.  Nevertheless, Scripture calls us to acknowledge the evil of sinful desires and behaviors condemned in Scripture, repent of them, rejoice in the mercy we have in Christ, and then, with God's help, resist those sinful desires and behaviors.

But even if they were to discover a strong genetic link to same-sex desire and behavior, this still would not be an excuse to affirm it in rebellion against Scripture's teaching on this issue.  For example, science shows a strong genetic cause for alcoholic tendencies and yet we do not affirm the desire to abuse alcohol much less the behavior.  Instead, we ask alcoholics to acknowledge that they have a problem, that there is forgiveness in Christ, and that with God's help and the support of others they can live a sober life.

[Richard Johnson]

Interesting story, but way too many problems to conclude much of anything. Problems with the sample, problems with the methodology, problems with the interpretation of the data.

Of course maybe the study itself as published would give a better sense of this than simply a news story about it (and I've already read multiple news stories, which don't entirely agree with one another--see the last phrase above!).

And as Pr. Eckstein said, whatever scientific finding might emerge from this or future studies, it doesn't change the moral theological calculus one iota.

[Dan Fienen]

There has been shown to be a strong genetic component to alcoholism. Studies of identical twins, separated at birth has shown that even when raised separately and in different environments with regard to alcohol, there is a much stronger correlation between both twins being alcoholic if one is than chance. There has also, I think, been some efforts to identify some of the genes that might be the basis for this.


So should we now consider alcoholism normal and natural and to be accepted?


I am not equating alcoholism with homosexuality. I'm just pointing out that genetics is not always determinative of behavior. A genetic basis may indicate that someone is more likely to exhibit some characteristic or behavior than someone without that genetic base. This could be good or bad.


So far, no study has clearly demonstrated that there is a strong basis for concluding the genetics determines sexual orientation. At most there may, may be evidence that for some their genetic background increases their likelihood of having a same sex sexual orientation, but not determinative.


In any case, I never bought into the idea that God makes some people homosexual and God don't make junk so homosexuality must be good. So many unvoiced assumptions packed into that.

[J. Thomas Shelley]

So now "'Gay' gene deniers" can be subjected to villification heretofore reserved for global warming aka man made climate change deniers.

[Rev Mathew Andersen]

Essentially the study is irrelevant and has been for years.  Very few have claimed a genetic link for homosexuality fo a long long time.  However, the genes only provide a template and there are many steps between the template in the genes and the building of a human being.  Keep in mind, also, that when the article, at the end, talks about environmental influences on sexuality all those steps between the gene and the final person are considered environmental - including all the creation, reception and action of hormones. So whether or not there is a gene involved in sexuality, the reality is that it says nothing one way or another about whether people are born with a predisposition to homosexuality.  The article presents an interesting but largely irrelevant factoid and nothing more.  So you can in no way make the jump from whether there is a gay gene to whether homosexuality is normal or not.