What is the primary premise underlying the LDS church's ban on homosexual relations? - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

SoCalCoug · 06-11-2008, 11:46 PM

First off, this is a serious question, designed for those who really want to explore the topic. If you come to this thread with the idea that there's one right answer, and everyone else is wrong, because it is impossible to know the mind of God, without being willing to consider other viewpoints, then, frankly, I'm not interested in your opinion. I'm sure you'll share it, anyway.

I happen to believe that God is a God of reason, and that for those wishing to understand the premise behind the principle, it is possible to seek for that premise. In fact, it would seem that if we truly understand the premise behind the principle, it could, in fact, serve to strengthen our conviction of that principle.

I think we've kind of danced around this issue, but I'm not sure we've really tackled it head-on.

Obviously, some of us are exploring whether the church's previous stance on blacks receiving the priesthood (and civil rights and segregation) could possibly be analogous to the church's current stance on homosexuality, particularly in light of the recent developments in the church's stance. I think fundamental to that exploration is to try to identify the primary premise (if any) underlying the ban on homosexual relations.

I am not saying that there is an analogy. It may be that I am persuaded that the situations are not analogous, and therefore the chances of any substantial changes to the stance in the future are not very good. But I think it's worthwhile to at least explore the topic.

So I figured a good discussion of what we think the most significant (yes, I know there may be more than one, but let's try to distill it down as best we can. If it appears there is some sort of a consensus, or clear favorites, then maybe we can look at those more specifically.

If you choose "none of the above", please post any thoughts of alternative premises. I am allowing for multiple choices. If you made multiple choices, please specify them, if you wish. The poll is not public (nobody can know what you selected unless you disclose in the thread).
Thoughts?

View Poll Results: What is the primary premise underlying the church's stance on homosexual relations?
Anal sex is inherently immoral	1	2.44%
Oral sex is inherently immoral	0	0%
Both anal and oral sex is inherently immoral	0	0%
Sexual relations with someone of the same sex is inherently immoral	22	53.66%
Sexual relations with someone you cannot have children with is inherently immoral	1	2.44%
Homosexual relations undermine the structure of the family	14	34.15%
Homosexual relations are against the natural order of things	12	29.27%
Homosexual relations contradict the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth	9	21.95%
Only God knows	6	14.63%
None of the above	8	19.51%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 41. You may not vote on this poll

06-11-2008, 11:46 PM	#1
SoCalCoug Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 3,059	What is the primary premise underlying the LDS church's ban on homosexual relations? First off, this is a serious question, designed for those who really want to explore the topic. If you come to this thread with the idea that there's one right answer, and everyone else is wrong, because it is impossible to know the mind of God, without being willing to consider other viewpoints, then, frankly, I'm not interested in your opinion. I'm sure you'll share it, anyway. I happen to believe that God is a God of reason, and that for those wishing to understand the premise behind the principle, it is possible to seek for that premise. In fact, it would seem that if we truly understand the premise behind the principle, it could, in fact, serve to strengthen our conviction of that principle. I think we've kind of danced around this issue, but I'm not sure we've really tackled it head-on. Obviously, some of us are exploring whether the church's previous stance on blacks receiving the priesthood (and civil rights and segregation) could possibly be analogous to the church's current stance on homosexuality, particularly in light of the recent developments in the church's stance. I think fundamental to that exploration is to try to identify the primary premise (if any) underlying the ban on homosexual relations. I am not saying that there is an analogy. It may be that I am persuaded that the situations are not analogous, and therefore the chances of any substantial changes to the stance in the future are not very good. But I think it's worthwhile to at least explore the topic. So I figured a good discussion of what we think the most significant (yes, I know there may be more than one, but let's try to distill it down as best we can. If it appears there is some sort of a consensus, or clear favorites, then maybe we can look at those more specifically. If you choose "none of the above", please post any thoughts of alternative premises. I am allowing for multiple choices. If you made multiple choices, please specify them, if you wish. The poll is not public (nobody can know what you selected unless you disclose in the thread). Thoughts? __________________ Get your stinking paws off me, you damned, dirty Yewt! "Now perhaps as I spanked myself screaming out "Kozlowski, say it like you mean it bitch!" might have been out of line, but such was the mood." - Goatnapper "If you want to fatten a pig up to make the pig MORE delicious, you can feed it almost anything. Seriously. The pig is like the car on Back to the Future. You put in garbage, and out comes something magical!" - Cali Coug Last edited by SoCalCoug; 06-11-2008 at 11:51 PM.