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Theological Determinism and Homosexuality
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Many people believe that homosexuality is a
conscious choice; that we choose to
be attracted to our own gender. I firmly believe that it is not a choice and in
this essay I will be not only contesting the opinion that it is a choice, but
also introducing the themes of free will and Satan into the discussion in order
to ‘put my point across.’ During this essay I will be relying on the assumptions
that God is omniscient, omnipotent and benevolent, in the way that I understand
these terms (all knowing, all powerful, all good).
If we take it as true that God is omniscient, omnipotent and benevolent, then we
must also agree that homosexuality is not a choice and that God created people
with their sexuality.
I’ll begin with this: God is omniscient. He knows all and sees all. Therefore,
when he creates each of us, he knows that we will be gay, or straight or
bisexual or whatever sexuality we are, because he made us that way. We therefore
have no 'choice' in the matter because God has already decided what we are going
to be like. Even if God did not ‘create’ us with our sexuality, due to his
omniscience, he would know if we would ‘choose’ to be gay or not even before he
created us. Ask yourself: If God knew exactly what we would do, why would he
create a homosexual person? There would be no point in ‘seeing what he did with
his life’ since God would already know. Ergo, we have no choice but to brand God
sadistic. If He would create a person who he knew would suffer in the end (due
to internalised homophobia and outside negative influences) then we must also
acknowledge that God did this for no [positive] reason, other than to watch them
suffer, attempt to repent and ultimately fail. In any case, the concept of
'people choosing sexuality’ is just an illusion due to the fact that God knows
all and God created every single one of us. We cannot 'choose' one of our own
free will, we will always end up with the one that we were destined to have. If
God created us, then he must have also decided what sexuality we would have.
With Him being omniscient, there is no room for 'choice' or a random genetic
mutation dictating our sexuality.
This leads me nicely onto my second point, and the theme of Satan and
homosexuality. One cannot argue the existence of Satan as one who does evil
deeds, if one also holds the Bible's claims of God to be omniscient, omnipotent
and benevolent as true. Satan cannot be blamed for making 'evil' gay people
because if God was indeed benevolent, surely he would merely reverse the devil's
‘wicked’ work and make us straight. Also, God is all powerful, so obviously this
would be within his power and with Him being omnipotent, he would know everyone
who was gay and so be able to ‘make them straight.’ The fact that people are gay
must mean that Satan is not to blame for the 'evilness' that is homosexuality
either. Also, the mere existence of an evil Satan suggests that God cannot get
rid of him, when according to his three qualities (omniscient, omnipotent and
benevolent) it is perfectly within his power. If God does indeed possess these
three qualities then it must be accepted that Satan acts with God’s permission
and that God knew what Satan would do and what he would be like, even before
Satan was created. If the devil did indeed create homosexuals, then it must be
acknowledged that God has no issues with homosexuality due to the fact that God
allowed the devil to do this.
There are many commands and instructions in the Bible which we, as a society do
not follow any more. Some, God told us to stop listening to; others, we stopped
obeying due to our needs as a whole, a society. God knew that we would stop
obeying his instructions even before he made them. If he did not want us to
adjust and disregard some of his previous instruction, he would have made it
obvious at the time when he gave us these ‘laws.’ Not doing so indicates that
God knows that our needs will adjust as our society and level of sophistication
also adjusts. Consider this. In biblical times, there were few people,
especially since our family trees originate with only two people,
Adam and Eve.
With this in consideration, could it not be true that homosexual practices were
forbidden in order to populate the world and secure human dominance on Earth.
God would not have placed the concept of homosexuality into this world if He did
not want people to practice it; seeing as it would have made perfect sense to
leave it out if he despised the concept as much as many Christians (not all)
make out.
Our Lord has made no conscious effort to ‘turn’ homosexuals into heterosexuals.
If he had, he would have been successful (due to His omnipotence) and we would
know about it. Similarly, God did not create the concept of homosexuality to
test our love for him, because he would have known even before he created it
that people would be gay. Therefore, he would be willing damning people to hell,
even before they were created and He would be conscious of who would be damned
as well. God obviously wouldn’t want his creations to be sent to eternal
damnation (due to his benevolence) and so the only logical conclusion is that
God accepts and, ultimately creates, homosexuals.
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Originally posted: 2008-SEP-11
Latest update: 2008-SEP-11
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