The Coptic Orthodox Church
and homosexuality
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About 94% of the population of Egypt are Muslim. The largest minority
religious group are Coptic Christians - members of The Christian Coptic
Orthodox Church of Egypt. The Copts are heavily persecuted. Even worse
off are the Coptic Christians who are also gay or lesbian.
Fr. M. Mikhail of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Seven Hills OH
has written an essay on his church's beliefs concerning homosexuality. Some of
his points are listed below:
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About homosexuality itself:
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No society in history has accepted homosexuality as normal. |
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Gays and lesbians have never been comfortable about revealing their
sexual orientation. |
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Nobody is born homosexual. |
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A homosexual orientation can be controlled. |
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One's genes do not determine their sexual "preference." |
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Some people become homosexual because of a hostile parent. |
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Others become homosexual by thinking positively about gay/lesbian
activity, and experimenting with it. |
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The church and homosexuality:
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Homosexuality is a sin, according to the Bible, Coptic tradition and
church creed. |
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It is condemned by God. |
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Sex is only proper between a man and woman who are married to each
other. |
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Leviticus 18:22: This passage condemns homosexuality. |
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Leviticus 20:13: This verse goes further and condemns them to
death. |
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Genesis 19:1-29: God destroyed Sodom because of homosexuality. |
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Romans 1:24-28: Homosexuality is a depraved passion |
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1 Corinthians 6:9-10: Homosexuals will not go to heaven. |
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1 Timothy 1:9-10: Agrees. |
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Jude 7: Sodom's sin was homosexuality; Homosexuals will
undergo a "punishment of eternal fire." -- presumably
eternally in Hell. |
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St. Athanasius stated that homosexual behavior abolish the purpose of
the creation of the world, and of Christ's mission. |
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Homosexuals will not repent of their sins. |
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Active homosexuals are not saved. |
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The "Gay church" is a shame to Christianity. |
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Church tradition states that homosexual acts "are always
objectively grave evil and intrinsically disordered...Homosexuality was
regarded as a sin against nature and as such abhorrent." |
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Within marriage, the husband is the leader and head; the wife must
"demand, encourage and enable" her husband's
leadership. This balance of power cannot work in a homosexual
partnership. |
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Homosexuals are "foolish, faithless, heartless and
ruthless." |
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How homosexuals can become heterosexual:
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Homosexuality is a learned behavior and thus can be changed. |
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Three preconditions to becoming heterosexual again are: to have a
strong desire to become straight, to seek and accept God's power and to
accept support from others. |
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Studying the Bible helps; in particular, dwell on the anti-gay verses. |
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Study homosexuality in history. |
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Learn why God created a man and women. |
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Gain self control and self respect. |
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Etc. |
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Conclusion:
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"Homosexuality is a sin, and a homosexual who wants to recover
should see it as such and repent."
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Related essays:
Fr. Mikhail's essay describes the conventional conservative Christian belief
system about homosexuality. Although he is Eastern Orthodox, the beliefs of
Southern Baptists and other conservative Protestants differ little.
We have a number of essays which describe homosexuality from all sides in (we
think) a balanced manner:
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