Letter: Homosexuality from religious perspective

Fri, 04/18/2008 10:04 AM  |  Reader's Forum

This is a response to the letter titled "Debate on homosexuality continues" by John (The Jakarta Post, April 14). It would seem that John has obviously and deliberately misconstrued my letter to the Post on April 8.

Nowhere did I mention in my letter that I "condemn" or that I do "not tolerate" homosexuals. On the contrary I explicitly mentioned that "men and women with homosexual tendencies must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity".

Many who support homosexual acts tend to recklessly characterize those in society who disagree with them as homophobic -- the term "homophobia" itself intended to denote a disorder. In this way they seek to impose their own ways on society under the guise of tolerance.

John also misunderstands the natural law and what is therein meant by the term "natural". "Natural" does not, as some, think, refer here simply to what is in accord with biological processes of man.

Nor does it refer to what is innate, nor even to what is "normal". Rather, the word "natural" has a metaphysical meaning. That is said to be "natural" which accords with what is good for human beings.

Homosexual acts are contrary to the natural law because they close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. This is not only a religious statement but a scientific fact.

All human beings are, in fact, in an unnatural and disordered condition. It is common to the human condition, for instance, for human beings to want to eat, drink and sleep more than is good for them.

It is common to the human condition for humans to want to have sexual intercourse with those with whom they should not or when they should not or in ways that they should not. In this context, homosexuality is simply one more of the "unnatural" or "disordered" conditions to which humans are susceptible.

Many claim that homosexuality is a basic human right. However, to place one's basic human rights in opposition to the natural law is to define "basic human rights" as the freedom to do as one pleases. When brought to its logical conclusion the inevitable result can be only one of anarchy.

John mentions "the real purpose of religion is peace, love and harmony". Homosexual acts thwart the natural generation of life and are therefore not in accord with "peace, love and harmony" properly understood.

PAUL KOKOSKI
Ontario, Canada

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