From: jdac (jdac@alphalink.com.au)
Date: Mon Jan 20 2003 - 21:25:39 EST
One problem has been the sexualisation of emotion between persons over the
past few decades. There is a widespread assumption that strong affection
between people must be sexual in nature. This says more about the relational
impoverishment of our society than it does about human relationships.
The negative consequences of this are many, and not just confined to
relationship between men or women. Relationships between opposite sexes have
become fraught with difficulty because of this assumption. Men (and perhaps
some women, although it seems to be less of a problem here) who feel such
feelings towards other men may well be pushed in homosexual association
because they believe that is what their feelings indicate. Other men will be
pushed to avoid any kind of relational intimacy with men because of fear of
being considered homosexual.
Jon
Keith Miller wrote:
> > For instance, gays are often damned with the adjective "unnatural".
> > They,
> > not unreasonably reply "unnatural for whom?" The potential for same-sex
> > covenant love to exceed heterosexual marriage in its capacity to
> > generate
> > personal devotion and self-sacrifice is clearly attested in story of
> > David and Jonathan. Was their friendship "unnatural"? The Church
> > replies
> > that by "unnatural" it does not mean homophile affection as such, but
> > the
> > genital acts to which such affection may lead.
>
> For what its worth, I did not interpret the above as claiming that the
> relationship of David and Jonathan was homosexual. It seems the author
> is asking for a clear distinction between a deep and profound brotherly
> love between people of the same sex, and a homosexual love proscribed
> by scripture. What exactly is being condemned by scripture? Is it
> just the sexual act? How do we respond to those who feel attracted to
> someone of the same sex but remain celebate? How do we distinguish
> between deep feelings of love toward a fellow brother or sister, and an
> affection that is homosexual? I think that these are all valid
> questions. I also think, that as in all of life, we may not find
> clear black and white answers.
>
> Keith
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