Q&A: Is Homosexuality a Moral Problem?
Is Homosexuality a Moral Problem?
Question
The Rabbi explained (where? I’d appreciate a reference) that homosexuality is not a moral problem, but a halakhic one / an issue of Jewish law (despite the term “abomination”).
But after all, male homosexual intercourse is part of the seven Noahide commandments that the descendants of Noah were commanded in. And all the commandments they were commanded in are moral, rational commandments (like theft and murder). And that is also what Maimonides wrote.
How does that fit together?
Answer
First, Maimonides may have thought so, but that doesn’t mean it’s correct. In his time many people thought this was a moral abomination.
Second, this brings us back to Column 154 about aesthetic values that depend on social norms. In the past this was considered disgraceful, and today it is not.
Where did I write this? I don’t remember. Search the site. I think it appears in several places (maybe search for “he is mistaken in it”).
Discussion on Answer
Of course. I only meant to say that it is no longer categorically disgraceful.
And that only shows that our understandings of the world in its aesthetic sense are subjective. The same is true regarding moral values.
A change in understandings over time, with some changing to support the phenomenon and some changing to oppose it, shows this explicitly. I’m surprised that the Rabbi still holds such archaic views.
And neuroscience will prove it.
No, it doesn’t show that. Our understanding of physics also changes over time. So there too neuroscience proves that it’s subjective? By the way, our understanding of neuroscience also changes, and there too it is not in a monotonic direction.
And in general, neuroscience proves nothing whatsoever on this issue. I’m surprised that you hold such archaic views. But perhaps your brain biased you. I suggest you ignore it, and use your intellect.
More precisely: today it is considered disgraceful in the eyes of many, and not disgraceful in the eyes of many. It also depends very much on where. In most of the world it is considered disgraceful. In the Western world there are large parts that do not see anything wrong with it (alongside many who definitely do).