Beyond the Dichotomy: Six Religious Views of Homosexuality

2014/05/28 by Dawne Moon · 73 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #American Constitutional Law and Politics #Gender studies #Homosexuality #Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) #Judaism #Male Homosexuality #Men who have sex with men #Philosophy #Psychology #Queer #Religion and Society Interactions #Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology #Religious studies #Sexual orientation #Social psychology #Sociology #Theology

paper · doi:10.1080/00918369.2014.926762

published in Journal of Homosexuality 61(9), 1215-1241 (Taylor & Francis)

openalex publication_date 2014/05/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

Using published theological and scholarly evidence, this article disrupts the stereotypical "born gay"/"sinful choice" dichotomy widely assumed to characterize religious views of homosexuality in the United States. It argues that we need to keep moral questions separate from questions about the fixity or fluidity of sexual orientation. Rather than two, American Christian and Jewish views of homosexuality can been seen on a range from the "God Hates Fags" view through "Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin," "We Don't Talk About That," "They Can't Help It," "God's Good Gift," and a queer-theological view of the "Godly Calling."

Citations

• Have American's Social Attitudes Become More Polarized?

Cited by

• Taking Francis’ Pastoral Approach: Catholic Priests’ Approval of Pope Francis and Attitudes on Lay Same-Sex Behavior and Homosexual Clergy
• Homosexuality, Religion, and the Family: The Effects of Religion on Americans’ Appraisals of the Parenting Abilities of Same-Sex Couples

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