Homosexuality Viewed as a Neurodivergent Trait

[ZealouslyStriving]

18 minutes ago, The Nehor said:

Maybe there is some nuanced way to stop making them feel like abominations but I don’t know what it is. Hence why I suggested revelation. If there is a way God will know it. The current silence is not exactly encouraging.

* I don't understand what more the Church can do or say. Are individual members being conflated with the the Church as an organization?:

"People who experience same-sex attraction or identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual can make and keep covenants with God and fully and worthily participate in the Church. Identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or experiencing same-sex attraction is not a sin and does not prohibit one from participating in the Church, holding callings, or attending the temple."

"No matter what challenges we may face in life, we are all children of God, deserving of each other’s kindness and compassion. When we create a supportive environment, we build charity and empathy for each other and benefit from our combined perspectives and faith."

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/same-sex-attraction?lang=eng

[Calm]

1 hour ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

I believe what you are saying (correct me if I am wrong)- the only way to be friendly and make gays/queers feel welcome is by receiving revelation opening up the Law of Chastity to homosexual behavior?

Or something reasonable that that explains why it is necessary for them to avoid companionship other than procreation (because gay couples can raise children, their own or those unwanted by others) or just because God commands it.

Even if there is something that makes it so two biological men or two biological women can’t have spiritual children as our Father and Mother do and that prevents them from getting exaltation, why would that be a sin if being with a loving, committed same sex partner brings them joy?  A revelation explaining that, truly explaining that might help.

Edited April 4, 2024 by Calm

[PortalToParis]

12 hours ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

How would that be done?

My guess was (which is why I created the post, I didn't just want to stir the pot for nothing) that maybe viewing non-heterosexuality as a relatively common neurodivergence, like autism, would help? That having an answer to the older generations who might still insist of it being an evil spirit, a mental disorder, or a sexual perversion, and having everyone accept it as an innate trait instead of giving false hope that God will somehow make someone less gay. -- I think it can be very plainly seen by now that most if not all young adults who feel gay don't end up feeling less gay throughout their missions, by dating women, or by marriage, they just "try to make it work" while still feeling as gay as they had before, even though they most if not all of them likely started out with extreme faith and hope that God would someday take it away for them.

[ZealouslyStriving]

3 hours ago, PortalToParis said:

My guess was (which is why I created the post, I didn't just want to stir the pot for nothing) that maybe viewing non-heterosexuality as a relatively common neurodivergence, like autism, would help? That having an answer to the older generations who might still insist of it being an evil spirit, a mental disorder, or a sexual perversion, and having everyone accept it as an innate trait instead of giving false hope that God will somehow make someone less gay. -- I think it can be very plainly seen by now that most if not all young adults who feel gay don't end up feeling less gay throughout their missions, by dating women, or by marriage, they just "try to make it work" while still feeling as gay as they had before, even though they most if not all of them likely started out with extreme faith and hope that God would someday take it away for them.

This issue with this track is that people see autism as something to be solved. Gays/queers will not accept that their desires are a divergence that needs solving- as far as I can figure.

[LoudmouthMormon]

15 hours ago, The Nehor said:

Maybe there is some nuanced way to stop making them feel like abominations but I don’t know what it is.

Does stuff like this count?   (This is the General Relief Society president at the 2021 BYU Women's Conference)

 

[Calm]

38 minutes ago, ZealouslyStriving said:

This issue with this track is that people see autism as something to be solved.

Not really, at least not in the sense of curing or removing it in some fashion.  Some people might still see autism as something to be cured, but generally from what I see it is more often accepted as a different way of thinking that isn’t going to be altered, but those who are on the autism spectrum can develop ways to cope and better ways to communicate, even mask their autistic behaviors (apparently girls are better at this than boys due to their greater external focus and that is one reason it appears to be much more prevalent in males when it’s not) in my understanding.  In that sense (masking so they appear neurotypical) it is quite similar to homosexual behaviours as well as appearing to have genetic and environmental influences, including social ones.  There are other ways they are different though (fluidity isn’t present for anyone as far as I know with autism), so I am hesitant to go all in on this connection.  I don’t know enough about autism to judge.

https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-causes-autism

Edited April 4, 2024 by Calm