(October 28, 2015 at 4:16 am)RationalAtheist Wrote: 2.LGBT - I'm not sure how this got tied all up in atheism, I do still kinda find it (gross?) when I think about it, I don't know many LGBT people, those I do know I've felt a mutual respect as human beings, but I don't think there's a place in a religious society for this of course. But also, in an advanced civilization, I don't believe there's a place either (at least not at this time), and here's why. LGBT actions aren't consistent with procreation (which is necessary for the continuation of my species.) I am willing to admit & realize that my views may come from a place of ignorance and I'm interested in a re-alignment. As I've understood it gay people are born that way? (I believe this also applies to LBT?) and please forgive me of this, but really any other sexual preferences other than the ones associated with procreation? (bestiality/pedophilia/I believe there are others however uncommon) are also born this way? (i'm NOT trying to insult lgbt, but as a rational person i don't see how i can't draw similarity's). If this is true, then for example, if i were to be married some day in the future and we decided to procreate and we had 5 fetuses to choose from and 2 had the traits that were not hetero, I don't believe we would choose either of those two fetuses. Specifically for the continuation of our species.
Questions and points that may be helpful to consider:
- Why does it matter if our species continues?
- Why should this be used to judge whether something is good or not?
- Are there better ways to judge someone's worth than their ability to procreate?
- Isn't it better to determine whether an action causes non-consensual suffering to someone else?
- Bestiality and pedophilia cause suffering to other parties. Homosexuality does not. A homosexual is just as loving as a heterosexual one. What's wrong with love?
- In your example, if you had five fetuses, two of them were gay and you had to pick three and there was absolutely no discrimination in society, then why abort the two gay fetuses over the other three? Yes you would be increasing your chances of having grandchildren but gay people have contributed a lot to society in the past. Wouldn't the choice be essentially selfish rather than moral?
- Maybe your gay children would be more likely to make a major contribution to society that outlasts all of you because they do not have children taking up all their time (e.g like Tchaikovsky). How would you feel about this compared to missing out on some extra grandchildren? Would you still be proud of them?
- Would you love your child any less if it was been born without a womb or was otherwise naturally infertile?
- How does this differ from other forms of gender non-conformity such as sexual preference or gender identity? Neither is a choice.
- Did you choose to be heterosexual?
- What if you had a child who grew up to be a heterosexual adult and who decided not to procreate? Would their lives be a waste of your time and effort in raising them?
