Sexuality, sexual orientation, and Western civilaization
Posted by: Phil Barry on 20 February 2004
I have long wondered why my society (the US) shows so much contempt for male homosexuals.
The primary cause I could think of for homophobia is an extremely wide-spread and deep fear of one's own latent homosexuality - but this has never made sense to me. I simply think that most people don't need to attack others just because they think they are attracted to a person of their gender.
This morning, while listening to NPR I heard yet another male express his outrage that same-sex marriage demeans 'real' marriage, I expressed my curiosity about the source of the speaker's opposition to homosexuals.
My wife, a psychotherapist, responded that some current thinkers in psych circles hypothesize that rejectors of homosexuality are probably rejecting sexuality as a whole.
So, I ask readers for their thoughts on the sources of homophobia. Does it setm from natural human tendencies, or just from patriarchal societies? Do cultures that don't derive from the Bible have similar beliefs?
Phil
The primary cause I could think of for homophobia is an extremely wide-spread and deep fear of one's own latent homosexuality - but this has never made sense to me. I simply think that most people don't need to attack others just because they think they are attracted to a person of their gender.
This morning, while listening to NPR I heard yet another male express his outrage that same-sex marriage demeans 'real' marriage, I expressed my curiosity about the source of the speaker's opposition to homosexuals.
My wife, a psychotherapist, responded that some current thinkers in psych circles hypothesize that rejectors of homosexuality are probably rejecting sexuality as a whole.
So, I ask readers for their thoughts on the sources of homophobia. Does it setm from natural human tendencies, or just from patriarchal societies? Do cultures that don't derive from the Bible have similar beliefs?
Phil