Homosexuality at the Witnesses of Jéhovah

The design that have the Témoins of Jéhovah of the homosexuality bases on the reading of the texts of the Bible on this subject and is characteristic of that of a Église which applies a literal reading of the biblical texts.

Attaching a very great importance to the Bible, which it is about the Old Testament like New Testament, the Témoins of Jéhovah regard its precepts as being of divine origin , and thus indisputable. However, the Bible evokes the Homosexualité in an unfavourable way, like besides all forms of sexual relations apart from the Mariage and adultery.

Point of view of the Witnesses of Jéhovah

Disapproval of homosexuality

According to the point of view of the Pilot of Jéhovah, certain passages condemn the homosexual practices openly. In their publications, the Witnesses quote Verset S such as this one:

When a man sleeps with a male like one sleep with a woman, both made a hateful thing. They must absolutely be put at death. Their blood is on them. | Lévitique 20:13 |taille=75%

But there exists about it much of different as in the epistle with the Romans or in the epistle of Jude.

For the organization of the Pilot of Jéhovah, the Homosexualité belongs to what the Bible calls of the pornéia , often returned by " Fornication " , i.e. a practice sexual except marriage and thus impure implying the presence of a partner.

Thinking that in the surrounding company homosexuality seems to be increasingly practiced freely, the Société Watchtower reaffirmed with many recoveries its position on homosexuality in its publications. She declares for example: The Witnesses never had of doubt as for the way of considering homosexuality. Why? Because they do not treat the biblical requirements like simple human opinions of another time (1 Thess. 2:13). They are happy to direct studies of the Bible with the homosexual ones, in order to make known to them the requirements of Jéhovah, and those can attend the meetings of the Witnesses as listeners. However, if somebody continues to practice homosexuality, it cannot become Témoin of Jéhovah. - 1 Horn. 6:9 - 11; Jude 7

According to the Témoins of Jéhovah, the Homosexualité, as well male as female, is a practice disapproved by God and considered as a perversion, morally bad and against-nature. To practice sex acts between of the same people sex amounts according to them being lowered on the level of the animal, and faithful which would devote to it risk the excommunication if it are not repent. A lesbian, old follower of the movement, confirmed in the press that the Homosexualité is regarded as “a capital sin” at the Témoins of Jéhovah, outcome with a exclusion of the community. In the same way, a Canadian spokesperson of the religious movement confirmed in an interview that “one would not admit with the baptism homosexual”.

As illustration, a Témoin woman of Jéhovah presenter of a television game Irish of meetings between single people refused to animate a version Gay of her emission. Two twins born Pilot of Jéhovah, and high-speed motorboats of a series of TV-reality to the the United States, were excommunicated when they revealed to them Homosexualité on television

Causes of homosexuality according to the writings of the movement

The Témoins of Jéhovah reject the reasoning according to which the Homosexualité is innate at the human ones testing an attraction for the people of the same sex. The arguments according to which the structure of the brain, the exposure to too or not enough male hormones before the birth, or the genetic Code would influence on the sexual preferences of an individual are refuted in their publications.

Thus, the reviews published by the Témoins of Jéhovah point out that the scientific studies led to this subject would have been realized only on animals, and that the half of identical twin is not homosexual when other half is, which would tend to show that the Gène S are not in question. However, the movement recognizes that “it may be that the genes and the hormones enter in account”, and that “perhaps the scientists will be able to never define the share of the innate one exactly and of the asset in the homosexual inclinations”.

To justify the homosexual leanings at an individual, the Témoins of Jéhovah advance several arguments:

ambient environment judged laxist on the level of the Manners. Thus, for them, the vulgarizing of the Homosexuality (allusions on television, with the cinema, in the songs, in the press, pornographic films Gay), the fashion (clothing and hairstyles androgynes or unisexes), feminist movements as well as the machism, and the frequentation of homosexual people are some of the frequent causes of homosexual behaviors.
an abnormal family circle, in particular at the boys. The Homosexualité could result from bad relations between the father and the son of which disinterest or the rejection, worsened involuntarily by an authoritative and possessive mother, and thus preventing the boy from developing male qualities.
Of the sexual maltreatment in childhood, generating a deformation of the sexual identity.

The Témoins of Jéhovah think however that, although certain factors can influence the sexual orientation of somebody, the bad inclination of the heart resulting from the original Péché and the héréditée imperfection of Adam is the main cause.

On this point, the members of the movement adopt a position similar to the evangelic, orthodoxe Churches and catholic.

Consequences of homosexuality according to the writings of the movement

The Witnesses of Jéhovah estimate that the Homosexualité can only harm physical health, emotional and spiritual.

The Company Watchtower, the international entity supervising the activities of the religious movement, formulates in this respect several real or supposed observations which unaniment are not validated and are not certified by the whole of the people studied the Homosexualité, but which it uses in its publications and which it interprets as being evidence of the harmfulness of the Homosexualité:

the epidemic of AIDS and the sexually transmitted diseases;
multiplicity of the number of partners;
fear to engage in a stable relation;
the sometimes violent, sadistic side or sadomasochistic of the relations of homosexual nature, which would translate an interior frustration;
the frequent alcohol abuse and the Alcoholism (in the lesbians in particular);
a rate of Suicide definitely higher;
a failing Spirituality.

The Société Watchtower explained why the punishment that underwent the homosexual ones for their control, namely “the full wages that deserved their mislaying” according to the biblical remarks , is the incapacity to establish a relation of stable couple which involves the trouble and despair, the frustration which this lifestyle would generate, the AIDS, divine favor that the homosexual ones lost, of the “broken hearths and the sexually transmitted diseases”.

Proposals of the movement to give up homosexuality

The publications of the Témoins of Jéhovah recognize that it is difficult for the young people having homosexual inclinations to abstain from those: they declare that they have “to carry out a true combat” and that “that can be terribly difficult to them”. Nevertheless, any person wishing according to them to respect the Bible must absolutely reject the Homosexualité, as well in acts as in thoughts. Somebody who continues to practice the Homosexualité cannot be made baptize as Témoin of Jéhovah.

To help the faithful ones to reject the homosexual inclinations, the Société Watchtower estimates that one needs time and determination and gives the following councils:

To learn how to identify the exact reasons of these inclinations (feeling of mediocrity, fear of the other sex, erroneous design of the love, etc), in particular in requesting and speaking with an old about it about the congregation who can help the interested party to probe his feelings and his thoughts;
To analyze the example of virility given by Jesus whereas it was on ground;
To contemplate on biblical texts showing how God considers the sexual relationships, the love and the friendships between people of the same sex;
To break with the behaviors and the frequentations who wake up or reinforce the homosexual desires, the such Masturbation;
To develop friendships with co-religionists of the two sexes;
To acquire qualities traditionally associated with its sex;
To be very absorbed in the cutuelles activities suggested by the group (study of the Bible, evangelization, meetings, etc).

When they approach the topic of the Homosexualité in their publications, the Témoins of Jéhovah frequently quote the remarks of the Apôtre Paul:

How! Don't you know that the unjust ones will not inherit the kingdom of God? You do not mislay. Neither fornicators, neither idolâtres, neither Adultery S, neither men whom one maintains at ends against nature, neither men which sleep with men, neither robbers, neither avid people, neither addicted to drink, neither Insulte the USSR, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And yet it is there what were some among you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were declared right in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of our God. | Paul de Tarse | 1 Corinthians 6:9 - 12 |taille=100%

This biblical passage indicates, according to the movement, that in the Church or congregation of the primitive Christianisme, some of the things mentioned in these verses had practiced before (of which the Homosexualité and the male Prostitution) before converting with the Christianisme and following the biblical principles. Consequently, the Witnesses estimate that it is possible for homosexual to change behavior, even of frame of mind. Sometimes in this respect, the organization quotes in its publications of the faithful accounts the formerly homosexual ones which gave up this practice to become Témoins of Jéhovah and affirms that those are happier thus.

Against the homosexual marriage

The Témoins of Jéhovah estimate that it is with God only, that they recognize like the Creator of the human ones, that returns the right to define the rules which govern the Mariage. According to them, Jéhovah hates the Homosexualité and instituted the Mariage only between people of opposed sexes, since it created in the beginning a man and a woman. So according to them, the homosexual marriage does not give any standing to a practice which they consider condemned in the Bible.

One of their periodical declares indeed: The “marriage” could not give a sizeable frontage to homosexuality. When it requires that “the marriage be honourable at all”, God excludes the homosexual union, that it judges hateful. - Hebrews 13:4.

However, because of their apolitical attitude, the Témoins of Jéhovah do not take part in any countryside Politique nor with any demonstration aiming at making change the Loi S Gouvernement ales (such as the legalization of the Mariage Gay), when well even those are in conflict with their comprehension of the Bible.

Attitude with respect to the gays and lesbians

The Témoins of Jéhovah certify that, to be a Christian good , it is necessary to hate the Homosexualité. However, they should not hate the homosexual ones and the lesbians, but respect them as well as all the other people, because Jesus gave his life for all. Nevertheless, according to them, it is to be wished that these people forsake this lifestyle and embrace the worship of the Témoins of Jéhovah to find the favor of God and to avoid being destroyed by this one. A you Awake! declares on this subject:

The Bible does not make homosexual a category with share which the Christians should hate or quarantine. (...) Even if certain people have a behavior which inspires a particular loathing to them, they do not seek to make them wrong nor do not maintain feelings of hostility in their connection. (...) Harmonizes some with this attitude, the Christian reject any aggressive behavior or mocker towards the homosexual ones as towards whoever. They regard their similar as Disciple S of Christ in power; they treat them with respect and dignité.

Criticisms

Observations of academics and opponents

Several authors external with the movement, whose James Penton and Tony Wills, reported in their works the prohibition of the Homosexualité at the Témoins of Jéhovah. One of them, the sociologist Andrew Holden, who undertook several studies on this religious movement evoked the polemic that this question causes. He declared: I attended several meetings with the Salle of the Kingdom in lequelles the Homosexualité was introduced like an abnormal perversion. (...) I listened to a 45 minutes speech on the question of knowing if the homosexual ones “were born thus” or if their sexual control is learned. (...) Of the references were given on the very widespread nature of the Homosexualité, but were used only with an aim of reinforcing the proper lesson of the organization, namely that the world became shameless bad. (...) There could be very difficult for somebody having an orientation Gay to remain Témoin without feeling deeply wounded in its personal identity, not less because the Société [Watchtower] fails as regards making the distinction between the homosexual condition and the homosexual practice. (...) couple faithful believed that once homosexual made personally a vow of celibacy and converted with the Société [Watchtower], its homosexual orientation disappears. To date, this question seems being a source of confusion among the Witnesses.

For its part, the work criticizes Sortir a sect quotes of many examples of declarations of the Société Watchtower in connection with the Homosexualité. Then he reports the example of ex-faithful a excommunicated for this reason; this one vainly tried to solve its homosexual inclinations while marrying with faithful movement, which involved many difficulties in the couple of the fact in particular that he did not manage to discharge his marital duty. After its excommunication, it made an suicide attempt and remained in psychiatric hospital.

Groups of support

Faithful Témoin of Jéhovah is thus placed in front of an alternative which can appear painful. On a side, if there decides to remain Témoin of Jéhovah, it must carry out an obligatory life of celibacy in order to conform to the precepts of its Foi, or marry with a person of the other sex while choking its true sexuality, or by living a “double life”, i.e. a life of faithful Témoin of Jéhovah while having in a hidden way an active sexual life. On another side, if it decides to dissociate from its Church or that it is excommunicated by a committee of religious discipline, it loses its system of beliefs, its environment, and undoubtedly its family and her friends.

This situation being able to be badly lived, of the sites of support were created on Internet in order to come to gay assistance of the S, lesbians, bisexual and faithful or ex-faithful transsexuals of the movement (see external bonds).

Opponents estimate that the point of view of the Témoins of Jéhovah goes beyond what the majority of the Christian denominations preserving requires on this subject.

The sites of support for the gay Témoins of Jéhovah inevitably do not recommend the rupture with the religious group, but propose to bring elements of reflection and then leave with each one the care to decide what it will do. They recognize however that it is not very realistic to hope to feel well in an organization which condemns them in an obvious way. Gathering ex-Witnesses Gay S sometimes including/understanding some faithful gays are frequently organized, the anonymity of each one being preserved.

According to a synthesis made by one of these sites, the experiments collected of Witnesses of Jéhovah or old Pilot of Jéhovah Gay S would tend to prove the following results:

a Marriage heterosexual with an aim of changing sexual orientation is not only ineffective, but can cause serious matrimonial difficulties, other complications being able to emerge so from the children are also implied.
the Coming out of Témoins of Jéhovah in their congregation often generated disastrous results, proving many times that the majority of faithful do not include/understand the nature of the Homosexualité. Indeed, according to this site of support, much the faithful ones will probably confuse the homosexual frame of mind with the sexual activity itself, and can of this fact of reacting with incredulity and skepticism, even judgment. The individuals considered to be gay, although always forming part of the congregation, are very often likely to be looked with suspicion and to be deliberately excluded from the entertaining activities between Témoins, because of prejudices which the majority of the Witnesses nourish against the homosexual ones and lesbians. Thus, the Witness who reveals his homosexual inclinations publicly can often expect a life of loneliness and ostracism in assembly.
the Coming out of Témoins of Jéhovah near their family can generate various reactions: it can be the support in some rare cases, but also the indifference even the total rejection more frequently, and that whereas the faithful gay is not excommunicated a movement.
a treatment by medication and Psychotherapy in order to change its sexual orientation is useless, and can even cause psychological scars on the individual, leaving it in a state of confusion requiring then several years of psychotherapy. In this respect, a site of support returns being studied undertaken by the American Association of psychiatry.

In addition, these sites contradict the idea according to which the Bible would condemn the Homosexualité and propose to explain the verses differently referring itself to it.

Social insulation of homosexual excommunicated

The first criticism relates to the charge deliberately to practice “social death” by making pressure on the homosexual people who have suddenly been excommunicated. Excommunication can be particularly painful for the people born inside an already adherent family with this Church, and who do not know anything of what does not form part of it, which perhaps the case of one (E) young faithful which tests leaning homosexual. Certain excommunicated testimonys the homosexual ones having been give a report on this situation that they found difficult.

The practice of the excommunication is certainly not reserved only for the homosexual ones. However, whereas the heterosexuals find in a certain way out of this Religion a company which is roughly speaking rather similar to the world that they left (heterocentrism), it does not go from there thus for the homosexual ones. At all prepared to face a world like that of the gay universe, they do not know absolutely anything and of which they have a vision often distorted and based on Préjugé S, the situation of these excommunicated people worsens by the fact that, very often, they test a strong feeling of Culpabilité which prevent them from being integrated fully in the Communauté Gay, by which they are in addition misunderstood and with which they are not in phase. Where listening would be needed, patience, of the assistance to rebuild with time a personality destroyed by the direction of the culpability, as well as the incapacity to conceive the idea even love between two people of the same sex, one finds contrary a rejection.

The homosexual person thus excommunicated of the Pilot of Jéhovah risk thus to find itself taken between two marginal positions of opposed direction, pushed back by two worlds for reasons diametrically opposite.

In France, at the time of the last parliamentary board of inquiry relating to the influence of the sectarian movements on the minors, one of auditioned, Nicolas Jacket, member of the National union of defense associations of the family and individual (UNADFI) and the National coordination of the victims of the organization of the Witnesses of Jéhovah (CNOVTJ), explained that it is its Homosexualité which made him leave the movement. He told to have lived during his last years at the Witnesses of Jéhovah as a schizophrene with a double personality, with living his sexuality on the one hand and its religion of the other, to protect itself from the speech heard with the desk, explaining that what he was deeply hated by God and is dedicated to the destruction. He added to have considered the suicide on several occasions..

A young lesbian testified in the Canadian press to be rejected by her family and the Témoins of Jéhovah. Torn between its sexual orientation and the precepts of its community, it had tried to seek of the assistance near its close relations. “But instead of me to give support, one made me appear before a committee which considered to be me inapt to continue to be Témoin of Jéhovah. Day at the following day, I found myself isolated from all, at the moment when I precisely had more the need for assistance”. She tells to have thought of some recoveries with the suicide.

Charge of homophobie

Another criticism relates to the charge to present sometimes a very severe message in connection with the topic of the Homosexualité, which can be perceived, in particular by the homosexual community, as being Homophobie. For example, one of the publications of the Témoins of Jéhovah compares the homosexual people with Chien S, according to biblical symbolism :

Morally impure people are qualified dogs. Thus one in the law reads that God gave to Israel: “You should not bring in the house of Jéhovah your God, for an unspecified wish, the wages of a prostitute or the price of a dog “male prostitute”, AC, note; Os, note; “probably a pederast, an individual who practices the anal copulation, especially with boys”, MN, note, because they are hateful thing for Jéhovah your God, yes one and the other. ” (Dt 23:18). All those which, like the dogs necrophagous of the streets, practice things immondes, such as the Sodomie, the Lesbianisme, brutality and cruelty, these are seen prohibiting the access to the Jerusalem News. - D 22:15; to also see PH3: 2.

About the Homophobie, a woman gained in 2007 a lawsuit to be maltreated and insulted by a Témoin colleague of Jéhovah which reproached him its Homosexualité. The damages are high with 120.000 pounds sterling, that is to say 187.800 €.

Use of doubtful scientific sources

According to opponents of the movement, the Société Watchtower uses doubtful scientific sources in its publications, to validate its theories on the causes of the Homosexualité. They quote in example two Réveillez you! which refers to work of D Charles Socarides. However, according to the Sociologist Baptist Coulmont, Charles Socarides was on several occasions publicly repudiated by the Association of the American psychologists to have missed with the ethical professional. Socarides is according to him member of an association seeking “to repair” the homosexual ones by transforming them into heterosexuals.

Rejection of modern science

According to criticisms, the Témoins of Jéhovah refuse to be confronted with the contemporary Science. From the point of view of the Gay movement , to regard the Homosexuality result of a deliberate choice, and not as consequence of a real tendency, simply means to encourage the practice of the homosexual reports/ratios lived in secrecy, behind the diagram of external conformism, if not the Mariage.

Indeed, certain scientific studies in progress brought new brief replies about the reasons of homosexuality, for example as what the design of the hypothalamus of the individuals concerned would be different. In addition, the animal Homosexuality, very widespread to certain species, overlooked in the publications of the Témoins of Jéhovah.

See too

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