Christians (esp. fundies) really don’t work with the same concepts as everyone else
for example, homosexuality is now known to be mostly a matter of biology (of course, a repressive environment might lead people to suppress, but I’m doubtful that is relevant to the underlying question of their innate sexual orientation, which remains unchanged)
but for science-denying Christians who are taught that homosexuality is “sin”, they are mostly taught that sexuality is not anything innate or natural but entirely a matter of behavioral choices (similar to how shame about masturbation frames sexuality and sexual desire as wrong and a matter of self control and making “good choices”).
So, in that context something like “I don’t agree with homosexuality” really just means they see homosexual “acts” as wrong, and so they don’t endorse people who indulge in those behaviors; they aren’t really thinking about sexuality in the same way.
it really does matter, though - the fact that it’s not a choice is an important fact in arguments supporting legislation banning conversion therapy, for example - if it were a choice, conversion therapy would at least be plausible for people who didn’t want to be gay, for example. If it weren’t a choice, legislation banning conversion therapy would have less justification as it would be a valid choice for some people to not be gay and to use therapy to change. Conversion therapy doesn’t work because it’s not a choice, and that makes it a dangerous and pseudo-scientific practice, which justifies banning it.
Christians (esp. fundies) really don’t work with the same concepts as everyone else
for example, homosexuality is now known to be mostly a matter of biology (of course, a repressive environment might lead people to suppress, but I’m doubtful that is relevant to the underlying question of their innate sexual orientation, which remains unchanged)
but for science-denying Christians who are taught that homosexuality is “sin”, they are mostly taught that sexuality is not anything innate or natural but entirely a matter of behavioral choices (similar to how shame about masturbation frames sexuality and sexual desire as wrong and a matter of self control and making “good choices”).
So, in that context something like “I don’t agree with homosexuality” really just means they see homosexual “acts” as wrong, and so they don’t endorse people who indulge in those behaviors; they aren’t really thinking about sexuality in the same way.
Hot take: I really don’t care if it’s a choice or biology, I’m fine with it either way.
it really does matter, though - the fact that it’s not a choice is an important fact in arguments supporting legislation banning conversion therapy, for example - if it were a choice, conversion therapy would at least be plausible for people who didn’t want to be gay, for example. If it weren’t a choice, legislation banning conversion therapy would have less justification as it would be a valid choice for some people to not be gay and to use therapy to change. Conversion therapy doesn’t work because it’s not a choice, and that makes it a dangerous and pseudo-scientific practice, which justifies banning it.