Homosexuality: A disgraceful practice!

| Friday February 26, 2010 00:00

Personally, I strongly believe that a society's sexual norms (standards of sexual conduct) are linked to religious beliefs. However, social and environmental conditions are secondary factors, which may also contribute to one's sexual orientation. For example, in prison, boarding schools, military and others, but they are not the actual or real determinants of one's sexuality. Due to peoples lustful desires, they cannot wait until the situation to be normal in order for them to be in an accepted sexual relationship. On top of that, rationality shapes morality and it has a lot of bearing on human behaviour. I do not believe that there is a society that can exist without religion and I have never heard of any. If we all agree that religion is a source of morality, then lets appeal to religions to help appreciate and acknowledge human sexuality so that we reach a consensus on the issue of homosexuality.

Sexuality and reproduction are fundamental elements in human interaction and society worldwide. Furthermore, 'sexual restrictions' is one of the universals of culture peculiar to all human societies. Accordingly, most religions have seen a need to address the question of a 'proper' role for sexuality in human interactions.

Different religions have different codes of sexual morality, which regulate sexual activity or assign normative values to certain sexually charged actions or thoughts. In Abrahamic religions opposite-sex sexuality, and specifically procreation, is viewed as the most appropriate and accepted. They sanction monogamous and committed heterosexual relationships within marriage. The Bahai Faith recognises the value of the sex impulse, but that its proper use is within the institution of marriage (heterosexual). Bahai's do not believe in the suppression of the sex impulse but in its regulation and control. Asian societies shaped by Buddhist traditions take a strong ethical stand in human affairs and sexual behaviour in particular. A core teaching of Buddha's foundational first sermon is that 'one should not pursue sensual pleasure (kama-sukha), which is low, vulgar, coarse, ignoble and unbeneficial. Buddha teaches that sensual pleasures are 'filthy, coarse, and ignoble' and 'should not be pursued, developed, or cultivated; they should be feared.

Islam discourages celibacy as a form of religious practice, and considers marriage as the best form that regulates the sexual relationship of human beings. 'The Creator', and in order to preserve its sanctity there are many boundaries and guidelines. It prohibits sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage. Traditional Judaism views adultery, incest, and male homosexuality as grave sins. In Botswana, homosexuality may be said to be a new phenomena, some people believe it came to be popular through the advent of mines in South Africa where males we confined in mines without women, therefore, they resorted to homosexuality.

Botswana traditional religions are explicit on the issue of homosexuality, not that they tolerate is but it against the highly cherished principle of 'Botho' (personhood) and 'Badimo' (ancestors), which are found in most African societies. According to Gaie and Mmolai (2007) in Setswana tradition, it is a historical fact that child molesters and those in incestuous relationships and homosexual activities were killed because it believed that they were committing 'botlhodi', a taboo act. These killings are exactly what is happening in modern Iraq, Iran and other countries. It is not a new thing to kill homosexuals and I am not saying it is right to kill them, but rather, be taught to control their bodies and be re-integrated into morally upright society. The fact that they are homosexuals does not mean that they should be killed or mistreated somehow. We are not a homophobic society. Homosexuals need to be helped to acquire proper morals and not oppose Mother Nature. If and only if the law here in Botswana disregards homosexuality, it will remain like that and there are no applausive reasons to change the law. This is also applicable to heterosexuals, if there is any state in the world that views heterosexuals as bad; they are legally and morally justified to disregard them.

People must break their cocoons and realise that Satanism presents itself in different forms such as homosexuality, prostitution, gambling, adultery, child slavery, human trafficking, mayhem, pornography and many other immoral acts. I won't be shocked to hear that there are Cannibalism Movements. Like homosexuals, cannibals may also claim that they have been robbed and marginalised for centuries by majority from preying on other human beings since they have the right to choose what they eat and love most. They may also claim that cannibalism is genetic, biological and is determined by hormones. All these immoral acts manifest themselves in the name of Human Rights. Therefore, we must scrutinise these human rights organisations and movements such as Prevention Research and Initiative for Sexual Minorities (PRISM) and Lesbians Gays Bisexual of Botswana Organisation (LEGABIBO). Homosexual should aware that democracy is the oppression of minority.  Nowadays whatever brings food on the table is neither right nor wrong no matter how immoral that can be. I have problems with these organisations because they are using people as a means to an end. Where do these organisations get money and who sponsor them? They are opportunists who want to take advantage of any loophole they see and they use homosexuals to make money out of them by pretending to speak on their behalf. The fact of the matter is they are making fun and a living out of it.

People must take their gender seriously and stop abusing their body parts. We all know pretty well how male and female sexual organs are used and intended for rather than what homosexuals are doing. Human beings abuse their bodies through two kinds of vices, being bestial and satanic or demonic. Bestial vices relegate human beings below the level of animals and this includes gluttony, drunkenness and crimes against nature. Satanic vices involve envy, ingratitude and malice. Kant (1963) argues that 'a man who has destroyed and cast away his personality has no intrinsic worth and can no longer perform any manner of duty'. This means that we cannot expect anything from a person who dishonours his own person. They cannot reproduce nor teach morality. He goes on to say people have freedom but it must be subjected to objective determination, which puts restriction on the exercise of freedom. These restrictions originate from rational understanding when freedom is understood and used properly. All this is under the absolute rule that dictates that one is obliged to restrain one's freedom so that it adhere to the fundamental 'ends of humanity'. That is, one is not solely behaving according to inclination. As human beings, there should be a way in which we treat our bodies and we must discipline them (bodies).

The claim that homosexual feelings are inborn is a nonstarter because when we give free rein to inclinations we are relegated and rated below animals because we then live in a state of disorder,  which does not exist among animals since animals act by inclinations determined by biological and hormonal factors. We should be in total command and mastery of our bodies and minds. Our minds should play a superior role over our bodies so that rationality can be applied and it can guide the body in accordance with moral laws and maxims. This trick is so simple because the mind needs only to ensure that the body does not exert any compulsion and pressure upon it. If body habits are left unchecked, listened to, do as they wish and dictate what they want in life in general, then we will end up being homosexuals, sex-mongers, criminals, alcohol and drug addicts and many other undesirable things. Disciplining the body entails living in conformity with one's purpose, which one may call God's will. We should take care of it without pampering and spoiling it. It should tempt us or drive us to the limit. Our duty is to make the body frugal in its needs and temperate in its pleasures and it is advisable and wise to limit its needs and even to fall a little short of its human or 'earthly' pleasures than going beyond them and enfeeble it and sap its powers.    Theories that are often used to justify homosexuality are misguided and uncalled for. We never know the intentions of those who coined them and what agendas are they pushing. Some people may write controversial or immoral things in order to gain popularity. Those who are not grounded well on their morals, traditions and cultures they are easily uprooted and derailed. As student, I often see myself writing things that are a strongly opinionated, but i do not subscribe to and some people believe that what they read or hear is the absolute truth. Therefore, my advice to people is that they should blindly follow things they do not fully comprehend.

To my surprise, for most Batswana youth, globalisation is swallowing and galloping all what is American or foreign.It is an 'in thing' to be a homosexual since it is believed to show that one is civilised, understanding, educated, modern, updated, enjoying life to the fullest, exercising ones rights and freedoms, fashionable, sexy, hot  and romantic. One becomes a clown, laughing stock or disgusting, primitive, barbaric, idiotic, discriminatory, bias, oppressor, backward and uncivilised if you do not explore and indulge in immoral acts or shun homosexuality. In conclusion, authoritative bodies and doctrines of the world's largest religions generally view homosexuality negatively. This range from quietly discouraging homosexual activity, I forbid same-sex sexual practices and I actively oppose social acceptance of homosexuality. Homosexual orientation itself is sinful. I strongly believe that homosexuality can be overcome through religious faith and practice.

On the other hand, nowadays corrupted voices exist within many of religions and that they view homosexuality more positively, and liberal, but satanic religious denominations may bless same-sex. Regardless of their position on homosexuality, many people of faith look to both sacred texts and tradition for guidance on this issue. Homosexuals are committing a sin and crime against humanity and they are an insult to our society. They should know that we are not  living in a 'state of nature' where everyone does as they please, sexual restriction is one of the universals of culture peculiar to all human societies.

Wasp MannathokoMA Student, UB