Such is the conclusion of Douglas A. Abbott, PhD, a professor of Child, Youth, and Family Studies at the University of Nebraska. From Lifesite:
“Except for the rare physical abnormalities (such as Huntington’s Disease) at the present time, there is no evidence of a direct causative link between a single gene and complex psycho-social behavior such as sexual preference,” says Abbott.
In his July article for the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), Abbott explains that much of the public perception is misguided about the relationship between genes and behavior. Media reporting aids this confusion with headlines such as “Gene X Found to Cause Behavior Y”. Abbott, however, says this is a “simplistic” view of the science of behavioral genetics, which studies “how genes, operating within their complex environments, connect to human environments.”
“Environment” in behavioral genetics means any non-genetic influence, including internal biological factors such as nutrients, bacteria, viruses, and medicines, and external forces on a person such as parenting, family life, peers, the media, geography, war, calamities, etc.
The Professor is obviously right. Genetic influence, even if one exists, is a far cry from causality. We all know this, well everyone except for agenda driven scientists. All of us are born with a tendency toward sin. This can be manifested in myriad different ways and some of our bad pre-dispositions have a genetic basis. This is part of our fallen nature.
This type of scientist perplexes me. For people who generally do not believe in God or sin, they sure do spend a lot of time and energy coming up with excuses for sin.
Now if they would only find the genes that cause gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride, we could all be off the hook. Couldn’t we all use a genetic get-out-of-hell free card?
August 9, 2007 at 7:35 am
I agree wholeheartedly. I had an explanation for this nonsense the first time I heard all of the biology bologna about homosexuality and genetics back in grad school.
One theory I had was that personality attributes that have some basis in genetics (not determined, but influenced) such as “Openness to Experience” provide individuals with an willingness to experiment. And this willingness to experiment more broadly is what may have a genetic component.
Needless to say, this is hardly close to the deterministic nonsense that the the mainstream media puts out there.
Of course, all of the research in this area is inadequate given sample size and sample recruiting issues.
August 9, 2007 at 2:08 pm
This came up a year ago where gay rights groups were outraged at scientists looking at the “gay gene” in sheep. The original link is dead but can be seen here:
http://www.outlawjournalism.com/news/?p=1323
August 10, 2007 at 1:50 am
Of course there is something called “situational homosexuality” (I think) … the sort of homosexual acts that occur in prisons and boys’ schools because, well, people (especially men)tend to get it where they can find it…
But here’s the official teaching from the Catechism, folks….
“2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,140 tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.”141 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.