Born This Way? Homosexuality, Science, and the Scriptures PB

What are Christians to make of relentless assertions that homosexuality is an innate characteristic? Some pastors and church members are suggesting that scientific research demands a change to the historic stance of Christian sexual ethics.

The author of Born This Way? wants Christians not to be intimidated and confused by these assertions. Branch succeeds by carefully walking the reader through the research (but not painstakingly so) to show that homosexuality is not an innate quality, and how some findings are twisted to arrive at pre-conceived notions. He concludes that, “while there are some genetic or biological factors that correlate with a higher incidence of same-sex attraction and homosexual behavior, as of yet there is no proof of genetic or biological causation for homosexuality.” This distinction is vital, and it comes as good news to those who want to be faithful to both science and the Bible.

About J. Alan Branch

J. Alan Branch (Ph.D., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is professor of Christian ethics at Midwestern Seminary where he has served since 2001. He currently serves as a Research Fellow in Christian Ethics for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. In addition, he served as a chaplain in the United States Army Reserves from 2009 to 2013 and served a tour in the Middle East from 2011 to 2012. He preaches frequently and has served as interim pastor for churches in Kansas and Missouri.

Contents

• Introduction
• Sigmund Freud and Homosexuality
• Alfred Kinsey and Homosexuality
• The American Psychiatric Association and Homosexuality
• Brain Plasticity and Homosexuality
• Homosexuality and Prenatal Hormones
• Heterosexual and Homosexual Brain Differences
• Homosexuality and Twin Studies
• Homosexuality and DNA Research
• Homosexuality and Other Factors
• “I Can’t Change, Even If I Wanted To”
• Born-This-Way Arguments and Christian Ethics