[FONT=trebuchet ms, arial, helvetica][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica]Islam and homosexuality: All viewpoints[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms, arial, helvetica]Speaking generally, religious beliefs within the world's major faith groups are based on four main foundations: revelation in the form of a holy text; religious tradition; logic & reason; and personal experience. [/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms, arial, helvetica]More liberal movements within these religions often tend to stress logic, reason, and personal experience. This includes scientific findings. It is only since about 1950 that homosexuality has been seriously studied by human sexuality researchers. Liberal individuals and groups within Christianity, Islam and other religions have been quick to incorporate scientific findings within their ethical and religious beliefs. They generally regard homosexuality as a sexual orientation which is ethically neutral, fixed, unchosen, and is normal and natural for a minority of adults.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms, arial, helvetica]More conservative movements tend to stress revelation and tradition. Their beliefs are anchored to the past. Their beliefs are much less amenable to rapid change. They generally regard homosexuality as a deviate and disordered behavior, which is immoral, changeable, chosen, abnormal and unnatural.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms, arial, helvetica]A person's beliefs about homosexuality tend to be determined less by their specific religion, and more by where their beliefs lie on the liberal-conservative divide. For this reason, conservative Christians and Muslims tend to have similar beliefs about the nature and origin(s) of homosexuality, as well as God's attitude towards homosexuals. [/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms, arial, helvetica]According to the
International Lesbian and Gay Association ILGA there are at least seven countries today which still retain capital punishment for homosexuality. All are predominately Muslim countries. They are: Afghanistan, Iran, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Yemen. The situation with regard to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is unclear.[/FONT]