Religious crimes against nature

It seems ironic to me that homosexuality has been described as a "crime against nature" by religious folks who also believe that "the natural man is an enemy to God". I recognize the intended meanings and the consistency therein, but the word choice is interesting.

For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. (Mosiah 3:19)

It seems more apt to me to describe homosexuality as TOO natural! The challenge I face on a day-to-day basis is how to keep up this ongoing crime against nature I am committing by trying to be like Jesus.

I'm a believer in the notion that we are accountable for our thoughts our words and our deeds. But I qualify that with the caveat that God understands the exceptions. I think it's usually a mistake for a mortal like me to try to pinpoint them. One exception that has been clarified by the brethren is same-sex attraction. The mental pathways used here are not chosen, and I believe I am not culpable for them. But that's not to say that I get a free pass to fantasize on every fine piece of... you see my point. Our deeds, similarly, are not chosen for those of us with some specific medical conditions I can think of, but that by no means gives a free pass for reprehensible behavior with the justification that my hormones made me do it. Again, God is the judge. And accountability stands.

So, who is this natural man anyway, and why are we up against him? Pleasure pathways in the brain connect the autonomic part of the body with the conscious. You get thirsty and then water tastes fantastic. Your body is pulling the behavior strings. You exercise and you get that endorphin rush. You eat and your hunger is quelled. And you have sex, and your body tells you that pushing that button is a very good thing although it leaves off the footnote that the reason is that it brings about continuation of the species. Hell, it can even hurt and your body just says, don't worry about it, just keep going. These physiological adaptations let the creature thrive.

These natural signals are entirely selfish in their aims. That's what they are for. And selfishness is not shameful in all cases--it's only natural.

Yet, our cognitive ability tells us there are higher causes, unselfish and worthy ways to spend our efforts. Some hedonists, on the other hand, want those pleasure centers stimulated at all costs. Have a smoke and you falsely stimulate the brain's pleasure centers. Take a hit of meth and you no longer feel hungry. Or tired. Screw with your body's signals and you sabotage yourself.

The little devil on your shoulder telling you to go for the druggy high is the natural man. And the little angel telling you to go out and play checkers with the boring old dude down the street is the saint. Looking at porn on the computer is the natural. Kneeling in family prayer is the saint. But it's not an entirely academic discussion taking place on your shoulder. Prior behaviors give the devil some extra buttons to push and extra tricks to try in his favor. He has a direct line to those pleasure centers. But then, the angel has some tricks too--but they don't come standard. They take enabling prayer, study, and discipline.

Note that there are plenty of appropriate ways to keep those pleasure centers hopping. But stimulating them in the manner that God has outlined shows a willingness to "submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him".

May we all be outlaws against nature. May we be our best selves.