Religion, Genetics, and Sexual Orientation: The Jewish Tradition
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2008
Publication Title
Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal
Keywords
genetics, religion, sexual orientation, homosexuality, Judaism
Abstract
This paper probes the implications of a genetic basis for sexual orientation for traditional branches of Judaism, which are struggling with how accepting to be of noncelibate gays and lesbians in their communities. The paper looks at the current attitudes toward homosexuality across the different branches of Judaism; social and cultural factors that work against acceptance; attitudes toward science in Jewish culture; and the likelihood that scientific evidence that sexual orientation is a least partly genetically determined will influence Jewish scholars' and leaders' thinking on this issue.
Repository Citation
Dena S. Davis, Religion, Genetics, and Sexual Orientation: The Jewish Tradition, 18 Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 125 (2008)
Volume
18