image :  There's a lot of cartoons which make fun of the religious attitudes (www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/gri/lowres/grin5710.jpg, retrieved 12.1.2011).

The issue of homosexuality is the most divisive subject in religious world today. Especially in Christianity, which

is the main religion in the United States of America.

Homosexuality was not uncommon in ancient cultures, though the forms and views of homosexual behavior were

very different. In most of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, both the subject and the behaviour were considered

taboo. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans were generally accepting of homosexual behavior within

certain contexts. Hinduism and Buddhism tended to view homosexuality primarily from the standpoint of its

karmic effects, with varying conclusions.

Jewish, Christian, Sikh and Muslim cultures have generally considered homosexual behaviour sinful. Many Jewish

 and Christian leaders, however, have gone to great lengths to make clear that it is only the homosexual acts that

is condemned, not the homosexual people. Some liberal strands of both mainstream Protestant Christianity and

Reform Judaism even advocate the full acceptance of homosexuals and their relationships.

The largest religion in the United States of America is Christianity (in 2002 82% of habitants). What is considered

 right and wrong depends on the differend points of view. The Christian point of view is based on the Bible.

 For the Christian, the Bible is the final authority for both belief and behaviour. In the USA and UK, there are

even ”boot camps” where homosexual people can ”overcome their gayness”. (The Times 8^th Oct. 2008)

The Christian religion in general regards homosexual behaviour as sinful. For example, the Free Methodist Church

 does not support of homosexual behavior because the Bible says it's sinful. There are two particularly important

extrait. Firsts are prohibitons in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, which declare that for a man to ”lie with a male as

though lying with a woman” is ”an abdomination” and ”detestable act”. The second set is the Apostole Paul's

references to same-sex intercourse. He regards the homosexual behavious ”gross and deliberate human sin”.

http://www.religionfacts.com/homosexuality/index.htm (retrieved December 31^th 2010)

http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html (retrieved January 2^nd 2011)

http://www.freemethodistchurch.org/Sections/About%20Us/Beliefs/Christian%20Life/Christian%20Conduct/Christian%20Conduct%203.htm#Homosexual (retrieved January 2^nd 2011)

http://www.leaderu.com/theology/biblehomosex_overview.html (retrieved January 7^th 2011)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4893735.ece (retrieved January 13^th 2011)