There is also controversy over sexual orientation in Jewish synagogues throughout the United States. Although Orthodox Jews believe that homosexuality is an abomination forbidden by the Torah, conservative Jews are more likely to welcome all sexual orientations. However, many synagogues refuse to consider gays or lesbians as rabbis. Reform Jews tend to be the most accepting toward gay, lesbian, and bisexual members.
There is also no real consensus about gay and lesbian relationships among the various Buddhist sects in the United States. Buddhism differs from traditional Christianity in that it views behaviors as helpful/nonhelpful (whereas Christianity views behaviors as good/evil) and looks at whether there was intent to help or not. As a result of this, Buddhism encourages relationships that are mutually loving and supportive.
Recently, religious scholars, both homosexual and heterosexual, have begun to promote arguments based on religious law and even scripture for a more liberal attitude toward homosexuality. For example, some Jewish scholars have argued that because ho-
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mosexual orientation is not a free choice but an unalterable feature of the personality, it is immoral to punish someone for it (Kahn, 1989-90).