3.2 Sexual Ethics

Question 1

Sex

Answer 1

The physical act of intercourse

Question 2

Sexual Ethics

Answer 2

Ethical conduct concerning sexual intercourse and practice

Question 3

Marriage

Answer 3

A legal and sometimes religious union between two people, usually for life

Question 4

Premarital Sex

Answer 4

The act of having sex before the point of marriage

Question 5

Adultery

Answer 5

The act of having extramarital sex - or sex with someone who is not your marriage partner

Question 6

Promiscuity

Answer 6

The state of having lots of sexual partners

Question 7

Same-sex relationships

Answer 7

Sexual relationships between people of the same gender

Question 8

Civil Partnership

Answer 8

Legal union between two people which is similar to but different from marriage

Question 9

Contraception

Answer 9

Medication and methods intended to stop pregnancy

Question 10

Childlessness

Answer 10

The state of having no children

Question 11

Peter Vardy

Answer 11

Theologian who considers modern sexual ethics to be transactional and, therfore, concerning

Question 12

J Dominian

Answer 12

Catholic Theologian who believes that the Church needed to expand and relax the approach towards sexual ethics traditionally taken

Question 13

Contractarian Ethic

Answer 13

A general ethical theory that individuals make the right choices for themselves under some form of social contract

Question 14

Introduction

Answer 14

The sexual liberation of the 1960s has meant that religious teachings about sexuality and sexual behaviour may appear to have become redundant.
However, religion still have value. It makes us think about what the purpose of sex is and how we can establish meaningful relationships with others. The key question is whether religious perspectives are compatible with modern, liberal attitudes to sex.

Question 15

Peter Vardy: The Puzzle of Sex 1997

Answer 15

• Vardy outlines the history of our attitudes to sex from a philosophical and religious perspective and argues that the link between sex and reproduction has been broken. He identifies key areas of concern in modern attitudes to sex.
• Underage sex morally wrong in the UK, legal age of consent 16. Outside UK this age varies. Adultery considered morally wrong but not a crime in the Western World it is morally wrong in some nations - similarly with pre-marital sex and homosexuality. Showing attitudes to sex and sexuality are not absolute: it is difficult to determine what is moral or not in relation to sex.
• Vardy is concerned with liberal attitudes to sex whereby any act has become acceptable within the boundaries of consent. He argues that sex has become a COMMODITY legitimised by science and encouraged by mass media. The purpose of sex has become enjoyment rather than divine union.
• Makes a link between pornography and internet sex, and the declining rate of marriage and increase in divorce.

Question 16

Key Questions Vardy raises

Answer 16

Should religion concern itself with sexua to new approaches to sexuality.

Question 17

Old Testament on sex

Answer 17

• Moving love story of Ruth, lost her husband and marries Boaz, an older man who has shown her great kindness.
• In Genesis 1&2 there is an understanding that sex is a good thing created by God and meant for procreation. Rules were:
• Adultery = theft & punishable by stoning.
• Women should be virgins for marriage - man can be certain children are his own.
• Sexual involvement with non-Israelites was forbidden.

Question 18

New Testament on sex

Answer 18

• Jesus says very little about God but calls on his followers to live as part of the Kingdom of God, to reflect God’s love for all people through the lives they led, and to live justly with one another.
• St Paul in his writings attempted to move the Christian people away from the body towards the soul.
• Paul compares marriage to the relationship between Christ and his Church: the man is the head of the household as Christ is the head of the Church.

Question 19

Church teachings on sex

Answer 19

• Early Christianity valued celibacy because it modelled the life Jesus had chosen and was a gift from God to the priesthood.
• This view is still held by the RC church whose priests, monks and nuns cannot marry or engage in any sexual relationship.

In modern day, three main views dominate:
ROMAN CATHOLIC VIEW: sex for procreation within heterosexual marriage
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN VIEW: sex within marriage, but not necessarily for procreation.
LIBERAL CHRISTIAN VIEW: sex as an expression of a loving, committed relationship.

Question 20

Roman Catholicism

Answer 20

• Views stem from the Natural Law of Aquinas and its primary precepts of preserving life, procreation and an ordered society.
• Because society must be ordered, anything that threatens the institution of family and marriage is wrong.
• Sex is only moral with the purpose of reproduction.
• There are three purposes for marriage:
  1. Faithfulness
  2. Reproduction
  3. Two people becoming one through divine union.
  This means divorce is immoral because the union between a man and woman is sacred and cannot be broken.

Question 21

Roman Catholicism on Homosexuality

Answer 21

• Argues sexual inclination towards someone of the same sex is not wrong as long as it is not acted upon: it is a trial and test from God.
• Condemns any acts of violence or persecution to homosexuals.

Argues homosexuality is immoral for two reasons:
- Bible condemns homosexuality. St Paul describes people engaging in same-sex sexual acts as ‘dishonouring their bodies’: this statement is often cited to justify condemnation of gay relationships.
- Natural law theory argues that the purpose of a sexual relationship is procreations. Any union that cannot physically lead to reproduction is therefore considered immoral.

On the one hand, the Roman Catholic Church calls for every human being to be treated equally , and understands that people have different sexual inclinations. On the other hand, it condemns the practice of homosexuality and is against gay marriage, which is at odd’s with modern liberal views.

Question 22

Roman Catholicism on Contraception and infertility

Answer 22

• The purpose of sexual intercourse is the baring of children: that means couples should not actively prevent childbearing but should accept the situation when sexual intercourse doesn’t lead to procreation.
• Believes artificial contraception is sinful e.g. condoms, morning after pill. Because life begins at conception and a fertilised egg is a person.
• Using contraception encourages immoral behaviour, specifically pre-marital sex, damaging the institution of marriage.
• Argues children are a gift from God and not a right, against IVF becuase:
  1. If donor eggs are used it goes against the unity and integrity of marriage (sacramentum)
  2. IVF procedures involved some discarding of embryos which equates to killing a human life.

Question 23

critiques of Roman Catholicism on Sexual Ethics

Answer 23

• Concern for the impact on relationships and family life.
• A lack on availability of contraception has led to the spread of HIV across some African countries.
• Sexual abstinence is not really a practical solution to such problems.

Question 24

Jack Dominian

Answer 24

Psychiatrist who realised Catholic teachings on marriage were too absolute and legalistic. He argued that a view of marriage as a sacred bond which cannot be broken could not prevent loveless marriages and marital breakdown, but that religion and psychiatry could work together to support couples.

Question 25

Jack Dominian’s critique of Roman Catholicism in his ‘Passionate and Compassionate Love’

Answer 25

He argues:
- Marriage reflects God’s love but should be a place where partners find love, understanding and forgiveness.

• Couples should be able to access pre-marital counselling; churches have a duty to prepare couples for marriage as well as offering counselling when problems arise.
• The Roman Catholic Church is too hierarchal and similar to the relationship between parent and child. Dominian questions its teachings on a range of ethical issues, including sex before marriage, contraception and homosexuality.
• Human beings are rational enough to choose the most moral thing to do according to their individual circumstances.

According to Dominian, it is possible to be a Roman Catholic but also accept contraception and homosexuality; what matters is a loving relationship and a nurturing environment.