Church teachings - homosexuality

Question 1

What does the Leviticus say about homosexuality? (Evangelicals)

Answer 1

“No man shall lie with another man for it is an abomination”

Question 2

How do Liberals use Genesis to support homosexuality?

Answer 2

God created man with his sexuality so homosexual feelings are natural.

Question 3

What did Jesus say about homosexuality?

Answer 3

Jesus said nothing at all about homosexuality

Question 4

How do Liberals use Jesus teachings to support homosexuality?

Answer 4

Liberals interpret Jesus “Love your neighbour” - we should have a loving attitude to homosexuals. Also, liberals interpret this to mean sex is an expression of love and homosexual sex expresses love in a committed relationship.

Question 5

What does St Paul say about homosexuality?

Answer 5

“The sexually immoral will no inherit the Kingdom of God”

Question 6

What is the strength of God’s commands?

Answer 6

What God commands is morally right because God is perfect and loving. Must trust God’s commands.

Question 7

What is the strength of the Bible as the Word of God?

Answer 7

It is a source of authority for Christians especially evangelicals who tend to reject homosexual relationships

Question 8

What does Robert Adams argue?

Answer 8

Emphasises obedience and obligation in divine command theory - must be obedient to God

Question 9

What does the bible recognise about men?

Answer 9

Men are free agents who choose to obey the commands.

Question 10

How does Moore criticise Christian’s use of the Bible?

Answer 10

Christians select the material that suits them. Evangelical take the passage “Do not lie with a man as one would lie with a woman” but ignore the scriptural passages that state beheading is the punishment for homosexual acts and reject those that state not to mix two cloths of different kinds. They use scripture to reinforce prejudices

Question 11

What does Boswell say about homosexuality in the New Testament?

Answer 11

Claims that the word for homosexuals used in the New Testament Greek is unclear - it may not mean homosexual and so hard to interpret.

Question 12

How does Leibniz criticise divine commands?

Answer 12

Divine commands are not to be trusted e.g. “For why praise God if he would be equally praiseworthy for doing exactly the contrary.”

Question 13

How does Ayer criticise divine commands?

Answer 13

“No command can be founded on authority even if the authority were divine.” Rejects God’s commands as an atheist

Question 14

What does the Catholic Church teach about homosexuality?

Answer 14

If homosexuals have an inclination towards a person of the other sex this is not a sin. The homosexual person should be treated with love and mercy. Love thy neighbour. Homosexuals must be treated in a respectful and loving manner as people.

Question 15

What does the Catholic Church say about homosexual sex?

Answer 15

Homosexuals must be chaste and not have sex. No life comes from these acts and the Bible condemns homosexual sex as does Natural Moral Law
Cannot bring about children - contravenes the Bible and precepts of NML

Question 16

What did Pope Francis teach about homosexuality?

Answer 16

Called on people in the Catholic church not to marginalise homosexuals. They should be welcome in the church. No one should judge them - only God can do that - “If someone is gay and searches for the Lord and has goodwill, then who am I to judge”

Question 17

Outside of divine command, what else does the Catholic Church stress?

Answer 17

The use of individual conscience - some bishops agree with the use of contraception to preserve life (HIV) such as Bishop Dowling

Question 18

What are the strengths of the Catholic Church’s teachings?

Answer 18

The bible is divinely inspired source of authority.
Reason tends to suggest that homosexual sex is immoral based on the evidence that human purpose is for reproduction - NML

Question 19

What is the weakness of the Catholic Church?

Answer 19

Plenty of couples have sex without the end of reproduction e.g. elderly and infertile couples and sex still has meaning to them. A unitive aspect. could apply to homosexual loving relationships
Can also use the weaknesses of NML as this is what Catholic Church teachings are based on.

Question 20

What is the view of the Church of England on homosexuality?

Answer 20

The inclination is accepted but not the act - “practicing homosexuals and the blessing of same sex unions call into question the authority of the Holy Scripture”

Question 21

In what ways are the Church of England accepting of homosexuals?

Answer 21

2003 - USA - the new Hampshire diocese chose as a bishop an openly gay man
In the UK gay men in civil partnerships can become bishops.

Question 22

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Church of England’s view?

Answer 22

They take the Biblical teachings seriously, regarding marriage for man and woman
However, they are divided on the issue and this causes confusion in the church. Some Anglicans have even left the church over the issue.

Question 23

What do Liberals say about homosexuality?

Answer 23

They claim that the biblical basis condemning the act of homosexuality is disputable. St Paul’s words about homosexuality are unsound because it isn’t clear what the original Greek words mean.

Question 24

How does Vardy support the Liberals views?

Answer 24

Thinks it’s odd how St Paul was willing to condemn homosexuality on the basis of Jewish law and yet also condemn Jewish law in other parts of his writings.

Question 25

What does Vardy say about homosexuality?

Answer 25

Claims that it may be a genetic disposition.

Question 26

What does Moore say about homosexuality and christianity?

Answer 26

Christianity is a religion that makes room for the marginalised and the outcasts and so there must be room for homosexuals etc. in the religion

Question 27

What does B. A Robinson say about homosexuality?

Answer 27

Claims that human rights are for all so if heterosexuals have the right to marry then so do homosexuals and lesbians.

Question 28

What do Liberals say about the creation of people and how does this apply to homosexuality?

Answer 28

Claim that all people are made in the image of God and therefore the inclination and act of homosexuality must be good. Otherwise it suggests that God creates intentionally disordered human beings.

Question 29

What are the strengths of the Liberal approach?

Answer 29

Up to date with modern attitudes in many western countries. The Bible should be read critically with issues of translation brought up.

Question 30

What are the weaknesses of the Liberal approach?

Answer 30

Homosexuals etc. are not marginalised or shouldn’t be