Sexual Ethics Flashcards
1
Q
premarital sex
A
- sexual intercourse between a man and a woman who are not married to each other
- fornication
2
Q
extramarital sex
A
- adultery
- sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than their spouse
3
Q
what are the relational dimensions of sex
A
- pleasure and expressions of love
4
Q
Richard Holloway quote about sex
A
human sexuality is like a runaway car
5
Q
what impacted on the Judeo-Christian understanding of sex
A
- the Ancient Greek view of sex
6
Q
what is the Ancient Greek view of sex
A
- riddled with contradictions which continued ever since
- Pythagoreans saw it as weakening to the mind
- should be repressed and controlled
- Cynics however saw not point in controlling sexual desire/pleasure
- saw no shame attached to the sexual act even performing it in public
- Stoics reacted against this
- advocated overcoming emotions that threaten self control
- sex as linked to reproduction and continuation of human race
- had biggest impact on Christianity
7
Q
what was the OT view of sexual ethics
A
- reflection of its time - doesn’t have one set view
- includes tales of love, reproduction, surrogacy, seduction and sexual revenge
- many recounted in factual way without judgement and sex even celebrated in the Song of Songs
- Genesis 1/2 sex created by God and meant for procreation
- sex not seen as wrong but good
- yet should not be practised in sinful ways
- sex with non Israelites/adultery forbidden
8
Q
what did Jesus teach about sex in the NT
A
- said very little
- called his followers to live as part of the Kingdom of God, to show God’s love for all people and live justly with each other
- seems to have left the issue open
- even his teachings on marriage and divorce are unclear
9
Q
what does Jesus teach about marriage and divorce in the Gospels
A
- ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her’ - Mark
- Mathew same teaching given with exception of marital unfaithfulness
- even some of words in original greek text have different meanings
- its hard to pinpoint what Jesus meant
- what is clear though is Jesus challenging the view of the wife as the man’s property
- talking about equality
- divorce falls short of this ideal
10
Q
what does Paul seem to say in the NT about sex
A
- believed Jesus’ return and end of world imminent so not much point giving a detailed ethic on sex and relationships as all to end soon
- writes in 1 Corinthians that Christians should not let their bodily emotions control them
- sex to be kept in marriage
- body is a temple for the Holy Spirit and should be respected
11
Q
Paul’s Corinthians quote about sex
A
- avoid immorality
- any other sin a man commits does not affect his own body
- use your bodies for God’s glory
12
Q
how are Paul’s views on sex inconsistent
A
- sometimes (+) about women - argued for equality
- “there is no longer male and female for all of you are one in Christ Jesus”
- yet elsewhere he argues women should obey their husbands
- “wives be subject to your husbands are you are to the Lord”
- seems to return to OT view of wife as property of man
- he was certainly a product of his time despite his great influence on the development of Christian thought
13
Q
changing attitudes towards extramarital sex
A
- not all attitudes liberalising
- been little change in 30 years to the 84% in 2012 who disapproved of extra-marital sex in Britain
- majority of the public think that married people ought to be faithful
14
Q
changing attitudes towards homosexuality
A
- since 2013 Marriage Act over 15,000 same sex couples have been legally married
- in 1990 1 in 4 men and 28% of women thought same sex partnerships were not wrong at all and now the figure is around half
- number of homosexual relationships risen
15
Q
changing attitudes towards premarital sex
A
- in 2013 31% of males and 29% of females are having sex before 16
- more people cohabit before marriage now 8/10 rather than 3/10 before 1983
- number of children in households with cohabiting couples doubled 0.9-1.8 mil
- less people think premarital sex is wrong
- even figures for Anglicans and Catholics who think it wrong is down
16
Q
what does conservative protestants and Roman Catholics think about premarital sex
A
- see the Bible as clear in its condemnation of it
- 1 Corinthians says “let each man have his own wife and each women her own husband”
- comes from section where Paul criticises the Christians in Corinth for their failure to live up to God’s laws of sexual morality
- Corinthians - “no fornicator, idolater, no adulterer or sexual pervert will possess the Kingdom of God”
17
Q
what do social attitudes today emphasise about premarital sex
A
- emphasise personal choice and freedom
- yet according to Tim Killer (a prominent (C) leader) this emphasis leads to a consumer rather than covenantal mindset
- “our culture makes individual freedom, autonomy and fulfilment the very highest values and thoughtful people know deep down that any relationship at all means the loss of all three”
18
Q
discuss the consumer vs covenant mindset
A
- in place of sacrificial love and covenantal commitment, the consumer mindset views relationships as a marketplace in which individuals are commodified
- intimacy consists of being known and loved, a commitment and a promise to love beyond those times when passion has faded or times are hard
- consumerist mindset sees relationships in terms of sexual chemistry or social climbing
- covenantal mindset seeks friendship and commitment first
19
Q
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
A
love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not too
20
Q
what is one argument against cohabitation
A
- before marriage cohabiting couples are more likely to split up
- cohabitation may seem to increase freedom, but marriage offers a stronger incentive to invest in a lasting relationship in which one has greater expectations and responsibilities
- several studies suggest cohabiting couples are as likely to return to singleness as to enter marriage
- critics of premarital sex see it as leading to serial monogamy which can psychological reduce commitment in marriage or leading promiscuity which has (-) consequences like increasing number of children with an absent father
21
Q
extramarital sex in the OT
A
- condemned as a very serious crime
- specifically prohibited in 10 commandments and in Holiness Code in Leviticus
22
Q
what does Leviticus say about adultery
A
- those found guilty of it are to be put to death
23
Q
what does John’s Gospel say about extramarital sex or adultery
A
- tells story of a woman accused
- Jesus says “let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her”
- not a condoning of adultery but a balance between justice and mercy
- forgiveness is possible for any sin if one is truly sorry
24
Q
what does Paul say about adultery
A
- condemns adulterers as sinful
- part of a list of immoral people who will not inherit the Kingdom of God
- basis of objection due to it been a sin against another person and God and a defilement of one’s own body
- many (C) condemn it as breaks bond of marriage - a sacrament ordained by God
25
mathew's Gospel on adultery
- sexual unfaithfulness in marriage is the only exception for which divorce is allowed showing its seriousness
26
discuss adultery today
- for most marriage is a public promise and binding commitment
- extramarital sex breaks down this trust and ends many marriages
- in the middle east it results in prosecution with punishments even including the death penalty
- never been decriminalised in some parts of US
27
what is the clear bible teaching on homosexuality
"if a man had intercourse with a man as with a women both commit an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood be on their own heads"
28
story of Sodom in Genesis
- Lot visited by two angels disguised as men and the men of the city surrounded Lot's house demanding he send the angels outside so the townspeople could 'know' them
- God later destroyed the city because of the depraved behaviour of the people of Sodom (including threat of gang rape) which is at odds with today's loving, consensual same-sex relationships
29
how does Paul condemn homosexuality
- "they do shameful things with each other"
- "bring upon themselves the punishment they deserve for their wrongdoing"
- "corrupted minds"
- "they are filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and vice"
- "they are hateful to God"
- "they show they have no conscience"
- "they show no kindness or pity for others"
- liberal interpreters see Paul's criticism as being against lustful excess whereas conservatives see Paul as clear in condemnation of all same sex relationships
30
what do liberal Christians question about homosexuality
- why we ignore so many other rules in Leviticus but still accept homosexuality as wrong"
31
discuss conservative protestant and catholic ideas about homosexuality
- forbidden in Bible
- against natural order of creation
- God made Adam female companion
- heterosexual marriage seen a proper place for sexual expression
- Leviticus clearly condemns it as against God's will
- passages from Paul confirm it as unnatural and indecent
- they don't deny it exists just see it as forbidden
32
what do Christian theologians Banner and Milbank seek
- seek to offer a critique of secular culture that in their view pushes family and religious life to the margins while placing individual sexual orientation and expression at the centre of human identity
- argue Christians need to focus on Christ
- aware of their own fallen natures
- Christ taught not to judge
- all people of all sex orientation should seek forgiveness for lustful desires that make others objects
33
what do liberal groups with Christianity argue about homosexuality
- the few biblical passages that refer to homosexuality need to be interpreted and contextualised
- Jesus never mentions it
- Christians have altered their views on polygamy and conversion by military crusade, the role of women and much more so why not this too?
