Sexual ethics

Question 1

What is sexual ethics about?

Answer 1

Are religious approaches to sex compatible with modern day liberal attitudes, does religion still have a role to play in thinking about sex?

Question 2

What two points does peter Vardy raise in ‘the puzzle of sex’?

Answer 2

1. The variation in sexual laws around the world (homosexuality, age of consent etc) shows we don’t have a clear consensus on sex. 2. Sex has become a commodity legitimized by science and encouraged by the mass media, it has lost its reproductive purpose. He points to the falling marriage rate and rising divorce rate.

Question 3

Give two questions raised by Vardy

Answer 3

1. Should religion concern itself with sexual choices? 2. Have modern ideas meant religion has had to adapt to a new approach to sex?

Question 4

Give four Old Testament teachings on sex

Answer 4

1. Stories of love and loyalty such as Ruth’s. 2. Detailed accounts of incest such as Lot’s story. 3. Celebratory song for sex in the Song of Songs. 4. Strict rules- no sex with non Israelites and women had to be virgins when they married.

Question 5

How did St. Paul see sex?

Answer 5

Very misogynistic ”a man is the head of the household as Christ is the head of the church.” It is important to note the time in which he was writing.

Question 6

How did the early church see sex?

Answer 6

Celibacy was the ideal as it followed the life of Jesus. Sex was immoral for all purposes save procreation as we were commanded to ‘go forth and multiply.’

Question 7

What is the Roman Catholic view on sex?

Answer 7

Stemming from natural law, the purpose of sex is procreation and it can only be carried out in a heterosexual marriage. Pre marital, extra marital sex, divorce, masturbation, homosexuality and abortion are all immoral.

Question 8

What are the three Roman Catholic purposes of marriage?

Answer 8

1. Divine union. 2. Reproduction. 3. Faithfulness. Any sex act which goes against these is wrong.

Question 9

How is homosexuality seen in Roman Catholicism?

Answer 9

St. Paul saw it as dishonoring the body. Sex’s purpose is reproduction and homosexuals can’t reproduce. Marriage was created as a sacred bond between a man and woman and homosexuality goes against both divine and natural law.

Question 10

What is the other Roman Catholic view on homosexuality?

Answer 10

It is a test from god and is not immoral unless acted upon, homosexuals should be accepted into the church and treated like everyone else as we were created as equals.

Question 11

What do critics of the natural law approach to homosexuality say?

Answer 11

Sex has non reproductive purposes: sex between infertile people, sex after the menopause and sex during periods.

Question 12

What is the Roman Catholic view on contraception?

Answer 12

It is sinful, morning after pills are akin to murder and contraception is wrong as it encourages immoral actions and reduces respect for women and the institute of marriage.

Question 13

Why does the Roman Catholic Church oppose IVF?

Answer 13

Children are a gift from god, not a right. The use of donors goes against the integrity of marriage and IVF procedures where some embryos are discarded are akin to murder.

Question 14

How has pope Francis changed Roman Catholic views?

Answer 14

He accepts that contraception can be the lesser of two evils in situations such as stopping the spread of the Zika virus, but still sees abortion as evil.

Question 15

How did jack dominian criticize the Roman Catholic view?

Answer 15

Its teachings on sex are too absolute and legalistic, seeing marriage as an unbreakable sacred bond does not stop marriages breaking down.

Question 16

In what four ways does dominian see sex?

Answer 16

1. A personal experience that communicates recognition and appreciation. 2. A reflection of god’s love. 3. Couples should be able to access pre and marital counseling. 4. He questions the Roman Catholic view on homosexuality, abortion, marriage and contraception.

Question 17

According to dominian, what does the church need to do?

Answer 17

Change with the times, it’s possible to be a good catholic and also to accept homosexuality and contraception. Homosexual couples should be treated as equals and supported by the church, sex is a gift from god and as long as a relationship is loving, it is moral.

Question 18

What is the broadly Protestant view on sex?

Answer 18

Sex is an act to preserve the institute of marriage, it is not only for procreation and contraception is moral in some situations as smaller families are better for parents’ health.

Question 19

What is the liberal Protestant view on sex?

Answer 19

We shouldn’t interpret the Bible literally or follow natural law, what matters is the loving nature of the relationship. If sex is between two consenting adults, it is moral, love is what matters.

Question 20

What does liberal Protestantism think of homosexuality and divorce?

Answer 20

Both are moral, what matters is the quality of the relationship. Homosexuals were created in the image of god too, so should be treated as equals. Divorce is accepted in the case of marriage breakdown or adultery.

Question 21

What does liberal Protestantism think of contraception and fertility treatment?

Answer 21

Contraception is gods to limit the size of families- smaller families are better for parents’ health. Sex has a purpose beyond reproduction, it can help strengthen relationships. Fertility treatments bring happiness to people who would otherwise not have been able to have children.

Question 22

How can it be argued that liberal Protestantism is not a religious view?

Answer 22

It goes against key Bible laws, it too relativistic and justifies what many see as immoral. On the other hand, it reflects Jesus’ teachings and the New Testament’s core message of love.

Question 23

Give four features of evangelical Protestantism

Answer 23

1. Literal interpretation of the Bible. 2. Emphasis on conversion- being born again. 3. Salvation comes from god’s grace, not human action. 4. Mission work is important.

Question 24

What is the evangelical view on marriage?

Answer 24

It is a sacred union, sex is for pleasure as well as procreation- but only in a heterosexual marriage. Evangelical groups such as true love waits campaign for celibacy amongst teenagers.

Question 25

What is the evangelical view of homosexuality?

Answer 25

It is sin condemned by the Bible. However, homosexuals should be welcomed into the church. Some groups advocate harmful conversion therapies which claim to ‘turn people straight.’

Question 26

What is conversion therapy?

Answer 26

A pseudoscience which claims to convert LGBTQ+ individuals into heterosexuals, it is false and has many negative consequences such as drug abuse, homelessness, mental illness and suicide.

Question 27

What do evangelicals think of fertility treatments?

Answer 27

IVF and artificial insemination are permitted, surrogacy is wrong as it goes against family.

Question 28

How is the evangelical approach seen?

Answer 28

A middle way between flexible liberal Protestantism and dogmatic Catholicism, however, their views on homosexuality raise concerns.

Question 29

What is the libertarian view on sex?

Answer 29

It is a contractarian ethics wherein anything is permissible as long as it’s between consenting adults and causes no harm. What matters are freedom and autonomy.

Question 30

What is Mill’s approach to sex?

Answer 30

Any act is permissible so long as it doesn’t cause pain. Freedom of choice is key to human progress and we have to be able to make out own choices.

Question 31

What are some issues with the libertarian approach?

Answer 31

1. How do we draw the line between harm and offense- what about pornography which creates harmful attitudes to sex? 2. Conservatives say the libertarian approach is harmful to society.

Question 32

What was the wolfenden report?

Answer 32

1957 report proposing homosexuality be legalized in England and Wales, led to a debate between devil and hart. Hart argued for decriminalization, basing his argument on Mill’s points in ‘on liberty.’ Devlin disagreed, saying homosexuality undermined the stability of society. It would not be legalized until 1967.

Question 33

What is the feminist approach to sex?

Answer 33

The Christian view sees women as submissive, it disempowers them, giving them few/no rights for centuries. The liberal approach is also wrong as it assumes a level playing field between the sexes, yet this is not the case as women are judged more for sexual relationships.

Question 34

What does catherine mackinnon say about sex?

Answer 34

In ‘Feminism unmodified, discourses on life and law’ she says that moral sexual relationships are impossible until sex is reimagined and remade.

Question 35

What is a contractarian ethic?

Answer 35

Individuals make the right choices for themselves under some form of social contract.