Sexual ethics Flashcards
How were women who had premarital sex in the Old Testament treated?
They were stoned to death
What in the Old Testament suggests family is important?
“happy is he who has a quiver full of them” (children)
What did God command adam and eve to do?
“go forth and multiply”
How was sexual love in engaged relationships celebrated in the Old testament?
Song of Solomon - poem where a couple celebrate each other’s bodies sexually before marriage
What did Jesus teach in the new testament that suggests premarital sex is wrong?
“when a man leaves his mother and father, he joins with his wife and the two become one flesh”
What did St Paul teach in the new testament that suggests premarital sex is wrong?
“better to marry than burn with vain desire”
What did St Paul teach in the new testament that suggests premarital sex/homosexuality is wrong?
“the sexually immoral will not enter the kingdom of heaven”
What did the libertines believe?
They believed they could do as they wished with their bodies, however St Paul wrote to them saying they should only have sex in marriage
What are the strengths of using the bible?
- It is authoritative - divine word of God
- “god breathed” - timothy
What are the weaknesses of using the bible?
- it is outdated
- society now has more secular attitudes to PMS
- contraception is more widely accepted
- Grunbaum - the Bible is written by “old men” and outdated regarding sex.
How do primary precepts link to premarital sex?
PMS is not part of an ordered society. Sex within marriage means children are not born out of wedlock, but into a stable family. PMS can lead to abortion, which is bad as innocent life must be preserved. Marriage is to have children.
What does Anscombe say?
Catholics takes seriously that marriage and family life are bound together. No artificial contraception makes promiscuity less likely, thus the rise in abortion less likely so marriage is for children
Strengths of using NML with sexual ethics?
- Based on empiricism
- ensures syneidesis is kept
- Fulfils purposes of humans
- less family breakdown in society
- protects people with rules as it makes sex a public matter
- deontological approach which rules out PMS based on the feature of the act itself
Weaknesses of NML with sexual ethics?
- sex is a private matter, it is not right to have such public rules
- a more relative approach may be better as deontology is too strict
- a more compassionate approach may be better
- PMS with contraception does not necessarily lead to societal disorder
- Naturalistic fallacy
- there is no CHN (kung and nielson)
- availability of contraception makes NML an outdated approach
What do Catholics believe about promiscuity?
it devalues marriage
Is contraception accepted by Catholics?
No - unless it is family planning as a natural form
Why do Catholics believe sex is for marriage? (Pope)
Pope Benedict XVI wrote that PMS is a sin but forgiveness should be granted for sinners
How do Catholics view sex within marriage?
It is procreative, and its unitive aspect is stressed. Sex is seen as uniting and bonding a couple.
What did the Catholic church say on sex within marriage?
“this love is uniquely expressed and perfected through the marital act”
What did Pope Francis say on homosexuality?
The Catholic church should not marginalise homosexuals, they should be welcome in the church. Only god can judge them. “who am i to judge?”
How does Jack Dominion criticise the church/nml?
He claimed that sex is for showing love and commitment and for expressing sexual identity, not solely to produce children. There was nothing wrong with couples who loved and were committed to one another having sex before marriage.
How did Leiser criticise the church/nml?
Like a screwdriver, sex has many functions. It can be for procreation, but also for expressing love and commitment and pleasure.
What does the Church of England teach on contraception?
They allow contraception, due to the 1930s depression in the UK when couples could not afford to have children
What do Evangelical christians teach?
Sexual relationships should not be had outside of marriage.
What is the Pledge of True Love Waits?
Evangelical - this pledged baptists to not have sex until marriage. Furthermore, the Silver Ring Thing was created to encourage young people to abstain from sex until marriage
What teaching from Thessalonians did evangelicals base their views on?
“for this is the will of God, your sanctification, that each one of you knows how to control your own body in holiness and honour”
What do Liberals such as Harvey Cox claim?
Only love is important in a relationship. Whether a couple are married or not does not matter.
Strengths of the Evangelical view?
- self discipline and control are important in sexual ethics
- takes bible seriously as direct word of god - they are true to the gospel and have a responsibility to preach the truth about sex
Weaknesses of the evangelical view?
- ignores caring and loving relationships
- is narrow minded regarding homosexuality
Strengths of the liberal view?
- agapeic love is important
- all churches try to protect people in sexual ethics by advocating committed and loving relationships, usually through marriage
Weaknesses of the liberal view?
- does not take bible seriously enough as direct word of god
- difficult to know what is loving
- people may think they are having sex out of love when it is out of lust
What did Fletcher believe on contraception?
Contraception is loving for the couple if thats what they want, people matter and come above based on God’s love.
What is Fletcher’s example ?
The example of the spy - would it be loving to sleep with a spy to gain information that could save lives even if you are a Christian who believes in sex only in marriage?