Sexual Ethics Flashcards
Why is marriage significant in Christianity?
- It is a public declaration of commitment.
- It is intended for companionship and the raising of children.
- It is intended to be lifelong (“til death do us part.”)
- It is a sacred covenant and a sacrament (means of receiving God’s grace.)
What are three key issues affecting perceptions of premarital sex?
- Cohabitation: There has been an increase in couples living together before marriage, at least 50% do this. It might be a trial for marriage, an alternative to marriage, or they might be opposed to marriage.
- Contraception: Available more freely so people can be more sexually active without risk of pregnancy or STIs.
- Secularisation: The idea that sex should not occur outside of marriage is a religious one, and society is becoming more atheist. Cohabitation is no longer referred to w “living in sin.”
What are religious teachings on extramarital sex?
“Do not commit adultery” is one of the Ten Commandments, and Jesus’ teachings on divorce say that divorce is only permissible after adultery has occured.
What are some problems that arise surrounding the Biblical teachings against extramarital sex?
- Is extramarital sex still wrong if the couple agrees to an open relationship?
- If a person is in a committed cohabiting relationship and has an affair, is this premarital or extramarital sex?
- Polygamy was in the Bible; Abraham had a wife and a concubine, David and Solomon had multiple wives.
What was the Hart-Devlin debate in the 1960s?
Devlin believed homosexuality should remain illegal as it was against society’s common morality and society needs a common morality to survive.
Hart disagreed, believing society should only enforce a “minimal morality” in order to prevent harm to others.
Hart’s argument won the day and homosexual acts between consenting adults were decriminalised in 1967.
How does the Bible view homosexuality?
Negatively.
- “You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination.” - Leviticus 18:22.
- The city of Sodom is destroyed by God and one of its crimes was homosexual acts between men.
- “…men who have sex with men… will (not) inherit the Kingdom of God.” - 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
What are some problems that arise regarding the Biblical teachings against homosexuality?
- Are gay Christians required to be celibate?
- Is gay marriage really marriage in a spiritual sense and should churches allow gay weddings?
- The adoption of children by gay couples.
- The ordination of gay clergy.
- If a sincerely held religious view opposes homosexuality, how can it be expressed?
- Can homosexuality be cured? Some churches offer conversion therapy.
How would Natural Law react to premarital sex?
- It violates the precepts of ordered society and preserving life as it is supposedly an unstable environment to raise a child.
- Marriage brings order to society, and sex must always be open to procreation, something which is only moral in marriage.
- Premarital sex is an apparent good, as it doesn’t contribute to the primary precepts, it just creates pleasure.
How would Natural Law react to extramarital sex?
- It violates a sacrament and covenant so it is immoral.
- Extramarital sex undermines the sanctity of marriage, creating disorder in society and giving children instability.
- Apparent good because it pursues pleasure.
- Violates Divine Law because scripture says “Do not commit adultery.”
How would Natural Law react to homosexuality?
- Gay sex has no chance of procreation, so it violates the precept and telos of reproduction. Disordered society because no children are being born.
- Apparent good because gay sex can never be for procreation.
- Violates Divine Law as homosexuality is punished in the Bible.
What are some problems with Natural Law’s approach to Sexual Ethics?
- It seems outdated in a secular society. It relies on the Bible which is isolating to a lot of people.
- It contradicts itself; if looking after children is only possible in marriage, why not gay marriage? Adopting is keeping order in society.
- Gay couples can have IVF or a surrogate mother.
- Sex could have other purposes like being unitive or bringing pleasure.
How could Situation Ethics be applied to Sexual Ethics?
- Agape: Unconditional love, not to be confused with Eros, sexual love. Fletcher might draw a distinction between casual and promiscuous sex and sex in the context of a loving relationship.
- Criticism of Religious Ethics: Natural Law falls short because surely rejecting homosexuality outright is not the most loving thing?
- Extramarital Sex: It is harder to justify extramarital sex as a loving action, but there can be cases. Fletcher uses the example of a secret agent sleeping with a married man to gain important information.
- People Centred: People are more important than rules, and Situation Ethics is relativistic.
What are the strengths of Situation Ethics when applied to Sexual Ethics?
- It distinguishes between casual and loveless sex and sex within a loving relationship, something that Natural Law and Utilitarianism don’t do.
- Sex involves people, so it makes sense to have a person-based ethical theory.
What are the weaknesses of Situation Ethics when applied to Sexual Ethics?
- It overlooks religious commandments on sexuality, like “do not commit adultery.” This is too flexible for some Christians.
- Focused on people who are immediately involved but not others who could be affected - family and children.
- Better in extreme cases than everyday cases.
How is religion a detrimental force within Sexual Ethics?
- Conservative Christian attitudes to homosexuality lead to persecution and pain.
- Outdated view on women. Mill believe the traditional view of marriage subjugated women and gave them a lesser role.
- Natural Law devalues significance of pleasure or unity in sex and a lack of contraception risks disease or large families.
- Foucault argues that religion is responsible for the harmful lens that some things are normal and other things are abnormal, a lens that isn’t needed today.
