Sexual Ethics (2) Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the broad view of traditional Christian teaching on homosexuality?

A
  • Conservative Protestants, The Roman Catholic Church all teach the bible condemns all forms of homosexual relationships
  • It breaks the covenant relationship between God and his people
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2
Q

What does the traditional view of Sodom and Gommorah (Genesis) propose about homosexuality?

A
  • The town of Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed due to homosexual rape about to happen
  • This teaching is used to show the evil of homosexual sex in Christianity
    “don’t do this wicked act”
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3
Q

What does the traditional view of Leviticus 18 propose about homosexuality? (Quote)

A
  • “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination”
  • A clear condemnation of homosexuality
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4
Q

What is the traditional view of St Pauls Quote in 1 Corinthians 6 on homosexuality?

A

“nor men who have sex with men”
- St Paul creates a list of those wrongdoers who will never enter the Kingdom of God
- Amongst this are male prostitutes and supposed homosexuals

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5
Q

What is the traditional view of St Paul in Romans on homosexuality?

A

“men committed shameful acts with other men”
- Paul illustrates Gentile depravity in Rome and reason for Gods judgement
- He argues these practices go against natural order and conscience

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6
Q

Quote Pope Paul VI in the ‘Human Vitae’ and how this links to homosexuality?

A

“every marriage act must remain open to the transmission of life”
- If marriages divine purpose is to have children, then homosexuality fails
- Sex can be unitive, for loving purposes, but also must be open to the transmission of life
-

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7
Q

Quote the Catechism on homosexuality?

A
  • “intrinsically disordered”
  • They call homosexuals to chastity
  • The same way a nun works to ‘Christian perfection’ through celibacy, a homosexual should too
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8
Q

What are the two central ideas Liberal Christians use to argue against homosexuality?

A
  • Bible must be read in historical context and not focus solely on physical aspects of sex, more about what it means to be in a relationship
  • Justice is the root of Christianity, the marginalised are supported in the bible so we must not be prejudiced against homosexuals
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9
Q

What do Liberal Christians argue Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis) is saying about Homosexuality?

A
  • Argue that the city was condemned due to all sorts of wickedness, both homosexual and heterosexual rape
  • Sodom was an abomination as it failed to help the needy (Ezekiel) and the NT Jesus exemplifies Sodom’s lack of hospitality as something that will be judged
  • They condemn wicked acts, such as rape, not homosexual relationships
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10
Q

What do Liberal Christians argue Leviticus 18 is saying about Homosexuality?

A
  • It is condemning all things which upset all natural order
  • The law used is extreme, e.g a garment one kind of fibre
  • Used to prevent the Israelites from doing what the Canaanites do, such as homosexual prostitution
  • Homosexual relationships are not being condemned in themselves
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11
Q

What do Liberal Christians argue 1 Corinthians is saying about Homosexuality?

A
  • Argue that Paul is condemning masturbation (malakoi) and male prostitution (arsenkoitai)
  • It does not condemn homosexual relationships
  • Furthermore he condemns drunkenness and robbery
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12
Q

What do Liberal Christians argue that Romans 1 is saying about Homosexuality?

A
  • Paul chooses homosexuality as a way of persuading Jews to convert, and that the Gentile practice of homosexuality is unclean and not accepted
  • He goes onto say that Jewish cleanliness laws have been superseded by Jesus’ death
  • This included Jewish food laws, and by extension, homosexuality
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13
Q

What do Liberal Christians argue that Romans 1 is saying about Homosexuality?

A
  • Paul chooses homosexuality as a way of persuading Jews to convert, and that the Gentile practice of homosexuality is unclean and not accepted
  • He goes onto say that Jewish cleanliness laws have been superseded by Jesus’ death
  • This included Jewish food laws, and by extension, homosexuality
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14
Q

How do Liberal Christians use Jesus as a liberator to justify homosexuality? (Quote)

A

“to set the oppressed free” - Luke
- Jesus tried to be inclusive to all, the Church should follow suit and seek justice
- Ephesians included slavery, they wouldn’t use this as justification, the same way they should not condemn homosexuality
- Church of England Bishop, Alan Wilson supports same-sex marriage as enrichment and healthy development of marriage

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15
Q

What ambiguity does the Church of England’s ‘issues in human sexuality’ cause?

A

“homosexual practice… dishonourable”
“God loves us all alike”
- They seem to have ambiguous conclusions which bishops are unhappy with
- The bishops asked for a review of ‘issues in human sexuality’

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16
Q

What is Secularism and how did it develop?

A
  • Secularism is used to describe a world outside religion and the Church
  • Late 18th Century due to diverse beliefs, science and technology and humanist philosophy, lots distanced from religion
17
Q

Quote Mill in his ‘On Liberty’ about what liberty is. What is Positive Liberty, what is Negative Liberty?

A

“Pursuing our own good in our own way”
- Positive Liberty: Active involvement of citizens in the control of the state
- Negative Liberty: Freedom from interference from others

18
Q

Why can liberty be considered good for society and sexual ethics?

A
  • A variety of lifestyles enhances richness and enjoyment of society
  • Liberty allows one to ‘flourish and breathe’ according to their own sexual wishes and rational choices
  • No monopoly exists on morality; people should make their own choices even if they are wrong
  • Tolerance leads to a happier society
19
Q

Why can liberty be considered bad for society and sexual ethics?

A
  • Variety does not always equal a happier society, common values and aims can lead to more purpose and more happiness
  • Profusion of different sexual lifestyles can lead to confusion, distrust, anxiety and unhappiness
  • Freedom of all forms of sexuality does not lead to a richer and more COHESIVE society
  • Mill himself acknowledges we need ‘competent judges’ as we may not have all knowledge of what’s good for us, the same way some sexual behaviour is subversive and should not be accepted
20
Q

What is the Wolfenden Report?

A
  • Published in 1960 by Lord Wolfenden
  • Decriminalisation of homosexuality on the grounds of the liberty principle where the state should not rationally interfere with someones private sexual life
21
Q

When does Mill argue one can interfere with ones liberty and step in? (Quote)

A

“power can rightfully be exercised… to prevent harm to others” - On Liberty
- Only harm to others is grounds for intervention on someones autonomy , self-harm is not included
- You must respect autonomy, unless they are children or mentally disabled to the point where they cannot act rationally

22
Q

How does Mill’s ideas of interference coincide with sexual ethics?

A
  • There is no good reason to interfere in adults whop participate in usual forms of consensual sexual activity
  • Only if there is harm to others, or an irrational agent acting with harm to ones self
23
Q

Mill maintains we can only interfere if an act is doing harm to others, how does this fare when thinking about homosexuality?

A
  • Harm could also occur due to offending moral values and a sense of decency
  • Mill claims a moral offence is not enough harm to outlaw it
  • However if many people are offended, e.g homosexuality causes widespread offence, does it become a condition of harm and justifies it being outlawed?
24
Q

Do private consenting acts really have no effect on society?

A
  • Argument to be made that it does, e.g if I watch hard core pornography
  • This is in private, but it will inevitably alter the way I think and how I treat others
  • This can be the same for subversive sexual practices and challenges Mill’s idea that moral offence not being enough for it to be a condition of harm
25
Q

How does St Paul argue that same-sex relationships have caused harm to public decency, and how does the ‘Societies for the Reformation of Manners’ support this?

A
  • St Paul argues it is the reason for Roman Society degenerating morally
  • The ‘Societies for the Reformation of Manners’ in 18th Century was central to raids, closure of ‘Molly houses’ and gay clubs as they undermined public decency
26
Q

Is Adultery justified with the liberty principle?

A
  • According to the liberty principle, as long as there are two consenting adults to allow it outside of their relationship it is fine
  • However many would argue that adultery in all forms is wrong, regardless of consent
  • The law even supports adultery as a reason for divorce
27
Q

How much of the population consider themselves gay or lesbian?

A

4 to 5 percent

28
Q

Since when has the Sexual Offences Act permitted homosexuality, and on what grounds?

A
  • Permitted them in 1967 for over 21’s, reduced to 16 in 2000
  • Based on the liberty principle, the state should not interfere in an individuals freedom in a private relationship
  • Most people, regardless of their own views, would argue being a homosexual and allowing it is a basic human right and should not be infringed upon
29
Q

When did the Civil Partnerships Act become law and how did this affect same-sex couples?

A
  • Became law in 2005 and gave legal recognition to same-sex relationships by allowing couples to register their partnership a a registry office
  • The documentation allowed them to adopt a common surname
  • They also could end the civil partnership in the same way as a marriage
30
Q

How do civil partnerships give the same rights as marriage?

A
  • Same tax rights, including inheritance tax
  • Employment benefits
  • Most state and occupational pension benefits
31
Q

What is the difference between marriage and civil partnership?

A
  • Civil partnership it is a signing of a document and with marriage it is an exchange of words
32
Q

Why do same-sex couples still not have the same social respect as a heterosexual married couple?

A
  • Despite the Marriage Act 2013, giving the same rights and responsibilities to same-sex couples as with married couples
  • However the Act permits clergy in the Church of England and Wales to not carry out same-sex marriages
33
Q

Quote Mill in his ‘On Liberty’ about what liberty is. What is Positive Liberty, what is Negative Liberty?

A

“Pursuing our own good in our own way”
- Positive Liberty: Active involvement of citizens in the control of the state
- Negative Liberty: Freedom from interference from others