...range of attitudes toward homosexuality could exist within the Christian religious tradition. Answer: It is interesting that homosexuality, for centuries, has been such a controversial topic. Like sexuality, homosexuality results from a combination of hereditary factors along with social and environmental influences. While attitudes toward homosexuality are generally in flux, whether due to political activism or not, it seems that Jewish, Christian, and Muslim cultures view it as sinful. Nevertheless, in Christianity there appear to be an abundance of varying attitudes toward homosexuality which require a deeper analysis. Christianity can be divided into four separate sub groups: Fundamentalist Christians, Mainline Christians, Liberal Christians, and Evangelical Christians, all of whom draw distinct conclusions regarding biblical interpretation, specifically on the subject of homosexuality. Fundamentalist Christians typically believe in the strict inerrancy of the bible. In their belief the bible is seen as the word of God and thus should be read literally. The dominant view is that the bible condemns all homosexual activity and considers it sinful if it is performed outside of a marriage. The bible relates the story of Sodom and its inhabitants all of whom were destroyed by God because of their desire to have homosexual sex with the visiting angels. Biblical terms such as “sodomite” are thus used as descriptions of homosexuals. Lastly, the bible does not relate of any consensual...
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...HOMOSEXUALITY AND CHRISTIANITY 3 Working Outline I. The term homosexuality is frequently use to describe both orientation and behavior. (Main idea). A. People often use the terms sexual identity and sexual orientation interchangeably. 1. Sexual identity relates to individual expression of feelings. whether heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual involved in the metabolic processes of the brain and body. a. Heterosexual feelings involve an emotional and/or a physical attraction to the opposite sex. b. Homosexual feelings involve an emotional and/or a physical attraction to the same sex. c. Bisexual feelings involve an emotional and/or a physical attraction to same and opposite sex. 2. Sexual orientation describes the direction and focus of sexual and emotional attractions experienced by a person. a. Sexual direction and focus b. Emotional attraction and focus B. Many myths surrounding homosexuality exist and they need to be corrected. Here are five essential myths (First subordinate idea). 1. Perhaps the most destructive is the beliefs that homosexuals are child molesters. a. A homosexual can molest a child. b. A heterosexual can molest a chld. 2. The belief that homosexuals are promiscuous and incapable of long-term committed monogamous relationships. c. This is a general statement that shows no knowledge of this particular population...
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...6103—LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY Individual Project Consideration of and the Legal & Societal Challenges raised by same sex unions Date: July 12th, 2012 Page count: 18 Word Count: 3277 PREPARED BY: OLIVER NICHOLAS TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 3 Background Facts 4 Business, Government and Society &/Legal Issues Identified 5 Presentation of Analysis and/or Literature Review 8 Literature Review 7 Discussion of Findings 14 Recommendations/Solutions 15 Conclusion 17 Bibliography 18 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This research paper will provide a critical analysis on the legal and social challenges raised by the legalization of same sex unions/marriages in the Caribbean, specifically Barbados. Several social issues as well as legal constraints and considerations were identified during the research. The paper presents arguments for both the retention of criminalization as well as arguments for the de-criminalization of homosexuality, the first step towards legalizing same sex unions/marriages. The findings, as presented provide the reader with alternative views and arguments; the conservative moral religious argument is presented as well as the more liberal human rights motivated arguments. This will provide the reader with more information supported by sound argument, allowing them to formulate their own opinions on the issues identified. Based upon...
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...TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 3 Background Facts 4 Business, Government and Society &/Legal Issues Identified 5 Presentation of Analysis and/or Literature Review 7 Literature Review 7 Judicial Review and Ultra Vires 8 Abuse of Discretion 9 Improper Purposes 9 Unreasonableness 9 Irrelevant/Immaterial Considerations 9 Natural Justice 10 Legitimate Expectation 11 Discussion of Findings 12 Recommendations/Solutions 16 Conclusion 18 Bibliography 19 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Using case law, this research paper will provide a critical analysis on the legal issues raised in the case of David vs. The Empowerment Board of Antigua. Several issues of administrative law were identified in this case, and the researchers have sought to examine their respective implications to David and the Empowerment Board. The findings of this case focus less on the final decision of the Empowerment Board, but concentrates on the prevailing factors involved in the decision. The principles of Substantives Ultra Vires, Natural Justice and Legitimate Expectations form a major part of this study and consequently the researchers have recommended options to be considered by both David and the Empowerment Board. BACKGROUND FACTS Across the globe there is growing pressure by homosexual couples to get their “unions” officially recognized by governments. This would enable them to be legally...
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...In the contemporary dispute over homosexuality within the Church, how and in what balance can the Anglican three-legged stool of Scripture, tradition and reason be used as a starting point for the benefit of the whole Church and gay and lesbian people in particular? The issue of homosexuality is a vital one for all churches. The Anglican Church is one of those that contains proponents on both sides of the argument and one of the ways it has viewed revelation is to see it being arrived at through a three fold cord- Scripture, tradition and reason. The essay’s main concern will be with experience and the dialogue of the interpretive community. This is because in an area of strong disagreement dialogue and the interpreters themselves are the keys to how both Scripture and tradition should be used. Natural law seems to be philosophically dead and yet the naturalness of an act is still used by some as an argument against homosexuality. As for science, it has offered no firm conclusions about why some people are homosexual. Therefore this essay will not cover these areas. SCRIPTURE “Slavery seeks refuge in the Bible only in its last extremity…. Goaded to frenzy in its conflicts with conscience and common sense, … it courses up and down the Bible, ‘seeking rest and finding none.’ The law of love, glowing on every page, flashes through its anguish and despair.” (Theodore Dwight Weld, The Bible Against Slavery: or, An Inquiry into the Genius of the Mosaic System, and the Teaching...
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...Same Sex Marriage and Religion In the 21st century, the controversial debates about the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) community and their rights are becoming more and more common in the media. Over millennia, same sex relationships have transformed from a socially accepted way of living in ancient times, to a social taboo with the birth of Christianity, and finally into a widely accepted way of living in the 21st century. Most sources of media, especially television shows have embraced this evolution and have become supporters of the LGBT community, these shows include some of the most popular series around the world such as Glee, Pretty Little Liars, Doctor Who, Grey’s Anatomy, and many more. Furthermore, many influential people are part of or advocates for the LGBT community. For instance, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Ellen DeGeneres and many more. Today I will talk about the history of LGBT rights and evaluate the supporting arguments and opposing arguments of this topic in today’s society by assessing a host of different media sources, including newspaper articles, magazine articles, and documentaries. First of all, I will present the history of LGBT rights and assess to what extent society has changed its views and ideas on this subject. The first evidence found on same sex couples were found in Egyptian hieroglyphics and old Mesopotamian records which demonstrated same sex relationships were accepted in their community. (Eskridge) Although this...
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...In the 2001 cinematic drama Lost and Delirious, two adolescent girls struggle in a society that ostracizes them for their supposed homosexuality, even though neither of the girls personally identifies as being a lesbian. Paulie argues that she and Tori are in a relationship simply because they are in love with each other; they both just happen to be girls. This theme of obscure and undefined sexuality is not singular to this Canadian film for it has been proven relentlessly throughout the history of mankind that sexuality is fluid. Many scientific studies have contributed to the theory that a large percentage of people are neither exclusively heterosexual nor solely homosexual, but rather varying degrees of both. This has been depicted...
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...Causes of Homosexuality Alan Hardy Liberty University Abstract The purpose of this research is to provide an in depth look at the causes of homosexuality. Homosexuality has had a strong presence throughout history and many ancient civilizations openly engaged in homosexual activity. Currently, all research seems to conclude that there is no universal accepted truth as to why homosexuality exists, but many researchers agree that there are certain experiences and situations that tend to contribute to homosexual behavior. This research paper explores numerous contributing factors that are thought to raise the likelihood of someone becoming a homosexual. Readers will be interested to explore the core argument of biological and genetic makeup versus arguments of nature. Numerous studies and experiments help support both sides of the argument, but neither side is able to produce irrefutable evidence naming a direct cause of homosexuality. This research paper serves as a way for individuals interested in the causes of homosexuality to explore numerous viewpoints, stereotypes, and unbiased valid information on the topic. This research could be used to help individuals understand why homosexuality exists in today’s society. Causes of Homosexuality Homosexuality is perhaps one of the most misunderstood realities within today’s society. There are many people that view it as disgusting, unnatural and taboo. Others claim to support the right to love whomever with little or no understanding...
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...make them more attractive and exciting to reach a new generation. According to George Barna, “Millions of dollars flow from church budgets into events each year in an effort to influence people’s thinking and behavior. Literally billions of dollars are spent every year maintaining, upgrading, and expanding buildings and facilities to provide the space and equipment required for the ministries planned by the church. To appeal to people who have thus far turned a cold shoulder to God, churches and denominations launch sophisticated marketing campaigns that are designed to reposition churches and raise awareness of the things of God.” According to research by David Kinnaman surveys show that the three most common perceptions of present-day Christianity are antihomosexual (an image held by 91 percent of young outsiders), judgmental (87 percent), and hypocritical (85 percent). This new generation sees the church as old-fashioned, too involved in politics, out of touch...
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...issue for many people. Some even know that this person may one day save your life and have your back and it’s still an issue for some. The struggles of discrimination and inequality were all too frequent in the lives of homosexuals who were serving or trying to serve in the United States Military started to catch attention with the media and caught the attention by many who had voices to make a difference for equality. During the civil rights movement in the 1960’s, homosexuality wasn’t a right that was openly fought for. Albeit that today, most people view the right to love whom they choose as a civil, and human right. Many people believe that a relationship should be between a man and a woman and therefore the rights of the homosexual community were not fought over in any of the early civil rights movements. Some of these biased thoughts are said to have stemmed from the impact of the churches and Christianity, where Christians took verses or stories from the Bible and related them to homosexuality. Even dating back to 1950, when the country was recovering from WWII, Secretary of State James Webb was quoted in a report as saying “It is generally believed that those who engage in overt acts...
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...Defining Religion Defining & measuring religion is very hard. Religion can be so personal that it's impossible to express and to quantifiably measure There tends to be 2 ways: Substance - trying to get what the essence of religion is Function - what religion does in society Inclusivist & exclusivist o Inclusivist definitions take a broad view of what constitutes 'religion'. They could include [political movements, social movements and organisation etc. as long as they seem to carry out the functions of religion. o This could be a tautological way to define religion - a religion is something that appears to carry out the function of a religion. But what are the functions of religion? Who decides and on what criteria? o Exclusivist definitions take a narrower view of what constitutes a religion. They try and narrow down to the specifically religious and would exclude political movements for eg. o The problem here is in defining what constitutes 'religious'. Getting to the core of 'the religious' is v difficult. Glock & Stark Measuring religion They suggest 5 dimensions of religion that could be applied in order to measure the degree of religiosity in a society o Belief - the essential beliefs of a religion - core theology o Practice - acts of public and private worship and ritual o Experience - subjunctive feelings of being associated with some higher power or being o Knowledge - depth of understanding...
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...Nanzan University Christianity and Women in Japan Author(s): Yamaguchi Satoko and 山口里子 Source: Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, Vol. 30, No. 3/4, Feminism and Religion in Contemporary Japan (Fall, 2003), pp. 315-338 Published by: Nanzan University Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30234053 . Accessed: 02/04/2014 10:26 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. . Nanzan University is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 137.132.123.69 on Wed, 2 Apr 2014 10:26:21 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Studies30/3-4:315-338 Journalof Religious Japanese x 2003 Nanzan Institutefor Religionand Culture YAMAGUCHISatoko[JriMf- Christianityand Women in Japan After a brief introduction to the situation of Christian or church-going women in Japan, articleintroducesa feministtheologicalgroup,the Centhis ter for Feminist Theology and Ministryin Japan,as one of the diverse...
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...Table of Contents · Introduction · Homosexual Marriages Should Have the Same Rights as Heterosexual Marriages. · Comparisons to Other Countries · Europe · Africa · Background · First Argument with Gay Marriage · Changes in the Ability to Get Married · Hate Crimes · Identification of Policy Alternatives · Legalizing Gay Marriage Amongst All States · Legalizing Gay Marriage Amongst All States, but Naming it “Civil Unions” · Legalizing Gay Marriage/Civil Unions Against Some States, Recognizing it in All · Recommendation · References INTRODUCTION: Same Sex Marriages Having Same Rights as Heterosexual Marriages Gay marriage has been an active debate amongst politicians, religious figures, and the public. The debate has spanned over a decade with little change for either side. The issue of gay marriage is not just about the name of what the union is called, but the right to be able to legally join as homosexual couples with the same rights as heterosexual couples. Reasons for someone to be in favor of this topic are that there should be a separation of religion and politics, it deprives homosexuals of their natural rights, and this issue has escalated to violent hate crimes towards homosexuals. As it stands, currently 9 million adults are homosexuals, representing 4 percent of the 18 and over population in the United States with no signs of diminishing. Public administrators have done little...
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...* * Child Molestation and Homosexuality Ann Landers used to proclaim that the statement “Homosexuals are more inclined to molest children sexually than heterosexuals” is false.1 The American Psychological Association sponsored a work asserting: “Recognized researchers in the field on child abuse,… almost unanimously concur that homosexual people are actually less likely to approach children sexually.”2 Why is it, then, that we read about sex between boys and men in every newspaper? Does it merely reflect sensationalist journalism? We know that heterosexual molestation also occurs. But since there are so many more heterosexuals than homosexuals, which kind of child molestation — homosexual or heterosexual — is proportionately more common? The Scientific Evidence Three kinds of scientific evidence point to the proportion of homosexual molestation: 1) survey reports of molestation in the general population, 2) surveys of those caught and convicted of molestation, and 3) what homosexuals themselves have reported. These three lines of evidence suggest that the 1%-to-3% of adults who practice homosexuality3account for between a fifth and a third of all child molestation. Reports of Molestation by the General Population In 1983, a probability survey of the sexual experiences of 4,340 adults in five U.S. cities found that about 3% of men and 7% of women reported sexual involvement with a man before the age of 13 (i.e., 30% was homosexual).4 In 1983-84, a random survey...
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...Abstract A basic knowledge of Islam is becoming essential for Americans today. Presently there are nearly five million Muslims living in America. These Muslims face persecution by Americans as a result of the country’s present state of affairs. In their own communities Muslims are forced to defend themselves against their enemies. To be a Muslim is not just an individual activity it is a community identity and responsibility. Islam is considered a total way of life for the religious community. For many in America who are raised with the idea of the separation of church and state and the sense that religion is a private affair, Islam can seem confusing, especially since Islam does not have a “church” to preserve and promote its beliefs. There is a great diversity among Muslims as there is among other religious communities in America. Because America is predominantly Judeo-Christian it is sometimes easier for Christians and Jews to practice their faith. American schools do not recognize Muslim holidays. Even such a simple task as attending Friday congregational prayer and taking a break to perform the salat during working hours are often difficult. Muslim culture has become prominent in coutries other than Islam. Countries that have a large Muslim following include Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States. Accepting Cultural Differences in Muslims Since the tragedy of 9-11 a...
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