...differences in ethical and religious views concerning homosexuality. Homosexuality has been the topic of ethical debates for many years, concerning the rights of homosexuals, and whether or not they should be treated equally. In the modern day homosexuality is comparatively far more tolerated than in the past, when it had been at least somewhat illegal until progressive thinking led to the 1957 Sexual Offences Act, which set the wheels in motion towards ending the inequality between homosexuals and heterosexuals. One of the focal points of the issue is whether homosexual marriage should be permitted in the same way as heterosexual marriage – it can be argued that the introduction of Civil Partnerships in 2004/5 was, although progressive and still offering equal rights to those of married couples, still disrespectful to not allow homosexuals to be specifically ‘married.’ This kind of view suggests that ethical attitudes towards homosexuality are progressive and accepting, reaching a conclusion that would satisfy homosexuals in their quest for equal rights. Discrimination against homosexuality, however, is still fairly prominent, and the lack of ease in passing laws relating to homosexuality suggests that there is still a lot of unease surrounding the topic. It cannot yet be said that to see a homosexual couple canoodling in public is considered to have as subtle an effect as a heterosexual couple doing the same. John Harris, however, states that homosexuality is an issue of etiquette...
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...A topic which stirred controversy among developed societies have been on the desk's of officials waiting to be resolved. It's more of an ethical issue than a political one. Numerous religions evoke the practice of homosexuals. Those who stand against homosexuality are considered to be homophobic, their choice to do so is no less nor greater than the decision someone makes to like their own. Discrimination and marginalization of gay people is present in almost every society, despite the global stride for equality. People who despise or abominate homosexuals built their rebellion upon teachings from the bible. However, if every sin mirrors the same weight, why isn't there laws that stands against adultery? This shows how humanity's perception of life is warped and twisted to satisfy what we think is acceptable. Prohibiting gay marriage is grounds of discrimination, evidently preventing someone from being happy and satisfied should not be within human protocol. It is no longer a theory rather its reality and also adoption rates will genuinely sky rocket due to their inability to reproduce. Scrutinizing someone's lifestyle from a prospective that it should imitate yours, is contradicting humanity's theme, equality. Despite one's skin color, race or gender, they should have equal rights and be entitled to privileges that everyone considered acceptable is. Likewise with homosexuals, their sexual orientation should be a norm among this predominantly borderline society. Within...
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...The ethical dilemma surrounding gay marriages Homosexuality is an erotic reaction to the sexual desire of people of the same sex. It is not only about sexual intercourse with similar sex as this could be as a result of limited sexual chances or even rituals in cultural practices. Homosexuality has been considered as a mental disorder. Some think it is Satanism. The issue of gay marriages is a hot topic in our country today. Some states have legalized gay marriages while other states still refuse same sex marriages. For instance in march last year, Michigan State legalized same sex marriages and later the same day, the ruling was stayed and later in the month, a central appeal court stayed the ruling for an indefinite period (Koppel & Jones,...
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...Question 1: Answer: Basic assumption of ethical subjectivism ethical subjectivism believes that Morality is subjectivism as it based on our feelings. No action “per see” is right or wrong. There is no rightness or wrongness in it. There are only feelings about an action. E.g. killing, lying etc as actions are morally neutrals. What exists is only our positive or negative feeling about these actions. So in line of this thought Hitler’s crematoria are not morally wrong actions. The only fact is that most people feel that it is wrong and few people feel that it is right. Another example would be homosexuality. It is not a fact that it is good or bad. Os when someone such as Samwell says homosexuality is wrong. He is not stating a fact about homosexuality. Instead he is merely saying something about his feelings toward it. Question 2: Answer: a. We are accustomed by science about may providing scientific evidence. So, we expect that morality gives us also strong evidence about moral issues: if H2O=water, 2+2=4 etc why not have the same or similar way of proving that action A is right, action B is wrong etc? In morality, though we are not allowed /able to use statistics formula, measurement, experiment, labs etc like in science. We can only use syllogism, logic, arguments, conclusions and concepts etc that lead us to find out the truthness /rightness on the falsehood or wrongness. b. Even in sciences there are plenty of issues that scientists disagree. So we may over...
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...Homosexuality in the Military Leondre L. Torrance Instructor: Lisa Smoot Sociology 17 February 2012 Introduction Modern controversy over the rights of gay people to serve in the military aside, the reality is that homosexuality as existing within the military is as old as the history of armed forces. Clearly, it cannot be otherwise, as homosexuality itself is an orientation within humanity, and consequently as old as mankind's origins. What changes is sociological perspective, and nowhere is this factor more keenly evident than in how the overt presence of homosexuality is acknowledged by the military and accepted by the societal base. Different cultures of different epochs have viewed this subject in varying ways, depending, not unexpectedly, on the belief systems in place in those cultures. No matter its direct purpose or size, the military of any nation must still be a representation of that nation's values. Consequently, the perceptions of each regarding homosexuality translate to how acceptable, or unacceptable, it is within the armed forces. It is therefore all the more interesting that the United States, arguably the most liberal and democratic of modern nations, has so long reflected an ambiguity, if not outright hostility, regarding gays in the military rarely seen in ancient, and supposedly less enlightened, eras. The U.S. consistently prides itself on a commitment to individual liberties, and most emphatically since the turbulence of the...
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...The Sexual Minority Reaction Paper Chris Pipes Liberty University Abstract The Christian counselor is discussed in how they understand and follow the ethical principals that guide them in working with sexual minorities and how to maintain the level of multicultural competence to counsel a diverse clientele. Definitions of homosexuality, sexual orientation and sexual reorientation are assessed and discussed. In addition to the different methods of sexual reorientation therapy, the importance of being a multicultural competent counselor is highlighted as well. A new form of therapy, called sexual identity therapy, is evaluated and discussed. Emphasis on written informed consent from clients is explained due to client autonomy and self-determination. Personal reflection on multicultural competence, sexual identity therapy, client autonomy and informed consent is shared along with the action plan to be a multicultural competent counselor, to provide written informed consent and to make wise decisions regarding value conflicts with clients. Keywords: sexual minority, homosexuality, sexual orientation, sexual reorientation, multicultural competence, sexual identity therapy, client autonomy, informed consent, value conflict The Sexual Minority Client Section I: Summarize Chapter 10, “The Sexual Minority Client”, in the book Christian Counseling Ethics centers on sexual minorities, who are “individuals with same-sex attractions or behavior, regardless of self-identifications”...
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...SEXUAL Strategies Theory: An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Mating Winifred Gordon Southern New Hampshire University Sexual Strategies Theory: An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Mating Summary Because of the lower level of minimum parental investment incurred by men, short-term mating will represent a larger component of men’s sexual strategies than women’s sexual strategies (Buss & Schmitt, 1993). An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Mating by Buss & Schmitt examines the background on evolutionary theory when it relates to the human mating strategies. The article expands on how both men and women have particular psychological mechanism that triggers which relationships, short term or long term will help them choose a partner for life, when it relates to mating relationships. The article discussed the effects on long-term relationships and how these types of relationships, compares to the short term, which are known to be called brief affairs, one stand, or temporary liaison time lengths. “Long temporal durations, however, mating relationships can last for a few months, a few days, a few hours, or even a few minutes” (Buss & Schmitt, 1993). The article described key hypotheses and predictions that give an outlined summary on theories that were empirically tested that identify sensitive problem in relations with sexual accessibility fertility, commitment seeking and avoidance, paternity certainty, male and females value, and parental investment. In comparison...
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...some people act the way they do. It can’t explain why some people are smarter then others, why people are more violent then others or why some people choose to be homosexual. Those types of social characteristics are determined strictly by your surroundings. Our society, environment, education and parental/neighborhood behavior are part of what makes us who we are. Genes can determine how you look but can’t determine how you act. Homosexuality is a hot topic of debate among us in today’s world. From same-sex marriage to Gays and Lesbians adopting children with their partners; there is a lot of ethical questions to be answered when it comes to those topics. When trying to answer these questions we need to get to the root of the issue, is homosexuality a choice or is it something you are born into? Nature or Nurture? Some popular arguments that I will be critiquing in this paper in support of gay marriage are as follows: 1. Homosexuality is a result of genetic and biological factors. 2. Homosexuality is god-given. Homosexuality is a result of genetic and biological factors that result in a child being gay. Children are born gay and have no choice but to live with it, its not a choice to be made, its something you are born into and stuck with. Being gay is part of your genes, why would someone choose to be gay if so many people were opposed to it and...
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...of goodness, Jesus Christ. Jesus’ words and actions reflect the key foundations of ethical teachings, such as agape love, compassion, and unity, through which he encouraged adherents to live their lives by through his ministry. The application of these ethical teachings into modern society, was catalyzed by Pope John XXIII. Throughout his 5 year papacy, pope john revolutionized and conformed the tradition into contemporary society in an attempt to reconnect adherents to the original teachings of jesus. In doing so, he contributed to Christianity as a living religious tradition as he encouraged adherents to apply traditional values of Christianity, towards issues that are prominent in an ever-changing modern society such as sexuality and its expression. Through following ethical teachings as reflected by Jesus’ ministry can be applied to important issues such as sexuality and its expression. By visiting prisons and hospitals, Pope John XXIII reinforces the commandment of love, the golden rule ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Prisoners are seen as outcasts of society, however Pope John XXIII understood that they are still children of God, and deserve to be loved the way we want to be loved, as reflected by the words and actions of jesus and his ministry. Pope John XXIII application of this ethical teaching, can be applied to current modern day issues regarding sexual ethics, such as homosexuality. By Pope John letting go of the restrictive ways of the past Pope’s and visiting certain...
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...A Defense of Ethical Relativism-Ruth Benedict Summary Paper Ethical relativism is the theory that holds that morality is relative to the norms of one's culture. That is, whether an action is right or wrong depends on the moral norms of the society in which it is practiced. The same action may be morally right in one society but be morally wrong in another. Benedict mentions emotions such as joy, anger, and grief, or human drives such as the sex drive, and argues that these emotions can be expressed differently in other cultures than they are expressed in our own culture. Throughout the essay Benedict discusses about various examples starting from homosexuality to the Northwest coast Indians. In Ethical relativism moral progress does not exist she proves this with the help of homosexuality, today also it is not widely accepted in many cultures but then still it depends from cultures to cultures. In her study regarding the northwest island of Melanesia she shows that different cultures have different sets of values, customs, ethics & morals. For example among the Kwakiutl tribe if a member of a community dies instead of moaning for that persons death they avenge the death by going out and killing some other individual. For me as an Indian or any other American this behavior as abnormal, unsound and extreme. However these people view their very normal and they would be even honored for doing this. Therefore we recognize that morality differs in every society, and is a...
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...recent years, the debate of homosexuality and same sex marriage has become even more of a hot topic due to the media, politics, and society in general. So, what does the definition of marriage mean to an individual? Christian conservatives say that marriage is strictly the formal union between man and woman. However, some general Christians may argue that marriage means to live a happy and joyful life with an intimate partner regardless of gender. Within these countless arguments about banning same sex marriages are the small but controversial topics that heat up the debate even more. The biggest issue that fuel the fire even more are the constant debates regarding the definition of the word “marriage”, people around the world have different definitions of the word marriage based on their environments, religion, and other external sources. Another issue that debaters, politicians, and people of the country are constantly debating and arguing about is the concept that can be simply put as “is homosexuality natural?”, believe it or not this one question is the most debated and argued topic between people who oppose same sex marriage and people who approve of same sex marriage. The final issue is the disagreement of the pros of same sex marriage, every time there is a positive note that comes out of same sex marriage, people of the opposition finds something to make that positive into a negative. Although there have been debates about this controversial issue of same sex marriage, both...
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...Out of the fourteen million HIV-positive patients documented worldwide, in 1993, two and a half million were diagnosed as AIDS cases. These statistics are tangible evidence that explain society’s fear and concern about the looming epidemic in the 1980’s and 1990’s that caused various stigmas and fostered so much discrimination. Jonathan Demme’s 1993 film Philadelphia explores the moral and ethical issues manifested by AIDS and its relation to homosexuality. This drama suggests AIDS was viewed as a crime against the self and society as a whole. The film depicts people who believed punishment was the only viable resolution for the promiscuous conduct associated with AIDS. These symbols were also discussed in Susan Sontag’ s essay “AIDS and its Metaphors.” After viewing Philadelphia in class, I thought it would be interesting to read the script in order to analyze the director’s notes and commentary. In studying Demme’s intentions for the scenes, I was able to better understand the language and relationships between the actors. I found many intriguing pieces of dialogue I had originally missed; for instance, Joe Miller is often seen in the background advertising his law firm with the line, “if you or someone you know has been injured through the fault of others, you may be entitled to legal remedy.” Andrew’s laughter after watching Miller’s commercial in the hospital is an ironic reaction to a statement that questions guilt or innocence among the ill. Joe essentially says that...
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...Leo Dudziak HLS 301G Human Sexuality Library Research Project 6/21/2015 1. Religion and Sex 2. International Human Sexuality Issues Female genital mutilation Female genital mutilation is a ritual removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. The practice of female genital mutilation is concentrated in 27 African countries. Although cases are found in other countries those 27 countries compose a vast majority of worldwide female genital mutilation. It is an appalling tradition that is practiced for religious and cultural reasons. There are four types of female genital mutilation according to The World health organization. Type 1 is partial or total removal of the clitoris. Type two partial removal of clitoris and labia minora. Type three is narrowing of the vaginal orifice and type 4 is any other harmful procedure to female genitals for nonmedical purposes. 85% of women who have had female genital mutilation have had type one or type two performed. The practice significantly affects females the sexuality of those that have had it performed to them. Woman can be severally affected because removal of part of the vagina or clitoris has many negative physical and psychological affects. The physical effects that can happen are severe bleeding, problems urinating, cysts, infections, infertility as well as complications in childbirth and increased newborn deaths. Female genital mutilation can take some or all pleasure away from sex. It also reduces orgasms...
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...those who attend, and to put aside the political, cultural and religious discontent that can often impose itself on the global community. Unfortunately for many of us, these games did not symbolize the progress we have made in this respect, but came to symbolize the morally reprehensible position of the Kremlin’s position on Homosexuality, and its authoritarian reaction to individual and groups who questioned the legitimacy of their laws. It also highlighted through the inaction of the global community, a sinister pervasiveness of homophobia throughout the world. During one of the many debates that often ensue during my history class; the topic of homosexual rights was put to the class. What transpired from this debate was a series of thought provoking questions that inspired me to write this particular article. Upon conducting my own research it became apparent to me that the Catholic Church in particular played a large role in providing a platform for homophobia to exist. The Vatican even went so far as to claim that homosexuality was a ‘moral evil’ and that people who were afflicted by this were ‘disordered’. The Catholic Church condemns homosexuality as a moral disorder that can be corrected according to the previous...
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...CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH DESIGN 3.1 INTRODUCTION In this chapter the researcher describes the plan on how the study will be carried out in order to obtain the required data. This chapter looks at the nature and design of the study concentrating on the various categories of the study design. The chapter will look at research procedure, data collection technique, sampling, population and the location of the study, limitations of the study as well as ethical considerations. Data analysis and presentation will also be included in this chapter. 3.2 NATURE OF THE STUDY The study will be qualitative in nature. According to Babbie (1998), qualitative research refers to non-numerical examination and the presentation of observations for the purpose of discovering underlying meanings and patterns of relationships. Bless et al (2006), also maintain the same line of thinking noting that qualitative research is a research which is conducted using a number of methods which use qualifying words and descriptions to record and investigate aspects of social reality. Given these definitions of qualitative research this study will be best carried out using qualitative study given the fact that it is meant to investigate aspects of social reality. Moreover the study will be investigating people’s opinions and feelings which can be best revealed in words and symbols. 3.3 RESEARCH DESIGN (STRATEGY) Research design refers to a plan of how one intends to carry out the research. Basically it focuses...
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