...accepting of gay marriage (Campbell, 2010). This paper does not seek to change the decision of the church, but to analyze the reaction and in a way use the text of the bible to make an inference about the way in which the church should react. When the church first approached this topic they spoke about moral progression. This means that as times change, the church will morally evolve but it does not mean that it will desert their beliefs about issues that they believe to be morally wrong. When the Orthodox Church first confronted this topic after the Supreme Court ruling, many priests gave sermons to their congregation explaining that we must love the sinner, not the sin. This...
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...November 8, 2010 For the Bible Tells Me So: A Reflection on Homosexuality in Our Society On the morning of July 2, 1990, Julio Rivera was walking to school in Queens, New York when 3 men lured him into an alley where they beat and stabbed him, killing Mr. Rivera. Mr. Rivera was attacked that morning because he was gay. We watched a film in our Critical Thinking class that was eye opening to understanding and coming to accept homosexuals so that we don’t have any more cases like Mr. Rivera. Homosexuality is not morally wrong and is not a sin, our society needs to change its way of thinking to be aware of our misconception of this so we can allow tolerance and acceptance to take precedence over violence and hate. The video takes the stance of homosexuality not being a choice. Scientific evidence suggests that “gayness” is very much genetic. An example is given of a family that has many boys, the male fetus is foreign to the mother’s body and antibodies develop to combat the fetus. As more boys are conceived, the mother’s body because more efficient at producing antibodies which then feminize the boy, increasing his chances of being gay. The mother’s hormone levels also can play a key factor in her child’s sexuality. The Church seems to prosecute homosexuals for their “lifestyle choice” and advise parents of homosexual children to not accept this and encourage their child to change who they are. However, the evidence that shows homosexuality may not be a choice disputes...
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...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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...news media and therapeutic experts have bought into the deception that a few individuals are naturally born gay and can't help it. Nothing could have been further from reality. Homosexuality has been practiced for a large number of years. Basically, homosexuality is characterized as sexual relations between like sexes (i.e., two guys or two females). Numerous people today think that gayness is a part of who a human truly is from the moment of creation. The "genetic and unchangeable" theory has been effectively promoted by gay activists and the mainstream media. Is homosexuality truly an inborn and typical variation of human nature? For a few individuals yes, and for others no. According to Jeffrey Satinover, MD, Founder and former Director of the Sterling Institute for Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Medicine “There is not any evidence that indicates that homosexuality is 'genetic', and none of the research itself claims there is. Only the press and, sadly, certain...
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...Homosexuality is becoming an increasingly relevant issue in America and the world today. According to the 2010 United States Census, there are 131,729 married same-sex couples in America alone. Undoubtedly, the 2015 statics show a dramatic increase in the number of married gay couples living in the present-day U.S., considering the fact that 37 states have legalized gay marriage as of 2015. There are two competing worldviews regarding this prevalent topic: those that support homosexuality and those who do not. People that support homosexuality are generally in favor of gay rights and marriage equality. The value judgment of those that are pro-homosexuality is that homosexuality is right. They do not feel that homosexuality causes any harm. Their moral stance, which causes them to make this judgment, is that gay relationships and marriage can be beneficial and nothing should stand in the way of the happiness, relationship, or marriage between two people who love one another, regardless of sex. People that are against homosexuality are generally against gay rights and marriage equality. The value judgment of anti-homosexuals is that homosexuality is wrong. They feel that homosexuality is harmful in some aspect. Their moral stance is that marriage and relationships are supposed to be/designed to be strictly between a man and a woman. Those with a biblical worldview have an anti-homosexual viewpoint, which means that we should be against marriage equality and homosexual relationships...
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...World’s Concealed View on Homosexuality The Laramie Project is a play written by Moises Kaufman and the members of Tectonic Theater Project. The play is based on the interviews of the citizens of Laramie about what’s happening in Laramie and their responses to the murder of Matthew. In addition to the various themes suggested by the play, the author wanted to present the varying perspectives toward homosexuality in the Laramie community at the time of Matthew’s death. The author also wanted to explore how these perspectives may have changed as the result of Matthew’s death. Even though the citizens of Laramie persisted that hate is not a value they practice, they still showed contrasting and puzzled views towards homosexuality. Some of the citizens of Laramie, together with Reverend Fred Phelps and his people, displayed extreme hatred towards homosexuals. Reverend Phelps and his people gave an emphasis that Matthew Shepard deserved to die, for he was a sinner and a disgrace to God. They displayed placards with the picture of Matthew burning in the eternal flames of hell. Reverend Phelps says, “If God doesn’t hate fags, why does he put’ em in hell?” (79). Reverend Phelps wanted to tell every member and supporter of the LGBT community that God hates them. The undeniable proof of God’s hate to them was how he didn’t welcome Matthew into heaven and sent him to hell instead. Doug Laws, together with other citizens, showed dislike toward homosexuality. Doug says, “A family is...
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...Same Sex Marriage: Standing Against In the United States, there is social unrest regarding the government’s denial of the right to marry for homosexuals. Plenty of conservatives are completely against gay marriage; and many of liberals are fighting for equal treatment. The neo-Christian politicians are using religious arguments to establish that homosexuality is an abomination. While this may be their belief system, this country was founded religious freedom, where the people are allowed to worship how they see fit. A ground rule, set up from the beginning, states that separation needs to be made between religion and government, so the two shall never join to become a theocracy. With the issue of gay marriage, lines are blurred and religion rears its head to influence a government’s decision of who shall be married and who will be refused. The understanding of both pros and cons to the matter, my personal belief is being against gay marriage. There are many different reasons that why myself and others are against gay marriage. One of those reasons is religious purposes. “In the Bible it states that marriage should between a man and woman. So, to religious people that statement rules that there should be no same sex marriage in this country” (Interview). Another factor against same sex marriage is the children aspect. “Research” has found that many children succeed and thrive in a home with both a mother and father. Another factor is teaching of same sex marriage...
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...We are now living in the 21st century. Everything around us is changing. Our society is broader and our global network is smaller than ever. Technology has permitted us the opportunity to become global citizens. Our world has evolved from the days of Abraham and Sarah, of being a patriarchial, agrarian society. We are now a society of consumers and capitalism drives our economy. Everything about our society has changed. Even for some, the definition of marriage, a covenant before God between one man and one woman, is also being challenged by gay rights activists. As man has evolved in his practice of Christianity, no longer being bound by the Mosaic law, has God changed his purpose for marriage? We know him to be, according to Psalm 102:27, a spiritual being who will never change or end. As God never changes neither does his definition of marriage. I will prove that the sanctity of marriage should be upheld as the standard of Christianity between one man and one woman. Marriage is a covenant before God. It is consummated by sexual intercourse between the man and the woman. Andreas Köstenberger, author of God, Marriage, and Family, advises on five marital concepts to which all Godly relationships must commit. First, marriage is permanent. Divorce is not an option except in certain circumstances advised by Jesus in Matthew 19:9 Those seeking to marry should seek out wise counsel. Second, marriage is sacred before God and he honors it because he created...
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...same sex marriage in its definition, so why is society not willing to accept this union. Is it religious beliefs or personal belief that makes people take opposing sides? Does involving children into the equation change a person’s views? Marriage is based on the mutual love and respect of two people who decides to spend the rest of their lives together, why does government have the right to impose on that love? Homosexuality and Christianity is a continuous debated throughout churches all across the world. Many churches still refuse to allow homosexuals to enter their sanctuary. Christians believe that homosexuality is a choice and that it is a forgivable sin, if the homosexual changes their ways God will erase the past transgressions. Many churches have different views on homosexuality. While the United Church of Christ, allows its homosexual members to become ordained ministers, while Pentecostals are against same-sex marriages and won’t allow pastors that are homosexuals. The debate continues. There are numerous passages in the Bible that denounce homosexuality. One particular verse, I Corinthians 6:9, where Apostle Paul speaks though the Holy Spirit reads, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexual, 6:10 thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Depending on who...
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...How Religion Views Homosexuality According to an article by Benjamin Radford with Discovery News, “Two-percent of Americans identify as gay.” You may be thinking that this percentage is much lower than you had expected. The gay community may be a minority; however, gay rights are a human rights issue. Whether there are four million gay Americans or only four, the Constitution applies to everyone. But why are homosexual Americans fighting for rights? This is because religion is prejudice against homosexuality. (Radford, 2011) The bible is at the center of all of the questions concerning homosexuality, same-sex marriage, and gay rights. Religious practitioners look to it for the answers pertaining to these issues. There are several verses in the bible that have caused controversy, but there are two in specific that have raised more flags than the others. The first is Leviticus 18:22 and it states, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” This verse has caused an uproar of religious protests of homosexuals and their lifestyles, with religious practitioners claiming those who act on homosexual thoughts are committing sin and will be denied entrance to heaven. The other verse among the most controversial is Genesis 2:24, and it states, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Religious leaders and believers say these verses are proof that homosexuality and same-sex marriage...
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...Homosexuality & same sex marriage Homosexuality is not only offensive to a religious person who believes God created a man and a woman to institute marriage, but it is also unacceptable to many who see it as a degeneration of the family, and a danger to a healthy society. Many pressures are put upon people by others and their beliefs. In today’s society one of our major pressures of life and freedom is homosexuality. Many people argue whether it is right or wrong, and some people just do not care or just do not want to talk about it. Homosexuality is on the rise in the United States as well as many other countries. Homosexuality and same sex marriages are rising; marriages are taking place. In the eyes of the church, God and many others this is a socially incorrect relationship. Throughout the United States and other countries, Homosexuality or same sex marriages defies the laws of Christianity and it is an immoral acts in Gods eyes and society. God created humanity to be fertile, Adam and Eve to be heterosexuals to populate the world with a heterosexual raise. Man and woman bodies symbolically as one flesh, to marry create children and their children to create children. How is homosexual to be a part of Gods plains. In Genesis 2:4 to 2:25 it states specifically that a man and woman, one flesh one body. Homosexuals raising a kid, which is not in the Holy Bible, in the Bible it reads Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve or Jane and Anne. Homosexuals raising kids this is...
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...HOMOSEXUALITY The issue of homosexuality is gaining ground and spreading like wild fire in this modern age both in the political, social spheres and not sparing the church. It has come out as the term goes, left its closet, and it is knocking on different doors ranging from homes to schools and surprisingly even on the Christian institutions. The advocates of homosexuality have gone to the extent of preaching their doctrine of love, tolerance, equality, and justice through television channels, radio programmes, newspapers, and magazines and going to the point of demonstrating with their banners flying high in different cities of the world and not excluding the major cities of this nation, United Kingdom. The activists of homosexuality do not want to be perceived as abnormal or dangerous not even to be called sinners. Their main goal is that they want to plant a seed of identity in our community; and furthermore they have that zeal at the back of their mind to be received with open and loving hands and if possible to be approved by any denomination. In case of those who are not familiar with the term, homosexuality, it well defined as the scenario whereby beings of the same sex or gender are attracted to each other for sexual fulfilment or gratification. In different countries several issues have been raised in relation to homosexuality. Governments and states are splitting and bills are being introduced by the pro homosexual politicians to ensure that...
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...We are now living in the 21st century. Everything around us is changing. Our society is broader and our global network is smaller than ever. Technology has permitted us the opportunity to become global citizens. Our world has evolved from the days of Abraham and Sarah, of being a patriarchial, agrarian society. We are now a society of consumers and capitalism drives our economy. Everything about our society has changed. Even for some, the definition of marriage, a covenant before God between one man and one woman, is also being challenged by gay rights activists. As man has evolved in his practice of Christianity, no longer being bound by the Mosaic law, has God changed his purpose for marriage? We know him to be, according to Psalm 102:27, a spiritual being who will never change or end. As God never changes neither does his definition of marriage. I will prove that the sanctity of marriage should be upheld as the standard of Christianity between one man and one woman. Marriage is a covenant before God. It is consummated by sexual intercourse between the man and the woman. Andreas Köstenberger, author of God, Marriage, and Family, advises on five marital concepts to which all Godly relationships must commit. First, marriage is permanent. Divorce is not an option except in certain circumstances advised by Jesus in Matthew 19:9 Those seeking to marry should seek out wise counsel. Second, marriage is sacred before God and he honors it because he created...
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...I Am Not My Sexuality: Annotated Bibliography and Outline Unit 5 Course 5334 Annotated Bibliography Aldrich, R. (2004). Homosexuality and the city: an historical overview. Urban Studies, 41(9), 1719-1737. Aldrich gives a historical overview of the history of homosexuality. He goes back to the Roman times and discusses Sodom and Gomorrah and continues to the present day. He makes mention of how homosexuals left various cities to escape the traditional life constraints and went to other cities to begin transforming the city into much construction of the gay and lesbian culture. Bonilla, L & Porter, J (1990). A comparison of latino, black, and non-hispanic white attitudes toward homosexuality. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 12(4), 437-452. This article discusses Latinos, Blacks, and non Hispanic whites attitudes towards homosexuality. It has been researched that the Latino culture is more inclined than blacks and non whites to believe that homosexuality and the spread of AIDS are invariably related. This one assumption has the capacity to cause the rights of homosexuals to be restricted. Goldsmith, S. J. (2001). Oepipus or orestes? Homosexual men, their mothers, and other women revisited. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 49 (4), 1269-1287. The author of this article discusses gender roles and how they have an effect on the sexuality of men and women. He mentions when people sense femininity in a man it causes them to fear that man simply...
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...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 the research and the discussion of the findings, the author suggests several alternatives to deal with this divisive issue. BACKGROUND FACTS Across the globe there is growing pressure by homosexual couples to get their relationships officially recognized by governments. This would...
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