In recent years the topic of homosexuality has been a controversial and frequently discussed topic within the Anglican tradition. The Lambeth conference is an assembly of bishops of the Anglican Communion and is convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The conference allows for a collaborative and consultation function which allows for relevant issues to be discussed within the communion(wiki). The argument over homosexuality was predominately discussed as communion wide issue at the 1998 Lambeth conference(gays and the future of Ang), and it was concluded that homosexual practice was " incompatible with scripture." Whether locally or globally debates typically arise around the issue of whether homosexuality should be allowed within the Church. These disagreements have torn Anglicans and created differing beliefs regarding the ordination of gay clergy and same sex marriages. The contrasting views over homosexuality can clearly be seen on a global scale. Anglicans in North America tend to be more liberal and accepting of homosexuality, while those in Africa tend to have a more conservative stance and reject the idea of homosexuality as a whole, this is due to historical and cultural differences. In this essay the countries I will be primarily focusing on in North America are Canada and the United Sates, and for Africa I will be focusing on the countries of Uganda, Nigeria, and Tanzania.
Anglicanism was seen as a predominately English religion, but with the aid of globalization and missionary works Anglicanism is now recognized as a world wide religion. The way Anglicanism came to be established within North America and Africa has helped to shape each regions views on homosexuality. Christianity was a religion that grew along wi...
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...n. A History of Global Anglicanism. New York: Cambridge, 2006.
The author Kevin Ward works in the department of theology and religious studies at the University of Leeds as a senior lecturer in African Studies. The book gives a global historical perspective of Anglicanism, which displays that Anglicanism is diversified and not just an “English” religion. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific geographic location, in which the author discusses how Anglicanism was established in various countries. The book also includes maps of Anglican Communions from around the world. The book was slightly useful because it discussed the two locations I am focusing on. Although it was based on a historical context it discussed homosexuality as an issue within Anglicanism, and gave a contemporary perspective of how Anglicans in differing countries view homosexuality.
Christian leaders have often written about homosexuality in a negative manner. Throughout the majority of Christian history most theologians and dominations have viewed homosexual behavior as sinful and immoral especially in African-American churches. Certain orthodox interpretations of Christian morality have led the overwhelming majority of African-Americans who attend church to consider homosexuality a sin and thus same-sex marriages as wrong. Black liberation theology, especially in the context of the black political church, has led a minority of African-Americans to be inclusive of homosexuals and to permit their churches to serve as a political resource for those receptive to lesbian and gay rights (Shaw). However, in the past century some African-American Christian religious groups and churches have espoused a wide variety of beliefs and practices towards homosexuals, including the establishment of some 'open and accepting' congregations that actively support queer members. The Abyssinian Baptist church is one of these institutions. By comparing the preaching’s of early 20th century pastor Adam Clayton Powell Jr, to present day pastor Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, there is strong evidence to show the evolution of churches position on homosexuality in the Abyssinian Baptist Church.
The lecture hall filled with the audience members’ conversations in the gymnasium-sized room, which the microphone on the podium in center stage amplified. Through the double door entrance to the hall walked a conference attendee named Adam Moore, who found his seat in the last of many perfectly aligned rows of folding chairs. He began reading the brochure handed to him as he arrived and “homosexuality” being on the list of discussion topics intrigued him because he is an openly homosexual member of the Episcopal Church. After all the discussions had concluded and the ministers and clergy answered every question, Moore approached Father McAllister and asked him to explain some of the Catholic Church’s teachings to him. Father McAllister happily agreed and they both returned to the lecture hall to have their conversation. Father McAllister sat next to Moore, who reclaimed his conference seat. Moore explained that although there were many topics he did not fully understand in Catholic Church teaching, there was only one he wanted to discuss with him. He sought to understand what the Catholic Church taught on the topic of homosexuality and what the Church’s opposition was to homosexual relationship...
Anglican adherence has seen a dramatic decrease from 39% in 1947 to 17.1% in 2011.
Kroll, P. (2006). The African-American Church in America. Grace Communion International. Retrieved March 20, 2014, from http://www.gci.org/history/african
Mead, Frank S., and Samuel S. Hill. Handbook of Denominations in the United States. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1995. Print.
No doubt deviant sex is almost as old as the race. There are few innovations in moral weakness. What is new is the homosexual ideology which has made devastating inroads into the Church from the ambient culture. One is made to believe that recalling the Church's teaching is an uncharitable act and that the Christian thing to do is to act as if sodomy were as normal as marital sex. Of course it is scarcely a defense of homosexuality to point out that many people commit sexual sins. The tu quoque here is singularly inappropriate. We began with the observation that we are all sinners. The question is, what next?
McManners, John. "The Oxford History of Christianity." The Oxford History of Christianity. New York: New York Oxford Press, 2002. 28.
In Daniel Karslake’s documentary, For the Bible Tells Me So, he examines the intersection between Christianity and homosexuality. Karslake uses parallelism, appeal to emotion, and appeal to logic to highlight how the religious right has used its interpretation of the bible to stigmatize the gay community. With the use of these rhetorical devices, he is able to auspiciously convey his argument that there can be a healthy relationship amongst the opposing side of this belief. He attempts to enlighten the viewer with the thought that Christianity's homophobia represents a misreading of scripture, a denial of science, and an embrace of fake psychology. The families call for love.
Christianity’s role in America has rapidly changed over the last decades. Although it is still the most popular religion in the country its power over the people has decreased significantly. However, there are still many misconceptions towards American Christianity and in order to understand the unique nature of this religiously diverse country; one must understand its history and its citizens own views on the matter.
The LGBTQIA community has faced strong opposition from groups falling outside this minority for years, primarily conservative and religious groups. This phenomenon is not particular to the United States, but spans hundreds of countries across the world. Religious leaders in varying religions not only oppose the act of marriage, but often times oppose the actual act of homosexual behavior. Often religious oppositionist will cite religious text, like the Bible as a means of opposing the LGBTQIA lifestyle. One of the most blatant oppositions to homosexual b...
...nt of Anglicanism that is still printed in most editions of the prayer book that was approved by Parliament in 1571 called the Thirty-nine Articles. They are not a complete system of doctrine but there are clear differences from Roman Catholicism and Anabaptism which indicates an agreement with Reformed and Lutheran positions. The queen added in a statement in Article 20 that “The Church hath power to decree Rites and Ceremonies.” (Shepherd Web) The settlement of Elizabeth still remains the foundation of Anglicanism. Anglicanism has never had a dominant theologian. Theology for Anglicans tend to be biblical, apologetic, and pastoral rather than confessional or opinionated. (Anglicanism Web) Anglicanism is bonded by the liturgy that is common, contained in various recessions of The Book of Common Prayer. Prayer book is prescribed in all Anglican churches.
We have all at some point or another heard someone say that God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. This saying is an excellent example of how a large number of Christian fundamentalist feel about the homosexual community. Studies have shown that there are more Christian homophobes than there is homophobia in any other group or religion in the United States (Wolff, J. R., Himes, H. L., Kwon, E., & Bollinger, R. A., 2012). Homophobia is the irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals. In Christianity, homophobia represents misunderstanding and fear of the unknown.
In this essay, I will explain how religion is sometimes used to mobilize against LGBT people, how some people’s religious and personal doctrines conflict regarding LGBT issues, and how religious belief and community can be a positive force for the LGBT community. In history, mainstream Abrahamic religions have had a negative relationship with LGBT persons. Beginning during the Hebrew exodus of Egypt, the purity codes documented in the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Leviticus explicitly stated a slew of rigid rules that attempted to keep a new Israelite nation “clean”. As William Countryman argues in the article “Dirt, Greed, & Sex”, the Bible sets a precedent for what is “clean” and pure as well as what is “dirty”. In this sense, dirty means where something doesn’t belong, or is out of place.
“All men are created equal, No matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words,” Harvey Milk. A homosexual, as defined by the dictionary, is someone of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex. Homosexuality is ethical, and I will provide rational arguments for, and irrational arguments against the topic. A few objections are as follows: It is forbidden in the Bible and frowned upon by God; It is unnatural; Men and women are needed to reproduce; There are no known examples in nature; and the most common argument that concerns homosexuality is whether it is a choice or human biology.
This paperdiscusses homosexuality as a form of deviant behavior in Nigeria. In so doing, the paper will examine the nature of homosexuality, its causes and even consequences of this particular behavior to those who engage in it as well as to the larger Nigerian society. The paper also seeks to outlineany previous attempts that have been employed to address homosexuality, including their success and failures. Lastly, the paper also looks intohow widespread homosexuality is in Nigeriaand gives suggestions as to how the behavior can be addressed more effectively.