Often times our society runs into troublesome issues that leave our nation in a century long debacle regarding points of view. A more recent controversy is over love, and who is allowed to love whom. Previously, this issue was addressed with interracial relationships. Supreme Court Case Loving v Virginia (1958) declared that a state could not have anti miscegenation laws under the protection of the 14th Amendment’s Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Act (“Oyez Project at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law”). How is that any different from our nation’s current altercation? Homosexuality is becoming more and more relevant in our society as people explore who they are. “How can homosexuality—and same-sex "marriage" in particular—be wrong if it doesn't hurt anyone?” (Smethurst).
Homosexuality, according to many religious members of society, is a sin. Their argument? Levictus 18:22 reads, “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” Contradicting this statement, in Romans 14:13 it says, “Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” Although the first quote suggests homosexuality as being a sin, the second warns us not to judge others. How can we judge someone for who they love? The bible cannot correctly determine the result to an issue of the current era. Unlike the constitution, which is changing to accommodate our needs, the bible does not change as the world changes, this we cannot use it against current day controversies. “The reasons why other sins are wrong are obvious. Murder, rape, adultery, theft — they all harm other people. But homosexual acts don't harm anyone” (Bud...
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Parker, Alice. "What the Gay Brain Looks Like." Time: Science and Space. Time, Inc. , 17 Jun 2008. Web. 16 Nov 2013.
Smethurst, Matt. "How Can Homosexuality Be Wrong If It Doesn." The Gospel Coalition. The Gospel Coalition Inc. , 3 Jul 2013. Web. 16 Nov 2013. .
Times. The New York Times Company, 12 Nov 2013. Web. 16 Nov 2013. .
"Topics at a Glance: Homosexuality." Roper Center: Public Opinion Archives. University of Connecticut, n.d. Web. 16 Nov 2013.
Homosexuality defies the laws of nature, social norms, and has many adverse side effects. Today we live in a society that promotes homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle. Many homosexuals that live this lifestyle like to justify their behavior by twisting God’s truth. They make claims like “God is a God of love”, “the bible does not condemn homosexuality”, and “I am not hurting anybody, so it is ok.” God has clearly revealed to us in his Word that homosexuality is an abomination. Leviticus 20: 13 says, “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.” (ESV). Sin is serious and God’s Word tells us that there are grave consequences for such sin. Homosexuality is not only a sin that is committed against oneself, but is also contrary to God’s divine design of marriage and family. God created holy matrimony to be between one man and one woman and not between the same sex. Right from the beginning God says in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (ESV). God designed marriage for procreation and tells us to “be fruitful and multiply.” A homosexual couple, on the other hand, is unable to reproduce and have a family. That is only one of the many negative side
The two texts examined within, present the opposing extremes of views regarding gay and lesbian marriage. The first text entitled Let Gays Marry by Andrew Sullivan examines the intricacies of same sex relationships and why homosexual couples should be allowed to publicly show affection for one another. The second text that will be examined is titled Leave Marriage Alone written by William Bennett. Bennett gives his views on why couples of same sex nature should not be allowed to engage in marital relations. These two authors, although very different, each has a view of the ideals of marriage, and how it should be presented to the public.
The American debate on homosexuality reveals an unquestionable, though awfully uninvited, fusion between religion and politics, revealing a dangerous lack of separation between the church and state. The concern is not about the presence of spirituality in American politics, but the implications institutionalized religion has on the lives and rights of human beings. Nothing hinders the political and social progress of lesbian women and gay men quite like the complexities of religion. Dating back to the beginning of literature itself, homosexuality is far from modern. Nonetheless, homosexuality is currently the most divisive and fiercely debated topic in recent religious discourse. While most Christians maintain allegiance in labeling same-sex relationships as morally wrong, the church is dramatically divided on the proper place for gays and lesbians in American society and of course, American politics.
Over the past couple centuries that the United States has existed, society has always had a judgement to make on one’s sexuality. At the head of society has consistently been white, Christian, hetereosexual males; therefore, they had the power to define sexual and societal norms. As a result, judgements on one’s sexuality have always intersected with one’s race, class or gender, groups of people that are not dominating society.
Throughout history people who manifested an attraction for others of the same sex usually have gone through a lot of maltreatments, discrimination, and have often been regarded as “sexual deviants.” Relationships between people of the same sex have been present since the beginning of history. Their lives have not always been easy, because they have been persecuted and sometimes even forced to go through a psychiatric evaluation. At the same time, in order to gain their rights and dignity, they had to take their fight to the legal system because as George Chauncey, a professor of history at Yale University mentioned, “although most people recognize that gay life was difficult before growth of the gay movement in the 1970s, they often have only the vaguest sense of why: that gay people were scorned and ridiculed, made to feel ashamed, afraid, and alone” (290). However, discrimination and maltreatment were not the only reasons homosexuals had to take their struggle to the courts. An American professor of history at Yale University, who has testified in a number of gay rights cases, has exposed the ins and outs of the legal system in the second half of the twentieth century. During this time, a great number of states had created laws, which authorized the indefinite detention of homosexuals in mental institutions, and conditioned their release upon proving that they were cured from homosexuality (Chauncey 294). This past history, together with studies conducted by some prestigious institutions have lead society to understand that the right to homosexual marriage is economically, ethically, and morally correct, because it would benefit the economy and society by increasing the federal budget and creating a legal status for homosexual c...
“Equal rights for lesbians and gay men may be the greatest civil rights battle of the 21st century” (Avery 2007, p. 71). Homosexual couples have been fighting a losing battle for years, and their struggle has recently taken the spotlight once again as a burning topic. Over the years, many people have come to support equal love. However, many Americans still advocate the one man-one woman institution of marriage. The fight for equal rights in general has always been a complex issue. African Americans, women, and many other minorities have had to fight for the rights that they hold today. There are many factors involved in gay activism such as support, attitudes, roles, and the implications of the movement. Social psychology takes a particular interest in gay rights and these factors in particular, as it is a current, controversial topic within American society.
Indeed, as we have already observed, it is contrary to God’s law. God’s love for homosexuals is no less than His love for the liar, the thief, and the pedophile. He sent Jesus into the world and then revealed his life and teaching and the purpose of his death and resurrection through the gospel, in order that you and I might be saved from our sin. The conditions for ALL sinners are the same: You must believe in the Lord Jesus, repent of your sins and be baptized (immersed) in water for the forgiveness of your sins (Acts 2:36-38). After which, you are raised to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:1-14).
Milstein, Susan A. Taking Sides Clashing Views in Human Sexuality. Ed. William J. Taverner and Ryan W. McKee. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009. Print.
He felt that if a young person identified as LGB&T that he personally could not work with them as their sexual orientation would be contradictory to his faith and teaching of the church. He stated that if a young person chooses to be LGBT that they have also chosen to turn their back on Christianity and that a faith based youth setting was not the right place for them.
Marinoble, Rita M. "Homosexuality: A Blind Spot In The School Mirror." Professional School Counseling 1.3 (1998): 4-7. ERIC. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
The topic of homosexuality in religion has many sides. There are those who believe that it is a sin in God’s eyes and according to the Bible, and there are those who believe the God and the Bible are not specific to homosexuals. It is a tough debate based on whether you are a religious person, how you were raised, and where your morals and ethics stand. You cannot truly believe one way without taking into account the other side and have valid proof to back it up.
We have no right to judge. We should leave that to the Lord, and he will make the right decision. He will decide what the sinner does and doesn't deserve. Christians know what to abide by. They may know that being a homosexual is going against Gods word, but they also know that the Lord says that one should love all no matter what circumstances.
Many Christians have never fully read the bible and base their understanding of it on word of mouth. Looking at it closer, one would notice that many parts of the bible are not of any use or are mostly rejected in today’s society, which is why we should reevaluate its teachings and revoke any that are no longer needed. Even the Pope has gone against scripture that is unacceptable in our world today. “If they accept the Lord and have goodwill, who am I to judge them?” This is a quote from Pope Francis, stating that as long as a person does good, who is anyone to judge them. In the Old Testament it says, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.” (NKJ, Leviticus 18:22) and “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.” (NKJ, Leviticus 20:13) Not only do these quotes condemn homosexuality they illustrate the lack of equality due to the lack of representation of women in the law. In the New Testament, Jesus never directly mentions homosexuality, but instead condemns all forms of sexual immoral behavior. “What comes out of
The sexual orientation of a person has been a critical debate over the past several centuries. For several...
Our world is constantly changing and people are constantly facing many new experiences. Throughout society, there are many different people and different opinions to match. One matter that has a lot of different opinions is the matter of homosexuality. Depending on what a person believes or how accepting they are, will reflect on their opinion on this topic. With the world constantly, we have very old styles of thinking versus more modern opinions. This essay will show the ways that homosexuals are sometimes looked down upon in society (with older views) and the way that the world is changing.