Charlaine Harris once said “Gay rights is just one of the social issues I 'm interested in. I think that people might be less tense about it if we would all accept the fact that not everyone is wired the same way,” (Gay Rights Quotes). This quote is very powerful. This quote is so powerful because even if the reader is not homosexual, the reader can still relate. The first amendment allows all United States citizens to have freedom on religion and condemns discrimination based on religion. Although the Bible is the most popular book in the world, it can still be flawed. The Bible was written thousands of years ago. Since then society has evolved.
The Constitution and Homosexuality
Many people who are opposed to Gay Rights say that it is a sin to be gay and that is why we should limited the rights of homosexuals. If the government stays consistent when removing rights of all those who sin, then no one
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Therefore the Bible should evolve as well. When interpreting the Bible, the Old Testament is what has already happened and is what Jesus died for. The Old Testament is void. In the Old Testament is the line “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination,” (20 Bible Verses). This line is often the main leverage point that Christians use to oppose homosexuality. To me, Leviticus 18:22 is void because Jesus has already died for the sins of homosexuals. The Old Testament also prohibits the consumption of pork, wear clothes woven with different fabrics, and consumption of shellfish. The New Testament briefly refers to homosexuality as well. The New Testament refers to male prostitution, molestation, and promiscuity (Gay Marriage Chart). The New Testament does not call out same sex marriage until Paul. Paul claims that homosexuality is immoral. That is not the only thing Paul spoke against. Paul also said that women are ignorant and that they should remain silent. Also, Paul stated that women have no say in
On May the eighth of this year, the Conference of United States Religious Leaders and Ministers was held in Chicago, Illinois. The conference is an annual event coordinated by church leaders who each send a representative to take part in the discussions. Father Gregory McAllister of the Diocese of Arlington traveled to Chicago to attend the conference and share his knowledge. He spoke on behalf of the Catholic Church, while ministers and clergy from various religions from across the country also shared their views on the topics discussed.
Adrienne Rich argues for a “cluster of forces within which women have been convinced that marriage and sexual orientation towards men are inevitable – even if unsatisfying or oppressive – components of their lives,” a concept known as “compulsory heterosexuality” (Rich 290-291, 289). In The Poisonwood Bible, Nathan Price enforces this view of compulsory heterosexuality, leading his daughters to believe that a woman’s only purpose in life is to become an obedient wife. He breaks down the power and independence of his daughters in an attempt to enforce his will. Because of his household tyranny, his oldest daughter Rachel becomes completely dependent on the power of men such as her father and her first husband in order to survive. Left alone in Africa by her family with no female companionship, she finds solace through herself and ultimately rejects compulsory
Throughout American history, we have seen the United States become more progressive in their social issues, such as the abolishment of slavery, women’s suffrage, and the Civil Rights Movement. But as time has passed, we have encountered another group that is being discriminated against: homosexuals. Some states try their best to give equal rights to homosexuals so that they are respected as equally as everyone else. But in many states, such as Kansas and Arizona, private companies and businesses are given the right to turn down homosexual couples if it interferes with their religious beliefs. These two states also included places like hospitals where homosexuals can be denied from medical attention. These laws are very inhumane and are very hurtful to a large population of people today. But what if the people in states such as Kansas and Arizona think it is okay to have these laws instilled?
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.
First of all, the evidence that is used in this essay is valid. In a formal argument, any assertion must be backed up with specific, compelling evidence that is accurate, timely, relevant, and sufficient. Such evidence can be data derived from surveys, experiments, observations, and first-hand field investigations or from expert opinion (White 5). Mr. Gomes mentions the verses in the Bible in which the information he is referring to can be found so that the reader can check the verse for themselves. This allows the readers to investigate deeper and form their own opinions. The evidence that he cites is taken directly from the Bible. The Bible is his primary source, not another person�s thoughts or another professor�s notes. In doing this, the information is more likely to be accurate and without bias. Three of the verses from the Bible that he cites are found in the Books of Kings I and II. After investigation, I found these verses to merely discuss prostitution, not homosexuality at all. And anyways, as M...
Religion has been a big issue with judging homosexual. Some Christians believe that the Bible speaks with one clear voice in condemning homosexuality. In many Anti-gay Christians groups see homosexuality as sinful. Using the Bible to justify their hate against anything they do not understand.
As a United States citizen who was born in the new millennium, I was brought up with the idea that, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” This statement was one of the main sources of fuel for the Civil Rights Movements in the mid 1950’s/60’s in the United States. Minority groups have often been mistreated in the United States culminating in movements much like that of the women’s suffrage movement, civil rights movements and now a movement toward equality for the LGBTQIA. In the last few decades a new minority group, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and allies, and their struggle to attain their right to the pursuit of happiness. This small makes up roughly 4 percent of the US population. Though many say that gay marriage will weaken the moral foundation of our country, it should be legalized, not only because banning it is unconstitutional, but also because strips people of their human rights
According to biblical texts, in the beginning, God created the first man, Adam and made him a woman, Eve. He gave Adam a woman, not a man, so that the human race can maintain a man/woman relationship. For thousands of years homosexuality has been misconduct or in the church’s case, sin. We are continuously beset with this controversial topic and have since reached a point where homosexuality is more open and more accepted than ever. Now, gay men and women fight for the right to be legally married in the United States. In Christianity, marriage is a lifelong commitment under God and many Christians believe this is a “major sin.” However, no matter the relation of man and woman or man and man, Homosexuals should be allowed to have a lifelong
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.
Since the 1800's, psychiatrists and psychologists have concluded that homosexuality is a mental disorder. They have believed it is brought about by misguided upbringing and their social environments. For instance, it was believed that if the child was lacking a male - figure in the home, he would most likely be gay. Or that child abuse can lead to lesbianism when the special needs of a little girl are denied, ignored, or exploited and the future womanhood of the child is in risk. However, inconsistencies in the research subjects' abuse records ruled these theories out. And if this were the case, then why is homosexuality present in different cultures? Some believed homosexuality was caused by a difference in brain structure. In 1991, Simon LeVay published research stating that sexual orientation may be the result of differing brain structures. The hypothalamus, a region in the brain that governs sexual behavior, was the structure that LeVay was pointing as the structure at fault. In his studies of the hypothalamus, he found that in homosexual men, the hypothalamus was smaller than that of heterosexual men. Instead, it was the size of the female hypothalamus, consequently explaining their sexual tendencies.
Scripture holds a prominent role in the sermon. In 2 Timothy 4:2, it states to “preach the word in season and out of season”. The Greek word for preach is ‘Kerusso’. It means to be a herald (proclaim) and to preach (announce) a message publicly and with conviction (persuasion). In this verse, Paul gave Timothy and the others ministers a charge and a commission to preach the Word. In order to be an effective preacher, the Word of God must be the foundation. In 2 Timothy 3:16, it states that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”. In other words, the Word of God was written by man, God-breathed and divinely inspired. The Scripture is important because it creates an argument or appeal that is persuading the audience to do something. The substance of our preaching must come from the Bible because the Bible comes from God. As messenger and ambassadors of God, we are obligated to speak the mind and thoughts of God.
“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.
Homosexuality has been a controversial topic amongst society for much longer than just recently. Apart from the scientific arguments revolving around it, there are other social and religious arguments similarly. Certain countries, religions, and organizations loath homosexuals, denying certain privileges to those suspected of being one. For instance, as one of the world’s most common religions, Catholicism has averted from homosexuality since the proposed writing of The Bible. Undoubtedly one of the most contentious verses from the Catholic bible, Leviticus 20:13, promptly states "If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense" (Leviticus 20). This excerpt from the Old Testament defines homosexuality as a criminal offense that is punishable by death; it is thought to be written during the time period 538–332 BCE, nearly three-thousand years ago. Fundamentalist Catholics have used this bible verse for an extended period of time to justify their resentful outlook towards homosexuality. In addition to the religious contempt, small countries and even parts of the United States go to different legal extremes to segregate...
Like many people in our time, Christians are studying and discussing issues related to human sexuality over many years. What is God’s view of sexuality? How are the pressures from a broader culture and the development of technology affecting God’s role in regards to human sexuality in tomorrow 's society?
In conclusion I argue that banning same-sex marriage is discriminatory. It is discriminatory because it denies homosexuals the many benefits received by heterosexual couples. The right to marriage in the United States has little to do with the religious and spiritual meaning of marriage. It has a lot to do with social justice, extending a civil right to a minority group. This is why I argue for same-sex marriage. The freedom to marry regardless of gender preference should be allowed.