Issues in Sexual Ethics

Continuation

Homosexuality

Definition:

1. the physical, emotional, and social desire and act to reach sexual fulfillment with one of the same gender

2. sexual urge--a) the physical, hormonal drive; b) emotional and social need for companionship; c) genetic drive for procreation

 

Causes:

1. Freudian Theory--disordered parent-child relationship

2. Elizabeth Moberly' Modified Freudian Theory--maladaptive relationship is with same gender

3. Social Learning Theory (Neal Miller and Albert Bandura)--observed and socially reinforced
    1. Biochemical-Psychoneuroendocrinology (Dean Hammer of the Cancer Institute and John Money of Johns Hopkins University

Ethical Viewpoints and Arguments

  1. John Shelby Spong, Living in Sin: A Bishop Rethinks Human Sexuality
  1. the church must recognize and finds ways to bless the sexual revolution
  2. previously people married several years after puberty; now 10-15 years after puberty
  3. morality should justify what nature allows
  4. research shows that homosexuality is congenital
    1. homosexual relationships are natural and moral if respectful and tender to each other
  1. church should bless and marry homosexuals
  1. John McNeill, The Homosexual and the Church
  1. the Bible does not clearly condemn it
  2. the Church's tradition is more influenced by the Stoical idea of ataraxy which leads to sex only for procreation
  3. Church must promote equality not dominance of one group over another
  4. Homosexual has a special role--a) liberate society from heterosexism and homophobia; b) teach tenderness, empathy, an aesthetic sense, etc.
  1. William Muehl, "Some Words of Caution"
  1. Bible condemns homosexuality
  2. must support homosexual's civil rights without morally endorsing homosexuality
  3. principle--separation of doer and deed
  4. Church should be tolerant, not persecuting, but not approving
  5. Advocacy of homosexuality is contrary to marriage
  1. The Ramsey Colloquium, "The Homosexual Movement"
  1. the New Thing--the homosexual movement has become a social and civil rights movement
  2. New Thing/Old Thing: The Sexual Revolution
    1. it's an extension of the sexual revolution
    2. presupposition: 1) must fulfill body desires; 2) the autonomous self
  1. the Heterosexual Norm
    1. male and female identity is fundamental to society
    2. heterosexual marriage: 1) only it gives a full commitment to time and history through procreation; 2) it values differences; 3) redirects selfishness
  1. claims of the movement
    1. God made us this way--there are biological traits which God could not have made and statistical frequency does not determine moral status
    2. Purely private--now it's public
    3. Just life race and racism--but race is according to nature and the movement is about behavior
  1. conclusion: a) charge of homophobia is unfounded and evasive; b) need to oppose

the movement

A Theological Response

  1. the biblical norm for sex (heterosexual marriage) cannot be avoided
  2. in the Bible homosexuality is rejected because it's contrary to the norm and it's too identified with the surrounding religions/cultures
  3. homosexuals can show the "fruits of the spirit" but the act cannot; as a sexual expression, it is contrary to the biblical norm; cannot be an expression obedience to God
  4. the Church must not judge; not deny the worth of the person, even when she or he is wrong

    5. a. learn compassion, understanding, and awareness of inequality and homophobia

  5. the Church must find ways to witness of the divine commands without judging the homosexual