Comparison of six views of
homosexuality with regard to:
Main sources of information;
God's pattern for human sexuality
When is sexual behavior moral?
Sponsored link.
The six viewpoints, from:
 | "Condemnation" -- the most conservative and
traditional -- to |
| "Liberation" -- the most liberal -- |
are actually
stereotypes. They don't necessarily fit the opinions of individuals. Many
people will hold beliefs that combine more than one viewpoint.
Presenting data
in this way emphasizes that there are more sets of beliefs than the two extreme views that
one hears so often in the media.
| One sentence description (repeated):
| Viewpoint |
Description or main emphasis |
| "Abomination" |
Homosexuality is profoundly immoral at all times. |
| "Change is expected" |
Homosexuals can change their sexual orientation, with effort |
| "Celibacy is expected" |
Homosexuals must either change or be celibate. |
| "Marginally acceptable" |
Committed
homosexual relationships are the least awful option. |
| "Equality" |
Seek equal rights. Homosexuality, is morally neutral. |
| "Liberation" |
Reinterpret the Bible. Homophobia, not being lesgay, is the main evil. |
|
| Source(s) of information:
| Viewpoint |
Most important source(s) of information about
homosexuality |
| "Abomination" |
The Bible is the sole source for moral, ethical, and spiritual
knowledge. It is also a reliable source of scientific, medical, sexual,
and psychological information. It is the unchangeable Word of God. Its authors were
inspired by God. It is
inerrant -- free of error. Six biblical passages
specifically condemn homosexuality. Same-sex behavior has been a sin under all situations,
from biblical times to today.
Science, including human sexuality research, can never make moral
judgments. If its findings contradict the Bible, then the research must
be faulty.
Liberals claim that the Bible's theme of justice for all supplants these
passages. This is invalid, because it would imply that the Bible
contradicts itself. It cannot do this. The specific condemnation of
homosexual behavior takes precedence over any general themes. |
| "Change is expected" |
Same as "Abomination" position. |
| "Celibacy is expected" |
All homosexual activity is sinful, no matter what the relationship.
Human sexuality studies are helpful to determine whether homosexuality
is chosen or not, and thus whether a homosexual orientation is itself
culpable. Theological studies are helpful to determine what
homosexuality meant in biblical times so that we can better grasp its
implications today. |
| "Marginally acceptable" |
Similar to the "Celibacy is expected" position. The Bible
states that all "...homosexual practices are unnatural and Godless."
2 But the authors of
the Bible had limited knowledge of homosexuality and no understanding of
sexual orientation. Also, their statement were conditioned by their
culture. We must interpret the Bible's message in terms of today's
knowledge and cultures. |
| "Equality" |
There are four main sources of information: the biblical text,
religious tradition, personal experience, and scientific findings.
Church tradition is important. However Christians have gone through a
number of paradigm shifts in the past 15 decades: Two are the end to
human slavery in the 19th
century and the acceptance of female ordination in the 20th.
Equal rights and acceptance of homosexuality is the latest shift.
We should consider the Scriptures "with utmost seriousness"
yet not always
literally. 3 The
six "clobber" passages in the Bible
actually refer to such topics as homosexual rape, homosexual ritual in
Pagan temples, homosexual prostitution, homosexual behavior by
idolatrous heterosexuals, etc. The oft-cited passages in Leviticus are
part of the Jewish cultic purity code that is not binding on non-Jews.
The Bible is silent on homosexual orientation and on committed
homosexual relationships. The
Bible was written in a pre-scientific age; its authors were unaware of
the concept of sexual orientation. They were culture-bound and in error.
Today, we have the benefits of scientific research into human sexuality
can help our understanding. |
| "Liberation" |
Same as "Equality" position. |
|
| God's plan for human sexuality:
| Viewpoint |
God's plan |
| "Abomination" |
God created Eve to be Adam's wife. He made a woman to be the
companion of Adam, a male. God said: "It is not good that the man should be alone." (Genesis 2:18).
This indicates God's intent for humanity: Men and women are to pair off, and form permanent marriage
bonds. Jesus confirmed this in the Gospels. Paul emphasized that men
and women complement each other. Each has a specific role to play in the
family. The husband's role is to lead and protect; the woman's role is
to nurture and submit. Couples are to be fruitful and multiply. |
| "Change is expected" |
The purposes of permissible sexual activity include reproduction;
the uniting of soul and spirit; mutual, intimate spousal support; and an
archetype -- the differentiation and complementarily of the female and
male has cosmic significance; it reflects the nature of God. Each of us
becomes complete by a merging and commitment with a member of the
opposite sex. Paul sees a marriage between a man and a woman as symbolic
of the relationship between Christ and his church. |
| "Celibacy is expected" |
God's plan for human sexuality involves the joining of one man and
one woman in marriage. They become one flesh. The purposes of marriage
are both reproductive and unitive -- the latter involving mutual
spiritual, emotional and physical support. |
| "Marginally acceptable" |
They accept the "Celibacy is expected" viewpoint, as an
ideal. They stress the unitive function of sex more than the
reproductive aspect. |
| "Equality " |
For most adults, God's main purpose of human sexuality is to aid in
the development of an intimate and fulfilling relationship with another
person. It provides "...a primary means for our growth from
selfishness to that self-transcendence which is the essential quality of
mature love....sexuality is given not only for our salvation, but for
our delight." 4 This
will often lead to the mutual decision to add one or more children in
their family. |
| "Liberation" |
Sex is a gift of God to be used safely, responsibly, and with joy.
One sexual format is not intended to fit everyone at all stages in their
life. "A queer liberation theology ...will listen to the [Holy]
Spirit speaking thorough the evolving, expressive truth that wells up
out of the queer experience of oppression..."
5 |
|
| When is sexual activity morally permissible?
| Viewpoint |
The nature of homosexuality |
| "Condemnation" |
It is only permissible within an opposite-sex marriage. Pre-marital,
inter-marital and post-marital sex are major sins.
Roman Catholics go further and condemn sexual
acts even within marriage, if contraception is used.
Same-sex behavior is far worse than illicit heterosexual sex because
it violates not only a moral law but also natural law through the
unnatural use of the sexual organs. It is in a class with
masturbation and bestiality. |
| "Change is expected" |
Sex is only permissible within an opposite-sex marriage, because
this is the only environment that provides male-female complementarity
within the marriage covenant. Contraception is permissible, but children
in the family are expected. |
| "Celibacy is expected" |
Sex is only permissible within an opposite-sex marriage.
Contraception is permissible. |
| "Marginally acceptable" |
God's intent is that sex be confined to within the marriage of
opposite-sex couples. This is the ideal, which can be approached by a
same-sex couple within a committed relationship. Although less than
ideal, it is a permissible use of sex. Such same-sex behavior is
analogous to marital divorce: it is not the ultimate arrangement, but is
acceptable in this sinful world, because the alternatives are much
worse. |
| "Equality" |
Sex is to be confined to committed relationships where it is
mutually agreeable, non-coercive, safe, non-exploitive, and intended to
contribute to the development of the persons involved and of their
mutual relationship. This applies to opposite-sex and same-sex
relationships, in and outside of marriage. |
| "Liberation" |
"To engage in sexual activity that would be destructive of one's
own or another's personality is ethically wrong and dangerous."
6 Other sexual activity is
OK. Consensual sex within a
committed relationship is one permitted behavior. Casual sex may be
acceptable if the "connection was aimed at mutual satisfaction and
there was full acknowledgement of each other as persons."
7 This applies to
opposite-sex and same-sex relationships, in and outside of marriage. |
|
 L.R. Holben, "What Christians think about homosexuality: Six
representative viewpoints," Bibal Press, (1999).
Read
reviews or order this book safely from Amazon.com online book store- Lewis Smedes, "Sex for Christians: The limits and liberties of sexual
living," Eerdmans, (1976). *
- W. Norman Pittenger, "A time for consent," SCM Press, (1976).
*
- Op Cit, Holben, Page 173.
- Op Cit, Holben, Page 205 & 206.
- Michael Valente, "Sex: The radical view of a Catholic Theologian" Macmillan,
(1970).
- Op Cit, Holben, Page 208.
* Quoted in Reference 1.
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Copyright © 2004 by Ontario Consultants on
Religious Tolerance
Latest update: 2004-SEP-17
Author: B.A. Robinson
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