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Sexual Ethics (Christian Attitudes (There is no consensus on whether…
Sexual Ethics
Christian Attitudes
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Many Christians concern themselves with what is 'normal' and only heterosexual relationships come under this bracket.
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"The body fills with loves and desires" - Plato - suggesting that human emotions and desires are untrustworthy and something that would lead us away from the spiritual realm, therefore sex is wrong.
Although many theologians have viewed sex with suspicion, they cannot avoid it - thus the problem becomes what their response to it should be.
In Genesis, the understanding is given that the purpose of sex is procreation, "Be fruitful and increase in number" - Gods instructions to Adam and Eve, this suggests sex is not sinful but good.
In the Old and New Testaments, marriage is the proper context for sex to happen (procreation) and pre-marital sex seems to be a requirement only for women. Therefore, masturbation, anal and oral sex and homosexuality are all wrong.
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Masturbation
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No specific biblical injunction against it except in Genesis 38; it is often condemned by Christians on the following grounds:
- It is a waste of seed
- It is neither procreative or unitive which seem to be the main purposes of sexual acts
Doctors used to consider masturbation as harmful, Freud considered it to be a common expression of neurosis and has been associated with many things like low intelligence and digestive disorders.
Rejecting masturbation using the Bible
- "Onan spilled his seamen on the ground. And what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord" This passage has been used to reject masturbation yet in the context, it is irrelevant, the surviving brother must sleep with his dead brothers wife
Rejecting masturbation using natural law
- Natural Law prohibits masturbation as it goes against procreation (the natural purpose genitalia)
- Once it had been accepted that the function of genitalia is to reproduce, then their use for anything other than this could be seen as a sin
- However, the citreous has no function in procreation and seems to only be there for pleasure which goes against this AO2
Homosexuality
It is clear in the 21st century, that humans are not simply heterosexual or homosexual, we don't fall into these 2 categories.
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Biblical scripture and homosexuality
- The distance between the writing of Biblical scripture and todays situation is incomprehensible
- Gareth Moore points out that lesbianism is not condemned in scripture because the condemnation of homosexuality derived from one man taking a submissive role for another which is not the same with two women.
- Anyone defiled (impure) cannot take place in religious worship
- However, Jesus showed a reluctance to impose such rules
New Testament
- Robin Scroggs is among many who claim Biblical teachings are not relevant today as homosexuality came from exploitive sex with younger boys, common in Roman world
- St. Paul claims homosexual acts are disordered - go against nature and are impure. They are therefore punishable - STI's = problem
Natural Law
- Philo had a clear cut condemnation of homosexuality because of reproductive purposes
- The knowledge at this time was that men contained the whole person and women were simply carriers.
- E.g. of seed in a field. Homosexuality plants the seed in unsuitable circumstances.
- He goes as far as saying sex between a man and woman who cannot conceive is as bad as homosexuality.
Contraception
Catholic Church
- Does not permit contraception, all sexual acts should be open to procreation.
- Does allow natural means e.g. rhythm method.
- The Pope set the Catholic Churches position on contraception in 1968 - "each and every marriage must remain open to the transmission of life"
AO2
- Not every couple want kids
- Contraception shows a responsible moral attitude to sex and the church doesn't acknowledge this
- Many Catholics use their conscience and still use contraception (Shows its very outdated)
Protestant Church
- For a long time all Christians share the same view (RC View)
- C of E allows the use of contraception as it differentiates between a unitive purpose of sex and a procreative purpose
- The first purpose of sex is to bring a loving couple together
- A ban on contraception could bring poverty and decrease quality of life because people will have larger families they can't necessarily care for.