Uncertainty in Clergys Perspectives on Homosexuality - Research Paper Example

Homosexuality Introduction In the society today, heterosexual is not the only sexual orientation that dictates romantic relationships. As a result of embracing civilization globally, the society is not inclined to follow old traditions or cultural norms in regard to the sexual relationships. The contemporary society now embraces freedom where individuals are entitled to express themselves without restrictions in regard to the traditional norms of the society. Today, the society accommodates the emergence of new behaviors that play a role in defining human relationships. This includes the acceptance of homosexuality into the society that involves sexual attraction to the same gender and in this case, the relationship between two males. Developing an understanding of this sexual orientation is important because there is conflicting literature regarding its existence. While there is a school of thought that believes homosexuality is as a result of genetic predisposition, opponents to this sexual orientation view it as behavioral. Homosexuality has been there since time in memorial and is now a visible reality within the society as another form of sexual orientation. In respect to ethical considerations, the question that linger in minds of many people emanate from a secular versus a religious point of view regarding same sex attractions. In the religious circles, homosexuality is a sin considering the belief that God’s plan for sexual relationships was between a man and a woman (Guittar and Pals 53). However, from a secular point of view every person has a right to choose the sexual orientation he or she desires. In secular terms, the society is liberal and nobody should question the behavior of another person as this amount to invading privacy. However, while homosexuals consider their sexual orientation as normal behavior, the question that lingers in mind of many is why they hide their sexual orientation. In case it is a normal occurrence. Homosexuals are not always open and free about their sexual orientation partly because of personal reasons or fear of stigmatization. The topic of homosexuality is an important area of discussion because it is part and parcel of the modern society and in some western countries homosexuality is now legal. In this respect, it is important to understand the origins of homosexuality so as to avoid the conflict being witnessed between religious and secular views regarding homosexuality (Wright and Bae 492). Related research on homosexuality While homosexuality has existed for ages, it is a sexual orientation that no one likes to talk about openly. This is because the society is accustomed to the traditional sexual orientation that involves a man and a woman. As such, speaking openly about other sexual orientations other than heterosexual often attracts more opposition than acceptance. The society is established based on religious and traditional principles that do not recognize homosexuality since it is considered a sin in religious circles and anti-social behavior in regard to the norms set by the society in general. Whether homosexuality is biological or, learned behavior is a matter that still require substantiation. Before the 21st century, homosexuality in the society encountered strong opposition as a behavior that should not exist (Wright and Bae 495). In psychology, there are various sexual disorders that are often associated with psychological disturbances. This includes pedophilia, sexual fetishism and masturbation among others that are considered behavioral. As such, the society considers such behaviors as abnormal and should not exist in the first place. Conversely, homosexuality continued to thrive in the society because it was not considered as something that is real and most people ignored any insinuation of homosexuality including those who practiced the behavior. This is the main reason the society continues to experience a situation where people engage in a transsexual life because no one was willing to reveal that he is homosexual out of fear of being rejected and seen as an outcast. However, as the population of homosexuals continued to grow, they became bolder, and this explains why homosexuals in the 21st century are out rightly demanding respect and not discriminated. This has been supported by human rights lobbyist who believes in equal rights for every person regardless of their sexual orientation. The constitution in regard to Bill of Rights also provides homosexuals with more clout to demand equal rights. As a result, those opposing homosexuality have to contend with the reality of accommodating homosexuals in the society (Wright and Bae 498). The society as it has evolved today places more emphasis on free will, and any person has the right to choose the life he or she prefers. This includes choosing the sexual relationship deemed suitable. Further, as the population of homosexuals continues to increase globally their voice is more pronounced, and society is left with no choice but to agree to their demands. From a secular point of view that the liberal minds see nothing wrong with being homosexual since this is a personal decision so long as it does not affect the life of other people. As evident particularly in the western world, homosexuals are normal people who only wish for respect and to be left alone to lead their life, which is logical from a secular view. Further, homosexuals from a psychological point of view they have the same feelings as those engaged in a heterosexual relationship. This has led to a situation where the society is forced to view homosexuality as a normal relationship similar to heterosexuality (Rice, Friberg and Gavrilets 343). The behaviors that humans often adopt are what shape the society. In this respect, the demands of the homosexuals have led to the establishment of laws that respect their rights and are even allowed to marry. In addition, the church that vehemently opposed homosexuality is now embracing the same with clergymen coming out openly to express their sexual orientation. This has played a significant role in terms of accommodating homosexuality in the society and regarding it as a normal behavior. The church plays an important role in terms of the beliefs and principles embraced by members of the society. Where the church views certain behaviors to be abnormal or ungodly the society has no choice, but to conform. However, globalization has created a society that is more liberal and confinement to certain traditions continues to fade out (Rice, Friberg and Gavrilets 352). While homosexuality was common in the western world, which is not the same today since homosexuals are found everywhere in the world. As a result of its existence across the world, this adds to the question where homosexual is biological or behavioral. However, in regard to heterosexual, the society considers this orientation as biological in the sense that the opposite sex at a particular age are attracted to each other. This is a natural occurrence, but whether homosexual is a natural event is an issue that still need to be substantiated by experts. It is true that homosexuals believe they are attracted to each other, and the feeling is natural. In addition, most of the homosexuals assert that they were born that way and have never had feelings for the opposite sex. As such, in considering whether homosexuality is normal the society is left with no choice, but to give homosexuals a benefit of the doubt in regard to their sexual orientation (Rice, Friberg and Gavrilets 365). Since homosexuality is now a universal behavior since there are other parts of the world that have not digested the reality of homosexuality. This has led to resistance against homosexuality and in some cases punishable by law. In parts of the world where heterosexual is the only conventional means of engaging in a romantic relationship, as it is difficult for such societies to accept the idea of same sex relationship. There are those who may argue that such regions are still undergoing civilization and it would take time to accommodate same sex relationship. Whether people in this part of the world are in denial in regard to the existence of homosexuality depends on how their society construes sexual relationships. People are often drawn to the acceptable societal norms and opposition against same sex relationship emanate for the fact that the society considers such an orientation unacceptable for its people. Consequently, if it were true that homosexuality is biological, it is possible to find people practicing homosexuality in such regions, but not openly for fear of reprisal as a result of the established societal norms. In the western world, homosexuality was once considered as unacceptable behavior, but as the society continued to change their understanding of homosexuality, people ended up supporting and making homosexuality legally in some states. This has allowed homosexuals to lead a normal life and even have children through legal means such as adoption. In essence, it is the society that has given homosexuals a voice by accepting their existence (Van den Akker, Van der Ploeg & Rozemarijn 66). In regard to religion, same sex relationship will continue to elicit controversy in the sense that religion defines sexual relationship to involve a man and a woman. For example, among Christians and Muslims, God after creating man, created a woman to help the man. As such, God’s design for procreation forms the main reason a woman was created. This explains the strong opposition emanating from believers in regard to same sex relationship. On the same note, believers view homosexuality as a sin in the sense that it goes against God’s plan for procreation. This argument is further substantiated with the fact that while heterosexual has existed since the creation of man; same sex emerged as a result of man’s experimentation with other forms of sexual satisfaction. However, while God created the world according to His plan, man tends to change God’s design (Cadge, Girouard, Olson and Lylerohr 371). This involves introducing laws that define the society in general. For example, the universality of human rights means that every person is entitled to freedom and equal rights. As such, whether religion considers same-sex relationship as unacceptable, and they have to restrict this view within the church. Further, it is because of the universality of human rights that the church is forced to become liberal rather than conservative in regard to doctrines and principles related to human life. Today, the church is forced to change its view and redefine what sexual relationship entails. There is an emphasis on respecting other people’s right regardless of how these rights contradicts the teachings of the church. For example, the clergy who now practice homosexuality notes that this is their private life that does not affect their work of spreading the Gods word (Cadge, Girouard, Olson and Lylerohr 375.) On the other hand, while homosexuals themselves regard their orientation as biological, while proponents of behavioral theory view homosexuality as a learned behavior. In this light, people are without the knowledge of their sexual orientation, but as they grow the biological changes in their body also include sexual attraction to the opposite sex which has been proven by scientific research. However, how one is attracted to the same sex is not known, and speculation tends to conclude that homosexuality is a behavior that people learn (Boyd 702). This could be as a result of early childhood experience through molestation or introduced to the behavior by peers. In any learned behavior, people are trained to learn how to appreciate the pleasurable effect of the behavior, and with time they become accustomed to such behavior. Further, proponents of behavioral theory believe that a learned behavior can be unlearned, and this is evident from the fact that there are homosexuals who have been helped to change their sexual orientation. This is possible through such techniques like systematic desensitization where a person is helped gradually to do away with a certain behavior (Boyd 708). Summary While homosexuality exists in the society today, it still elicits ethical consideration because it is a behavior that is unfamiliar to many people across the world. The establishment of the marriage as an institution only recognizes the relationship between opposite sexes. In this sense, people grow up with an understanding that sexual relationship should be between a man and a woman. As a result, it is difficult for most people to accept that people of the same sex can develop feelings for one another (Lewis 695). In addition, an upbringing in a religious background instils in people the doctrines that do not allow the existence of a relationship between same sexes. However, as the society continues to change, new cultures and behaviors also emerge. This is contributed by many factors that include early childhood experiences, peer influence, changes in the law and liberal church. As a result, the conservatives in the society are left with no choice, but to conform to this new behaviors or culture. In my understanding, homosexuality is not biological, but as a result of a liberal mind doing what one thinks is best. In this sense, homosexuality is as a result of a person’s state of mind that makes them view this orientation as normal just like any other behavior. In addition, religion in the present world does not play a bigger role in defining norms that should direct the society. The world has become more liberalized, and people think of themselves as individual and not a community. As such, any behavior that a person acquires is seen as affecting that person and not the society in general (Overby 572). Works Cited Boyd, Lydia. The Problem with Freedom: Homosexuality and Human Rights in Uganda. Anthropological Quarterly 86.3 (2013): pp. 697-724.Print. Cadge, Wendy; Girouard, Jennifer; Olson, Laura; Lylerohr, Madison.Uncertainty in Clergys Perspectives on Homosexuality: A Research Note. Review of Religious Research 54.3 (2012): pp. 371-387. Print. Guittar, Nicholas and Pals, Heili. Intersecting gender with race and religiosity: Do unique social categories explain attitudes toward homosexuality? Current Sociology 62.1 (2014): pp41-62.Print. Lewis, Gregory. Does Believing Homosexuality Is Innate Increase Support for Gay Rights? Policy Studies Journal 37.4 (2009): pp.669-693.Print. Overby, Marvin. Etiology and Attitudes: Beliefs About the Origins of Homosexuality and Their Implications for Public Policy. Journal of Homosexuality 61.4 (2014): pp.568-587.Print. Rice, William; Friberg, Urban and Gavrilets, Sergey. Homosexuality as a consequence of epigenetically canalized sexual development. Quarterly Review of Biology 87.4 (2012): pp.343-368.Print. Van den Akker, Hanneke; Van der Ploeg and Rozemarijn; Scheepers. Disapproval of Homosexuality: Comparative Research on Individual and National Determinants of Disapproval of Homosexuality in 20 European Countries. Peer. International Journal of Public Opinion Research 25.1 (2013): pp. 64-86. Print. Wright, Paul and Bae, Soyoung. Pornography Consumption and Attitudes Toward Homosexuality: A National Longitudinal Study. Human Communication Research 39.4 (2013): pp. 492-513.Print. Read More