Same Sex Marriage - Term Paper Example

Same-Sex Marriage Issue. Homosexual relationships have long been the bone of contention in the Western civilization; though recent liberal trends and democratic ideas influence development of more tolerant view of the issue. The growing number of Western countries legitimate same-sex marriages, entrenching the right of people to engage in homosexual relationships. However, although the compromise is eventually reached concerning same-sex civil unions, approval of gay marriages by the Christian church still sparks rigorous debates. Zerilli (29) states that “the official opinion in many Christian churches, mostly evangelical, is decidedly against variety in sexual expression”, which means that the Church still treats same-sex relations critically, let alone legitimization of gay marital ties. Disagreement is caused by ethical considerations and opposing interpretation of religious texts by different branches of Christianity, religious scholars and interpreters of the Bible. The given issue implies essential ethical aspects and religious concerns, therefore, it should be researched and considered properly. Reflection. A set of cultural norms existing in the society has placed heterosexuality in the position of the normal way of sexual expression that is practiced by an individual, and this perception experience strong influence of ethical concerns expressed by the Christian church. Gill (6) insists that both sexual orientation are equally significant facets of human identity. Therefore, as the Western society consists of Christians, being non-Christian is ‘a deviation’ from the norm similarly to being homosexual in a heterosexual society. Due to the influence of religious and cultural factors, Western society has always been predominantly Christian and heterosexual (which is the result of religious impact elevating patriarchal values). In Christian perspective, it is the Bible and The Holy Scriptures where the controversial attitude towards gay relationships and marriage descends from. Different interpretations of the Bible promote opposing opinion on same-sex marriage, though Christian texts do not explicitly talk about gay marriage. A certain type of Christian ethics in terms of gender relations begins in the description of the world’s creation: “God created man in his own image, […] male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”. […] Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Gen 1:27–28; 2:18). Many Biblicists including John Edmiston, the famous Bible teacher and a Christian missionary, tend to interpret this phrase as the statement of heterosexual nature of humankind and the Creator’s original plan for marriage. Edmiston state this excerpt to set the standard of a union between a male and a female, whose bodies are designed to fulfill one of the core functions of the marriage – creating offspring. Moreover, “if God had intended the human race to be fulfilled through both heterosexual and homosexual marriage, He would have designed our bodies to allow reproduction through both means” (Edmiston). Considering the entire Genesis, Cristian pastor Trent Hunter enumerates the original features of gender relations’ design: two genders complementing each other, which multiply coming together and create a permanent comprehensive union in marriage (23). Such interpretations imply that homosexual unions go against God’s design. Another popular excerpt from the Biblical text is the story of Sodom and Gomorra’s destruction narrated in Genesis: when two make angels were sent to the city and hosted by Lot, wicked and arrogant citizens came to his house. Here, a great controversy exists in interpretation of the fifth verse: “And they called unto Lot, and said unto him: Where are the men that came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them” (Gen 19:5). Different versions of Bible offer varying translations: “know them”, “take our pleasure with them” and even “have sex with them” in certain versions. This part of the Old Testament is commonly considered one of the most popular evidences of God’s unacceptance of homosexuality, and many Biblicists state it be the reason for destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by the fire. On the other hand, the story implied in Judges 19: 1-30 is similar to that of Sodom and Gomorrah; and many interpreters view it as a gang rape and a violent way of treating strangers rather than homosexual perverse. Therefore, the punishment inflicted by God is interpreted not as the punishment for homosexuality, but for multiple sin of the citizens including arrogance, wickedness and desire to humiliate angels. Among the most widely used anti-gay arguments, there is the fragment from the book of Leviticus – chapter 18 drawing the basic Christian guidelines of sexual behavior and types of permitted intercourse: “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination” (Lev 18:22). Most Biblicists tend to interpret this verse as prohibition of any homosexual relations, though a number of modern scholars studying the Biblical texts such as Thurston (16) and Walsh (208) consider this verse condemn only same-sex intercourse between two males. On the other hand, it should mentioned that at least two biblical stories are often interpreted as stories of same-sex relationships: these are relations between Jonathan and David and those between Naomi and Ruth. Instead of viewing them as ‘philia’, affection of ‘brotherly love’, scholars such as David Halperin (83) consider these stories mirror same-sex relationships. Generally, the Bible mentions the union between a male and a female when giving instructions concerning marriage: for instance, Ephesians 5:23-33 or Corinthians 7:2–16. These biblical texts instruct believer about family life and basics of marital duties, mentioning words like ‘husband’ and ‘wife’. Based on the large body of Christian texts interpreted in a certain way, Christian church in many of its branches still criticizes homosexual activity as a whole and does not permit same-sex marriages. It becomes clear that, based on interpretations of fragments like the aforementioned ones, religious institutions see gay relationships as those going against nature and norms. Particularly, sexual contacts are believed to be acceptable only between opposite-sex partners (as a reflection of initial God’s ‘design’ of complementary male and female). The magisterium of the Catholic Church – according to the data of 2004 – used a range of arguments against same-sex marriages, with one of the most prominent being interpretation of ‘natural’ sexuality as a vital part of marriage. Sexual relations should exist within marriage and between opposite-sex partners, and all sexual activity occurring in marriage should possess two features: being “loving and open to procreation” (Pope 539-540). If viewed from this moral perspective, each sexual act that does not comply with both conditions is obviously immoral. However, it is undeniable that in the modern society, both conditions are often neglected by natural couples consisting of men and women: sexual relations have been separated from procreation, while – due to multiple extramarital sexual relationships, the component of love is often absent. Nevertheless, opposite-sex relationships are not criticized. Looking from the ethical viewpoint, we could say that the purposes, which the institution of marriage serves in Christian perspective, are not impaired in same-sex couples. Firstly, Christianity insists marriage to be an “unconditional lifelong commitment” (Blessing gay marriage 7), in which a person is supposed to resist selfish desires and be concern with welfare of another person. This “distinctively Christian understanding of marriage would not be damaged by a legal endorsement of same-sex marriage” (Blessing gay marriage 7). Next, according to moral foundations implied in Christian texts, union between a man and a woman and marriage are inherently aimed at procreation and raising offspring. Thereby, the Bible contains a wide range of instructions concerning child raising: Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21 and many others. For instance, one of the prescriptions incorporated in the Proverbs is the following: “Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart” (Proverbs 29:17). This provides reasons for thinking that this commandment can be fulfilled by a Christian both in opposite-sex and same-sex marriage. Moreover, thinking within the ethical framework, one could assume that – as same-sex marriage cannot lead to procreation in a ‘natural’ way, same-sex couples’ decision to have a child adopted must be well-considered. Decision. Based on consideration of different Christian texts’ interpretations and on ethical considerations set above, I would say that my decision concerning acceptability of same-sex marriages would be positive. Living in a democratic liberal society, we should develop moral principles that would also enable freedom for all individuals in different aspects of life. Therefore, if the moral norms of the dominant religions are not violated by a variety of ways of sexual expression – e.g. people do not engage in promiscuity, same-sex marriage might be ethically acceptable from Christian point of view. Furthermore, if a same-sex couple strives to be connected with marital ties based on love and the aforementioned principle of lifelong commitment as well as for the sake of child raising in accordance with Christian teachings, there should be no obstacles. Thereby, I cannot but mention the recent events with the U.S. Supreme Court legitimating same-sex marriage on the federal level, in all states. Although the decision has sparked discontent among the Christian conservatives (BBS news), ethically, the law evens up the rights of all U.S citizens for marriage. Virtue/Narrative. Evaluating my decision on the given issue from the viewpoint of my understanding of virtuous life, I would like to say that same-sex couples do not fall under the category of vicious individuals in my opinion. To my thinking, complying with basic moral rules excluding lying, inflicting harm to others, killing, stealing or engaging in any kinds of antisocial activity is an essential ground for accepting an individual. Moreover, in case of gay couples, there are many heterosexual people that break far greater number of both Christian and generally moral rules. In addition, I consider a striving to create a healthy (non-dysfunctional) family rather virtuous. At the same time, our society has been seeing corruption of virtue and Christian system of values in heterosexual population, with crimes, substances abuse, men engaging in domestic violence, people growing selfish, demeaning the value of family ties and many other manifestations, and in this great variety of vices, ‘nontraditional’ sexual orientation is extremely far from being the dangerous flaw of an individual, as it does not directly influence moral virtues a person possesses. I understand virtue as a set of positive moral and spiritual characteristics that is not related to a person’s individual physiological and sexual preferences. Thereby, the same-sex couple that wants to legitimate their union and raises an adopted child properly (with no alcohol-addicted parents, domestic violence or abuse) is more acceptable than a dysfunctional heterosexual family. Works Cited "Blessing Gay Marriage." Christian Century 130.6 (2013): 7. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 June 2015. “US Supreme Court Rules Gay Marriage Is Legal Nationwide.” BBC News. N.p., 27 June 2015. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-33290341 Web. 27 June 2015. [BBS News] Edmiston, John. “What does the Bible say about same sex marriage?” Christian Answers Website, 2002. http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-f018.html Web. 27 June 2015. Gill, Emily R. An Argument for Same Sex Marriage: Religious Freedom, Sexual Freedom, and Public Expressions of Civic Equality. Georgetown: Georgetown University Press, 2012. https://books.google.com/books?id=_yvrEme5tZ4C&printsec=frontcover&hl=ru#v=onepage&q&f=false. Web. 27 June 2015. Halperin, David M. One Hundred Years of Homosexuality. New York: Routledge, 1990. Hunter, Trent. "Did God Actually Say? Hearing Gods Voice On Homosexuality From The Storyline Of Scripture. (English)." Journal For Biblical Manhood & Womanhood 19.1 (2014): 22-28. Academic Search Complete. Web. 28 June 2015. King James Bible Online, 2015 Edition. http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/ Web. 27 June 2015. Pope, Stephen J. “The Magisterium’s Arguments Against ‘Same-Sex Marriage’: An Ethical Analysis And Critique .” Theological Studies 65 2004: 530–565. http://cdn.theologicalstudies.net/65/65.3/65.3.3.pdf. Web. 27 June 2015. Zerilli, John. "Christians, Homosexuality, And The Same-Sex Marriage Question." Humanist 70.3 (2010): 28. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 28 June 2015. Read More