Homosexuality Is Condemned And Abominations Essay

Richard Mohr believes that outing closeted homosexuals is morally justified. He argues that sexual orientation is not a private matter and therefore, does not violate a homosexual's right to privacy. He believes that outing will increase the homosexual community by creating positive role models. He argues that remaining in the closet is morally debasing and creates indignity to one's self. Claudia Card on the other hand, argues almost the complete opposite. She takes a utilitarian stance on outing "the big secret." The big secret is referring to one being a homosexual. She believes that outing is justified as long as it does no harm, which she believes is unlikely.

Prior to the twenty-first century, homosexuality was viewed as a mental disorder that required treatment. Both counseling and aversion therapy were exercised in attempts to “cure” individuals of their sexuality. The brutal process consisted of shock therapies, lobotomies, castrations, and drugs (Scot, 2013). A device that was commonly used was the Farrall Instrument, which functioned by showing an individual of the same sex and delivering a shock until a button was pressed to deliver another slide. The slides of the opposite sex did not deliver a shock; therefore, an association with those of the same sex would become negative and the patient receiving the treatment would become heterosexual. These practices were enacted until 1973 when the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder (Scot, 2013). From that point on, homosexuality increasingly grew in acceptance and still continues to do so in modern society. A variety of places that celebrate members of the LGBT community have been established to help welcome them into society, along with an improvement of the attitudes of others and their treatments towards the communities’ members. However, homophobia and the segregation of LGBT individuals still persists in modern society to prevent their integration into civilization.

The history of the gay rights movement goes as far back as the late 19th century. More accurately, the quest by gays to search out others like themselves and foster a feeling of identity has been around since then. It is an innovative movement that seeks to change existing norms and gain acceptance within our culture. By 1915, one gay person said that the gay world was a "community, distinctly organized" (Milestones 1991), but kept mostly out of view because of social hostility. According to the Milestones article, after World War II, around 1940, many cities saw their first gay bars open as many homosexuals began to start a networking system. However, their newfound visibility only backfired on them, as

The topic of homosexuality in religion has many sides. There are those who believe that it is a sin in God’s eyes and according to the Bible, and there are those who believe the God and the Bible are not specific to homosexuals. It is a tough debate based on whether you are a religious person, how you were raised, and where your morals and ethics stand. You cannot truly believe one way without taking into account the other side and have valid proof to back it up.

The United States of America is largely populated by the Christian religion, in which their views are believed that it is against Gods will for two people of the same sex to engage in relations. Yet, some lesbians and gays practice religion and some even consider themselves to be Christians. These homosexuals that practice religion believe that God does not judge them by their sexual preference but by their actions. As for any person that has studied the Bible, they are aware that it states Jesus died on the cross for our sins and we are made brand new. Which means God does not hold a grudge against anyone for any reason. Most of the Christians that are close minded on same sex couples existing are from older generations where people did not advertise their differences as they

When Aristotle discussed the material premises of enthymemes as being important in rhetoric, he was prescient of the kind of appeals that would be tendered by opponents in the discourse over gay rights issues long after his time. Smith and Windes express the nature of this conflict accurately when they write, “symbols expressing fundamental cultural values are invoked by all sides” (1997: 28). Similarly, Sarah S. Brown describes the participants in a “struggle to stake out symbolic positions of good and to frame their side in terms of morally powerful conceptions of right and wrong” (2000: 458). Fascinatingly, she suggests, “even people with deeply conflicting opinions appeal to the same moral

In addition to the religious view, some will claim that their prejudice is valid based on religion. Since most know the Bible states that homosexuality is wrong, religious people hop on the fanatic bandwagon. This can also be said about homosexuality. Mass media has romanticized homosexuality making it hip to be gay, or at least for a girl. Rappers make songs about lesbians and portray lesbians as desirable. Young girls and boys are watching this and see it as a way to be accepted by their peers. It gives them attention even though it is the wrong kind of attention. Negative attention for some is better than no

Before 1973, homosexuality with-in our culture, was considered taboo, but things changed when they adopted the civil rights method of protest, “of the 1950s to the 1970s, bringing about change by influencing large amounts of minorities (LGBT Mental Health Syllabus). To be sure, 1973 became an important year for America’s acceptance of homosexuality, as a choice from a previous physiological diagnosis, and the legalization of abortion on the national level. Basically, they revised their medical research over night, with no new research verifying that homosexuality is a trait we are born with. In 1988, Michael Swift wrote and submitted the "Gay Revolutionary", stating a very aggressive take over of our heterosexual community, and was submitted

Ignorance about a subject can cause people to be against the subject. Not knowing about a subject can make people to feel hesitant, uncomfortable and obviously unsure. Throughout history there are many examples of people who are ignorant about a subject and react violently or inappropriately towards others. Homosexuality is definitely one of the most common subjects people are ignorant about. It causes children to be shunned, disowned, and embarrassed mainly due to parents and peers who do not choose to educate themselves but remain ignorant. There are some Americans who choose to stay ignorant and lack tolerance to diversity and eventually affect individuals like David Piden, young closeted homosexuals too afraid to truly show themselves.

Since this is a legal philosophy essay and not a religious studies one, I won’t get into too many specifics here, but there are a few key points to clarify regarding the Bible and homosexuality. Firstly, a huge portion of the “anti-gay” passages commonly cited come from the Old Testament which, as was mentioned earlier, many modern Christians do not follow. With this, citing these passages as an argument to be anti-gay is a blatant disregard for and contradiction of one’s own faith, unless the individual is also willing to follow the other rules laid out in this part of the text such as that getting a tattoo is worthy of eternal damnation or that adulterers should be executed.

An argument that I have won before, was about whether or not bisexuality was a real sexual orientation. I was at home with my brother when I made a comment about the appearance of a man. My brother started questioning me about my sexual orientation. I told him I was bisexual and he told me that there was no such thing. We proceeded to get into an argument about this topic. I ended up winning the argument because I researched the term bisexual and show my brother the results. I also proved it to him that bisexuality is indeed a real sexuality because that is what B stands for in LGBT. To this day he still can’t believe I was right and lets me talk freely about who I love. I won the argument because I have done extensive research on LGBT issues

The catholic religion is in fact the biggest Christian Church, and counts with more than 1.25 billion members worldwide (Glatz, Carol). It is no secret to anyone that the Roman Catholic Church is very powerful and have a tremendous influence in many countries. It teaches us that it is the true church founded by Jesus Christ. The foundation of this Church are unconditional love and forgiveness. If you are truly sorry for your sins, you will always be welcome in the reign of God. But superficially there is always an exception. Based on biblical readings and passages, God is merciful and loves you no matter what. In the first letter of Peter it says “above all, keep loving keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Apparently everyone regardless of their situation, color, or sexual orientation, shall receive the same love from the Church.

Since the beginning of time there has been homosexuality and that has always led to a debate of opinions. But in the last 20 years this topic has jumped to the top of the religious/political controversy list. This topic is important to all Americans because so many different groups have a stakeholder position in this issue. Adoption agencies, health services, insurance companies and the wedding industry just to name a few. Many believe legalizing marriage for same-sex couples would not only change the meaning of marriage, but change society all together. On the matter of religion, homosexuality is a very sensitive topic and has been throughout history.

A major reason for the fear and objection towards homosexuality is organized religion. Whether we notice it or not, we as humans follow many everyday concepts from the Bible. Examples would be, to not steal, murder, or commit adultery in marriage. The Bible also states that homosexuality is unethical and should be avoided as other sins. These are all great to follow, if you conform to the rules of the Bible. Religious back up should not be used in order to deem something wrong or unethical. It is essential to understand, to deem homosexuality ethical or not, rational decision-making must occur. One must analyze the pros and cons; if the pros outweigh the cons, homosexuality is ethical, and visa versa. One who explicitly follows an organized religion must follow the rules of a higher power (God). Getting rid of this obstacle will leave room for autonomous decisions on homosexuality, and eventually its place in good ethics.

Homosexuality is not a 20th century situation but has been in history from the age of ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt, and even China. The attitude toward homosexuality always has been a variable, depending on the social, cultural and morality, or even the political development (Barnecka et al., 2005). Back in Greek history the concept of relations between two men was seen as the highest form of love, whereas the Judaic view always was against and frowned upon these relations considering it immoral and illegal. However, when the Roman rule was destroyed and the Christians took over Europe, homosexuality was seen as perverse (Woodward, 1997).