Conservative Christianity is not a force of good for society because it favours heterosexual people and condemns the rights and equality of homosexual individuals. Some of the civil rights that are breached for homosexual individuals include the freedom of speech, equal job opportunities, and the right to engage in homosexual activity. In a GSS survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center, a number of people were asked two questions. These questions asked their opinion on whether a homosexual person should be allowed to make a speech against churches and religion, and whether the homosexual person should be allowed to teach in a college or university. Results showed that conservative Protestants would rather protect the civil liberties …show more content…
The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 of the Old Testament fiercely illustrates the consequences conservative Christians believe homosexuals should face if engaging in homosexual sex and promotes Tylor’s notion of religion as a force of ignorance. In the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah story, Abraham and two angels visit Abraham’s nephew, Lot. Upon arriving at Lot’s home, the angels call to Lot and ask him “where the men who had entered the house (were) that night.” The angels command that Lot bring the men out so that they can have intercourse with them. When Lot refuses to hand over the men, Lot is threatened as an alien to the city. In the end, the men he hid in the house are struck by an angry mob until they are blinded. The Sodom story was the earliest indication of hostility and condemnation to homosexual behaviour in the Old Testament. The angels act as the judge, jury, and system of justice to condemn the immoral homosexual behaviour. Similarly, conservative Christians act as modern day angels in the narrative as they oppose homosexuality without rational …show more content…
In the story, a man named Levite travels through Jerusalem with his concubine. When they arrive at Gibeah in Benjamite territory, they are offered hospitality by an old man. During the night, “the worst scoundrels” shouted to the old man and told him to “bring out he man who has gone into your house, for us to have intercourse with him.” In response, the owner of the house offers his virgin daughter and the concubine in replace of the man. So the daughter and the concubine are raped by the “scoundrels” all night long. As it was explicitly shown in the narrative, sexual violence towards women was considered to be more acceptable than the intercourse between men. This only demonstrates how profusely conservative Christians convict and fear homosexuality as well as strongly suggests that religion is not a force of good because it promotes inequality of individuals such as those who identify as
The main message in Christianity & Liberalism is what the only object of faith is Christ. Machen composes his book into doctrine, God and man, the Bible, Christ, Salvation, and the Church; he shows all of this doctrine should be directly connected with the faith in Christ. If not, he declares that that should not be Christianity. In chapter 1 and 2, Machen emphasizes that how maintaining traditional doctrine is important. The reason for that is classical conservatives tried to keep the doctrine upon the Bible; however, classical liberalism attacked the traditional doctrine because Machen points out that liberal theologians and preachers want to interpret the truth from the point of a human. Machen even warns that the liberalism is shaking the faith in Christianity. In other words, it could be proper understanding that the liberalism rebelled against the truth and God’s word.
This book Pray the Gay Away by Bernadetta C. Barton discusses about certain areas in the United States called Bible Belts were they have made absolutely no progress in securing rights for gay people. They lag behind the rest of nation were people are accepting homosexuality (Pray the Gay Away 15). Barton argues that in small towns were Christian institutions serve as a foundation for both passive and active homophobia in these areas (Pray the Gay Away 19). This article is related to the play because the two dominant religions discussed in the play was Judaism and Mormonism and both religions strongly oppose homosexuality and this lead to homophobic attitudes and themes within the play.
Abraham asks his servant to not let Isaac marry a Cabaznite woman and in place of it, tells them to find Isaac a wife in his relative’s homeland
It was not until the twelfth century that homosexuality started to be condemned. This condemnation proved to live through then until now. Due to the fact that America incorporated these early views into its early laws, even the most bland of today's sex acts were seen as unlawful (“Homosexuality and Mental Health”). Since then, these laws have changed, however, there is still a primarily negative connotation on homosexuals when coming from a church or legal standpoint concerning the masses of America.
‘Strand distinguishes between support for civil rights and support for civil liberties, arguing that heterosexuals are more supportive of civil liberties for gay men and lesbians, which are concerned with protecting individuals from undue government interference in their private behaviour, than they are
Homosexuality in the Bible is a difficult topic to address especially in modern day time. Now a day there is more debate than ever before about certain passages in the Bible that address homosexuality. The interpretation of specific passages and the true meanings of these passages has caused a stir amongst religious folks worldwide.
On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that the US Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry. Many conservative groups do NOT agree with this decision. The gay marriage debate has been simmering for as long as I can remember. The four articles I have selected give information from four different perspectives including that of liberals, conservatives, homosexuals, and orthodox Jews. With so many differing opinions, one can understand why it's been so hard for the nation to come to agree on this issue.
The struggle to obtain gay and civil rights has been directly influenced by religion, either in a positive or negative way. More specifically, religion has served as a disadvantage to achieving gay rights and an advantage to those that participated in the civil rights movement. Contrary to the recent successes of the gay rights movement, there have been a lot of obstacles along the way and most of them have been due to religious beliefs and practices. Religion opposes gay rights, especially gay marriage on the basis that it immoral and unnatural, it is against the word of God and it is incompatible with religious beliefs, sacred texts, and traditions of many religious groups(Eskridge,15). On the other hand, religion more directly influences the outcome of the civil rights movement by providing a basis for unity among African Americans. The concepts and strategies of the civil rights movement alluded to Biblical stories and admonitions. The church provided a physical shelter for African Americans to congregate and organize marches, sit-ins and protests, but also a spiritual overlook that guided them to the freedom that they always deserved.
Leviticus 18 is an entire chapter written on unlawful sexual relations. Though the law was given, people did not always do as they were told. Men and women alike were punished for sexual relations with animals, adultery, incest, etc. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of the extreme sexual impurity, especially homosexual acts, that resided in
Gay marriage is not the only issue that is being discussed throughout America involving the gay community. In a particular study done by USA Today, results showed that when Americans were asked if they think homosexual relationships between consenting adults should be legal, 46% answered yes (“USA Today” 6). However, when asked if they would then favor a law that would allow homosexuals to get married, only 24% were in favor (6). This survey also showed the differences of peoples’ ideas based on if they attended church or not (6). The results showed that 73% of Americans who attend church weekly oppose the legalization of gay marriage and only 38% of those who don’t attend church oppose legalization (6). These results show that for many Americans, marriage is a religious agreement, but for many others, marriage is a right that should be given to all who want to partake in it.
Public policies are the rules, laws and regulations that govern society as a whole. Federal and State governments institute these policies in order to ensure that its citizens and resources are protected. The assignment required students to explore a public policy issue to determine how the policy is perceived by the various cultures in the United States. One such policy that concerns many is the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In light of the political climate in today’s society the act requires a review to determine if the law is fair to all cultures and their religious belief.
The movement of the gay and lesbian population in the United States is one that has been in progress since the early 1900s, and is still facing overwhelming controversy and backlash today. The push for gay liberation in a country founded on Christian morals and beliefs has subsequently led to struggles over equality of marriage, adoption, jobs, and healthcare. One side of the controversy argues that every individual deserves the same rights, while the opposing mindset argues that being homosexual puts you into a group of people that is different, and will therefore be treated as such.
Many Christians have picked out “clobber” passages or verses in the Bible that are supposed to undoubtedly condemn homosexuality. However, these fool-proof “clobber” passages have been contested, such as Leviticus 20:13, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be put upon them.” Many conservative Christians interpret this as damning homosexuality indefinitely; many liberal Christians claim it condemns gay ritual sex in a temple and males having sex in a womans bed. Another verse, Leviticus 18:22, “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Again, conservative Christians take this is as condemning evidence but progressive Christians take it as, again, a verse condemning gay ritual sex in a Pagan temple or men having sex in a woman's bed.
We must jealously guard our own freedom of belief and practice in our own private lives. However, when we feel that public policy is in some way infringing on our religious beliefs, we need to take a step back and ensure that we are not merely uncomfortable with others exercising their own freedom of speech and religion to criticize our views. In the “Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom,” Thomas Jefferson said,
Suzanne Edwards states the tale “refuses the ambiguities of the medieval regulation of sexual violence” there was no difference in a violent attack where a woman was raped by a stranger or acquaintance and the forced sex of her marital partner (3). However, there was a legal difference since a woman was the property of her husband; he could do whatever he wished to her short of murdering her.