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Arguments towards gay rights
Debate on gay marriage
Arguments towards gay rights
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Fag. Poof. Fairy. Homo. Dyke. Those are all words that are used on a daily basis to put down those who do not fit into the Bible’s supposed cookie-cutter, straight sexual orientation label. Homophobia has been around since the eleven hundreds, but before then homosexuality was viewed as healthy, normal, and at times it was even worshipped. However, society’s view of homosexuality has somehow been warped into a violently negative opinion. How did this happen? The main perpetrators of homophobia are the Bible and those who preach its word, or at least their version of its word. Which brings up the translation issues scattered throughout the Bible. The New Testament was written in Greek and there are not always direct translations of each word in English. The messages in the Bible that are said to condemn homosexuality can be interpreted in a more accepting way than they are usually preached.
The Greek words used to describe homosexual people and behaviors are mistranslated. The main words used to label someone as gay in Paul’s Letters to the Apostles, especially in Corinthians and Romans, are the Greek words: arsenokoitēs and malakos (Boswell, 338). Arsenokoitēs actually means homosexual, however malakos translates to ‘effeminate.’ Both words are used in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” Though Corinthians seems to explicitly say that members of the LGBT community will not be accepted into heaven, it is shown through the works of ancient writers thatt the w...
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... the slaver (of African-Americans) and almost the prejudice against women, however, homosexuality is still condemned by many throughout the Western world. You do not have to start embracing the LGBT community, but you do need to accept that there are people that are different from you and you do not need to be afraid of those differences. In the past three months, nine states have declared the ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional and that shows progress. Hopefully, the United States can allow all of it’s citizens to receive the same treatment as everyone else and live the life they want to live without the constant fear of being murdered or physically, verbally, and emotionally harassed. No matter what you believe in, I think we can all believe in the goodness of each other and help those that are not as accepting to accept.
Works Cited
Daniel A. heliminiak
On May the eighth of this year, the Conference of United States Religious Leaders and Ministers was held in Chicago, Illinois. The conference is an annual event coordinated by church leaders who each send a representative to take part in the discussions. Father Gregory McAllister of the Diocese of Arlington traveled to Chicago to attend the conference and share his knowledge. He spoke on behalf of the Catholic Church, while ministers and clergy from various religions from across the country also shared their views on the topics discussed.
What was the wickedness that cried out for God’s wrath and judgment?... ... middle of paper ... ... And finally, it assumes that a homosexual relationship thusly described is part of the biblical concept to begin with, and such is an unfounded assertion refuted by the fair and careful examination of Scriptures.” (p. 51)
Adrienne Rich argues for a “cluster of forces within which women have been convinced that marriage and sexual orientation towards men are inevitable – even if unsatisfying or oppressive – components of their lives,” a concept known as “compulsory heterosexuality” (Rich 290-291, 289). In The Poisonwood Bible, Nathan Price enforces this view of compulsory heterosexuality, leading his daughters to believe that a woman’s only purpose in life is to become an obedient wife. He breaks down the power and independence of his daughters in an attempt to enforce his will. Because of his household tyranny, his oldest daughter Rachel becomes completely dependent on the power of men such as her father and her first husband in order to survive. Left alone in Africa by her family with no female companionship, she finds solace through herself and ultimately rejects compulsory
Considering this, the Western society fails to realize that “sexual identity for any individual emerges over the course of a lifetime and is shaped by social and historical contexts” (Andersen 1997, 96). Hence, sexuality not only takes time to develop, but it is natural for an individual to experience numerous changes in order to discover one’s sexual identity. As a minority, especially African American and a Christian being gay is unacceptable. On the other hand, both male and female of Caucasian descendent has a right to pursue their sexual needs. Similarly, I believe that African Americans should have a right to their sexual preference. As a Christian, we should treat our brothers and sisters fairly and love equally, so why should we hate someone because of their sexual orientation? Instead, we need to embrace others and we need to find a solution in order to deconstruct homophobia. Baldwin mentions that he “was called a faggot. This meant that I was despised, and, however horrible this is, it is clear. What was not clear at that time of my life was what motivated the men and boys who mocked and chased me; for, if they found me when they were alone, they spoke to me very differently–frightening me” (Baldwin 1985, 684). Based on my experience, I am able
For years homosexuality in the United States of America has been looked down upon by citizens, religions, and even politicians. The homosexual culture, or the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender), has been demoralized and stuck out and lashed against by the Heterosexual community time and time again. To better understand the LGBT community we must first grasp the concept of Sexual Orientation.
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, not thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Albert Einstein one said, "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen."(Quotations,162) There is some truth to what he said in relation to Natural Law Theory. It would seem that Natural Law is based at least in part on common sense. This essay will attempt to discredit the Theory of Natural Law on these grounds, as well as proving that it is inapplicable when judging the ethical value of homosexuality, and discrediting homosexuality as a "perversion." Act utilitarianism depicts the argument more clearly, because there are certain semantic inconsistencies with Kantian ethical Theory that will be discussed further on.
Gay marriage should be illegal because it is a sin. It is against natural law, and God disapproves of the lifestyle choice.
...a. Homophobic behavior can be driven by an individual’s fear, family, religion, culture, political affiliation, societal setting, and personal beliefs. All three articles made suggestions in order to prevent stereotypes and homophobia, and while many people are being educated and changing their beliefs about homosexuality, many more people may never change their beliefs and ideals. Educating people to change their minds takes generations, since many people are not so easily persuaded to think differently. People have been brainwashed to think certain ways. Even though society is beginning to accept homosexuality and homosexuals, society still has not broken the stereotypes associated. Stereotypes today are still prevalent, need to be addressed, and broken so homosexuals can have the same freedoms as heterosexuals and not live in fear of being discriminated against.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 3:28 the following words, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” As we consider these words, there are those who argue that this passage is the authority to approve homosexuals. Anyone who arrives at this conclusion has failed to examine carefully the context of the passage under consideration. The Apostle Paul is not providing permission or approval for homosexual activities or relationships. He is indeed, providing information about the subject of salvation. In the previous verses, vv. 26-27, Paul discussed the subject of salvation in Christ. He argued that we are all sons of God through obedient faith in Christ Jesus, and that all those who obey the gospel being baptized into Christ, have put on Christ (v. 27). The message of Galatians 3:28 is one in which Paul emphasizes the fact that concerning the salvation of man, we can all be recipients of it, so long as we are obedient to God. In the book of Acts, Peter made the following comment, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘In truth I perceived that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts
In history, mainstream Abrahamic religions have had a negative relationship with LGBT persons. Beginning during the Hebrew exodus of Egypt, the purity codes documented in the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Leviticus explicitly stated a slew of rigid rules that attempted to keep a new Israelite nation “clean”. As William Countryman argues in the article “Dirt, Greed, & Sex”, the bible sets a precedent for what is “clean” and pure as well as what is “dirty”. In this sense, dirty means where something doesn’t belong, or is out of place. The ancient Israelite text as well as some New Testament verses have been used by many contemporary Christian denominations to condemn LGBT persons to hell and to provide “moral reasoning” for supporting legislation that makes LGBT people second class citizens. Missionaries during the imperialist period of European history have also used these verses to spread hate around the globe, and many of these anti-homosexuality sodomy laws that were backed by christian colonial monarchies are still on the books in former colonies in Africa, Asia and Oceania. The spread of Islam, a religion that also considers the Hebrew texts to be holy scripture, has also had the same effect on the Swahili Coast, Horn of Africa, Persia, and Southeast Asia. These religious texts have been the basis for anti-LGBT laws across the world, and as Abrahamic religions spread, the tolerance for LGBT people in other societies declined.
As humans, it is natural to shy away from things that are different than the norm; we discriminate. It is very important to rid oneself of discrimination to better clarify the decision at hand. To make a valid conclusion on homosexuality, it is essential for one to forget what they were taught when socialization occurred, mainly birth to adulthood. As an example: You were told as a young child to hate and not associate yourself with African Americans because of the color of their skin, because they are different. When you grow older, you obtain a six-figure job, but y...
Homosexuality in Today's Society. In today's society, there exists a mixture of issues which tend to raise arguments with people all over. There are a handful of topics that always seem to escalate these differences between people to the point where one who earnestly participates in discussion, debate and argument can direct their anger towards their feelings on the person themselves. Some examples of such delicate subjects are the death penalty, abortion, and euthanasia.
Since the 1800's, psychiatrists and psychologists have concluded that homosexuality is a mental disorder. They have believed it is brought about by misguided upbringing and their social environments. For instance, it was believed that if the child was lacking a male - figure in the home, he would most likely be gay. Or that child abuse can lead to lesbianism when the special needs of a little girl are denied, ignored, or exploited and the future womanhood of the child is in risk. However, inconsistencies in the research subjects' abuse records ruled these theories out. And if this were the case, then why is homosexuality present in different cultures? Some believed homosexuality was caused by a difference in brain structure. In 1991, Simon LeVay published research stating that sexual orientation may be the result of differing brain structures. The hypothalamus, a region in the brain that governs sexual behavior, was the structure that LeVay was pointing as the structure at fault. In his studies of the hypothalamus, he found that in homosexual men, the hypothalamus was smaller than that of heterosexual men. Instead, it was the size of the female hypothalamus, consequently explaining their sexual tendencies.
When one hears the words “LGBT” and “Homosexuality” it often conjures up a mental picture of people fighting for their rights, which were unjustly taken away or even the social emergence of gay culture in the world in the1980s and the discovery of AIDS. However, many people do not know that the history of LGBT people stretches as far back in humanity’s history, and continues in this day and age. Nevertheless, the LGBT community today faces much discrimination and adversity. Many think the problem lies within society itself, and often enough that may be the case. Society holds preconceptions and prejudice of the LGBT community, though not always due to actual hatred of the LGBT community, but rather through lack of knowledge and poor media portrayal.