Homosexuality

ETHICS

Taylor: Hello today i am with Michael Andrusisin to talk about the ethical issue of homosexuality Now Michael for those that don’t know what homosexuality is can you please explain

Me: Yes Taylor, homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction to the same sex/gender.

Taylor: Now why is that a issue

Me: Some people feel it is an issue because some religions are against homosexuality because in the bible it says that homosexuality is wrong and is an abomination to God. Some of those people feel like they will never be allowed in heaven because they are homosexual. Other people think homosexuality is wrong because it is unnatural. They feel it is unnatural because that couple are not able to have a baby together.

Taylor: Very interesting, can you tell me and the listeners how Judaism views homosexuality

Michael: The Torah says that homosexuality is an abomination to God. The believe that homosexuality is an act not a type of person. Different types of Jews feel differently about the subject of homosexuality. More traditional Jews feel that homosexual acts as horrible acts and for doing them your soul will burn in hell forever. The progressive thinking Jews feel that homosexuality wasn’t understood when the Torah was written. These people feel that the prohibition of homosexual acts needs to be adapted.

Taylor: I like how they view homosexuality, now how does the biggest religion Christianity feel about homosexuality

Me: Christians view homosexuality as a sin and they should pray to God and ask for forgiveness. Homosexuals will go to hell unless they get forgiveness. Christians should pray for homosexuals and hope that they are next to them in heaven. Christians should love homosexuals equally, but they should pray for them to have their soul saved. Catholics view homosexuality as a sin and it is wrong. Protestants view homosexuality as not that big of a deal but you should still pray for their souls to go to heaven.

Taylor: Now how about Islam

Me: Both the Qur’an and Muhammad have things that say homosexuality is wrong. One story in the Qur’an says that Allah destroyed a city because there was a lot of homosexual acts happening in the city. In some Muslim countries it the law that homosexuals can face the death penalty. Homosexual acts are forbidden in almost all Muslim countries.

Taylor: Wow i think that is so wrong that people can be killed for being a homosexual. Okay now can you tell me Hindus views on homosexuality

Me: Hinduism takes various positions on homosexuality. Some people and scripture says homosexuality is fine and others say it is wrong. So people feel that homosexuality is fine because it should not matter who you love but the people that are against homosexuality don’t like it because it is different. Homosexuality doesn’t seem like it is that big of a deal in Hinduism.

Taylor: Can you tell me how Buddhism feels about homosexuality

Me: None of Buddhist scripture talks about homosexuality. It doesn’t say if it is wrong or right. Some Monks view homosexuality as an obstacle to spiritual progress. One law in Buddhism says that you should refrain from sexual misconduct. It does not say anywhere if homosexuality is part of that sexual misconduct or not.

Taylor: Ok now the last religions Confucianism and Taoism

Me: In Taoism homosexuality isn't believed to be that big of a deal but still matters. They believe that in order to get the best energy there needs to be a female and male for, yin yang. In homosexual acts you don't get that good energy. For Confucianism homosexuality is never mentioned. Since it is never mention there is no official view on homosexuality but individual people will have their own opinions about homosexuals. Taylor: All of these religions don’t really seem like homosexuality is that big of a deal

Me: Yes sort of; now there will always be extremist in these religions that hate homosexuals but if the would follow there religions correctly they would all be lovely and teach homosexuals equally.

12/6 Prompt 9 BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **The Chinese Philosophies: Confucianism and Taoism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

Response: In Taoism homosexuality isn't believed to be that big of a deal but still matters. They believe that in order to get the best energy there needs to be a female and male for, yin yang. In homosexual acts you don't get that good energy. For Confucianism homosexuality is never mentioned. Since it is never mention there is no official view on homosexuality but individual people will have their own opinions about homosexuals. Some people might look down on homosexuals and others might not care at all. There is nothing in the religion that really states that homosexuality is that bad, it is mostly up to the individual to think how they want about homosexuality. Neither of these religions acts like homosexuality matters at all or is important.

Sources: http://sites.google.com/site/taoismnet/home/articles/homosexuality-as-seen-through-the-tao

11/22 Prompt 8 BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Buddhism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

Response: According to Buddhist texts and teachings homosexuality is not forbidden. In fact homosexuality is never mentioned but other things involving sex are. The rules involving sex say that you can't cheat, mutual consent and no harm can be done to each other. As long as those lines are being followed then it is okay. So since homosexuality fits into those guidelines homosexuality is okay. Now there will always be people that disagree and state that homosexuality is wrong and horrible but if they followed Buddhism the best way they would have no problem with a homosexual. If you are a homosexuality there should be no legal, social, or spiritual negatives results in the eyes of Buddhist. If someone is a homosexual then you should treat them the same as any other person.

Sources: http://www.enabling.org/ia/vipassana/Archive/T/Trembath/buddhismAndHomosexualityTrembath.html

11/15 Prompt 7 BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Hinduism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

Response: Some followers of Hinduism feel that homosexuality is not that bad, some feel that homosexuality is a big deal. Some scriptures in the Hindu religion state that homosexuality is fine and other scriptures state that homosexuality is completely wrong. The argument for cause of homosexuality being okay is that you should be able to love whom ever you choose and .love them equality and have a long life full of good times and love. The argument against homosexuality is that homosexuality is wrong and that people should not love within their own gender and just cause they are different the should be treated different and not have all the rights that they deserve. If the person feels that homosexuality is wrong then they feel that homosexuality should be a public matter but the people that don't feel homosexuality isn't that big of a deal say the homosexuality is a private matter and that other people should not be worried about who someone loves and what gender they are.

Sources: []

11/8 Prompt 6 BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Islam** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

Response: For Islam homosexuality should not be that big of a deal but of course nowadays homosexuality is always a big deal. Islam preaches love,peace and equality but when it comes down to it and when somebody actually needs love, peace and equality they can never find it. The more practical and modern Muslims would state that they didn't have a problem with homosexuality. The more extremist the Muslim the more the person would have a problem with homosexuality. The more extremist Muslims will kill homosexuals. The more normal Muslim would not kill homosexuals but they might be prejudice aganist them. Acoording to any religion homosexultiy should never be that bad but today's prejudice and stereotypes make it a lot worst. People of the Islamic faith should not treat homosexuals that bad but there are a lot of extreme Islamic followers that will treat homosexuals in the worst ways. Nobody should ever treat people differently no matter what they are or what they do. Everybody should have the same rights that anybody else has. Just cause someone is a homosexual doesn't mean they arent equal.

Sources: []

10/18 Prompt 5 FINE PRINT: DIVERSITY AND NUANCE. Are there different rules for different people/sects within **Christianity** regarding your ethical issue? What about differences in the way consequences are applied? **This week, concentrate on the similarities and differences between Catholics and Protestants on your topic.**

Response: The Bible says that homosexuality is a sin. But different sects within Christianity feel different on this topic. Catholics teaches that homosexual acts are always violation against divine and natural law. Having homosexual desires is not sinful, but if you act upon them then it is a sin. It is a sin by either acting out the desire or encouraging the desire. Catholics feel like many Christians that you should not hate homosexuals but you should love them and pray for them. Protestants don't care as much as Catholics do about homosexuality. Protestants are usually more accepting then other Christianity sects about people lives. They truly believe that everyone is equal and should be loved. More libel Protestants view homosexuality as one-hundred percent okay, but the rest still think it is a sin, a none important sin but still a sin. There really isn't any earthly consequence involving homosexuality, all Christians believe that if you commit sexual acts you should ask for forgiveness and if he forgives you can live a good life and be able to go to heaven. The main difference in between Catholics view and Protestant view on homosexual is that Protestant don't view it as such a big deal.

Sources: http://www.catholic.com/library/Homosexuality.asp

10/4 Prompt 4 BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Christianity** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

Response: Christians feel that just because someone is a homosexual it doesn't mean that you have to hate them but really you should love them and pray for them. The Bible says that homosexuality is a sin. The only way God will forgive you for this sin is to pray to him and ask for forgiveness. Many Christians feel that they should pray for the salvation of homosexuals just like any other person that commits sin. Good Christians treat homosexuals with the same dignity and respect that they would give anyone else. They do this because every human being is the image of God and that everyone has God in them. But just because they should treat them equally and with respect it is not always the case. Christians feel that homosexuality should be a public matter. If someone is a homosexual it is a sin and will maybe not get into heaven. So Christians feel that it is the duty to save those souls. They wants homosexuals to pray to God and beg for forgiveness so that their souls can also be saved. They believe that being a homosexual should have social consequences because everyone should be treated with the same amount of respect. Christians should accept homosexuals as who there are and love them.

Sources: http://carm.org/christianity-and-homosexuality

9/27 Prompt 3 FINE PRINT: DIVERSITY AND NUANCE. Are there different rules for different people/sects within **Judaism** regarding your ethical issue? What about differences in the way consequences are applied?

Response: There are different views in between different people and different sects within in Judaism. The more traditional Jews view homosexual acts as doing a horrible thing do God and your soul shall forever burn in hell. The more progressive thinking Jews view homosexual acts as not that big of a deal and that God will still love you anyway. If someone commits a homosexual act then some of the traditional Jews might stop talking to that person but the progressive Jews would not mind it at all. The biggest consequences that Jewish people think could happen to someone is that they will go to hell. The traditional Jews believe that this will happen to you if you commit homosexual acts. But the progressive Jews don't think that you will go to hell they don't feel like committing homosexual acts should have consequences with the church or your soul after you die. Homosexuality is a big issue the today's world because more and more people are coming out and being gay is becoming more acceptable.

Sources: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Sex_and_Sexuality/Homosexuality/Homosexuality_and_Halakhah.shtml

9/20 Prompt 2 BIG PICTURE: MAIN RULES AND CONSEQUENCES. Describe the main teachings of **Judaism** pertinent to your issue. What are the consequences (legal, social, spiritual) when the teachings are not followed? In other words, I'm asking you to investigate whether your ethical issue is considered a public matter, with public, legal, and social consequences, or is it considered a spiritual or personal matter, with more private consequences affecting personal relationships and spiritual matters.

Response: Different movements in Judaism view being a homosexual in different ways. Traditional Jews view homosexual acts as a violation of Jewish law. More progressive movements of Judaism believe homosexuality today was not understood when the Bible was written so the Biblical prohibition against homosexuality acts needs to be adapted. The Torah forbids homosexuality, the Torah says that homosexuality is an abomination. It forbids homosexual acts but not homosexual desires. The Torah never says anything about lesbian acts but many rabbis say that it to is forbidden. Judaism doesn't view homosexuality as a group of people but only as an act. The traditional Jews see homosexuality as wrong and that you are going against what God wants but then the progressive Jews believe that everyone is and should be treated equal. Jewish people view homosexuality as more of a spiritual and personal matter then a public matter. Homosexuality in religion will always be a big issue in the world.

Sources: http://www.myjewishlearning.com/life/Sex_and_Sexuality/Homosexuality/Homosexuality_and_Halakhah/Choice_and_Jewish_Law.shtml

9/14 Prompt 1. Define and describe your topic as an ethical issue and identify the controversies and dilemmas within the issue. Seek to do general background reading to understand the main issues inherent in your topic.Identify at least two opposing positions often taken on your ethical issue, and explain the main arguments (2-3) supporters of each side use to state their case.

Response Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior among members of the same sex/gender. Many people are against homosexuality because in the bible there are references that say homosexuality is wrong. The bible says that homosexuality is an abomination to God. Some people even believe that if you are a homosexual then you will never be able to get into heaven. Last, a complaint about it is that a homosexual relationship is unnatural because it is impossible for the couple to have a kid. The main reason a lot of people have a problem with homosexuality is because the bible says it is wrong and because the feel that it is unnatural. The main argument of how homosexuality is wrong is because the bible says it is. There are many verses in the bible talking about homosexuality and how bad it is. Even in the past 20 years people have killed homosexuals and felt that they were justified in the killing because the bible said it was the right thing to do. Another big reason people are against homosexuality is because they feel that it is unnatural. They feel that it is unnatural because it is impossible for them to have a kid. The people that feel homosexuality is not wrong and totally acceptable feel that being a homosexual is their civil right. They feel that they should be able to love and marry who ever they want. Their argument against the bible is that they say that God would want them happy and to be with who they love. The big issue with homosexuality today is same sex marriage. In some states it is not allowed but in Canada and some states it is. People say that same sex marriage should not be allowed because marriage should be in between the same sex but a lot of people say you should be able to marry who ever you love doesn't matter who.

Sources Robertson, Pat. "Bring It On: Morals, Social, and Ethical Issues" __The 700 Club__. 2010. 9/13/2010.____