Homosexuality- Introduction

1. Homosexuality- Introduction • Definition = a sexual attraction to (or sexual relations with) persons of the same sex. UK • Age of consent – Reduced from 18 to 16 • Gay population – 7% are gay • Marriage and adoption – The Adoption and Children Act 2002 & Civil Partnership Act2004 Rest of The World • Not everyone has the same legal rights or views on homosexuality in other parts of the world. • E.g. its illegal in Ghana, Egypt, Saudi Arabia. • This can be because of cultural beliefs, personal beliefs, or religious beliefs etc.

2. Catholic views on homosexuality • They oppose homosexual relations between men and women. • They do not oppose to homosexuals instinct that a homosexual has. If you act upon it, you are committing a sin. • Live a life of chastity (pure) – refrain from homosexual activity. • You must control homosexual feelings by spiritual activity that church offers. • E.g. Prayer – this achieves Christian perfection. • Protestant view • “Hate the sin, Love the sinner” Mahatma Ghandi – even though you are homosexual we still love you we dislike the sin. • Gay marriages are allowed in the Church of England If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. (Leviticus 20:13)

3. Sikh view on homosexuality • Sikhism teaches tolerance, equality and acceptance of all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexuality. • Homosexuality is not mentioned • The ten living Gurus believed homosexuality to be sinful • One open gay saint is Sarmad, who was a follower of Mian Mir, the Muslim Mir who is believed to have laid the foundation stone of The Golden Temple. (Source GaySikh.com & Waheguru.net) Indian Culture • The Indian culture is extremely conservative – very homophobic whereas Sikh philosophy teaches the idea of oneness, respect and tolerance of all people. • Synoptic link: people would marry the opposite sex

5. Homosexuality and Virtue Ethics • Virtue Ethicsis concerned with the agent becoming a virtuous person through practising morally good behaviour. This is achieved by copying from a role model. • There has not been a single view on virtue ethics on the topic on homosexuality. • The Virtue theory focuses on ones telos, purpose and how we should act to be useful and potent in society. When considering the issue of homosexuality this links in with the Natural Law theory because both theories focus on the telos of human beings.

6. Homosexuality and Virtue Ethics • Being gay doesn’t inhibit you from being virtuous. • There has been no character traits found that links with homosexuals stopping them being virtuous. • Philosopher C.W WON BERGAN – even if you straight with a family there isn't anything virtuous about that. • One of the Virtues are acceptance, so how can you be virtuous without accepting homosexuals.

7. Homosexuality - Natural Law and Virtue ethics • An virtue of humanity that an inidvidual could give is the desire to reproduce and ensure life and society goes on. • Another Virtuous state is found in a loving and caring family and relationship. And feel that based on natural law they can not reproduce and have the same type of relationships • Counter argument= It is possible that same sex families can have a family and a healthy relationship, through new scientific fertility treatments, and adopting. E.g. IVF treatments

8. Libertarianism and homosexuality F O R A G A I N S T

9. Hard determinism and soft determinism Hard determinism Soft determinism