Same sex relationship a religious controversy in a secular democracy

Same sex relationship a religious controversy in a secular democracy

Introduction

This essay discusses the issue of same sex relationship in the context of the 21st century secular democracy. Same sex relationship has become one of the leading issues in the social set up debate that that became a motivating factor toward this paper. The essay defines the concept expounding the reason behind the debate in relation to homosexuality.

What is sex relationship?

In modern English, medical terminology usually makes use of Latin and Greek words and the related sciences psychology and psychiatry thus refer to reasoning about ‘the soul’ and its treatment. When explaining the concept, Coleman(1980), points out that the Greek prefix homo has been added to the Latin sex to indicate an attraction or sexual preference for the same sex, in distinction from the more usual ‘hetero-sexual’ attraction, where the prefix means ‘other’s or ‘different’. Coleman (1980,) adds that the confusion occurs where homo is mistakenly taken to represent the Latin word for ‘man’, thereby apparently implying that the homosexual choice is concerned with males, whereas in fact, it was also applicable to females. Female homosexuality is also described as ‘Lesbianism’, taking its name from the Island of Lesbos, where the Greek poet Sappho once lived in a female community and wrote erotic poetry which is often, though need not be interpreted as predominantly homosexual in tone. The term ‘homophobia’ has recently emerged to describe the reaction of fear and dislike which the heterosexual majority tend to express to homosexual culture and people (Coleman, 1980).

How we define a word is absolutely important in this debate of same sex marriage. Having seen the above terms , Hetero is the Greek word for "other" used as a prefix in the word heterosexual. Homo is the Greek word for "same" and is used as a prefix in the word homosexual. First, let me stop using other languages to say what needs to be said. To be politically correct. People with the same gender want to be contractually bound in the same way that two people of opposite sex are joined together under the marriage contract.

From the above definitions , I agree that homosexuality is sexual orientation to persons of the same sex. Thus why the title of this paper termed as’ same sexual relationship’.

However it vital to point out that many writers on this subject reject one or the other of these definitions. Due to this effect the concept is attributed as sexual orientation. Both definitions are acceptable to me. According to my thinking, there is no agreement among either the scientific community, religious groups or homosexual people themselves as to the definition of homosexuality.

Why debate on same sex relationship in the secular democracy?

Now having seen the above definitions, Let's be politically correct. People with the same gender want to be contractually bound in the same way that two people of opposite sex are joined together under the marriage contract. Why? For the sake of benefits?! Such as taxes, retirement, sex and any other benefits?! If this is the case then single adults should have the right to these perks as well. That's where morality comes in. In my own thinking the debate on same sex relationship is a controversial agenda due to religious inclination on moral aspect of the society which is not the case of the secular society. The benefit of according to me marriage is sex. Sex is the most pleasurable human experiences. Consequently as with anything that is so valuable, it must be protected from abuse. The abuse of sex really good is destructive to humanity from a civilized point of view. Let it be said that no one can protect sex better than the Law. If the Law relinquishes its protection from sex, the world is in for a fatal shock. It is the responsibility of Law to protect that which cannot protect itself. For example, children need to be protected because they cannot protect themselves. If parents don't protect their child than that child now becomes an infant of the Law, child of the state. In other words sex is awesome you should have a child. This is the root cause of the debate!

Homosexuality a contested issue in marriage

The issue of same sex marriage was refused many years back. According to West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. (2008), the record shows that the defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) (Pub. L. 104-199, Sept. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2419) is a federal law that denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages and authorizes states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states.

This statement shows that the debate was as fresh as its even today. Under the U.S. Constitution's Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article IV, Section 1), states are expected to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. Therefore, Congress was alarmed at the prospect of a gay or lesbian couple being married in Hawaii and then going to another state and expecting that state to recognize them as legally married. In addition, Congress did not want to grant same-sex couples the same federal benefits that are given to heterosexual couples who are legally married (West's Encyclopedia, 2008).

From the above statement, this shows how the issue of same sex marriage has been a key leading debate especially in the secular democracy.

While looking the debate on same sex relationship based on religion in the public sphere, it is vital to point out that religious leaders debates that Same sex marriage is one the most unnatural acts on the face of this earth. When sex loses its innocence and purity, it becomes a tool of destruction. Same sex marriage is just the beginning step of destruction of family values and norms. This remain the argument on religious parameters. This is opposed to secular democratic support towards the debate to those who advocate same sex relationship. To justify the use (abuse) of sex, most same sex partners are trying to get the Law to turn it's face from the nature of this delimma. The question needs to be asked, why are these benefits given to a man and a woman under a contract by consent (married) and not to any other type of contract. The truth is that Law must protect itself. A man and a woman joined together by contract are the closest representatives of Law simply because they offer two of the most important perspectives from a coinciding point of view a male and female point of view. For example, in the case of race, it is easy for people of the same race to be bias, hence slavery and the holocaust. Another example would be women's liberation... this was needed due to the fact that influential men ruled the world. The point is that two men will most likely not have the best interest of sex in mind but their best interest in mind. It is not in their nature to do so. They will not provide checks and balances in a sexual relationship.

Felix (2008), writes, that the union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Members States in the society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevails.

Looking the above statement on the issues of freedom and democracy based on the state which is the secular foundation, then the issue of same sex relationship became a freedom avenue and the church had to defend her teachings on the issues of ethics and moral conduct.

Therefore, the above vision and value statement, sexual identity, culture and political views are the key leading concern which opened doors of self-identity and expression. It’s from this point of departure then the Roman Catholic Church, and European Catholics-present in each of the twenty-seven member states may be reassured to see the strong correspondence between their Church’s vision and that the laid out in the treaty . Through this aspect of concern the church was supposed to make contribution with their views in building Europe of a civilization ever more worthy of a man. The church social teaching were to find a way to the states.

The Catholic Church in Europe alone has left a rich legacy of teachings that decry the many social and political injustices that characterize the contemporary world and identify the non- negotiable features that should characterize humankind’s common life. This is one among many others public interventions that brought the debate.

Legal rights for Lesbian and Gay people

Across Europe there is greater openness about and acceptance of sexual diversity than at any other time, and this reflected in unprecedented levels of legal protection for gay and lesbian people. Proliferation of legal protections for gay and lesbian people in Europe stands in sharp contrast to legal provision worldwide. Same sex acts remain illegal in majority countries. This is what brings the debate in the secular democracy as Europe set the pace to the rest of the globe. To my own thinking and observation in the current secular world many denominations such as Orthodox Jews, Roman Catholics and conservative Protestant groups remain adamantly opposed to gay marriage. To this effect I may say that the aspect of condemnation is the key source of the debate among the secular democracy and the religious groups. Many of these churches may end up experiencing a decline on membership.

It is from this point of departure that I can see the ground in which the church differs with the state law since the civil partnership, dictates that the family needs to be safe guarded. and be promoted, based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman. From my own thinking, the issue of safeguarding the ethical and moral foundation are the past tense in today’s secular democracy due to freedom, equality and secularization. As are result of secularization and philosophical thinking I tend to thinking that people same sex relationship will remain to be one of the contentious issue in the secular democracy. Due to free will and choice in one’s life many will debate that they are ‘born gay’

Born Gay or Learned behavior ?

The majority of homosexuals believe they were born "gay." This belief often supplies them with comfort, relieving them of any responsibility to change. However, there is no solid scientific evidence that people are born homosexual. The overwhelming majority of gay people are completely normal genetically either they are fully male or female.

Homosexuality is observed as a learned behavior which is influenced by a number of factors: a disrupted family life in early years, a lack of unconditional love on the part of either parent, a failure to identify with the same-sex parent. Later, these problems can result in a search for love and acceptance, envy of the same or the opposite sex, a life controlled by various fears and feelings of isolation.

Summary

Same-sex marriage poses an existential problem for a number of religious groups in secular democracy National religious leaders are wary of making grand pronouncements on the matter towards the issue and as a result the hot debate sets in. The secular democracy seems to be brave in advocating for equality and respect of human right. Though some are sympathetic to the needs of gay congregants, many pride themselves on their principled dissonance with popular culture. My thinking is ‘You can’t allow same-sex marriage until you destroy all religions,’

References

Coleman, Peter(1980): Christian Attitudes to Homosexuality. London: SPCK Felix, Wilfred (2008): Homosexualities. London: SCM Press.

Defense of Marriage Act of 1996. (n.d.) West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. (2008). Retrieved September 28 2015 from

http://legaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Defense+of+Marriage+Act+of+1996