Religion and Sexuality

1. Martín Souto Díaz Religion and Sexuality

2. Islam • In Islam, sexuality is considered part of our identity as human beings, in contrast to what most westerners believe about Islam. • Beyond childbearing, sexual relations assume a prominent role in the overall well-being of the marriage. • In a hadith (traditional account of things said or done by Muhammad or his companions) they advise husbands to engage in acts that enable a woman to achieve orgasm first. • Sexual dissatisfaction is considered legitimate grounds for divorce on the part of either wife or husband.

3. Self-Control • Muslims are advised to behave in a way and avoid circumstances that could potentially result in extra- or pre-marital sex(hence why women and men are so separated in Muslim culture). • Modesty in dress and behavior between women and men figures prominently as a means of exhibiting self-control. • Unmarried couples are encouraged against spending time alone in isolated places where they would be more likely to act on their feelings.

4. Homosexuality • Strictly prohibited. • The Qur'an and hadith are explicit regarding severe punishment by the State if a person is convicted of such a crime. • The individual/s must confess or be accused by at least four eyewitnesses of the act of actual intercourse. • The likelihood of these criteria being met is small which means that most couples who engage in unlawful acts will not be punished by the State. They will then deal with the consequences of their behavior in this life and will be accountable to God’s Judgment.

5. Modern thoughts • Some self-described liberal Muslims accept and consider homosexuality as natural pointing out that the Qur'an speaks out against homosexual lust, and is silent on homosexual love. (Not a part of mainstream Islam) • (Smith & Windes, pg.8) “Anti-homosexuality might be linked to the suppression of women”, this could explain why Islam is so extreme in some of its punishments to both of these groups.

6. The Catholic Church • Church leaders still base official Catholic sexual teaching on outdated views called “The Natural Law”. • Catholicism is deeply divided in their treatment of homosexual families. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phad7hunjFk&feature=related

7. “The Natural Law” • Catholic couples may never use contraceptives. So said Pope Pius XI in CastiConnubii • Catholic homosexuals must abstain from all sexual intimacy since this is judged to be 'intrinsically evil'. This is what Pope Paul VI decreed in Declaration on Certain Issues Concerning Sexual Ethics, 1974. • The condemnation was repeated by Pope John Paul II in 1986, 1992 and 2000.

8. “Modern” times (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=892eZ6U9lqk) • Our present Pope Benedict XVI maintains the same line of teaching. From an early age, Catholics are imbibed with an unwarranted sense of guilt. Many have an exaggerated fear of masturbation. • Homosexual desires, however, are not in themselves sinful, they do not become sinful until a person acts upon them, either by acting out the desire or by encouraging the desire and deliberately engaging in fantasies about acting it out.

9. Judaism Judaism is a more liberal religion, when it comes to discussing sex, but still adheres to most “traditional” values. Judaism regards sex as a "divine gift" from God, not solely for the purpose of procreation. It is not evil, but rather a strong and chronic urge Similar to hunger or thirst. Marriage is the only allowable outlet for men and women to express their sexuality.

10. According To Herman Wouk, author of This is My God, The Jewish Way of Life, "Judaism regards sex as the cord that secures the union of two lovers for life. • The rabbis of the Talmud have set up complex rules governing sex; The needs of the woman can be fulfilled. These laws of "onah" are directed mainly toward men and require the man to give his wife pleasure during the sexual act, not just think of himself.

11. Homosexuality • The known history of homosexuality in Judaism begins in Leviticus, which describes intercourse between male homosexuals as a capital offence. • The Reform Judaism movement, the largest branch of Judaism in North America, has rejected the traditional view in all areas relating to this issue.

12. While Jewish law is very open and positive about sexuality within marriage, it asserts that sexuality outside of marriage is wrong as most religions do. • Social intercourse or premarital sex is taboo, as well as adultery, self-gratification. • According to the Torah, it is a sin to have sex with any relative, whether blood-related or not, with a neighbor's wife, with a member of the same sex (although the Torah uses the wording "with another man" and some argue that it is only a sin for men to engage in homosexuality, but not women), with an animal, or with a woman during her menstrual cycle.

13. Buddhism (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLhCKehjP6A&noredirect=1) • Most variations of Buddhism do not go much into details of right and wrong regarding sexuality and other activities of life. • The historical Buddha advised his students to avoid sexual misconduct, but at the same time largely avoided defining sexuality. • Buddhism teaches that sensual enjoyment, desire in general, and sexual pleasure in particular, are part of the path to enlightenment

14. Homosexuality • In Buddhism, the acceptability of homosexuality for a layperson is effectively not a religious matter. "Sexual misconduct" is a broad term, subject to interpretation to the followers social norms. • Western Buddhists often emphasize the importance the Buddha placed on tolerance, compassion, and seeking answers within one's self.

15. Readings to Discuss • Rubin: “Thinking Sex notes for a radical theory of the politics of sexuality” • Smith & Windes: “Appeals in Progay and Traditionalist Discourses from Progay-Antigay” • Smith & Windes: “Emergence of the Variant Sexual Issue culture from Progay-Antigay”

16. Rubin: “Thinking Sex notes for a radical theory of the politics of sexuality” • We can see that religions have a tendency to go against homosexuality, even if they say there is nothing essentially “wrong” with it, yet are deeply divided when ordaining gay clergy members. • For traditionalist, homosexuality remains a sin that must be punished by the state, because it is “contrary” to society’s well-being.

17. Rubin: “Thinking Sex notes for a radical theory of the politics of sexuality” • The family became the central focus of concern for fundamentalists, it is divinely ordained. • “The family has become a symbol of social stability and traditional moral values”-Antigay Evangelical quote • Yet homosexuals are perfectly capable of having these types of families, and still the religious sector refuses to see the evidence, their children.

18. Smith & Windes: “Appeals in Progay and Traditionalist” • Here we see that essentialist continue to call the homosexual lifestyle “intrinsically a moral wrong”. • As religion does: homosexuality is sinful, immoral, an illness, corruptive and socially disruptive. • Evangelist call it against nature, yet many species in nature display some homosexual behavior: (http://www.ask.com/wiki/List_of_animals_displaying_homosexual_behavior) Pro-gay groups argue that homosexuality is natural, following the same argument as essentialist, it would be as it is found in nature.

19. Smith & Windes: “Appeals in Progay and Traditionalist” • Some groups demand the death penalty, as in early Judaism & extremist in Islam, calling it “gods will” (a quote from the crusades mind you). • These anti-gay groups claim that all gays have been abused as infants, a common social construction from the 70’s. • Another social construction refers to gays as “disease ridden”, “promiscuous” and “dangerous”. (Also in Philadelphia)

20. Smith & Windes: “Emergence of the Variant Sexual Issue culture from Progay-Antigay” • The homosexual identity was created in the 19th century, as a species so as to dehumanize homosexuals. • Homosexuals attack the purely heterosexual family structure, as they can raise children just as morally or better compared to heterosexual families. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43PCR_ubpAA) • Evangelist use religion to express the “ungodliness” and evil of the homosexual lifestyle

21. Conclusions • These religions view sex as natural, but most consider it a sin before marriage, however our society does not follow this for the most part. • Society has changed the way it views sex, as we have many liberal ideas flowing today. Marriage is seen more and more as an action of love, but also as an outdated ritual. Most believe that sex is not “sinful”, but exercising self control is still a belief in current young generations. • Clearly religion has not been able to stop the relentless march of moral progress and understanding, as they have used misguided means and now are losing their followers.

22. Personally, I believe the theme of sex and our spiritual beliefs are of outmost importance. Our religion guide our values, but we can’t always believe certain things, therefore we can’t follow all of their values. • Homosexuals can raise children that are beneficial to society and within the parameters of our moral social construction's. • I find it amazing that almost every effort to produce social change has been opposed by quotes from the Bible, obviously misinterpreted by traditionalists. (“Appeals in Progay and Traditionalist”, pg. 74) • Most of these teachings are detrimental to society, as the younger generations are now beginning to dislike the different churches who have discriminated against homosexuals, as they have turned their back on their own faiths preaching love and forgiveness.