Lesson 6 Flashcards
What did the protestant reformation mean
The Protestant Reformation promoted the idea that each individual had a direct relationship with God, so religious belief and practice became matters of personal choice and commitment.
Shift towards exploring your own religion
-This shift towards the individual and their choice of religion and lifestyle is particularly relevant to issues of homosexuality and transgender
-for here there has been a major clash between the shifting views of Western society as a whole and the Christian religion.
-The situation is quite different elsewhere, for example in Africa and the Middle East.
How was homosexuality regarded up until 1950s
-Churches of all denominations regarded homosexuality as a sin.
-Homosexual acts were illegal, and therefore often clandestine and sometimes squalid.
-Gay people might live together discreetly as housemates, but more casual relationships often involved meeting in secret in public places, such as public lavatories.
-Gay men were more likely to be picked up by police in these circumstances, and public exposure in a trial was both humiliating and socially damaging.
Gradual process of social change
-gradual process of social and legal change in the UK started with the Wolfenden Report in 1957, which suggested decriminalising homosexual acts carried out in private between consenting adults.
-Ten years later, this became English and Welsh law through the Sexual Offences Act of 1967.
distinction should be made between ‘tendencies’ and ‘acts’
-someone may experience themselves as gay, for example, but may not choose not to engage in same- sex sexual activity.
-Some argue a person with homosexual tendencies should be required to remain celibate, rather than be allowed to perform homosexual acts.
-an attempt to balance the value and caring nature of homosexuals with the traditional view that homosexual activity is a sin.
-Equally, it can be argued that a transgender person should simply learn to live with a divided sense of gender, rather than seek a hormonal and/or surgical way to change.
-within Catholic theology, homosexual tendencies and feelings are not in themselves sinful, but homosexual acts go against the principle of Natural Moral Law, so are regarded as sins.
-The Catholic Church, of course, regards the conception of children as the ‘final aim’ of the sexual act. Thus, every expression of sexuality that cannot lead to conception, is condemned. This applies to contraception, masturbation, homosexuality
Hampson – a post-Christian theologian
-Christianity is not true
-Resurrection (one off, laws of nature breaking event) is impossible
-The idea of one ‘special’ person sent by God is nonsense
-Obeying God prevents us from taking responsibly for our own moral choices
-Christianity suggests men are better and women are merely the ‘other’ species – ‘irredeemably sexist’
-People should express awareness of God in terms appropriate for the present time
-God should not be see as ‘out there’
-God is a dimension of one reality which everyone is part of.
Ruether – Roman Catholic liberation theologian and feminist
-Identifies parallels between Jesus’ teachings and practice in the Gospels e.g. care for oppressed,
marginalised, challenging of religious authorities- and feminist challenges to society today
-Jesus showed both male and female qualities in his nature
-Women can be more Christ-like than men
-Women are closer to nature than men therefore have a purer approach to ethics that are inspired by nature.
Celibacy
Living without sexual activity
Early Christianity and celibacy
Paul wrote about preparing for the end of the world
This should be their focus not marriage and children
As time passed without sings that world was ending people were expected to marry including Church leaders who were to lead by example.
What happened in the 4th century
4th Century – Monastic tradition grew in popularity where a devoted life to God was seen as a higher calling than family life
For women, it was the only alternative to being a submissive wife/the property of a man/a baby making machine as it provided an
intellectual environment
Christianity now and celibacy - CCC
-All theordainedministersof theLatinChurch, with theexceptionofpermanentdeacons, arenormally chosenfrom amongmenoffaithwholiveacelibatelifeand whointendtoremaincelibate
-“for thesakeof thekingdomofheaven. “
-Calledtoconsecratethemselves withundividedheartto theLordand to “theaffairsof theLord, “theygivethemselvesentirelytoGodand tomen.
-Celibacyis asign of thisnewlifeto theserviceof which theChurch’sministerisconsecrated;acceptedwith ajoyousheartcelibacyradiantlyproclaimstheReignofGod.(1579CCC)
Orthodox Church priests
Orthodox Church priests may be married when they are ordinated but cannot married after ordination
Bishops
Bishops may not be married so are selected from celibate priests
Problem with celibate priests
Due to severe shortage of priests there is pressure to end the rule of clergy celibacy, many leaving the church to marry
Church of England
Church of England prefer their clergy to be married as they believe celibate men fail to live up to the biblical requirements for a church leader to be the husband of one wife and to have an orderly family.
