same sex marriage
AND MORALITY
The Fundamental Argument
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The basic rationale for marriage would apply equally to
both opposite sex couples and same sex couples.
If (1), then laws against same sex marriage are a denial
of equality.
If laws against same sex marriage are a denial of
equality, then those laws are impermissible, all else
being equal.
All else is equal.
[So] Laws against same sex marriage are impermissible.
The Natural Argument
Homosexuality is unnatural.
2. If (1), homosexuality is immoral.
3. Homosexuality is immoral.
1.
“Unnatural”
 A kind of behavior is unnatural 1 iff it is statistically
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infrequent among humans.
A kind of behavior is unnatural 2 iff it is not practiced by
non-human animals.
A kind of behavior is unnatural 3 iff it is to be explained by
sociological facts, rather than biological facts.
A kind of behavior is unnatural4 iff it is offensive (i.e., it
would offend the typical member of the community).
A kind of behavior is unnatural5 iff it involves using
something in a manner contrary to its purpose.
The Biblical Argument
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an
abomination.
-Leviticus 18:22
For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their
women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural, and in
the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with
women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men
committed shameless acts with men and received in their
own persons the due penalty for their error.
-Romans 1:26-7
The Biblical Argument
The Bible prohibits homosexual acts.
2. If (1), then homosexual acts are immoral.
3. Homosexual acts are immoral.
1.
The Biblical Argument
The pig… is unclean for you. Of their flesh you shall not eat,
and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean
for you.
Leviticus 11:7-8
Let the women keep silent in the churches. For they are not
permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the
Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let
them ask their husbands at home. For it is a disgrace for a
woman to speak in church.
1 Corinthians 14:34-5
The Biblical Argument
[He] lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live?
He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he
shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.
Ezekiel 18:13
The Biblical Argument
The Bible prohibits homosexual acts.
2. If (1), then homosexual acts are immoral.
3. Homosexual acts are immoral.
1.