Writing Better Essay Responses on Sexual Ethics
Describe and explain the sources of Christian ethical teachings on bioethics OR
environmental ethics OR sexual ethics
The range of responses from Christianity denominations to Homosexuality
and homosexual lifestyle illustrates differences in their interpretation and
understanding of the sources of ethical teaching. The common foundations
of Christian ethics are drawn from Christian scripture, natural law and
tradition, however, expressions of Christianity rely on these sources to
various degrees. For Roman Catholics, faith and reason help understand
right action and sources on ethical teaching are integrated within the
authoritative teaching (magisterium) of the Church, whereas for Protestant
communities, the primacy of Scripture and the application of reason would
be maintained in any discussion on ethics. The gap between our evolving
understandings of the nature of human sexuality as developed through
scientific and psychological research, and, the sources of Christian
teachings on sexual ethics has meant that Church teaching is not always
reflective of current understandings of sexuality or expressed in language
that is easily understood by adherents in a contemporary context.
The Encyclopedia of Bioethics defines the homosexual person as one who
has a ‘predominant, persistent and exclusive psychosexual attraction
towards members of the same sex.’ (Encyclopedia of Bioethics, 2003).
Many Christians would take the ethical position that homosexual behaviour
is wrong, however, homosexuality has been recognized as existing in
society since early times. Roman and Greek society accepted it but
Judaism has never tolerated homosexual behaviour. The Old Testament
outlines in Leviticus the prohibitions regarding homosexual behaviour ‘Do
not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable’ (Leviticus
18:22). In the context of the time in which Jesus and the apostles lived, the
concept, for a Jewish adherent, of taking on a homosexual lifestyle was an
unacceptable path. So, as a faithful Jew, Jesus would most likely have
followed this Jewish teaching. Jesus, as recorded in his sayings and ethical
pronouncements, took an inclusive approach to his followers. He, in his
behaviour, never rejected the sinner. So despite Jesus failing to make
pronouncements regarding homosexuality, his ethical statements - the
commandment of love (Matthew 22: 37-40) and the Beatitudes in particular
(Matthew 5:3-12), would suggest that he would accept all people who were
believers in him as Son of God. These two images of Jesus, one the faithful
Jew and the other, accepting all (clean and unclean according to Jewish
law) provide the Christian with several interpretations of the primary source
of Christian ethical teaching with regard to homosexuality.
All Christians would agree that apostolic teaching contained in the New
Testament generally asserts a negative view of homosexual behaviour. St
Paul condemns it; ‘In the same way the men also abandoned natural
relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another.’
(Romans 1:27). St Peter challenges Christians to live a life that is different
from those around them, to mark the life of a Christian as one that was
different (2 Peter 2:9-10). Early Christians were keen to set themselves
apart from general Roman society in their dress and community values.
Taking a strong stance on defining appropriate sexual behaviour was one
way of doing this.
The principles of natural law are a key source of Roman Catholic ethical
DESCRIBE: Characteristics Features Examples Characteristics Features Examples
EXPLAIN: Context Relationship Why How Context Relationship Why How
Explain asks students to
relate cause and effect; make
the relationships between
things evident and provide
why and/how
Make clear the relationship
between Church teaching and
our developing understanding
of human sexuality
Jesus’ context would
have meant that early
Christian teaching would
have supported Jewish
practice.
Varying interpretations of
Jesus’ approach lend
support to a diversity of
responses by Christians
Why Christianity took a
strong stance initially on
homosexual behaviour
Use the language of the
question in topic
sentences
Writing Better Essay Responses on Sexual Ethics
thinking about homosexuality. The Catholic Catechism outlines this idea
when it declares homosexual acts to be disordered-They are contrary to the
natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed
from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no
circumstances can they be approved. (CCC 2357). The Catholic Church
takes a strong stance on this issue but is the church is not without dissident
thinking. Jerry Bartram, a Catholic writer states, ‘homosexuality and the
love of God go together’. (Bartram in S.Grenz, Welcoming Not Affirming,
1998). The differences evident even within expressions of Christianity
demonstrate the diversity of the Christian response to the issue.
Anglicans cite the sources of their teaching regarding homosexuality as
natural law, the scriptures, tradition and the interpretation and
understandings drawn from these through the writings of theologians. The
Windsor Report, commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2004,
formulated a middle ground response to homosexuality but not all Anglican
synods accept that report’s conclusion. Sydney Anglican Archbishop, Peter
Jensen, supports a more conservative Anglicanism, opposing any change
to church teaching regarding homosexual lifestyles.
The Uniting Church in Australia would acknowledge the official sources of
ethical teaching as scripture, tradition and reason. The Uniting Church
makes decisions about current ethical teaching during synods and national
assemblies. The decision made there binds staff and agencies of the
church but not individual members. The Uniting Church creates principles
not rules and supported the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1982. In
considering its approach to leadership in the church and it has decided that
individual presbyteries and synods should choose whether or not to accept
homosexuals for ordination. The church acknowledges diversity and
difference and invites adherents to call on the love of God and love of the
Church to make informed decisions (Dean Drayton, 2003).
Christian denominations would agree that all people are created equal, in
the image and likeness of God and should be treated with respect but
whether the denomination is accepting of homosexual lifestyle marks the
divide between churches. The diversity of the response of the churches to
this issue indicates the range of interpretations of these key sources for the
adherents of Christian denominations.
Christian Churches see the sources of teaching about the nature of
homosexuality as Scripture, reason and church teaching - either the
teaching authority of the church (in the case of Roman Catholic and
Orthodox Churches) or the agreement of Assemblies and Synods (Anglican
and Protestant denominations). The importance of current theological
writing in response to the impact of our developing understanding of human
nature cannot be underestimated in maintaining the relevance of church
teaching for adherents.
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Improving essay technique is a great class activity that can be done
collaboratively – use ICT
Use key features of the glossary terms to discuss how to improve
responses in pairs and then modify through class discussion.
Use a thesaurus to elaborate the language of written responses.
DESCRIBE: Characteristics Features Examples Characteristics Features Examples
EXPLAIN: Context Relationship Why How Context Relationship Why How
Use a range of denominational
responses- Anglican, Roman
Catholic, Orthodox and Uniting
Church. Make sure that the
reference adds to the analysis of
the response, not just adding
detail.
Include aspects such as
leadership within the church
as an additional area of
relevance to church teaching
Ensure that you refer to the
wording of the question in
concluding paragraph