9: Sexual Ethics
Cohabitation An unmarried couple living together in a sexually active relationship
Premarital sex Sex before marriage
Extra-Martial Sex beyond the confines of marriage
sex
Homosexual Sex between two people of the same sex.
sex
Pre-marital sex Christian teachings traditionally view it as a sin as sex should be in marriage. It indicates
a lack of moral discipline and threatens the institutions of marriage and family
Pre-marital sex 'why a man leaves his mother and father and is united with his wife and they become
- Bible quotes one flesh' Genesis 2:24. This emphasises the spiritual, emotional, social and sexual
purpose of marriage. It is part of god's plan
Pre-marital sex It believes pre-marital sex is an offence against marriage as it does not express fidelity,
- Catholic exclusivist, and commitment
Church
Pre-marital sex They published a book, suggesting that it was a progression towards marriage rather
- Church of than a rejection of it
England
Adrian Argues that Christians who believe that pre-marital sex is immoral have wrongly
Thatcher assumed that the ceremony is a requirement of marriage. There can be a commitment
between people before marriage
Extra-marital It holds that a valid marriage cannot be dissolved and it forbids divorce. Anyone
sex - Catholic remarrying after a divorce is having extra-marital sex
Church
Lisa Sowle Argues that the Christian stance against divorce protects women and children. It made
Cahill it impossible for men to have concubines and it stopped men abandoning women
Consent It is an important Christian message. Christian teaching maintains that marriage must be
freely and willingly entered into
Homosexual Traditional Christian teachings view it as wrong. There is no possibility of life arising from
sex the sexual union of same-sex couples - country to natural law and one of the traditional
purposes of sex. Same-sex marriage has not been permitted in many churches so any
kind of homosexual sex is outside of marriage and therefore sinful. God commands that
homosexual acts are wrong and therefore they are sinful. There is a tendency to see
homosexuality as a shameful condition of uncontrollable and unnatural lust. Some
churches maintain that the quality of the relationship is more important. If God creates
people to be gay by nature then that inclination must be good
Homosexual 'You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination' Leviticus 18:22
sex - Bible 'Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or
quotes perform homosexual acts...will inherit the kingdom of God' 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
God destroying Sodom
There are disagreements about Bible passages. Some believe they have been
mistranslated/taken out of context and that they actually refer to paedophilia or the
use of prostitutes
Gareth Moore Points to the fact that while Christianity follows the laws against homosexuality they
reject many other laws. We ignore laws we find inconvenient while pursuing those which
attack minorities we don't like. Scripture is used by people to reinforce their prejudices.
He argues that there is a Christian basis for an inclusive attitude towards homosexuality
because Christianity seeks to make room for the marginalised and societal outcasts
Homosexual It opposes same-sex marriage and requires that LGBT clergy in relationships remain
sex - Anglican celibate
Church
Homosexual They maintain there is no sin in being gay as it is not a choice. Gay people should be
sex - Catholic treated with respect and unjust discrimination should be avoided. But they should be
Church celibate. Pope Francis says: 'if a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am
I to judge?'. He argued that the Church should apologise for the harm it has done to
gay people
Homosexual It does not condemn homosexuality because God's grace is available to all and Jesus
sex - Methodist loved everyone unconditionally
Church
Siker Argues that homosexuals should be fully incorporated into the Christian community
Cohabitation An unmarried couple living together in a sexually active relationship
Premarital sex Sex before marriage
Extra-Martial Sex beyond the confines of marriage
sex
Homosexual Sex between two people of the same sex.
sex
Pre-marital sex Christian teachings traditionally view it as a sin as sex should be in marriage. It indicates
a lack of moral discipline and threatens the institutions of marriage and family
Pre-marital sex 'why a man leaves his mother and father and is united with his wife and they become
- Bible quotes one flesh' Genesis 2:24. This emphasises the spiritual, emotional, social and sexual
purpose of marriage. It is part of god's plan
Pre-marital sex It believes pre-marital sex is an offence against marriage as it does not express fidelity,
- Catholic exclusivist, and commitment
Church
Pre-marital sex They published a book, suggesting that it was a progression towards marriage rather
- Church of than a rejection of it
England
Adrian Argues that Christians who believe that pre-marital sex is immoral have wrongly
Thatcher assumed that the ceremony is a requirement of marriage. There can be a commitment
between people before marriage
Extra-marital It holds that a valid marriage cannot be dissolved and it forbids divorce. Anyone
sex - Catholic remarrying after a divorce is having extra-marital sex
Church
Lisa Sowle Argues that the Christian stance against divorce protects women and children. It made
Cahill it impossible for men to have concubines and it stopped men abandoning women
Consent It is an important Christian message. Christian teaching maintains that marriage must be
freely and willingly entered into
Homosexual Traditional Christian teachings view it as wrong. There is no possibility of life arising from
sex the sexual union of same-sex couples - country to natural law and one of the traditional
purposes of sex. Same-sex marriage has not been permitted in many churches so any
kind of homosexual sex is outside of marriage and therefore sinful. God commands that
homosexual acts are wrong and therefore they are sinful. There is a tendency to see
homosexuality as a shameful condition of uncontrollable and unnatural lust. Some
churches maintain that the quality of the relationship is more important. If God creates
people to be gay by nature then that inclination must be good
Homosexual 'You must not lie with a man as with a woman; that is an abomination' Leviticus 18:22
sex - Bible 'Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or
quotes perform homosexual acts...will inherit the kingdom of God' 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
God destroying Sodom
There are disagreements about Bible passages. Some believe they have been
mistranslated/taken out of context and that they actually refer to paedophilia or the
use of prostitutes
Gareth Moore Points to the fact that while Christianity follows the laws against homosexuality they
reject many other laws. We ignore laws we find inconvenient while pursuing those which
attack minorities we don't like. Scripture is used by people to reinforce their prejudices.
He argues that there is a Christian basis for an inclusive attitude towards homosexuality
because Christianity seeks to make room for the marginalised and societal outcasts
Homosexual It opposes same-sex marriage and requires that LGBT clergy in relationships remain
sex - Anglican celibate
Church
Homosexual They maintain there is no sin in being gay as it is not a choice. Gay people should be
sex - Catholic treated with respect and unjust discrimination should be avoided. But they should be
Church celibate. Pope Francis says: 'if a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am
I to judge?'. He argued that the Church should apologise for the harm it has done to
gay people
Homosexual It does not condemn homosexuality because God's grace is available to all and Jesus
sex - Methodist loved everyone unconditionally
Church
Siker Argues that homosexuals should be fully incorporated into the Christian community
