RE: sexual ethics Flashcards
what is the christian teaching on pre-marital and extra-marital sex?
both acts are sinful.
what’s the christian view on marriage?
- marriage is a sacrament, one of the ways god’s grace is given to us.
- it’s a symbol of Christ’s love for the church and should be open to the opportunity of children.
- it’s dissoluble (cannot be ended) as it’s a union with God.
- it’s only within the bounds of marriage can man and wife celebrate each other’s bodies. sex can only take place within marriage.
what are the 2 main aspects of sex in marriage, according to Roman Catholics?
- unitive: allows the couple to become closer in their married lives.
procreative: open to the transmission of life.
what is the Roman Catholic view on sex outside marriage.
- in the papal encyclical ‘the gospel of life’, pope John Paul II says that having sex with someone who isn’t your spouse threatens the sacred gift.
- sex outside marriage turns it into a kind of appetite that needs to be satisfied rather than a sacred gift.
what are the biblical teachings on extramarital sex?
- the 10 commandments - ‘do not commit adultery’
- ‘man and woman become one flesh’ - this bond cannot be broken.
what does natural law state about premarital/extramarital sex?
-divine law: genesis tells us to ‘be fruitful and fill the earth’. the family unit of man, woman and children has been established by God so sex must take place within marriage.
human law: marriage is a legal contract which outlines that couples should be committed and faithful to their partners.
primary precepts: marriage ensures education and reproduction and allows the formation of an orderly society by regulating sexual practices.
apparent good: premarital sex in a committed relationship might be thought of as acceptable if the intention is to fulfil the primary precepts.however, cohabitation lacks the marriage vows so it can only be regarded as an apparent good.
what do Kantian ethics state about premarital and extramarital sex?
good will: in having sex, we’re being used to fulfil someone’s desires (used as a means to an end). we can only do so in marriage as we have a common will.
lack of commitment: couples are using each other as a means to an end. children need to be brought up in a stable environment, cohabitation lacks the stability required.
dangers of premarital sex: the relationship is not based on equals and they aren’t based on mutual respect. a relationship based on lust uses the other person as a means to an end.
universal laws: we’d be unwilling to universalise the concept of adultery. Kant would condemn it due to his principle of categorical imperatives.
what does utilitarianism state about premarital and extramarital sex?
Greatest happiness principle: Dan Ariely said that young people are going to have sex so we must try to reduce the bad consequences (unwanted pregnancy, STDs)
PREMARITAL SEX:
- act utilitarianism: hedonic calculus would be used to see how much happiness comes about as a result.
- rule utilitarianism: look at whether any long established rules prohibit premarital sex, many marriages end in divorce so do we still need these rules?
EXTRAMARITAL SEX:
- act utilitarianism: it’s not intrinsically wrong, it’s for the couple to decide using the hedonic calculus.
- rule utilitarianism: if a committed relationship has a greater tendency to bring about happiness.
CHRISTIAN UTILITARIANISM:
Philippa Taylor provides evidence discussing cohabitation. arguments lead that premarital sex can lead to a series of events which eventually can lead to health problems and suicide amongst men.
what does situation ethics state about premarital and extramarital sex?
RELATIVISM:
- based on the most loving outcome relative to the situation.
- as long as premarital sex is carried out in a mutually loving and respectful way, it can be accepted.
4 WORKING PRINCIPLES: (example of sacrificial adultery)
- pragmatism: as the ends justify the means, she’s reunited with her family.
- relativism: the commandment ‘do not commit adultery’ is not absolute. in the situation, the most loving thing to do is to help her family.
- positivism: no intrinsic law against extramarital sex.
- personalism: if the child born out of the adulterous relationship is loved and accepted as part of the family,
what is the biblical teaching on homosexuality?
- the Old Testament teaches of of the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah, which was destroyed by god due to the routine practice of homosexual rape there.
- St Paul described homosexual sex as unnatural, lustful and shameful.
what does natural law state about homosexuality?
PRIMARY PRECEPTS: REPRODUCTION
one of the purposes of sex is to be procreative, this can’t happen between homosexuals.
DIVINE LAW:
contrary to divine law, ‘thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind’.
Catholic Church: humanae vitae
sex must be unitive but also procreative, supports natural law.
MODERN NATURAL LAW: TELOS
Norman Pittenger said that it’s inhumane and un-christian to condemn gay sex as it’s part of the created order. homosexuality and heterosexuality are found to be in every culture.
what does Kantian ethics state about homosexuality?
- treating others with respect: homosexual relationships lack mutual consent. purely for sexual gratification and uses humans as a ‘means to an end’.
- rational and autonomous beings: Kantian ethics can support homosexuality because if homosexuals are rational, free beings then gay sex can be expressed in a loving and mutually committed manner.
what does utilitarianism state about homosexuality?
- maximise pleasure, minimise pain: we need to take the happiness/interests of same-sex couples. we should allow people to express themselves as it results in the greatest happiness for the greatest number.
- hedonic calculus: if a significant number of people are outraged by homosexuality, it should be illegal.
what does situation ethics state about homosexuality?
- love replaces laws: we have to take context into account, Jesus saw that laws could be overridden by love (healing on the sabbath).
- love decides on each situation: UK laws on homosexuality have changed so rules regarding it are not absolute. A more loving approach has been adopted as of recent.
