CReligious Studies and Ethics A2Brockwell

Topic 3: Christianity, the Bible and homosexuality.

Objective:• to examine and compare Christian

teachings and stances on homosexuality past and present

Arguments today

• No ‘gay gene’ has ever been discovered.• General agreement that sexuality is fixed in

childhood (between 5-7 years) and most people are neither exclusively gay or straight, but have a predominant tendency towards one.

• Issues still to do with equality and rights.

Gay marriage: Party leaders hail vote• MPs have backed a bill to

allow same-sex couples to get married in England and Wales, while the French National Assembly last week approved the most important article of a bill to legalise same-sex marriage.

• But where in the world can same-sex couples already get married?

Gay marriage: Party leaders hail vote

David Cameron says he is proud thatlove between a same-sex couple willnow "count the same" as a heterosexual couple, despite almost half his MPs voting against gay marriage.

• MPs voted in favour of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill by 400 to 175, a majority of 225.

• But 136 Tory MPs opposed the bill.• Mr Cameron paid tribute, during PM's questions, to those who had campaigned

for "many years" and the "moving" speeches made by MPs during the debate.• MPs were given a free vote on the bill, meaning they were not ordered to vote a

particular way by party whips.

Gay marriage timeline• Netherlands (2001)• Belgium (2003)• Spain (2005)• Canada (2005)• South Africa (2006)• Norway (2009)• Sweden (2009)• Portugal (2010)• Iceland (2010)• Argentina (2010)• Denmark (2012) Years that legislation was introduced

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Article 7.All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination

to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

• Article 16.(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race,

nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.

(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.