Religion And Islamic View On Homosexuality Religion Essay

Explaination:- Lut is referred to as Lot in the Hebrew Scriptures. This passage is an apparent reference to the activities at Sodom and Gamorah. It seems to imply that there was no homosexual behavior before it first appeared in Sodom. This is a uniquely Islamic concept; it does not appear in Jewish or Christian beliefs. The passage also links the sin of Sodom (the reason for its destruction) to homosexuality.That linkage is contradicted by other verses in the Hebrew Scriptures.

The Quran prohibits any sexual relationship except in a marriage between male and female. It is advised to take Homosexual as a test of life and suppress the feeling to follow God’s law in Islam.

According to The Islam Society of North America, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, said: ” Homosexuality is a moral disorder, a sin and corruption… No person is born homosexual, just like no one is born a thief, a liar or murderer. People acquire these evil habits due to a lack of proper guideance and education.” He also said : ” There are many reasons why it is forbidden in Islam. Homosexuality is dangerous for the health of the individuals and for the society. It is a main cause of one of the most harmful and fatal diseases. It is disgraceful for both men and women. It degrades a person. Islam teaches that men should be men and women should be women. Homosexuality deprives a man of his manhood and a woman of her womanhood. It is the most un-natural way of life. Homosexuality leads to the destruction of family life.”

All Islamic schools of thought and jurisprudence consider gay acts to be unlawful but they differ in terms of penalty:-

The Hanafite school (currently seen mainly in South and Eastern Asia) taught that no physical punishment is warranted.

The Hanabalites, (widely followed in the Arab world) taught that severe punishment is warranted.

The Sha’fi school of thought (also seen in the Arab world) requires a minimum of 4 adult male witnesses before a person can be found guilty of a homosexual act. Since Iranian revolution in 1979, Al-Fatiha estimates that 4,000 homosexuals have been executed in Iran and 10 public executions of homosexuals have been performed in Afghanistan by the Taliban army.

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Conclusion, in Islam, it is clear that homosexual is wrong and cannot be accepted and pratise by Muslim and there is punishment of Muslim who practise. The punnishment also differ in schools and Muslim who belong to a specific school will undergo the penalty that is warranted br that particular school.

Christian view about Homosexual

As Bible is the Holy Book for Christians, the Bible had talk about homosexuality in some verses. Below is the example of some the verses:-

In the Old Testament, homosexual behaviour is mentioned in the story of the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by God in the book of Genesis (Revised Standard Version, RSV),

>>> Chapter 19

Gen.19,1    The two angels came to Sodom in the evening; and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and bowed himself with his face to the earth,

Gen.19,2    and said, lMy lords, turn aside, I pray you, to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise up early and go on your way.l They said, lNo; we will spend the night in the street.l

Gen.19,3    But he urged them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

Gen.19,4    But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house;

Gen.19,5    and they called to Lot, lWhere are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them [New International Version (NIV): can have sex with them , New Jerusallam Bible (NJB): can have intercourse with them].l

The book of Leviticus also mentions homosexual behaviour(Revised Standard Version, RSV):

Lev.18,22    You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination Lev.18,23    And you shall not lie with any beast and defile yourself with it, neither shall any woman give herself to a beast to lie with it: it is perversion.

Lev.18,24    lDo not defile yourselves by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am casting out before you defiled themselves;

Lev.18,25    and the land became defiled, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.

In the New Testament St. Paul writes about homosexual behaviour in his letter to the Romans (RSV):

Rom.1,24    Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

Rom.1,25    because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen.

Rom.1,26    For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural,

Rom.1,27    and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.

Rom.1,32    Though they know God’s decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them.

[source from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_homosexuality]

However, homosexuality is accepted by some Christian denomination and the acception of homosexual couple can be catogeries into allows as members, ordains, blesses union and marries.

These are acception of some denomiation:-

Denomiation

Allows as members

Ordains

Blesses Union

Marries

Methodist

Yes

No

No

No

Roman Catholic Church

Yes(but may possibly be denied sacraments since it varies)

No(celibate homosexual men also not to be ordained, women are resticted regardless of orientation)

No

No

Episcopal

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes(allows Bishops to decide)

[Source from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominational_positions_on_homosexuality]

In conlusion, most of Chritianity denomiation does not accept homosexually fully and Christian is bounded to his or her denomiation to refer on homosexual. However , in Bible, it is stated in many verses that can be interpreted that homosexual is wrong and prohibited.

Buddhism view about homosexual

Buddha did not leave any teaching neither about homosexual orientation nor homosexual behaviour. He encourage his follower to examine and test the truth of religious teaching before accepting them; “be a lamp onto yourself”. Buddhism teaches to do thing that useful and helpful,based on good intention and and freedom from harm.

There are some arguments made from basic Buddhist priciples, which is Buddha’s Eightfold Path. Second of the eight steps is called as Samma sankappa: right thinking or right resolve. When this step is related to sexual behaviour, it is explained as that it is not allowed to engage with pleasurable activities such as masturbation and also harm another person. Other than that, fourth step of the eight step, Samma Kammanta; right conduct or right behaviour also been related with sexual behaviour. This step is explained as that safe sex should be practise to avoid passing STDs which may cause death, engage with only sex that has mutual consent, and avoid “unlawful” sex. From here, according to basic Buddhist principle, we can say that homosexual can be practise except if there is no mutual consent or it is unlawful and also safe sex is not practise.

Theravada Buddhism is one of the largest division of Buddhism. Theravada Buddhists say that if a relationship gives out happiness and well-being to both parties, then it is positive and can be accepted. Kerry Trembathe commented that Buddhist leaders grouped coercive sex, sexual harashment, child molestation and adultery as sexuall misconduct but heterosexual and homosexual sex are accepted. Kerry Thembathe concludes:-

lUnfortunately, it cannot be said that homosexuals in countries where Buddhists are in the majority are any more free from prejudice and discrimination than they are in other countries. Everywhere it has taken root, Buddhism has absorbed aspects of the dominant culture, and this has sometimes been to its detriment. Neither is it true to say that people who espouse Buddhism are themselves any more free from prejudiced views than those of other persuasions. However it is clear that there is nothing in the Buddha’s teachings to justify condemnation of homosexuality or homosexual acts. It seems to me that many gays and lesbians, particularly in Western countries, are drawn to Buddhism because of its tolerance and its reluctance to draw rigid moral lines, although of course I have no hard evidence for this. … The same principles would be used to evaluate all relationships and sexual behaviour, whether heterosexual or homosexual.l [Source from: http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_budd.htm ]

Hinduisme view about homosexual

Homosexuality is a controversial issue within Hindus ecspecialy among Hindus in countries where homosexually is accepted generally. The famous Kama Sutra states that homosexual sex is to be engaged in for its own sake as arts.

There are arguement is done on this topic against the Hinduism’s teachings on love,sex and marriage. In Hinduism, love is an external force which is important to attain Moksha. Erotic desire or Kama in Hinduism is one of the most legimate pleasures on earth, however premarital sex and extramarital sex is prohibited. This is summarise of the arguemnt.

Some people does not agree to accept homosexual and these are their points:-

Romantic love naturally between men and women and it is impossible for homosexual people to experience this love.

Then, homosexual is a form of lust; lust is wrong , thus homosexual activities are wrong.

One of the three functions of marriage is Prajaa, the progeny for perpetuation of one’s family. A homosexual couple cannot procreate, and thus cannot be married.

Since homosexual couples cannot marry, they cannot engage with sexual intercourse as premaritel and extramarital sex is wrong.

At the counter part, they have their own points and these are the points:-

There is no prove that show love is between men and women in Hindu. Therefore, it is not true.

Hence, homosexual couple can experience love and not lust at all time.

The three functions of marriage is from Dharma Shastras, books that not binding to Hindus. Prajaa may be interpreted in a number of ways that do not involve procreation at all even if the three function is related to marriage. Thus homosexuals should be allowed to marry.

A loving relationship is encouraged to have sexual expression since it is not expreesion of lust but love. Therefore, homosexual is loving relationship should allowed to express their love sexually.

Sikhism view about Homosexuality

The Guru Granth Sahib, The highest authority in Sikhism, kept silent on homosexual topic, however there are parts of Guru Granth Sahib that have been interpreted that homosexual is wrong. The five thiefs that should avoided by Sikhs; Pride(a’Hankar) , Anger( Kr’odh) ,Greed( Lob’H), Lust(K’haaam) and Attachment(Mo’H) are statedin the Guru Granth Sahib. Many Sikhs believe that homosexual is a product of lust, hence homosexual is forbidden.

In reference to Sikhism’s rejection on Indian caste system, Sikhs that born or raised in countries that tolerant to homosexual describe homosexual is “the new Untouchables”. These Sikhs also believe that Guru Nanak’s emphasisation on universal quality and brotherhood supports gay’ rights.

Any alternative way of living is prohibited in family living; one of Sikhism’s most underlying values. Most of Sikhs assume that this means homosexual is prohibited. Most of Sikh will try to overcome homosexual feeling by believing it is lust and marry opposite sex person. This makes a belief that no homosexual Sikh.

But those Sikh who support homosexual, say that family living value is not only for heterosexual couple but also applicable for homosexual couple. In conclusion, most Sikh do not practise homosexual , however there is some Sikh who support the arguement about homosexual is not wrong and pratise it.

Conclusion

Religion

Acception of Homosexual

Islam

Not Accepted

Christian

Depend on Christianity denomiation whether accepted or not and also the degree of acception.

Hindism

A controversual issue; some accept and some not and they have their own arguement on their acception.

Buddhism

Alike as Hinduism; some accept but some not.

Sikhism

Most of Sikh do not accept but a minority people accept it.