Homosexuality, Religion and Atheism

Introduction Homosexuality draws mixed reaction from across the globe. Issues like cultural values, religious context, atheism, political stability, and economic empowerment of the people in a particular setting would play a pivotal role in accepting this sexual orientation. These factors determine homosexual acceptability in the society, although other forces would have a significant role in the determination of its acceptance.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Homosexuality, Religion and Atheism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This topic is common in most popular cultural setting although there is little literature work on the same to dissect adverse opinion and ways of embracing diverse opinion on the same. In this context, the conservatives draw their arguments from religious teachings whereas the atheists or the liberals embrace the need to have a society of diverse cultural orientation. The debate experience s opposing views from philosophers, most of whom are Christian and Muslims. These conclusions come from their spiritual perspective and thus do not clearly stipulate the desire to accommodate diverse religious inclinations on the same ground. Literature review A decade ago religion was the most important predictor in defining the attitude of homosexuality in the society, Adamczyk and Pitt (2009) bring an elaborate diverse opinion on the debate. They believe that acceptance of homosexuality depends on the existing laws that regulate the same sex marriages, possible penalties when viewed as social misfit, and diversity in national or cultural orientation. This last aspect shows the importance of religion in explaining the attitude on the debate. In fact, macro and micro support survival and personal beliefs that carry weight in defining the attitudes of homosexuality (Olson et al., 2006; Yip, 2005). It is from this context that one draws the importance of opinion as the best alternati ve in formulating law, shaping the direction of cultural inclination and thus religion. Homosexuality, in respect to religion, is unnatural in the eyes of the Supreme Being; the same philosophy holds this as an impure act. The fear of divine punishment shapes the cultural orientation concerning the direction of a community. Deep rooted-ness to religion would draw disapproval attitudes as opposed to those not deeply rooted in a religion. Muslims are the worse in making such opinions concerning the debate; they have a strong disapproval attitude, unlike members from other religions. This holds true to the cultural orientation in which atheists from this background would disapprove strongly homosexuality than atheists from other cultural background (Adamczyk Pitt, 2009).Advertising Looking for essay on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Some perception on gays and lesbians evoke different judgments, the survey by No rris (2008), came up with assertion that conservatives were the most judgmental on the perception that sought to allow these people freely mingle with others in the church. This supports several opinions, from this work, some people do not find any reason for branding an individual in that state of action. For instance, when one asserts that there are lesbians, rapists, and gays in the church and that they are decent people, though, living in sin, conservatives do not acknowledge the act of niceness as being polite yet rude to social context. Acknowledgement of homosexuality as impure and dirty is the most vocal opposition from such community. Moral judgment from the liberal and the conservatives are under the influence of different forces in the societal context. This is largely because of their different daily life orientation. While liberals’ demands for openness, inclusivity, and diversity that do not seek to harm any person in the society, counterparts view this as uncou th and punishable by law. The findings from this work elicit different views of liberals and the conservatives on this topic. The conservatives do not imagine how such acts could go free in the society by drawing their argument from their spiritual orientation in Supreme Being. They also believe that it represents cultural decay in the society in which punishments must take place to restore sanity, although they also offer room for repent in case of reform. These opinions are the fundamental framework of enacting laws. Depending on the majority, their way shall take centre stage and dictate the acceptable. This will automatically lock out different views from various groups with diverse sexual orientation in the community (Norris, 2008). According to Edgell et al. (2006), atheists face strong resistance from across corners of the world. The debate in this work is whether the act of the same sex marriage and other related sexual orientation is acceptable in the society or not. Findin gs from this work show that their acceptance in the community becomes questionable in different perspectives.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Homosexuality, Religion and Atheism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is therefore, true to assert that these finding support multiple views on the debate. The gap that exists between the believers and the nonbelievers defines the extent of this acceptance. If there is deep concern of community, some perception on their sexual inclination would define the root of acceptance. In this context atheist, unlike other religious orientations do not easily gain acceptance, either in public, or private domain. This distrust gets its drive from religion prediction factors, social location, and extensive values of orientation. From this context, it is clear that although there is extensive acceptance of various religious contexts, the same does not happen with nonreligious grouping . This study, however; goes an extra mile in helping to describe that increasing acceptance of various cultural inclinations and sexual orientation does extend to the levels of known religion. The study’s findings on the role of religion and believes provide sound moral guidance for any membership in cultural acceptance. Clinging onto the religion allows and gives on a better position of acceptance in the societal domain as opposed to lack of religion (Edgell et al., 2006). The attitude plays a significant role in young men and their religious perception in homosexuality. Besen and Zicklin (2007), explore the variations of attitudes on people clinging to same sexual marriages from the complexity of religious definitions, mainly in the young people and how these could support or put to jeopardy on the rights of gays. This research supports multiple views on the perception of gays in the societal context. Its findings show that young men do not have particular attitudes about t he homosexuals, but their counterparts in religions do, these varied perception emanates from religious inclination. However, one notable difference in the youth is the varied attitudes on gender, whereas young male showed significant concern and attitude toward the homosexuality, their female counterparts show little concern.Advertising Looking for essay on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The latter seems to support a diverse cultural perspective. Although the data obtained in this research had multiple study sites, for instance whereas in the military more young men showed their support for and positive attitudes toward these sexual orientation multiple views emerge from without this context. The role of religion is playing a significant role in shaping the youth in taking a certain sexual step, more so it defines the virtues and values for accepting and developing a positive attitude of a given sexual orientation. It is from this perspective that the youth find it hard to go against the norms and virtues of religion in doing contrary to their teaching of sexual orientation. The unsupportive trends by religious group are the basis upon which the youth find solutions and directions of denouncing the homosexuals. This is true because many of them cling to religions that have positive attitudes on the act (Besen Zicklin, 2007). In his work on understanding the differe nt views of homosexuality debate, Sprigg (2011), notes that many people do not consider two important views in an effort of understanding same sexual marriage. The first paradigm shift is the identification of gay identity. This shift is under several believes it states well that when one is born a gay, it makes it hard to change the state; it also states that gays have fewer options of becoming heterosexual. This paradigm also defines sexual orientation as innate feature by likening it to races, it goes ahead to assert that the act is not different from being straight. Finally, the shift stands firm that there is no harm in one adopting gay. The second view defines the practical aspect of sexual orientation. Unlike what many people perceive, this work shows the importance of going out of the cocoons that enslave many conservatives who believes that sexual orientation is purely a unitary phenomenon. The study shows that sexual structure is a three thing affair; this comes from attra ction, conduct, and self identity (Sprigg, 2011). One may get attraction to people of the same sexual orientation, opposite sex, or both. The second part gives liberty of choosing the type of conduct one gets attracted, while the last segment seeks to draw the attention of one’s thought as straight, gay, bisexual, and lesbian. Findings from this studies show that although some people may feel attraction from the same sex, they would otherwise choose the opposite (heterosexual) because if fear of publicity and possible implications. This denies them the option of choosing their desired sexual partners. Study on the debate reveals issues of concern depending on development, industrialisation, and economic powers (Chike, 2007). While in countries like Canada, Belgium, and Netherlands the homosexuals easily go about their culture, in developing nations the act of homosexuality is unthinkable. African Christian leaders are the most conservatives in condemning this act; they strict ly follow biblical teachings that condemn the act of same sexual orientation. From this perspective, it is true that economic empowerment has a major role in shaping the way people think and make decisions. This does not give them room to look at the Bible as historic book that offers alternative teachings that require evaluations and considerations in a contextualization perspective, but rather as a book that offers nourishment that needs integration into their traditional way of life to define their every step. It is very difficult to integrate diverse views and attitudes of accepting homosexuality in the community. This stiffens the possibility of smooth swaying of wave and tides for those having attractions for same sexes. Similarly, philosophers in Europe and North America share the same sentiments with African religious leaders. These are mainly those with imprints of Christianity in the African continent. Contrary to this, industrialized countries assess these issues in diffe rent perception; a god number of religious leaders would allow liberal view. Western churches would be comfortable to accommodate lesbians, rapists, and gays in their churches as opposed to what happens in African states. In this study, the author draws attention of some of the underrated predictors that define religious orientations toward homosexuality. Economic empowerment seems to play a significant role in shaping the way forward in accepting this issue (Chike, 2007). Some researchers believe that the same way religions do not offer accomplishments like honorary degrees, issuance of passports, and academic accomplishments, they should not bother about branding some act as illegal and thus should leave the floor open for individual choices. Homosexuality is in fact, among the many issues that religions oppose. Many religions assert that when one sees atheism in the society he or she sees homosexuality in the same magnitude. However, some religions like Christianity in some devel oped nations have rooms for these people. This came to live after several years of protest and stone throwing to make the field free for navigation. As many would have expected that the church took an active role in ordaining active homosexuals, the move is still in darkness owing to conservative views on the same. Largely it faces resistance from lack of policies from the state to provide provisions that enable people of same sexual orientations to enter into a contractual arrangement. This last aspect include issues like nationhood or citizenship, status of immigration, inheritance of insurance policy, and policies that govern visitations to the hospital (Chike, 2007; Sprigg, 2011). Many states are facing resistance from policy makers in these sectors because people of the same sex marriages would be in a better position of enjoying significant returns from these policies if there is a legal protection of their sexual inclination. This faces resistance from the religious leaders w ho on the same issues assert that protection of moral uprightness in the society is the most important aspect that needs protection than individual aspirations intending to bring down the strong mechanisms of social values and norms. Just as religion is dynamic, homosexuality perception goes along this inclination in different views. The main determinant of religion among others is the age. As people grow older, they tend to cling closer to a religion, this must take into account their dynamic perspectives. This is the basis upon which many people keep changing from churches to churches. This is mainly to find places where their faith in accepting other norms does not welcome rude rebuke. Conflicts in the narrowed thinking aspersions cause most people to move in various religions. Most people will, therefore, identify themselves with religions not against a certain sexual orientation. Embracing complex religious identity is the main predictor that embraces the wellbeing in most athe ists. This is contrary to their intent of aligning themselves to a religion; the aftermath of these wrangles is keeping away from such doctrines that tend to deny their rights. Even though all people under the universe will try as much as, they could identify themselves with spirituality in which many would derive resources, sexual orientation would shift this perception into a totally different point of view (Chike, 2007; Sprigg, 2011). Conclusions Some of these findings are consistent with the public opinions mainly because some studies draw their argument from the religious perspective. The evidence emerging stipulates the importance of this research in drawing the attention of progress in the debate. This implies that more is yet to draw the importance of liberating the society in allowing its people to take their different stand in cultural values. The implications of these researches are that people with distinct sexes, different sexual orientations, and gender identities woul d not have a place in the society not until change covers the earth’s face. This protects policy makers in the insurance, medical fraternity who believe that same sexual marriages would make certain individuals to benefit from the facilities and policies while disadvantaging their counterparts in straight marriages. The research needs to find amicable issues of redress in carrying out their research and offers sound solutions to policy makers to champion methods to drafting policies in which everyone would find refuge. References Adamczyk, A., Pitt, C. (2009). Shaping attitudes about homosexuality: The role of religion and cultural context. Social Science Research, 38, 338–351. Besen, Y., Zicklin, G. (2007). Young Men, Religion, and Attitudes towards Homosexuality. Journal of Men, Masculinities and Spirituality, 1(3), 250†266. Chike, C. (2007). Beyond the homosexuality debate. Retrieved from https://www.anglicancommunion.org/ Edgell, P., Gerteis, J., Hartmann, D. (2006). Atheists as â€Å"Other†: Moral Boundaries and Cultural Membership in American Society. American Sociological Review, 71(3), 211–234. Norris, R.A. (2008). Some Notes on the Current Debate Regarding Homosexuality and the Place of Homosexuals in the Church. Anglican Theological Review, 90(3), 437-512. Olson, R.R., Cadge, W., Harrison, J.T. (2006). Religion and public opinion about same-sex marriage. Social Science Quarterly, 87, 340–360. Sprigg , P. (2011). Debating Homosexuality Understanding Two Views. Retrieved from https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF11J33.pdf Yip, A. (2005). Queering Religious Texts: An Exploration of British Non-heterosexual Christians’ and Muslims’ Strategy of Constructing Sexuality affirming Hermeneutics. Sociology BSA Publications Ltd, 39(1), 47–65. 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