Religion & Ethics: Content from Across the ABC




Date/Time 30 Dec 2014 12:30:12am
1) For centuries the Christian church was defined as being obedient to the Pope in Rome. Things changed quite radically in the 16th century. Marriage was for centuries defined as a "conjugal relation between men and women", things changed quite radically in the 21st century... panta rhei.
2) "Thus heterosexual people no longer have the right to enter an institution understood to be only possible for heterosexuals"... No, you get 0 in logic John Milibank. By opening the doors of the formerly exclusive club to everybody, everybody is allowed in: both the old members and the new ones.
3) "renders all marriages 'gay marriages'"... No! Another 0 in logic: it renders all "marriages" simply marriages, defined as the legally recognised union between two consenting adults. This applies to civil law. The churches are free to keep whatever definition they wish.
4) When you refer to "complementarity in marriage" what you are really referring to is not the male/female complementarity, but the masculine/feminine complementarity (so called). Gender role (masculine/feminine/androgynous) is independent of biological sex.
5) Heterosexual individuals are bound to the other sex by "sheer force of physical attraction". Homosexual individuals are bound to the same sex by "sheer force of physical attraction".
6) The optimum condition for children is to be brought up in a loving, caring, constructive social environment conducive to the full development of the self in recognition of the dynamics of social living. The latter entails the learning of both rights and duties. That's all what you need really.
7) Is this a debate the Church is bound to lose? Yes, I am afraid. After that, the Church will change, adapt, and survive as it has done over the centuries.
8) Finally, I have to protest the fact that you and other Christian commentators and students of sexuality ignore BISEXUALITY. Bisexuality is a proper sexual orientation. I would love to read your opinion on that in a future article.