Published by I have long been interested in how different religions tackle sexual ethics.
Particularly, the “grey areas” of pre-marital sex and homosexuality. (In all other areas of sex, all religions typically speak with one voice-for example “adultery is wrong” and so on)
It always interests me that there is such a strong debate within the Anglican church on homosexuality, since, as I see it, it all hinges upon whether or not one believes St Paul was right on the matter. Yes, there are prohibitions on male gay sex in the old testament, but I have heard it argued that the New Testament, as a “new and everlasting” covenant, supersedes the Old Testament for Christians; also, for reasons unknown the Old Testament seems to skip over lesbianism, meaning that gay men may enjoy the fires of eternal damnation, whilst their female counterparts…. (do what? play golf? -who knows?) Ok, so I am being flippant (not homophobic, I assure you), but this male/female discrepancy is very odd.
More generally, as far as Christianity is concerned, it seems to me a fairly stark choice- either St Paul was right or he was wrong on homosexuality. St Paul was, after all, just a mortal, doing his best in the world and before G-d, so the idea that he was wrong is not necessarily blasphemous. That said, if one can discount his views on homosexuality, it does raise issues about his other views and, once those come into question, there are obvious consequences for a Christian and the church more generally.
Previously, I was strongly of the impression that Buddhism, like Anglicanism was fairly split on the issue. In this case, the split seemed to be largely on regional lines, with – for example Japan or Thailand for example arguably more gay-tolerant than, say China. I was very interested, therefore, to read Winton Higgins’s article “Buddhist Sexual Ethics” , which explains the religion’s stance very well indeed. Higgins also contrasts so-called “ethnic” and “universal” religions in the process, which is a distinction I, personally, have long struggled fully to appreciate.
Winton Higgins’s article available is here
http://www.buddhanet.net/winton_s.htm
