Homosexuality in Today’s Society, Essay Example

Homosexuality in today’s society has become increasingly relevant in many ways, from familial relations to other types of behaviors that impact society and its people in different ways. Therefore, the passage from Romans 1:18, 22-32 is representative of a classic view of behavior and how religion impacted the people during the era in which this was written and served as the primary word. In evaluating the text more closely, it is observed that there are significant issues related to the creation of an environment that disavows any type of non-heterosexual behavior and that essentially condemns this behavior for life: “That is why God abandoned them in their inmost cravings to filthy practices of dishonoring their own bodies—²⁵because they exchanged God’s truth for a lie and have worshipped and served the creature instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. That is why God abandoned them to degrading passions: ²⁷why their women have exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural practices; and the men, in a similar fashion, too, giving up normal relations with women, are consumed with passion for each other, men doing shameful things with men and receiving in themselves due reward for their perversion.”

In this context, it is unacceptable to develop or accept any type of behavior that does not fall under the traditional norms and expectations of society during this era. However, other principles have come into fruition in today’s society that have a significant impact on the interpretation and acceptance of this text. This is an important step towards the discovery of a new set of principles or updated beliefs that impact how people think about homosexuality in today’s society. However, this is not always the case, as there are many people who stick to the existence of traditional principles that are not necessarily aligned with current behaviors. This is a disturbing yet important aspect of society that has an impact on how individuals behave and respond to behavior that exists throughout society in the 21^st Century. There are considerable issues associated with these developments and how they impact or influence individual behaviors, as well as the acceptance of a new normal that clearly was not what the bible intended. From an exegetical point of view, there are critical factors to consider in this passage, that if taken literally, have a detrimental impact on modern society and its people, particularly those who are deemed “stupid” or “filthy” by biblical standards. Nonetheless, these factors also demonstrated an important understanding of the values and principles that govern modern society and the people that live in this era. Many of them, with the exception of pure traditionalists, are willing to bend the rules and to accept the dawning of a new era that is in full acceptance of behaviors that are non-traditional. Those who are deemed purists in the greatest possible sense require a greater understanding of the values and judgments that impact society and its people, as well as the values that are most important to them in the modern era.

Even in the most traditional sense, it is ironic to interpret the text of the bible from a historical point of view when history has forever changed how society is viewed and how events have transformed behaviors. Clearly this was not the case when the bible was written; however, these arguments simply do not hold up in 2014. From this perspective, there are many negative aspects to consider that have an impact on society and its people, as noted in any strict interpretation of the bible that exists today. Those who choose loyalty to the bible’s original meaning and intent should also consider their own lives and how society has impacted them in many ways. Many people might condone homosexual behavior, but many other activities were also unheard of when the bible was written that are exercised today. Therefore, these factors must also be taken into consideration as part of a larger argument regarding the bible and its impact on society and its people. With this type of strict interpretation, many activities are deemed unacceptable by historical standards that occur today, even in traditional, monogamous, heterosexual relationships. Therefore, these factors must be taken into consideration as part of a larger set of arguments that impact how individuals live in the modern era and how their behaviors are interpreted by traditionalists.

The arguments set forth in Pizzuto’s article represent a challenge to the original text written in the bible because it conveys a different interpretation that is difficult to ignore. For example, the interpretation of Paul’s teachings are likely very different than what was originally intended, yet they pose an opportunity to explore different dimensions. For example, it is believed that Paul’s teachings did not support homosexuality are likely to be accurate, yet they appear to be in reference to an entirely different view of this behavior that that which often exists today, and this reflects the importance of developing new interpretations that impact what individuals and the church believe regarding homosexuality in people who truly love each other (Pizzuto). This interpretation is instrumental in shaping how individuals respond to different events and how they are impacted by different societal norms and expectations that have an impact on the modern era.

Perhaps most important to these arguments is the belief that there are critical needs that are unmet in society with traditional interpretations of the bible. These perspectives exclude entire groups of people who have the same feelings and emotions as heterosexual couples. Excluding them from society and condemning their behavior is no better than the treatment given to many other groups, such as minorities, that existed throughout the 19^th and 20^th Centuries and that continue today, albeit in a different context. By condoning these behaviors without considering that these persons are human beings is essentially ignoring an entire group of people and excluding them from society. This is not Christian behavior and should not be tolerated in modern society.