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JA5. Homosexuality against Islamic Belief

Statement

Hopefully, this week has increased your worldview about the importance of ethics and morality. Write A research paper on Ethics and Morality in the world around you. Remember, your personal philosophy is right for you, you do not have to agree with these scholars.

You must pick one of the following four topics:

  1. Write about an ethical conflict you have with somebody that you feel morally obligated to not follow. This can be about gender, sexuality issues, follow the dietary practices your religion and/or culture requires (e.g., alcohol, smoking, kosher diet, or halal food).
  2. Write about immigration issues. Should anyone be allowed into a sovereign country? Consider the ethical and moral dilemmas the arriving societies and receiving societies face.
  3. Write about enforcing an adult belief structure onto children who have not chosen it yet (e.g., FGM, certain religious practices, hunting animals for sports/entertainment). Consider the moral and ethical challenges of enforcing an adult belief structure onto children.
  4. Write about a dilemma that you have that happened in either your workplace or in your family setting.

When addressing any one of these topics, you must

  • Describe an ethical question or dilemma
  • State and explain your position clearly with 1-2 supporting example(s) and
  • State and explain 1-2 objection(s) to your position,
  • Defend your position from the objection(s) with 1-2 example(s)
  • Incorporate 1-2 ethical concept(s) or theory(ies) learned in this module into your thought process and writing.
  • Apply your selected ethical theory(ies) to answer or resolve your ethical question or dilemma and have citations on your paper from where you find the information

Answer

The text chose to write about an ethical conflict that is morally obligated to not follow; it will discuss the morality of homosexuality against Islamic belief.

Homosexuality was always considered a form of “mental illness, morally wrong and socially deviant” (Brooke, 1993). Most religions -including Islam- looked at homosexuality as a sin that deserves harsh punishment; but today, with the legalization of same-sex marriage, it is becoming more acceptable as a way of life and religions -although, not supporting it- no longer advocate for punishing homosexual individuals. Islam is still behind in accepting homosexuality as it is still illegal and punishable in most Islamic countries.

The dilemma is that Islam advocates free will and encourages people to go their own path looking for the absolute truth, and leaving whatever mistakes or sins that you make till after death when every human will be held accountable. On the other hand, Islam also imposes harsh punishment on homosexuals, including boycotting them, not allowing them into the house, and reporting them to the authorities which will imprison or execute them.

My position is that according to free will, every human can seek their own path and we -as fellow humans- do not have the wisdom nor the capacity to judge anyone’s actions as long as they did not harm others, and homosexuality does not hurt other people and should not be punished. One example is that the main purpose of Islam is to help people find the right path, and by punishing people for their sexual orientation, you are not helping them but rather pushing them away from the path; if you are punishing a “sinful homosexual” by death, you are sending them straight to hell, which is the exact opposite of Islam’s purpose. Another example is that punishing people actually forces them to a specific direction which is the exact opposite of free will, and also causes a lot of issues with homosexuals hiding their orientation, thus going into heterosexual marriages due to social pressure, but they are not happy with their partners or cheating on them.

Objections to my position are usually based on that Quran is valid for all times and places, despite that everything has changed; or that homosexuality actually hurts society indirectly. One example is that if we don’t follow the Quran due to the changes in society on this matter, then that opens the door for everyone to exclude whatever chapters they want from the Quran without valid reasons. Another example is that allowing homosexuality will destroy the family unit, and with more people becoming homosexuals, then the population will decrease and we lose the ability to preserve the human race, which is a purpose that is sacred in Islam.

My defense is that the Quran is valid for all times and places but its laws can be changed and the advances in technology may solve the preserving race issue. One example is the concept of consensus in Islam that can override laws, and that is if all scholars and Muslims agree on a specific matter, then it can be changed; as it is impossible for everyone to be wrong. Another example is that advances in technology, like artificial wombs, can still achieve the purpose of preserving the human race without the need for a traditional family structure.

There are two main theories that each side of the dilemma adopts, the first one is the Categorical Imperatives adopted by the side that is opposing homosexuality, as Kant defines it with commands that must always be followed regardless of the context, consequences, or circumstances (Kailee, 2020); this side sees God’s commands to disallow homosexuality must be followed regardless of their effect on person’s fate, safety, and even on society. The other side adopts Ethical Relativism where right or wrong is not absolute but rather follows the culture, society, or circumstances (Santa Clara University, 2022); this side sees that if enough people see homosexuality as acceptable to the point that is legalized, then it is not wrong and should not be punished.

To Conclude, both sides of the dilemma have valid points, which is why it is a dilemma, but the side that supports homosexuals to choose their own path and not punish them has more valid rights than wrongs; I personally knew people who were secretly homosexuals but I did not turn them in or told anyone about it to preserve their safety; I believe I was morally right despite being a Muslim and seeing that other side may be right as well.

Word Count: 755.

References

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