Question Title

* 1. Does the persistence of same sex sexual orientation argue for gay marriage, as Brownson advocates?

Question Title

* 2. Is same sex sexual orientation a God-given attribute, or the result of sin?

Question Title

* 3. Based on science, can we say with confidence that gay and lesbian orientation in some cases is not subject to change?

Question Title

* 4. Based on theology, can we say with confidence that gay and lesbian orientation in some cases is not subject to change?

Question Title

* 5. Is same sex attraction in its essence really any different from, for example, a heterosexual man who is attracted to every beautiful female he sees? This latter attraction can persist into a man’s 80’s, and could be argued is not subject to change.
If the former is deemed to be normative and acceptable, by reason of the same logic, should the latter also be considered acceptable?

Question Title

* 6. Professor Brownson considers monogamy to be the deciding factor in the above question. The question that needs to be considered here is whether or not monogamy provides the solution for same sex attraction any more than it would for the following instance. A married man falls in love with his beautiful, young secretary. It could be so compelling an attraction that regardless of how hard he tries, he cannot get her off his mind, he cannot change. Would Brownson’s logic for same sex marriage be any different than saying it is acceptable for the married man to divorce his wife and marry his secretary?

Question Title

* 7. Is divorce what is wrong in the above example?

Question Title

* 8. If divorce is the sin or the problem with the example in question 8, it seems that a decision is first required to be made with respect to same sex sexual activity to determine if it is always a sin. Consider whether the following case is legitimate: a) some people cannot change their sexual orientation, or strong desires, and b) God does not require or gift all people to be celibate, therefore c) same sex monogamous marriages must be acceptable. Isn’t it essentially the same argument to say a) Trevor is married but is infatuated with his secretary, Susan. b) since he cannot get her off his mind to the extent he is no longer attracted to his wife and since God does not require some to be celibate, therefore c) he must divorce his wife and marry Susan?

Question Title

* 9. With reference to #8, just as it is understood that divorce is wrong, wouldn’t the correct approach to same sex attraction be to determine whether or not the Bible bans all instances of same sex sexual activity?

Question Title

* 10. Does Professor Brownson’s argument on celibacy succeed in supporting his position that the church should accept monogamous, same sex marriages?

T