The Aristophrenium

Proclaiming the truth of the gospel and the centrality of Christ in all things

Sexuality Archive

Sunday

18

November 2012

9

COMMENTS

Gay Big Brother contestant proposes but passes on parenting

Written by , Posted in Marriage & Family, Sexuality, Society & Culture

The winner of this year’s reality show, Big Brother (Australia), surprised many when he popped the question to his partner in the dying moments of the season’s finale. Reality TV is no stranger when it comes to such outspoken displays of romance, but Ben Norris’s proposal was just as much a political statement as it was a declaration of love. His partner, to whom he presented a diamond ring that his grandfather had given his grandmother, is his boyfriend, also named Ben. In a country where the traditional definition of marriage has been challenged twice in the last few years (to no avail), Ben’s proposal is very political indeed, even if he didn’t intend it to be. But the pro same-sex ‘marriage’ media loved it. After all, when rational arguments fail, there’s nothing like a good ol’ public, emotional display that tugs at the heartstrings of the populace to make [...]

Tuesday

23

October 2012

1

COMMENTS

The Same-Sex-Parenting v Pro-life Conundrum?

Written by , Posted in Marriage & Family, Sexuality

During a recent conversation about same-sex parenting, a friend of mine made an interesting segue into the abortion topic that I thought would be instructional to share here. The conversation had gotten onto same-sex marriage and homosexual parenting. He already knew from previous conversations that I didn’t support either of these. He also knew that I didn’t support abortion and introduced the topic to the conversation to point out an apparent conflict – not necessarily in the views themselves, but in holding them both at the same time. Greg Koukl gives an example of this:[1] Those who are quick to object that God isn’t doing enough about evil in the world (“A good God wouldn’t let that happen”) are often equally quick to complain when God puts His foot down (“A loving God would never send anyone to hell”). If He appears indifferent to wickedness, His goodness is challenged. Yet [...]

Monday

15

October 2012

0

COMMENTS

Thursday

6

September 2012

0

COMMENTS

Francis Schaeffer: From Unthinkable to Thinkable

Written by , Posted in Apologetics, Christian activism, Ethics, Marriage & Family, Philosophy, Politics, Pro-Life / Abortion, Sexuality, Society & Culture

Francis Schaeffer was definitely a prophetic voice in his day. More than anyone else, he saw clearly what the trajectory of our post-Christian culture would be. He saw that the moral precepts that we regarded as axiomatic during the earlier part of the twentieth century could no longer be taken for granted today. This is important for us to consider because it is certain that this trend will continue over the next few decades, with certain things that are unthinkable now becoming more and more acceptable (just as the things that are acceptable now were unthinkable just a few short decades ago). In Schaeffer’s words: There is a thinkable and an unthinkable in every era. One era is quite certain intellectually and emotionally about what is acceptable. Yet another era decides that these “certainties” are unacceptable and puts another set of values into practice. On a humanistic base people drift [...]

Saturday

19

May 2012

1

COMMENTS

Why can’t the gay brothers be wed?

Written by , Posted in Ethics, Marriage & Family, Politics, Sexuality, Society & Culture

The title is somewhat tongue-in-cheek. However, in light of the arguments often advanced in support of legalising same-sex “marriage”, I believe it is a pertinent question. Why not let the gay brothers wed? If society and culture redefine marriage so that “any two persons can marry”, it seems no stretch of the argument at all to campaign for the legal wedding of two gay brothers to each other, or the wedding of an uncle to his adult nephew. In the Australian context, considering that our government is currently inquiring into the issue of legalizing same-sex “marriage” (see my last month’s post, Australian Senate considers marriage equality bill), our law enforces the following restrictions on people desiring to enter marriage: You must be an adult You must not be currently married You must not marry a close blood relation You must marry a member of the opposite sex Advocates of same-sex [...]

Sunday

1

April 2012

20

COMMENTS

Australian Senate considers marriage equality bill

Written by , Posted in Marriage & Family, Politics, Sexuality, Society & Culture

On April 2, 2012, the Australian Senate closes invitations from the public on their opinion regarding the legalisation of same-sex ‘marriage’. This is not the first time the Senate has been requested to do so; the last time was back in 2009. Yet the political climate in Australia is markedly different now. In 2009, the Labor Government had as it’s official party policy to support marriage as man-woman only; likewise the Opposition Government. The Bill put forward to redefine marriage to “any two persons”, the Marriage Equality Amendment Act 2009, by the Greens (a progressive left party) was resoundly dismissed. Yet this time round, we have a Labor Government who altered their party platform late last year to support same-sex ‘marriage’ and we have three bills being reviewed by the Senate to amend the Marriage Act 1961. One of the those bills is again from the Greens: the Marriage Equality [...]

Sunday

19

February 2012

2

COMMENTS

Porcelain Urinals

Written by , Posted in Sexuality, Society & Culture

“Will my boys grow up viewing woman as no different than the porcelain urinal on the wall of the boys’ room—an object (not a person) to relieve themselves into whenever they feel the urge or need? And will my daughters grow up believing that’s who they’re supposed to be? I hope not.” – Walt Mueller When I first came across this quote it saddened and disturbed me. This is because it is remarkably accurate with its portrayal of the society and culture we live in. The worst part is that not many people care. Most people just accept this as the reality in which we live. There is a general consensus among westerners that Islam’s treatment of women is barbaric and that they view them as property to be owned like slaves. But rarely do we see those same westerners consider how they treat women. The above quote highlights that [...]

Monday

5

December 2011

4

COMMENTS

We Don’t Hate Sin. So We Don’t Understand What Happened To The Canaanites

Written by , Posted in Apologetics, Atheism, Church History, Ethics, Sexuality, Society & Culture

Richard Dawkins was recently challenged to a debate with William Lane Craig. He declined. Craig, he said, was a “deplorable apologist for genocide” with whom he would not share a platform. The genocide in question is that of the Canaanites in the Old Testament Book of Deuteronomy (see link). One of Richards more famous quotes from “The God Delusion” on this issue is: The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully. One of the biggest problems that many people have with God as detailed in the Bible, which Richard has so clearly demonstrated above, is that of His judgment against nations like the Canaanites. One only has to read Biblical history to find God commanding the slaughter of [...]

Tuesday

29

November 2011

0

COMMENTS

Weep with compassion for the celebration of sin

Written by , Posted in Marriage & Family, Sexuality, Society & Culture

In the lead up to the Australian Labor Party’s (ALP) National Conference this coming weekend, at which will be tabled a discussion to change the Party’s official policy from supporting traditional one-man, one-woman marriage, this exhortation from preacher John Piper is a stirring reminder for Christians to weep with sorrow and compassion over the sins of their cities. No less ought we in Australia weep if God’s natural law of traditional, monogamous marriage is ever legislated out of existence. Jesus died so that heterosexual and homosexual sinners might be saved. Jesus created sexuality, and has a clear will for how it is to be experienced in holiness and joy. His will is that a man might leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and that the two become one flesh (Mark 10:6-9). In this union, sexuality finds its God-appointed meaning, whether in personal-physical unification, symbolic representation, sensual [...]

Friday

26

August 2011

7

COMMENTS

Frank Turek – The Real Bigots

Written by , Posted in Marriage & Family, Sexuality, Society & Culture

Recently, apologist Frank Turek has written a short but excellent article on the hypocrisy of LGBT activists who accuse Christians who oppose homosexual behaviour of being bigots. He also shows how they abuse the term “bigot” by mis-applying it to everybody who disagrees with their position, even when they have valid reasons for doing so. In the process, they expose themselves as the real bigots. Here is Turek’s article in full: George Orwell said, “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” When you tell the truth about homosexuality today, you can be sure that the central tools of deceit—name-calling and bullying—will be unleashed. I recently was having a respectful conversation with a homosexual activist, but after I made a point he couldn’t answer he called me a “bigot.” I asked, “What’s your definition of bigotry?” He said, “Fear and intolerance.” I said, “The definition [...]