Divergent Muslim & Non-Religious Attitudes to Sexual Relationships (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B)

Divergent Muslim & Non-Religious Attitudes to Homosexuality

What are Divergent Muslim Attitudes Towards Homosexuality?

• Muslims living in many countries that follow the Shari’ah law are forbidden to practise homosexuality

  • Punishments can be severe

  • In countries such as Iran it is punished in the same way as adultery

• Many Muslims are against same-sex marriage for the same reason: believing that a marriage should be only for a man and a woman

  • In Great Britain, when same-sex marriage became legal the Muslim Council of Great Britain spoke against the change in the law

  • They said same-sex marriage was unnecessary, as civil partnerships already existed to give same-sex couples equal rights under the law 

  • They did not think that marriage should be redefined to mean anything other than the legal union of a man and a woman

• Not all Muslims are against homosexuality

  • Many would say that it is normal

• Some would say that because marriage is so important to Muslims, if a person is committed to someone they should be able to marry that person, even if they are of the same sex

• Some Muslims would publicly support same-sex couples, even if privately they did not agree with them

  • They would take the view that as they are a minority in Great Britain, they should be supportive of other minorities who might also suffer prejudice and discrimination

What Are Non-Religious Attitudes Towards Homosexuality?

• In Great Britain today, social attitudes have changed greatly over the past 50 years

• Homosexuality is widely accepted in society and in Great Britain same-sex couples are permitted to enter into civil partnerships and marriages with the same legal rights as opposite-sex couples

• Non-religious people including atheists and humanists would say that people should make their own personal choices for how they conduct their sexual relationships, as long as they are acting responsibly

• These people would argue that

  • Homosexuality is natural

  • Same-sex marriage is legal and acceptable in society

  • Opposing homosexuality is adding to intolerance and homophobia which damages society and hurts others

  • Contraception is widely available and therefore everyone can make safe and sensible decisions for themselves about their sex lives

Divergent Muslim & Non-Religious Attitudes to Sexual Relationships Outside Marriage

What Are Divergent Muslim Attitudes Towards Sexual Relationships Outside Marriage?

• Some Muslims believe that since Allah is forgiving

  • If someone has committed adultery and is sincerely repentant, Allah is great enough to forgive their actions

What Are Non-Religious Attitudes Towards Sexual Relationships Outside Marriage?

• Since Great Britain today is a liberal society, sexual relationships outside marriage, including premarital sex, are widely accepted

• Non-religious people including atheists and humanists would say that people should make their own choices about their sexual partners

• They would say that many religious attitudes are outdated and not relevant to modern society

• Many non-religious people live together before getting married or simply commit themselves to one another without feeling the need to have a wedding ceremony at all

• Premarital sex gives a couple a chance to see whether they are compatible with each other as life partners

• Adultery is not illegal

Muslim Responses to Divergent & Non-Religious Views

Muslim Responses to Divergent & Non-Religious Views about Homosexuality and Sex Outside Marriage

• Muslims would regard the rise of sexual relationships outside marriage as unhealthy for society

• Many think that the punishments given in Islam for adultery and homosexuality are rightfully harsh because they shows how serious those sexual acts are

• Some Muslims have a more moderate response and seek to support LGBT Muslims in their community. 

  • There are Muslim LGBT Pride groups who support each other and participate in Pride marches and events across the UK