Volume 96, Issue 27
Thursday October 17, 2002
Bad dream

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LAST UPDATED: Thursday, October 17, 2002 - 4:45 a.m.

World religions meet same-sex marriage

Religion and homosexuality are two topics controversial in their own right. Together, the subjects create passionate opinions and the guarantee of high tension.

Anglican Perspective

There are a broad range of opinions [about homosexuality] within the [Anglican] church. The church takes into consideration views from all those involved. It then tries to find the middle ground amongst the varying opinions. The Anglican Church does, however, embrace all views. Homosexuals are welcome in our churches. [They] always have been within recent years.

Hindu Perspective

We don't have any great records in that subject. I have not come across anything that mentions [homosexuality] specifically.

Orthodox Jewish Perspective

Homosexuality is a forbidden sexual liaison because the Torah clearly tells us that it is forbidden. The only reason to object to homosexuality is because it is divinely forbidden and not because of the social stigma or prejudice.

Islamic perspective

Homosexuality, from an Islamic [perspective], is an aberration of human behaviour – it is not regarded as normal behaviour. The Koran condemned people who took it as a lifestyle at the time of the prophet Lut and we were told that God enforced severe punishment on those people because of such behaviour. Sexual activity is considered a means of propagating the human race within love and compassion between two individuals – male and female – not people of the same gender.

Chiu on this: Love is all we need

When I came up with the idea to examine various religious perspectives on homosexuality, I was hopeful the interviews would help people understand homosexuality and its place within religion better.