Contrasting Beliefs on Same-Sex Relationships

Same-sex relationships and different kinds of judgement

A same-sex relationship is a romantic or sexual relationship between two people of the same sex: two men or two women. When considering religious beliefs about these relationships, it helps to separate three questions: whether someone’s attraction is considered wrong, whether sexual activity is permitted, and whether the relationship should receive legal recognition. These questions do not necessarily receive the same answer.

Religious arguments often appeal to scripture or to beliefs about God’s purposes for sex and marriage. Contemporary British attitudes also provide an important contrast: same-sex relationships are widely accepted and can be legally recognised through marriage or civil partnership.

Christian objections based on the Bible

Some Christians oppose same-sex sexual relationships because they understand biblical passages as prohibiting them. Leviticus 18:22, in the Old Testament, prohibits a man from having sexual relations with another man. In the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 includes ‘men who have sex with men’ among those whom Paul warns will not inherit the kingdom of God.

For Christians who interpret these passages as rules applying today, the argument is that sexual behaviour should follow God’s commands rather than changing social attitudes. Their objection is therefore based on religious authority, not simply on whether a relationship is legally permitted.

Traditional Christian teaching also connects sexual relationships with marriage between a man and a woman. Genesis 2:24 describes a man being united to his wife so that they become ‘one flesh’. This supports the traditional understanding of marriage as a lifelong male–female union.

The Catholic distinction between attraction and action

The Catholic Church teaches that being homosexual is not itself a sin, but that same-sex sexual acts are morally wrong. This distinction matters: experiencing attraction is not treated as the same thing as acting on it.

Its reasoning includes natural law: the belief that God has given human nature purposes which guide moral behaviour. Catholic teaching connects sex with reproduction and holds that same-sex sexual acts do not fulfil this reproductive purpose. It therefore teaches that homosexual people should remain celibate, meaning that they should abstain from sexual activity.

This is a religious judgement about sexual conduct. It should not be confused with a claim that same-sex attraction is unlawful in Britain.

An accepting Christian position: Quakers in Britain

Quakers, also called the Religious Society of Friends, are a tradition with Christian roots. Quakers in Britain accept same-sex relationships and understand marriage to be equally available to same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

Their reasoning centres on recognising ‘that of God in everyone’. This means recognising each person’s inherent worth, which leads them to work for equality and justice. A Quaker statement from 1963 explains: ‘It is the nature and quality of a relationship that matters… the same criteria seem to us to apply whether a relationship is heterosexual or homosexual.’ From this perspective, a couple’s love and faithfulness matter rather than whether they are of the same sex.

This acceptance does not mean treating marriage as merely a legal arrangement or taking commitment lightly. Quaker faith & practice, section 16.03, describes marriage as a spiritual union involving a public commitment to one another, the community and God, intended to last for life. Quakers in Britain believe same-sex couples can make this commitment just as opposite-sex couples can.

These beliefs have influenced action in modern Britain. In 2009, Quakers in Britain decided to campaign for the right to conduct legally recognised same-sex marriages in their meetings for worship. They supported marriage equality, which was achieved through legislation passed in England and Wales in 2013 and Scotland in 2014.

The contrast within Christianity is therefore about religious reasoning as well as conclusions: some Christians understand biblical prohibitions and male–female marriage as decisive, while Quakers in Britain emphasise equality, spiritual commitment and the quality of the relationship.

The mainstream Islamic position

Most Muslims understand the Qur’an and Hadith as teaching that same-sex sexual relationships are against God’s will and are therefore forbidden. The Qur’an is Islam’s holy book; Hadith are accounts of the Prophet Muhammad’s words and actions which guide Muslim life.

This position connects with the Islamic belief that sex is a gift from God to be expressed within marriage between a man and a woman. Following God’s guidance is central to the argument: social acceptance does not, by itself, make an action religiously permissible.

There is therefore a similarity between this mainstream Islamic position and traditional Christian objections: both appeal to religious authority and a male–female understanding of marriage. The Catholic explanation adds a specific distinction between attraction and sexual activity, together with natural-law reasoning. Quakers in Britain offer a contrasting religious position by accepting same-sex relationships and marriages on the basis of equality and lifelong commitment.

Contemporary British acceptance and its significance

The influence of Christian teaching on British attitudes has declined compared with the past, and attitudes towards same-sex relationships have become more accepting. Same-sex relationships are legal, and couples can have their relationships recognised through marriage or civil partnership.

Legal recognition gives a relationship a public status, but it does not mean that every religious community approves of it. Equally, a religious objection does not determine what British law permits. Quaker support for marriage equality also shows that acceptance can be motivated by religious beliefs, not only by non-religious views.

Contrasting Christian positions

• Some Christians reject same-sex sexual relationships using Leviticus 18:22 and 1 Corinthians 6:9–10.
• Traditional marriage teaching: male–female union; Genesis 2:24, ‘one flesh’.
• Catholic distinction: homosexual attraction is not itself sinful; same-sex sexual acts are rejected.
• Catholic reason: natural law and the reproductive purpose of sex; celibacy is expected.
• Quakers in Britain accept same-sex relationships and marriage: ‘that of God in everyone’ supports equality; the relationship’s quality, love and faithfulness matter.
• Quaker faith & practice 16.03: marriage is a spiritual, public commitment intended to be lifelong, equally available to same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

Islam

• Most Muslims regard same-sex sexual relationships as forbidden, based on their understanding of the Qur’an and Hadith.
• Sex belongs within marriage between a man and a woman; God’s guidance takes priority over social acceptance.

Contemporary Britain

• Same-sex relationships are widely accepted and legally recognised through marriage or civil partnership.
• Quakers in Britain decided to campaign for same-sex marriage in 2009: religious belief can motivate acceptance as well as opposition.
• Legal permission ≠ religious approval.