This document discusses religion, sexuality, and gender from biblical and theological perspectives. It examines concepts like biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, and gender roles. It also analyzes passages from Hebrew texts, Christian texts, and discusses views of sin and moralism. The overall purpose seems to be a theological exploration of issues relating to sex, gender, and morality from a religious lens.

1. Religion and sexuality
Some things may be said here that you do not
agree with, or may shock you.
Opinions are not necessarily my own, that of my
church, or that of the University of
Northampton.

2. What is the purpose of sex?
What is the purpose of marriage?
Function versus Purpose

3. Problematising sex and gender
• Biological/Anatomical Sex. The physical structure of one’s reproductive
organs that is used to assign sex at birth
• Gender Identity. One’s innermost concept of self as male or female or
both or neither—how individuals perceive themselves and what they call
themselves
• Gender Expression. Refers to the ways in which people externally
communicate their gender identity to others through behavior, clothing,
haircut, voice, and other forms of presentation.
• Gender Role. This is the set of roles, activities, expectations and behaviors
assigned to females and males by society.
• Stoller, Robert (1968) Sex and Gender: On the Development of Masculinity
and Femininity, Science House, New York City [gender identity]
• Butler, Judith (2006) [1990]. Gender trouble: feminism and the subversion
of identity. New York: Routledge. [performance of gender identity]

4. Hebrew texts
• Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he
created him; male and female he created them.
• Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and
multiply
• Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to
his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
• Genesis 38:8-9 Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother's wife and perform
the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.”
• Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the
army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be
happy with his wife whom he has taken.
• Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery
• Proverbs 6:32 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys
himself.
• Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/sex

5. ‘Abominations’
• Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked
plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows
discord among brothers.
• Deuteronomy 22:5 “A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's
cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.
• Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his
delight
• Leviticus 18:6-18 “None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I
am the Lord. You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your
mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness….
• Proverbs 20:23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
• Proverbs 3:32 For the devious person is an abomination to the Lord
• Leviticus 18:20 And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor's wife and so make yourself
unclean with her.
• Leviticus 19:27 You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.
• Deuteronomy 17:1-4 “You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep in which is a
blemish, any defect whatever, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God.
• Leviticus 19:19 "'Keep my decrees. "'Do not mate different kinds of animals. "'Do not plant your
field with two kinds of seed. "'Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/abomination

6. Christian texts
• 1 Corinthians 7:2 But because of the temptation to sexual
immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman
her own husband.
• Matthew 5:28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman
with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his
heart.
• 2 Timothy 2:22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness,
faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a
pure heart.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:4 That each one of you know how to control his
own body in holiness and honour,
• 1 Corinthians 6:12 All things are lawful for me,” but not all things
are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved
by anything.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/sex

7. ‘Moralism’
• Leviticus 25:44-46 As for your male and female slaves
whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves
from among the nations that are around you
• Exodus 21:26-27 “When a man strikes the eye of his slave,
male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go
free because of his eye. If he knocks out the tooth of his
slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because
of his tooth.
• Leviticus 19:20 “If a man lies sexually with a woman who is
a slave, assigned to another man and not yet ransomed or
given her freedom, a distinction shall be made. They shall
not be put to death, because she was not free;
https://www.openbible.info/topics/slavery

8. Or Moral’ism?
We are not made right before God by our moral behaviour.
We are not kept right with God by our moral behaviour.
Moralism ‘the practice of
moralizing, especially the
tendency to make
judgements about others'
morality.’
Moralism is the position of
obtaining and/or maintaining
our right standing with God
by behaving morally.

9. A christian view of sin
Hamartia (Greek) is a personal error in a
protagonist's personality that brings about his
tragic downfall in a tragedy.
Romans 5:12, "all have sinned“
Romans 3:9, everyone is "under the power of sin“
Romans 6:20 speaks of being enslaved to hamartia (sin)
What is the ‘purpose’
(rather than function) of
the Christian life?