Best Arguments Agains Hate the Sin Love the Sinner
There is continuing public debate about comments fabricated by Iris Robinson MP MLA that homosexuality is disgusting, vile, nauseating, and to be loathed. Mrs Robinson has clearly deplored any acts of violence against gay and lesbian people, and she draws a distinction between "loving the sinner, and hating the sin".
Many will claiming that distinction, since they regard a person'south sexuality as an attribute of an individual's sense of identity. Allow me plunge into the deep end of theology and logic for a 2d and examine the internal coherence of the expression "love the sinner, detest the sin" when used in respect of gay and lesbian people.
If sexuality is an aspect of personal identity (similar gender), rather than a set of behaviours (like problem-drinking), then the distinction faces significant logical issues. It would seem that someone wishing to defend the "dearest the sinner, detest the sin" distinction, as a matter of logic, would demand to deny the existence of "gay people" (that is, people with a naturally given homosexual orientation). Instead, to exist consistent, defenders of that distinction probably need to argue that some people accept a besetting temptation to appoint in same-sexual activity sexual behaviour, much as some people have a besetting temptation to engage in kleptomania. Given that the earth's leading psychological and psychiatric institutions now regard homosexuality as a naturally occurring sexual orientation (only like heterosexuality), rather than a mental disorder (such every bit kleptomania), those advancing the "love the sinner, hate the sin" distinction will need to consider the empirical prove that has established that scientific consensus on sexual orientation.
At that place is another issue connected to this. Those using the expression "love the sinner, hate the sin" probably feel that they are expressing their religious and moral views in a way that shows sensitivity to gay and lesbian people. But the evidence seems clear that gay and lesbian people hear the expression "love the sinner, detest the sin" as an attack rather than sympathetic expression. Those who utilise this expression should be aware that their words, which may well be chosen in an endeavor to express sympathy, are actually regarded every bit condemnatory, diminishing, and negating past gay and lesbian people.
Finally, the result of incitement to hatred. (And here, to be clear, I am addressing this general topic and not the instance of Iris Robinson.) This is very circuitous legally and ethically. It is hard to state the circumstances nether which specific linguistic communication can be said to incite hatred in others. For this reason, at that place have been very few successful prosecutions. The Prevention of Incitement to Hatred Deed (Northern Ireland) 1970 sought to specify those conditions, just even this human activity has very rarely been applied.
An Deed to impose penalties for incitement to hatred and for the circulation of certain faux statements or false reports; and for purposes connected therewith.
According to the Deed, "A person shall be guilty of an offence nether this Act if, with intent to stir up hatred confronting, or arouse fear of, any department of the public in Northern Ireland, (a) he publishes or distributes written or other affair which is threatening, abusive or insulting; or (b) he uses in any public identify or at any public meeting words which are threatening, calumniating or insulting; being thing or words likely to stir upwardly hatred confronting, or agitate fear of, any section of the public in Northern Ireland on grounds of religious belief, colour, race or ethnic or national origins."
You volition notice that sexual orientation is not listed in this particular legislation. More contempo legislation has offered protection to gay and lesbian people in respect of equality and we have seen the introduction of "hate criminal offence" legislation dealing specifically with physical attacks. It may be that our legislation in respect of verbal incitement to hatred in Northern Ireland needs to be re-examined to give consideration to sexual minority groups. I'll be calling some legal experts to seek their communication nearly the current constabulary as it applies in Northern Ireland.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2008/06/can_you_love_the_sinner_and_ha.html
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