An Exegetical Study of Genesis 2:18-25 vis-a-vis the Agitation for Same-sex Marriage in Nigeria.
Loading...
Date
2014
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Religious Studies Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.
Abstract
The quest for acceptance of same-sex marriage as alternative to the traditional heterosexual marriage is a global phenomenon. The popularity of the practice as well as its legal and religious acceptance in the West contrasts the situation in Africa where majority of the countries have officially criminalized it. While most arguments in its favour from the west have centered on the need to respect fundamental human right of people whose sexual orientation prefers same-sex partners, the African’s abhorrence of it hinges on its morality as well as cultural alienation. This Paper, therefore, examines the issues involved in the context of the current agitation for legal recognition of the practice in Nigeria from a Biblical-Cultural perspective. This effort becomes germane given the fact that the practice is thriving in the west probably because of some ecclesiastical accent it enjoys. An exegetical analysis of Genesis 2:18-25 shows that the practice is alien to divine idea of marriage, which affirms gender distinction in marriage as cardinal to social interaction and perpetuation of humanity on earth. This biblical position aligns perfectly with the African cultural standpoint about gender distinction of marriage partners. Therefore, same-sex marriage does not appeal to Christian religious sensibilities and morality.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Fawenu, Bamidele Olusegun. “An Exegetical Study of Genesis 2:18-25 vis-a-vis the Agitation for Same-sex Marriage in Nigeria.” In Religion, Peace and Development in Nigeria: A Festschrift in Honour of Prof. E Ade Odumuyiwa. Edited by A. A. Akanni, A.O. Dairo et al., 102-111. Ago Iwoye: Department of Religious Studies Olabisi Onabanjo University, 2014.