All species on earth may not survive or be motivated to live except by eating, sleeping, and engaging in sexual activity. In most cases, the latter takes precedence over the other two. The sociological outlook seeks to respond to the question, “How does sexuality dictate the aspects of the society?” The gospel standpoint seeks to respond to a more philosophical aspect, “Whether the sexual expression is proper, and how showing these desires improperly affect a person’s wellbeing (Rosenblum & Travis, 2015). Exploring the sociologic perspective will help society respond to the three major concerns: what, when and how of sexual orientation.
Symbolic interactionists understand sexuality has a significant role in communities. This is because it is very difficult to describe and discern the thing that is morally recognized and what on the grounds of different perspectives. If two individuals examine a similar photo, movie, or watch, one could portray nudity or sexual immorality as the demonstration of art and love, whereas some people will see as outright pornography and filthy stuff (Van Anders, 2015). Since sexuality is critical is day-to-day life and entertainment, it has become challenging to tame the act and regulate the way people misuse others to satisfy their sexual pleasures (Rosenblum & Travis, 2015). Since there are various perspectives concerning this issue of sexual orientation, there will always be conflicting standpoints on what is acceptable in the society and what is wrong.
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The social aspect of some parts of a society dominated by Christianity is wired in a way that they promote Christian principles. The church of God headed by Jesus Christ depicts the issue of morality differently as far as sexual indulgence is concerned. The society is shaped differently by exalting Christian values, where pornography is considered sinful and should not be accommodated at any level. A person who exalts God in his or her life must not attend, view, or be engaged in things that are ill mannered, immoral, fierce or pornographic in any way (Wallace, 2017). According to the doctrine of LDS, there is no opportunity to engage in sexual activities in art or the media since there is no expression of emotions as such may trigger others to feel in some way. Therefore, societies dominated by Christian values indicate that sexual indulgence should only be entertained within the framework of the marriage bed.
Sexual relations are discouraged among teenagers who are not married. In fact, in some societies, they value virginity too much to the point that any woman who is not a virgin may find it hard to get a spouse. Rosenblum and Travis (2015) note that it is also expected that once someone is married, he or she becomes faithful to their partner and not engage in extramarital relations. The media has a way of shaping society and disorienting the perspective of sexuality for many peers. For instance, some programs in the television induce sexual intimacy in young people before the appropriate time. The approach of the church on sexuality is evident. Sexual intimacy is only approved within the ties of marriage and should be done only between couples (Furseth & Repstad, 2017). Interfering with this long-lasting relationship, however, is more grievous than any other kind of sins besides blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. Certainly, the church indicates that there are certain grounds in the society which when permitted kindle promiscuity.
All sociological theories such as the theory of sexuality are founded on the central assumption that human behavior is socially acquired. Sociological views simply affirm that the particular thoughts and behaviors evidenced by people are an outcome of social rather than biological aspects (Furseth & Repstad, 2017). Kimmel and Fracher confirm that we are sexual beings, which is determined by a biological alignment toward reproduction. Our sexuality is constructed by cultural learning, with connotations conveyed in a cultural environment. However, sociologists essentially are certain that human societies majorly influence their member’s sexualities (Wallace, 2017). This has been clearly determined by a society that is determined by Christians. Sociological perspectives simply confirm that the specific ideas and behaviors shown by individuals are a result of social rather than biological attributes.
Two sociological contexts have determined the exploration of human sexuality significantly, symbolic interactionism and scripting theory. All of these are categorized broadly as social constructionism. The idea of social constructionism demonstrates that there is no objective truth, but instead, that truth is socially created (Furseth & Repstad, 2017). Such social construction depends on language, which facilitates humans to have common implications of experienced occurrences. These connotations eventually shape the resultant experience and sexual behavior.
In examining sexuality, symbolic interactionists shift their contemplation on how individuals create their sexual realities. These are what amount to their sexual beliefs and subsequent behaviors. For structuralists, some of the great social constructions perceived to determine sexuality include religion, economy, medicine, law, and family (Rosenblum & Travis, 2015). Each framework is linked to a sexual ideology or discussion. Most religions of the United States promote the Judeo-Christian belief, which stresses marital affairs as the proper framework for sexual affection. Religious leaders exploit this discussion in public reports and official papers, and clergy founded contacts with worshippers on it.
The principle of scripting theory is that sexual behavior as any other kind of human behavior is the outcome of rich earlier learning that enlightens us as a decorum of sexual practice. Simon and Gagnon, the creators of scripting theory in the 1970s, clarified that without the right elements of a script that describes the circumstances, designates the actors, and plans the behavior, little is intended to occur (Furseth & Repstad, 2017). Socially acquired sexual tendencies inform people on the partners to engage sexually with (such as the race, gender, and age of the right sexual partner), when and the place which is proper to perform the activity. It also determines the tendencies that are proper and the procedure of the same at the time sexual behavior is triggered.
Possibly, the church is not exceptionally off base with its somewhat right tactic to the threats of mishandled sexual stances. Sociologists Joh DeLamater and Michelle Hasday came up with a study concerning sociological ideas and indicated that all sociological theory comprising theories of sexuality is founded on the central presumption that human behavior is socially controlled (Van Anders, 2015). There are great advantages associated with demonstrating healthy sexual behaviors. While it is easy to justify that pornography is wholesome, harmless or simply “artistic,” the revelatory process of the Church of Jesus Christ helps to cement the view of how immorality rips away relationships and destabilizes families (Furseth & Repstad, 2017). Therefore, the society is poised to be keen on encouraging morality among their occupants, both young and old.
In conclusion, the sociological and gospel perspective on sexuality are similar in their application, but they focus on different aspects of the problem. While the sociological perspective seeks to define, what sexuality is and how human beings respond to it, the gospel perspective digs deeper into the dangers and psychology of immorality.
References
Furseth, I., & Repstad, P. (2017). An introduction to the sociology of religion: Classical and contemporary perspectives . Routledge.
Rosenblum, K., & Travis, T. M. (2015). The meaning of difference: American constructions of race, sex and gender, social class, sexual orientation, and disability . McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Van Anders, S. M. (2015). Beyond sexual orientation: Integrating gender/sex and diverse sexualities via sexual configurations theory. Archives of Sexual Behavior , 44 (5), 1177-1213.
Wallace, W. (2017). Sociological theory . Routledge.