ST Online Forum: Flawed to use holy texts to determine what is socially acceptable today (Jul 16)

July 16, 2007
Flawed to use holy texts to determine what is socially acceptable today

I REFER to Mr Alex Tan Tuan Loy's letter, 'Stick to a traditional
family-based Singapore' (ST, July 11).

I am alarmed by his suggestion that Singapore should reject homosexuals
simply because of 'God's abhorrence of homosexual practices' in the Bible.

First and foremost, Singapore is a secular nation. Our laws cannot and
should not be based on the Bible, or any other holy text for that matter.

Laws should be based on whether they cause direct harm to anyone, or
infringe on the rights of others. As far as homosexual acts between
consenting adults are concerned, it is guilty of neither.

Secondly, it is also flawed to use holy texts to determine what is socially
acceptable today because they were written in a different era with different
cultures and social norms.

The Bible was written at a time when slavery was condoned, when women were
regarded as property and when polygamy was accepted. The ancient world was
also much more intolerant.

To go by Mr Tan's argument that God abhorred homosexual acts, the Bible also
states that God condoned the death penalty for those who broke the Sabbath,
adulterers, fornicators and non-believers. Does this mean these laws are
relevant to today's world?

It is important to read and understand its social and historical context
instead of blindly and unquestioningly applying its laws and norms to
today's society.

It is only normal that as a society grows and matures, its social norms and
moral standards evolve and change. This is not a bad thing. We should learn
not to be led by our irrational prejudices, but instead by our critical and
reasonable thinking, and maturely look at the situation at hand: A gay or
lesbian couple are not only not causing harm to anyone else, but also are
able to raise kids in a supporting and loving (albeit unconventional)
family. And this is undoubtedly a good thing.

Felicia Tan Ying Yi (Ms)