Tell me what to think (the issue of gay marriages)

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Frogman
Marriage is a tradition common to many cultures and many religions. What we are talking about is making gay marriage recognized by the government and employers with regard to benefits, taxes and other secular concerns.

Many view marriage as a sacrament or seek the blessings of the church on their marriage. Religious leaders are given the authority to perform this legal act/cerimony in addition to others, like a justice of the peace or the captain of a ship but this is a legal cerimony with legal consequences. Churches and pastors can refuse any couple seeking marriage in their church and often do. Catholics have a rigorous councilling process and many priests will not marry mixes faith couples.

Legalizing and recognizing same sex marriage will not force churches to bend their rules, but certainly some will change to accept it. Gay couples always have secular options if religious ones are not available, but I expect more churches will be performing these marriages.

The problem is that the state muscled in on a religious ceremony and made it it's own. Since it's largely a matter of faith that homosexuality is wrong it's simply unfair to use an already purloined ritual in this way.

I favour only churches being allowed to perform marriages and civil unions for the rest of us.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Agathon
The problem is that the state muscled in on a religious ceremony and made it it's own. Since it's largely a matter of faith that homosexuality is wrong it's simply unfair to use an already purloined ritual in this way.

I favour only churches being allowed to perform marriages and civil unions for the rest of us.

I completely support the separation of marriage from governments...

I think civil unions/domestic partnerships are the way to go legally, and they can be accompanied by a religious ceremony if the people so choose, but that ceremony should not affect anything legally.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Asher

I completely support the separation of marriage from governments...

I think civil unions/domestic partnerships are the way to go legally, and they can be accompanied by a religious ceremony if the people so choose, but that ceremony should not affect anything legally.

Agreed for the most part.

I just had a good idea. Let the state run the civil unions and let churches perform these and call them marriages if they want to. But the churches have the right to add extra bits of church law to marriages that they perform. This means that they can legally indulge their predilecation for flogging adulterers.

[Pekka]

Well.. My opinion is that you love the person, not gender.. so if you happen to love someone who is same sex.. then I don't see any problems.

[Agathon]

The best reason for doing something right now is that there are cases where long term partners are prohibited from attending their dying partner's bedside in hospital because they aren't legally "family".

This is an act of fiendish cruelty and should be stamped out immediately.

[Frankychan]

My take on this....well, honestly, I am a little uncomfortable with same sex marriage. I see it as our duty to pass along our own genetic makeup and same sex marriage prevents this.

HOWEVER, I am aware of other viewpoints and even though I am uncomfortable with this, I don't think that these ppl shoiuld be denied their rights as humans. If these ppl love each other, then they should be able to get married.

I respect your rights if you respect mine.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Frankychan
I see it as our duty to pass along our own genetic makeup and same sex marriage prevents this..

Shouldn't you be out screwing yourself silly?

I saw three unimpregnated women just this morning. How evil is that?!?

[*End Is Forever*]

My take on this....well, honestly, I am a little uncomfortable with same sex marriage. I see it as our duty to pass along our own genetic makeup and same sex marriage prevents this.

Well... if someone's gay, then they aren't going to be "passing on their genetic make-up" anyway, are they?

[Agathon]

Originally posted by *End Is Forever*

Well... if someone's gay, then they aren't going to be "passing on their genetic make-up" anyway, are they?

True. But he's still committed himself to impregnating every fertile woman he sees that's not a close relative of his.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Frankychan
My take on this....well, honestly, I am a little uncomfortable with same sex marriage. I see it as our duty to pass along our own genetic makeup and same sex marriage prevents this.

How will same-sex marriages have any effect whatsoever on heterosexual birth rates?

Besides, an increasing number of same-sex couples are having children through means of artificial insemination, surrogate mothers, etc. And then there is the potential for such couples to be a source of adoptive parents, which are sorely needed.

[Bereta_Eder]

jesus christ

[red_jon]

Originally posted by paiktis22
jesus christ

Interesting contribution there.

[Bereta_Eder]

we should always praise the lord so he will forgive us our sins.

[Frankychan]

*sigh* I knew I'd take flak for this, but I'm determined to ride it out.

I'm not against homosexual marriage, if that's the conclusion you've all come to. What I was saying was that I think it is our duty to pass along our genetic makeup for future generations....albeit responsibly. Going out and having sex with anyone we can get our hands on is NOT responsible.

If same sex couples decide to have children through other means: artificial insemination, surrogate mothers, etc I don't have a problem with that, so long as it's their own genes. As for adoption, I think that same sex partners can be a great influence on these children who might have lived in a less stable environment.

But going back, I think passing on our genes to the next generation should be responsible. Guys who go out there and have 3+ children and not marry any of those women he impregnated is sick.

[red_jon]

Originally posted by paiktis22
we should always praise the lord so he will forgive us our sins.

Amen, brother.