Advocacy for Same-Sex Marriage--A Communications 215 Project
http://www.tpmcafe.com/node/26733
TPMCafe - New York,NY,USA
[excerpts]
Though the pragmatic approach to this argument may seem undoubtedly to
most, there is a large section of the public who opposes same-sex marriage
on the basis of religious ideals. This is not to say all religious groups
and religions are against same-sex marriage; Unitarian Universalist
churches, Shinto temples and Jewish synagogues, and the United Church of
Christ all support its performance. Yet the conflict arises when religious
organizations feel the need to consider themselves the authority on what
constitutes marriage, which so many of them do (Wikipedia, 2006). Religion
should not define marriage; Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz argues
that such an arrangement would “strengthen the wall of separation of church
and state by placing a sacred institution entirely in the hands of the
church while placing a secular institution under state control” (Wikipedia,
2006). This is a valid point to take into account because of the fear
religious groups have of same-sex marriage legislation limiting religious
freedom, which is a legitimate one. It all goes back to the concept that
church and state should be separated, which is a valid one, especially when
applied to these issues.
Much of the religious opposition comes from the idea that
same-sex relationships in general are immoral. Albert Mohler, president of
the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, has a
particularily vehement opinion that a married couple’s choice to refrain
from having children is a violation of God’s will;
“God’s purpose in creation is being trumped by modern practices. I would
argue that it (not having children) ought to be falling short of the glory
of God. Deliberate childlessness defies God’s will” (Gay Marriage and
Childless Marriage: Defying God’s Will, 2005).
Since the deliberate act of a marriage that cannot produce biological
children is considered immoral, this is a strong argument against
homosexuals being allowed to marry. If they cannot reproduce, and
reproduction is of the highest concern, it’s plain to see why religious
opposition is against same-sex marriages. Yet the opposition fails to take
into account options such as adoption, which provide for the healthy
upbringing of a child where it lacks in the creation of one.
The bible is also often cited as being against same-sex
relationships; what is assumed as God’s word is clearly against them in
some cases, such as Romans 1:24-27 in the New King James bible;
“Therefore God also gave [homosexuals] up to uncleanness, in the lusts of
their hears, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the
truth of God for the lie…the men, leaving the natural use of women, burned
in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful,
and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due”
(BibleGateway.co m, 1982).
Yet while the bible clearly states in this passage in others that
homosexuality is against God’s will, there remain religious advocates who
chose to see the more accepting lessons from the text, such as Reverend F.
Russell Baker of the United Church of Christ. He stated that “if one
listens carefully to the gay and lesbian community, one discovers that
often after such turmoil, a person comes to the conclusion that they were
created this way…No one ever said understanding God’s will for us would be
easy…Jesus said we need to accept others, care for others, and love others
just as God accepts, cares for, and loves” (Wikipedia.com) . While it
seems as though some religious opponents to same-sex marriage are fixed in
their extremist beliefs to the point of no return, other religious people
see the rationality to accepting everyone as a part of God’s plan, which is
refreshing and encouraging in the ongoing fight for same-sex marriage
advocacy.
Arguments against same-sex take many forms; religious, moral, and
pragmatic, but none are as effective as the simple contention that we are
all protected under, and should be treated in consideration to, the concept
of equal rights provided by the United States Constitution. Most
importantly, the same-sex marriage debate allows us to take a step back and
examine our ideals; while religious fundamentalism, moral standards, and
logical approaches are all significant, advocating same-sex marriage allows
us to maintain the fact that we are all citizens of this common country,
who are all governed under the same basic and unalienable rights, and
should all be treated with the same respect.
[end excerpts]
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You are invited to check out the following:
The Rise of the Theocratic States of America
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocracy.htm
American Theocrats - Past and Present
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocrats.htm
The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and State
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
[and to join the discussion group for the above site and/or Separation of
Church and State in general, listed below]
HRSepCnS · Hampton Roads [Virginia] SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
[Its not just Hampton Roads folks who are members, there are members from
all over the US and a couple from overseas as well]
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.. . . You can't understand a phrase such as "Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion" by syllogistic reasoning. Words
take their meaning from social as well as textual contexts, which is why "a
page of history is worth a volume of logic." New York Trust Co. v. Eisner,
256 U.S. 345, 349, 41 S.Ct. 506, 507, 65 L.Ed. 963 (1921) (Holmes, J.).
Sherman v. Community Consol. Dist. 21, 980 F.2d 437, 445 (7th Cir. 1992)
.. . .
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USAF LT. COL (Ret) Buffman (Glen P. Goffin) wrote
"You pilot always into an unknown future;
facts are your only clue. Get the facts!"
That philosophy 'snipit' helped to get me, and my crew, through a good
many combat missions and far too many scary, inflight, emergencies.
It has also played a significant role in helping me to expose the
plethora of radical Christian propaganda and lies that we find at
almost every media turn.
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THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
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