Marriage
Okay, so SF and Massachusetts have brought the issue of same-sex marriage to the fore front. But in looking at the arguements, why is this issue so devisive? Are there not worse problems in the world than two people wanting their love to be legally recognized.
And at its heart, that is what this is about.
According to Webster, the primary deifinition of marriage is: the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.
Yes, in this definition, it is opposite sex. That is all that has been recognize. However, there is no mention of religion or religious sanction of such union. That is becasue marriage is a legal contract. It is not a "religious" event. You can be married in a court house by an appropriate official, without any religion in the ceremony. Yes, traditionally, marriages are associated with churches. But, marriage is not a church or religious ideal. They cannot claim the institution for themselves.
Marriages between anyone, same-sex or not, do not need to be recognized by any particular religion. Allowing same-sex couples to enter into this contract, and express their love, does not cheapen marriage or force any religion or church to marry such couples. The uproar and acidic rhetoric being thrown around demonstarte this is simply a political issue for certain people to advance their beliefs.
Marriage is a state recognized contract, outside of any church. Where's the religious infrigment there?
And at its heart, that is what this is about.
According to Webster, the primary deifinition of marriage is: the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.
Yes, in this definition, it is opposite sex. That is all that has been recognize. However, there is no mention of religion or religious sanction of such union. That is becasue marriage is a legal contract. It is not a "religious" event. You can be married in a court house by an appropriate official, without any religion in the ceremony. Yes, traditionally, marriages are associated with churches. But, marriage is not a church or religious ideal. They cannot claim the institution for themselves.
Marriages between anyone, same-sex or not, do not need to be recognized by any particular religion. Allowing same-sex couples to enter into this contract, and express their love, does not cheapen marriage or force any religion or church to marry such couples. The uproar and acidic rhetoric being thrown around demonstarte this is simply a political issue for certain people to advance their beliefs.
Marriage is a state recognized contract, outside of any church. Where's the religious infrigment there?