One of the five things you never talk about in mixed company...

[bloods_a_rover]

Okay guys, I've been thinking about this Prop 8 situation, and I want you to hear my WIKKED AWESOME and totally clever idea about how to solve this quandary. I'm sure I'm not the only person to think this up, but whatevs. Opinion time...

Comments

[nobleplatypus]

"Cultural baggage" is right. I do think that at the end of the day, the issue boils down to just semantics. "Marriage" is primarily considered a religious sacrement, so when the state kicks around the idea of "legalizing gay marriage," conservative Christians throw shitfits about how this will apparently force clergymen to perform a religious ceremony they'd rather not (because, as we all know, there's nothing gay couples want more than to have their weddings presided over by clench-jawed bigots whose hands are figuratively tied; and there's no irony at all in conservative Christians' eagerness to legislate their personal beliefs while simultaneously crying foul when it even looks like the state might meddle in their affairs

[bloods_a_rover]

"I do think that at the end of the day, the issue boils down to just semantics. "

This. Which looks so silly when you step away from the situation. But then I remember that there's also some powerplay going on, and politicking, and it makes me want to throw my hands up in surrender. Which is what I kinda wish the government would do... just say, "You guys go ahead and beat each other up over this bullhockery, we're gonna do our own thing. You're free to join in, or not, your choice."

My opinions on religion are pretty left-leaning, so that's another post. But I'll just throw out a big "I Agree" with your whole first paragraph.

[nobleplatypus]

What really gets me is that regardless of how the CASC had ruled, they wouldn't have been doing religion any favors. There are probably about as many liberal churches who would like to perform gay marriages (especially in CA) as there are conservative churches who wouldn't--but by upholding Prop 8, it's the liberal clergy whose hands are tied. Either way, you're telling some of the clergy, "Sorry, you can't do what you want." Score one for "freedom of religion as long as it's MY religion," I guess.

[bloods_a_rover]

And therein lies the problem. There are so many different religious beliefs, it's impossible to ban or legalize something like gay marriage without violating somebody somewhere, and since this is a country about freedom for all and whatnot, that causes some problems.

Thus we go back to why church and state should stay as far away from each other as possible.