[Professor S]

Dyflon, the correct response to ridicule or hateful/ignorant speech is not more hateful/ignorant speech. When we "respond in kind" we simply keep the cycle of unreasoning attacks going instead of talking to each other like human beings. Also, arguments based on ridicule do more damage because they attract the ignorant and emphasize ignorance, rather than promoting learned responses and socratic methodology.

Also, there are a lot of arguments aginst gay marriage that are not religious based, but socially based. Basically they view traditional (one man/one woman) marriage/family as the foundation of civilization, and are concerned that to alter the traditional form of marriage may undermine that foundation. While there is history of success with oneman/one woman, thats an argument FOR traditional marriage, not against gay marriage. Their concerns are mainly based on conjecture based on "what might happen" and "society acceptance vs. governmental acceptance". It's an interesting and I think considerable argument when it comes to public policy, much more so than a biblical one that is ruled out because of theocratic implications, but in the end not the correct one, IMO.

But thats just my opinion of a social contract. My view is that social laws should be up to the states to decide as they are the best way to determine what their community wishes to recognize or not recognize.