Biblical Definition of Marriage (Video)

[BreakABone]

That's the weird thing I get about marriage.
I always thought it was more of a legal term, and as far as I know there is a clear distinction between religion and law in this country (or so it says). On a legal basis, I don't see how a union between two people (man/woman, man/man, woman/woman) can be deemed anything but a marriage.

From a religious standpoint, you may be against it, but as long as they aren't getting married in a church... I believe it falls way outside of their jurisdiction.

[Typhoid]

Originally Posted by Angrist

I'm anti gay marriage, like I am anti homosexuality, just like I am anti pre-marital sex.
And that's just like I am anti killing, anti lying, and anti everything else the bible condemns.

The bible is pretty clear on all those things, the question is if you accept it as an authority.

See, this is why I don't "like" religion.

Religion is fine and dandy as something to believe in if you feel the need to comfort yourself and believe in a higher power. Great, I won't stop you (Not you, Angrist, a general you), If it comforts someone being in a big organization of like-minded people, great. Power to you.

However, it's when that comfort you have takes away from the rights of other people. When it makes people judge others without even knowing them, meeting them, or even knowing anything about them in the first place.

Homosexuality is wrong because the bible says so. Well, if I recall the bible (depending on which one you "believe" - and don't even get me started on that) makes note that slavery is alright.

So homosexuality bad - Slavery A.O.K?

I'm entirely pro gay marriage. They deserve the same rights everyone else has. They've done nothing wrong, and deserve the same amount of respect straight people get. It doesn't harm my life, nor does it ever interfere with my life if two gay men/women get married.

And the only reason the Bible says homosexuality is wrong, is because homosexuality does not produce offspring - so it doesn't produce more followers of the religion the parents belonged to. Yet two gay men/women can adopt children, therefore bypassing the "no children" clause.

[Angrist]

Ah yes of course, I don't believe religion should ever get involved in politics. Even though I don't approve of many things, I don't want people forced to stop them.

So whether a state allows gay marriage or not is out of my interest.

[Teuthida]

I was just reading about an upgrade to a MMORPG I used to play a few years ago. This caught my eye:

Originally Posted by Flyff V13

In Version 13, FlyFF adds yet another reason why two heads are better than one, and it’s called the Couple System. Two player characters of opposite sex can choose to become a “couple” by mutual agreement. Once these two characters form that bond, let no one tear it asunder. Player characters that have entered into such a partnership will receive special benefits and bonuses as a result of their commitment. The more the “couples” play together, the stronger the bond becomes. The longer the relationship lasts the greater the rewards received.

[DimHalo]

I have so many thoughts on this issue. However, I have never been great at arguing and discourse. So bear with me:

1. In thoughts against gay marriage, it seems as though the problem lies in deciding what the "ideal" family is. Ideal families have changed countless ways over the thousands of years civilization has existed. An ideal family used to be a "white" man and a "white" women who were born into wealth. We know that this is not necessarily the case anymore. Aside from religious aspects (which I know started this), who is to say that a marriage between two women (regardless of race and societal standing) could not be successful.

Just an example (strictly from my own experiences): My mom has been married 3 times to men and none of those marriages worked out. My friends, two women, have been together for 18 years. They own a house and a business together and they have adopted two great children. But, if one of them gets sick and has to go to the hospital. The other has to call in "reinforcements" from her partner's family in order to see her. My mom's longest marriage lasted 16 years in which time her husband cheated on her with several different women and threatened to kill her. But they would be able to see each other in the hospital still, even after separating.

This just does not seem logical to me.

2. On the topic of teaching kids about sexuality: This is such a hard subject for me to think about. I am very traditional in many ways. I am Catholic and love the teachings of the church, yet I am in a gay relationship which I do not plan on leaving any time soon. When it comes to children, though, I am constantly trying to maintain children's innocence. Kids are much more sexually aware than they ever used to be. Because of that, they need to be informed. There are limits to what they can absorb and understand. It is a subject that needs to be broached carefully. I think that there is a lot of damage control that needs to be done first. I work at a middle school and some of the students are completely ignorant of what it really means to be homosexual. They use gay slurs and laugh it off as nothing. They think that there is only one way to have a relationship and that involves a boy and a girl who spend time talking/texting and/or having sex. Their ideas of relationships are completely skewed. I do what I can to inform them of other ideas, but I only see them a couple of times a day.

The idea of gender confusion can not be introduced until kids have a better understanding of sexuality in gender. Luckily, there are many positive role models in the media. But there are also still a lot of negative role models.

For example: My students find Lindsey Lohan to be completely screwed up. I asked them one time why they don't like her. The answers were that she messed up her life with drugs and alcohol. (Basically what they've gotten from the media) Ok, so they don't like her because she had a rough time with drugs and alcohol. But then, Lindsey comes out and dates girls. So my students wrap that up as part of her "rough" time. I am not someone to say that it is or isn't. The point is, they just don't get it.

Well, now I've completely fallen off my train of thought. So in summary, I should be able to get married regardless of who I have fallen in love with. If the pastor at the Methodist church (my Catholic church definitely would not) agrees to marry my girlfriend and I, why shouldn't the government recognize it. When I have a child, I want my partner to have the exact same legal rights to help me raise him/her. If my partner gets sick, I want to be able to spend endless hours in her hospital room to support her. I don't want to worry about how my partner is going to get medical and dental benefits because I can not cover her under my plan (it states I can put dependents and spouses on it). The government has said that she is not my spouse so we are stuck with her not having any medical insurance. As of right now, the best I can do is to die so that she gets my life insurance and my retirement money.