Agnostic75
Well-Known Member
Rhode Island just became the final state in New England's six states, and the tenth state in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriage. Not long ago, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington State legalized it. France, and New Zealand recently legalized it. Same-sex marriage is now legal in fourteen countries. Somewhat surprisingly, same-sex marriage is also legal in the predominantly Roman Catholic countries of Spain, and Argentina.
All of this started only 24 years ago when in 1989, Denmark became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
The argument by some people that same-sex marriage is an attempt to redefine marriage is of course ridiculous. Voting was redefined when black people, women, and native American Indians got the right to vote. Possibly better stated, voting rights did not actually redefine voting rights for everyone, only for people who did not have the right to vote. Similarly, same-sex marriage only redefines marriage for people who do not have the right to marry.
Apparently many Baptists have attempted to redefine marriage since in the U.S., the divorce rate among Baptists is higher than the divorce rate among atheists. That comes from the widely respected Barna Research Group, which is a Christian organization.
In Denmark, the divorce rate among heterosexuals is higher than the divorce rate among homosexuals.
It is quite odd for any Christian who has been divorced except in cases of adultery to criticize same-sex marriage on religious grounds since Jesus said that divorce is wrong except in cases of adultery.
Incredibly, some religious conservatives have used the argument that if gay people have the right to marry, then people should have the right to marry animals. Obviously, no rational person would make such an argument.
And, some religious conservatives claim that if gay people have the right to marry, then polygamy should also be legal. However, the issue of polygamy is different than the issue of same-sex marriage since it involves more than two people. In addition, cultural biases often differ greatly among various countries, as evidenced by the fact that polygamy has been legal in a number of countries for centuries, and with reasonable success in many cases. Obviously, culturally, and religiously, some countries are better prepared to legalize same-sex marriage, or polygamy, than other countries are.
If there are any legitimate objections to the legalization of polygamy in the U.S., surely those objections are valid whether or not same-sex marriage is valid. If so, then comparing polygamy with same-sex marriage is a red herring.
Consider the following from Wikipedia:
Same-sex marriage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gay rights are the least in the red, and orange colored countries. The majority of those countries are in Africa, and the Middle East, and are predominantly Christian, or predominantly Muslim. Many of those countries have poor education, low incomes, and poor health. The average age of death in some African countries is less than 50 years of age. It might be accurate to say that gay rights are generally more likely to happen in countries with better education, income, and health. Among the relatively few red, or orange countries that are more prosperous, religious conservatism is obviously one of the main reasons, if not the primary reason, for opposition to gay people.
Some predominantly Muslim countries imprison gay people, or put them to death. In addition, in Britain, percentage wise, the most violence against gay people is by Muslims. Many Muslims disapprove of imprisoning gay people, or putting them to death, but I do not think that same-sex marriage, or civil unions, are legal in any predominantly Muslim country in the world. Even in the most liberal predominantly Muslim countries, gay people must use caution regarding what they do in public, such as avoiding kissing, or holding hands.
It is interesting to note that polygamy is legal in almost 50 countries, and most of them are African, or Muslim, who are largely the very same people who object to homosexuality the most.
In the U.S., many court cases over decades have said that we have a separation of church and state.
Consider the following from Wikipedia:
Madison was a champion of the separation of church and state. At Quotes on Religion - James Madison, there are many quotes of Madison regarding that issue.
Openly gay people are allowed to serve in the militaries of dozens of countries, including Britain, and Israel. I think that anyone who has a legal right to serve in their country's military should also have the right to get married.
Wherever same-sex marriage is legal, heterosexuals still have just as much right to get married as they always did, and the millions of heterosexuals who choose to live together without getting married still have the right to do that.
All of this started only 24 years ago when in 1989, Denmark became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
The argument by some people that same-sex marriage is an attempt to redefine marriage is of course ridiculous. Voting was redefined when black people, women, and native American Indians got the right to vote. Possibly better stated, voting rights did not actually redefine voting rights for everyone, only for people who did not have the right to vote. Similarly, same-sex marriage only redefines marriage for people who do not have the right to marry.
Apparently many Baptists have attempted to redefine marriage since in the U.S., the divorce rate among Baptists is higher than the divorce rate among atheists. That comes from the widely respected Barna Research Group, which is a Christian organization.
In Denmark, the divorce rate among heterosexuals is higher than the divorce rate among homosexuals.
It is quite odd for any Christian who has been divorced except in cases of adultery to criticize same-sex marriage on religious grounds since Jesus said that divorce is wrong except in cases of adultery.
Incredibly, some religious conservatives have used the argument that if gay people have the right to marry, then people should have the right to marry animals. Obviously, no rational person would make such an argument.
And, some religious conservatives claim that if gay people have the right to marry, then polygamy should also be legal. However, the issue of polygamy is different than the issue of same-sex marriage since it involves more than two people. In addition, cultural biases often differ greatly among various countries, as evidenced by the fact that polygamy has been legal in a number of countries for centuries, and with reasonable success in many cases. Obviously, culturally, and religiously, some countries are better prepared to legalize same-sex marriage, or polygamy, than other countries are.
If there are any legitimate objections to the legalization of polygamy in the U.S., surely those objections are valid whether or not same-sex marriage is valid. If so, then comparing polygamy with same-sex marriage is a red herring.
Consider the following from Wikipedia:
Same-sex marriage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gay rights are the least in the red, and orange colored countries. The majority of those countries are in Africa, and the Middle East, and are predominantly Christian, or predominantly Muslim. Many of those countries have poor education, low incomes, and poor health. The average age of death in some African countries is less than 50 years of age. It might be accurate to say that gay rights are generally more likely to happen in countries with better education, income, and health. Among the relatively few red, or orange countries that are more prosperous, religious conservatism is obviously one of the main reasons, if not the primary reason, for opposition to gay people.
Some predominantly Muslim countries imprison gay people, or put them to death. In addition, in Britain, percentage wise, the most violence against gay people is by Muslims. Many Muslims disapprove of imprisoning gay people, or putting them to death, but I do not think that same-sex marriage, or civil unions, are legal in any predominantly Muslim country in the world. Even in the most liberal predominantly Muslim countries, gay people must use caution regarding what they do in public, such as avoiding kissing, or holding hands.
It is interesting to note that polygamy is legal in almost 50 countries, and most of them are African, or Muslim, who are largely the very same people who object to homosexuality the most.
In the U.S., many court cases over decades have said that we have a separation of church and state.
Consider the following from Wikipedia:
Wikipedia said:
Madison was a champion of the separation of church and state. At Quotes on Religion - James Madison, there are many quotes of Madison regarding that issue.
Openly gay people are allowed to serve in the militaries of dozens of countries, including Britain, and Israel. I think that anyone who has a legal right to serve in their country's military should also have the right to get married.
Wherever same-sex marriage is legal, heterosexuals still have just as much right to get married as they always did, and the millions of heterosexuals who choose to live together without getting married still have the right to do that.
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