In the monster thread below the post about ECUSA and the fight over which view of homosexual activity is going to prevail several interesting points have come up, along with a request by some of the posters to have a new thread started, since that one's beginning to be difficult to navigate.
So, for those participating in the discussion who would like to continue, let's look at an aspect of the problem that's being kicked around: in the absence of any traditional religious or cultural framework on which to base a definition of marriage, what does marriage mean?
Is there any reason for it to include more than one person? That may sound absurd, but bear with me: there was a time when two men or two women marrying sounded equally absurd. If a man wants to declare himself married to his ficus tree (or his bicycle) in order to get the same tax breaks and benefits of a married couple, on what grounds would we refuse him the right to define his own happiness?
Is there any number which is too large? Can a small city of, say, 50,000 people declare themselves all married to each other if they like? Why not?
Is there any reason to presume an intimate physical relationship as a fundamental aspect of marriage? People have intimate relationships without marriage, after all. If two or three heterosexual widows want to get married to each other for property sharing and Social Security pooling, do we tell them they're not eligible?
I can't help but think that in the absence of some kind of link to history and culture the definition of marriage quickly becomes the definition of chaos. If you disagree, tell me why I'm wrong!
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Here's a question for anyone: Why are religious people so willing to let the government dictate what God wants?
When the various state governments forbid interracial couples to marry, was that God's will?
Go ahead and meld religion and the State. Just don't be too surprised if it isn't YOUR religion that wins the control over the State.
The ACTUAL First Amendment prevents that from happening. The ACTUAL First Amendment promotes tolerance and diversity in a pluralistic society - real tolerance and diversity, not duplicitous psychobabble that in reality hates all religions and has contempt for their uneducated, superstitious adherents.
George and Martha Washington did not have a marriage license. This development is relatively new as I understand it.
RE-P, though I am loath to agree with He Who Finds Joy In The Sorrows of Others, you did make an ad hominem attack on him, despite your denial of having done so: you said above that you thought he might be a member of the incest and bestiality communities. Please avoid the temptation to make such snarky remarks. And I'm on your side, dude. Just play fair, ok?
Rod, just close this thread.
Scrappy,
"The ACTUAL First Amendment promotes tolerance and diversity in a pluralistic society"
Now THAT sounds like somethig worth 'promoting'.
"not duplicitous psychobabble that in reality hates all religions and has contempt for their uneducated, superstitious adherents."
I hope you're not referring to me, since I am a devout member of a religion, and I most assuredly do not 'hate all religions'.
As for "uneducated, superstitious adherents", what about them does not invite contempt?
Insane Kitten,
"you said above that you thought he might be a member of the incest and bestiality communities"
Apparently that is not an "atack", let alone an ad hominem. Max continually advocates for the recognition of incest and beastiality on an equal footing with MY marriage. So, unless being accused of advocating for and being in a gay marriage is equally an ad hominem attack, I simply have to disagree with you.
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