More heart-breaking was the loss of the right to marry in Maine. I wonder if those who voted to repeal gay marriage realize the emotional violence they just perpetrated. Think it through - a couple went through a sacred ceremony, pledging to live their lives together in marriage, only to have the validity of their love be questioned and revoked by strangers compelled by a superiority complex based on their sexual orientation. I have officiated at many marriages - gay and straight and I can assure you there is NO DIFFERENCE in the quality of the love that is expressed. If anything, the gay couples are more serious about it as they have to overcome obstacles of hostile family members and a hostile government. Ah, well. Soon this will all seem silly as time is on equality's side. 'The arc of history is long - but bends towards justice' as MLK, Jr. said. His wife, Corretta was a gay rights friend and we miss her and her husband on this day.
Still, it is surprising to hear the media paint Nov 3 as a pure rebuke to the Democrats. I was totally dumbfounded when I learned that in the New York congressional race, the Democrat Bill Owens beat Conservative Doug Hoffman. A Democrat hasn't won that seat in a long time and it demonstrated that the right wing of the Republican party is going to be a major liability for years to come. The back story is that the Republican nominee was deemed too moderate by the likes of Sara Palin, and Glenn Beck and so the Conservatives ran their own candidate - Doug Hoffman. The Republican nominee, Dede Scozzafava, then dropped out and threw her support behind Bill Owens - the Democrat! Basically we have a new coalition of moderate to liberal Americans who are joining forces against the right. There is a lesson to be learned here but I am not sure that the super right wing will learn it - which bodes well for 2010 and 2012.
Also, on the gay issue there are a couple of good news items. Chapel Hill elected its first openly gay mayor Mark Kleinschmidt; and an openly Lesbian, Annise Parker, made it to the top two for a run off for mayor in Houston, Texas. That's right - Texas. Plus, Washington State voted to approve all benefits of marriage (without the name marriage) to same sex couples.
We will see what happens will elections and with government over the next year but as gay rights activist Harvey Milk said: "You've got to give them hope."
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I think "Mere Christian" hit the response to the pro-gay revisionist view of the Bible. No where in the Bible is homosexuality ever condoned, just the opposite. The prophets in the Old Testament condemn sexual sin repeatedly, and this includes homosexuality.
"No where in the Bible is homosexuality ever condoned, just the opposite. The prophets in the Old Testament condemn sexual sin repeatedly, and this includes homosexuality."
As much as I hate to admit it, he's got a point. It's like I always say: the only Bible verse you need to know is Leviticus 20:13. It shows how questionable the book is as a guide to moral behavior. If you go to a protest and you see a guy with a picket sign that says "Leviticus 20:13", run. Odds are he brought more than that sign.
The New Testament condemns supporting gay behavior far more than the Old Testament does.
Marriage is a man and a woman. From Jesus quoting God at the beginning of the "Godly" man and woman relationship, to the entire New Testament testimony.
Be a secularist/pagan and do as you wilt. But it is dishonest to label Christians doing as they should and NOT supporting a perversion of marriage as bigots or that they're hateful.
If you want to start applying those labels to the followers of Christ, then you have to start your labeling with Jesus. He detailed a marriage as man and woman.
Do the voters who turned down gay marriage realize that they have perpetrated emotional violence? Why would you think that they would even care?
Mere_Christian: "But it is dishonest to label Christians doing as they should and NOT supporting a perversion of marriage as bigots or that they're hateful."
When did I say the word "bigot"? As a matter of fact, I purposely avoid using that word to avoid this crap. Although I have been known to use a few words that are a bit too R-rated for this blog, I'm sure.
As for Jesus, I have other issues with him. I've read the Book of Revelation from one end to another (I was into the whole "Left Behind" thing back in high school) and he doesn't strike me as a deity I want to worship.
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