RE: same-sex marriage

I believe that the world is more loving and campassionate now than at any
time in history. I believe things are better over all now, than ever before.

Proportional to the overall population:

1. More people have official freedom of speech and religion. Yes, I know
that many don't - but in the past, most didn't. There have been periods when
few did.
2. Fewer people go to bed hungry.
3. Fewer parents watch their children die.
4. More people have to bear indignities in silence.

This last has a lot to do with the degradation of the state of marriage.
Marriage formed a building block of society for centuries. It isn't a strong
stone anymore. But, women and children aren't being smashed to a pulp by
abusive daddies in the same numbers that occurred in the past. People don't
feel obligated to stay in relationships where there is no love or comfort.
You all remember people who did that, if you are over 40.

What about the promises? What about believing in one's word?

We have lost something. There is no doubt that the change cost us dearly.
But, I cannot say that we had a compassionate choice. The things that were
suffered in silence were horrid - and amazingly wide spread.

I do not see how the laws against same sex marriage are protecting the
institution. The sanctity of a given marriage is in the eyes, hearts and
determination of those entering into the union. Society no longer has any
power over the institution. People can get married on Tuesday and divorced
on Saturday - perhaps I exaggerate. There are people who marry and divorce
for the tax laws.

Single people can adopt children. People can go to laboratories and get the
missing parts to have their own children.

The only effects I see the anti same-sex laws having are:

1. Restricting foster parenting and state adoptions.
2. Preventing the partner of a gay person from sharing insurance.
3. Preventing them from having the benefit of court decisions in the case of
divorce.

and feeding conflict and hate.

I don't see how the state of marriage is being 'protected'.

Perhaps their are legal implications that I do not see that would impact the
separation of church and state. But, since Catholics don't have to ordain
women, I kind of doubt that anybody is going to be prevented from excluding
those with a same-sex spouse from ministry. I don't know - is this a fear?

Parents giving up a child for adoption can choose the adoptive parents if
they go through private adoption. Their child does not need to go to a
same-sex couple if they object.

I am not FOR same-sex marriage. I am against the conflict. I am against
people stating that it will end civilization as we know it. I am against
hate.

P.S. I read/skimmed the princetonprinciples article. My response, "Okay,
this is all interesting philosophy, but how will it make a positive
difference in any person's life? Who will, in reality, actually be
positively impacted by it?"

-
Subject: Re: same-sex marriage

On 6/8/06, Ted Davis <tdavis@messiah.edu> wrote:
> I recommend the following document for some (IMO) very thoughtful analysis
> of this issue:
>
> http://www.princetonprinciples.org/
>
> Ted
>
>

This is really good with one notable exception, the appeal to American
exceptionalism. American is noted as the only *Western* nation to have
a marriage movement. This ignores the more global nature of
Christianity. If you include all of Christianity you will note that
what the Anglicans call the Global South is way ahead of both the U.S.
and Europe with respect to marriage.
Received on Fri Jun 9 10:27:03 2006