This topic is devoted to the question: Should we legally recognize gay marriage?
Some people think that gays are bad. Others think that they are not necessarily bad. Some people think that gay marriage is "morally wrong," others think that it is not wrong. Some think that giving gays equal rights will incourage an inferior institution. Others disagree. Some people think that the law should discourage that which they think is morally wrong, even when it does not involve agressing against the rights of others. Others disagree. Some think that there should be no gay marriage because gays are "disgusting." Others find that this does not matter. Some think that making laws protecting gays will add budgetary problems to our state and federal governments, and will hurt the rights of non-gay individuals. Others either disagree that gay marriage does, or that this is important. Some think that gay marriage should not be a legal status because it hurts "marriage." Others think that this is silly.
So what do you think on this controvercy. I have shown you most of what this issue covers. Have a fun debate.
Homosexual Marriage
Moderator: Moderators
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AutomaticJack
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Post #42
I still want to know, in practical, real world ways, how gay marriage affects anyone who doesn't want to get married to the same sex. I mean...a gay couple moves in next to you. What about their lifestyle changes your life or affects you or your environment in any way at all?
The fact is, it doesn't affect you or me at all. Most people you wouldn't even know were gay unless they flat out told you. There simply isn't an argument against gay marriage that doesn't boil down to "this book said so." We have separation of church and state in America.
I can think of two religions off the top of my head that would happily marry a gay couple. Why are those religions being discriminated against?
The fact is, it doesn't affect you or me at all. Most people you wouldn't even know were gay unless they flat out told you. There simply isn't an argument against gay marriage that doesn't boil down to "this book said so." We have separation of church and state in America.
I can think of two religions off the top of my head that would happily marry a gay couple. Why are those religions being discriminated against?
Post #43
Well, it means that the rest of our marriages will become something something.AutomaticJack wrote:I still want to know, in practical, real world ways, how gay marriage affects anyone who doesn't want to get married to the same sex. I mean...a gay couple moves in next to you. What about their lifestyle changes your life or affects you or your environment in any way at all?
The fact is, it doesn't affect you or me at all. Most people you wouldn't even know were gay unless they flat out told you. There simply isn't an argument against gay marriage that doesn't boil down to "this book said so." We have separation of church and state in America.
I can think of two religions off the top of my head that would happily marry a gay couple. Why are those religions being discriminated against?
Also, apparently you will be allowed to marry your dog. Or something.
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AutomaticJack
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Post #44
If my dog ever achieved human levels of intelligence, we might have something to talk about. She's a lovely and caring girl.Coyotero wrote:Also, apparently you will be allowed to marry your dog. Or something.
A bit hairy for my tastes, however.
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JoeyKnothead
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Post #45
Razor.AutomaticJack wrote:If my dog ever achieved human levels of intelligence, we might have something to talk about. She's a lovely and caring girl.Coyotero wrote:Also, apparently you will be allowed to marry your dog. Or something.
A bit hairy for my tastes, however.
Post #46
I'd say Immac/Veet would be better for a dog - less tricky.joeyknuccione wrote:Razor.AutomaticJack wrote:If my dog ever achieved human levels of intelligence, we might have something to talk about. She's a lovely and caring girl.Coyotero wrote:Also, apparently you will be allowed to marry your dog. Or something.
A bit hairy for my tastes, however.
Why Evolution is True
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Universe from nothing
Claims made without evidence can be dismissed without evidence
- Christopher Hitchens
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JoeyKnothead
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Post #47
Too expensive. You some doctor or lawyer or such?Scotracer wrote:I'd say Immac/Veet would be better for a dog - less tricky.joeyknuccione wrote:Razor.AutomaticJack wrote:If my dog ever achieved human levels of intelligence, we might have something to talk about. She's a lovely and caring girl.Coyotero wrote:Also, apparently you will be allowed to marry your dog. Or something.
A bit hairy for my tastes, however.
Re: Homosexual Marriage
Post #48[center]
The Bible’s Viewpoint
Does God Approve
of
Same-Sex Marriage?[/center]
DURING the church ceremony, the two men stand hand in hand before a renowned Episcopal bishop. They make a “covenant . . . before God and the church.� Clothed in ornate gold-and-white vestments, the bishop publicly blesses their union. Afterward the couple hug and kiss and are given a standing ovation. According to this bishop, such homosexual relationships “are holy and deserve to be blessed, . . . deserve to be called what they are: sacred.�
However, other religious leaders voice strong opposition to same-sex unions. “We are so disturbed by this [bishop’s] decision,� stated Cynthia Brust, spokesperson for the American Anglican Council, a group of conservative Episcopalians. “Same-sex blessings contradict the clear teaching on marriage and sexuality from the Bible,� she said, adding that “sexuality . . . is to be confined to a man and woman in holy matrimony.�
The fire storm of controversy over this issue is not restricted to religion. Internationally, heated political debates are raging, since the social, political, and economic implications involving pensions, joint health care, and taxes are great.
Issues involving civil rights and legal recognition are often very complicated and divide public opinion. True Christians are careful to maintain neutrality by avoiding political debates. (John 17:16)* Still, some who respect the Bible find themselves confused regarding the subject of same-sex marriage and homosexuality. How do you view same-sex marriage? What is God’s standard for marriage? What impact does your attitude have on your relationship with God?
[center]Our Creator Sets the Standard[/center]
Our Creator established rules governing marriage long before governments began regulating the institution. The opening book of the Bible tells us: “A man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh.� (Genesis 2:24) The Hebrew word “wife,� according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, “connotes one who is a female human being.� Jesus confirmed that those yoked together in marriage should be “male and female.�—Matthew 19:4.
Thus, God intended marriage to be a permanent and an intimate bond between a man and a woman. Men and women are designed to complement each other so they may be capable of satisfying each other’s emotional, spiritual, and sexual needs and desires.
The well-known Biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah reveals God’s feelings about homosexuality. God declared: “The cry of complaint about Sodom and Gomorrah, yes, it is loud, and their sin, yes, it is very heavy.� (Genesis 18:20) The extent of their sinful depravity at that time was apparent when two guests visited the righteous man Lot. “The men of Sodom . . . surrounded the house, from boy to old man, all the people in one mob. And they kept calling out to Lot and saying to him: ‘Where are the men who came in to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intercourse with them.’� (Genesis 19:4, 5) The Bible says: “The men of Sodom were bad and were gross sinners against Jehovah.�—Genesis 13:13.
The men became “violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males.� (Romans 1:27) They had “gone out after flesh for unnatural use.� (Jude 7) In countries where homosexual rights campaigns are pervasive, some may object to using the word “unnatural� to describe homosexual behavior. However, is not God the final arbiter when it comes to nature? He commanded his ancient people: “You must not lie down with a male the same as you lie down with a woman. It is a detestable thing.�— Leviticus 18:22
[center]
Your Accountability to God
[/center]
The Bible is clear: God does not approve of or condone homosexual practices. He also disapproves of people who “consent with those practicing them.� (Romans 1:32) And “marriage� cannot give homosexuality a cloak of respectability. God’s direction that “marriage be honorable among all� precludes homosexual unions, which he considers detestable.—Hebrews 13:4.
Still, with God’s help, anyone can learn to “abstain from fornication,� which includes homosexual acts, and “get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor.�(1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4) Admittedly, this is not always easy. Nathan#, who formerly pursued a homosexual life-style, said: “I thought I could never stop.� But he did change with help from “the spirit of our God.�(1 Corinthians 6:11) As Nathan discovered, no problem is too big for Jehovah, who can provide the strength and help needed to meet His standards and receive His blessings.—Psalm 46:1.
* Even when the laws of the land are in conflict with their Bible-trained conscience, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not engage in protests or any form of political campaigns in order to change such laws.
# Not his real name.[color=olive][/color][color=olive][/color]
The Bible’s Viewpoint
Does God Approve
of
Same-Sex Marriage?[/center]
DURING the church ceremony, the two men stand hand in hand before a renowned Episcopal bishop. They make a “covenant . . . before God and the church.� Clothed in ornate gold-and-white vestments, the bishop publicly blesses their union. Afterward the couple hug and kiss and are given a standing ovation. According to this bishop, such homosexual relationships “are holy and deserve to be blessed, . . . deserve to be called what they are: sacred.�
However, other religious leaders voice strong opposition to same-sex unions. “We are so disturbed by this [bishop’s] decision,� stated Cynthia Brust, spokesperson for the American Anglican Council, a group of conservative Episcopalians. “Same-sex blessings contradict the clear teaching on marriage and sexuality from the Bible,� she said, adding that “sexuality . . . is to be confined to a man and woman in holy matrimony.�
The fire storm of controversy over this issue is not restricted to religion. Internationally, heated political debates are raging, since the social, political, and economic implications involving pensions, joint health care, and taxes are great.
Issues involving civil rights and legal recognition are often very complicated and divide public opinion. True Christians are careful to maintain neutrality by avoiding political debates. (John 17:16)* Still, some who respect the Bible find themselves confused regarding the subject of same-sex marriage and homosexuality. How do you view same-sex marriage? What is God’s standard for marriage? What impact does your attitude have on your relationship with God?
[center]Our Creator Sets the Standard[/center]
Our Creator established rules governing marriage long before governments began regulating the institution. The opening book of the Bible tells us: “A man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh.� (Genesis 2:24) The Hebrew word “wife,� according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, “connotes one who is a female human being.� Jesus confirmed that those yoked together in marriage should be “male and female.�—Matthew 19:4.
Thus, God intended marriage to be a permanent and an intimate bond between a man and a woman. Men and women are designed to complement each other so they may be capable of satisfying each other’s emotional, spiritual, and sexual needs and desires.
The well-known Biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah reveals God’s feelings about homosexuality. God declared: “The cry of complaint about Sodom and Gomorrah, yes, it is loud, and their sin, yes, it is very heavy.� (Genesis 18:20) The extent of their sinful depravity at that time was apparent when two guests visited the righteous man Lot. “The men of Sodom . . . surrounded the house, from boy to old man, all the people in one mob. And they kept calling out to Lot and saying to him: ‘Where are the men who came in to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intercourse with them.’� (Genesis 19:4, 5) The Bible says: “The men of Sodom were bad and were gross sinners against Jehovah.�—Genesis 13:13.
The men became “violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males.� (Romans 1:27) They had “gone out after flesh for unnatural use.� (Jude 7) In countries where homosexual rights campaigns are pervasive, some may object to using the word “unnatural� to describe homosexual behavior. However, is not God the final arbiter when it comes to nature? He commanded his ancient people: “You must not lie down with a male the same as you lie down with a woman. It is a detestable thing.�— Leviticus 18:22
[center]
Your Accountability to God
[/center]
The Bible is clear: God does not approve of or condone homosexual practices. He also disapproves of people who “consent with those practicing them.� (Romans 1:32) And “marriage� cannot give homosexuality a cloak of respectability. God’s direction that “marriage be honorable among all� precludes homosexual unions, which he considers detestable.—Hebrews 13:4.
Still, with God’s help, anyone can learn to “abstain from fornication,� which includes homosexual acts, and “get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor.�(1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4) Admittedly, this is not always easy. Nathan#, who formerly pursued a homosexual life-style, said: “I thought I could never stop.� But he did change with help from “the spirit of our God.�(1 Corinthians 6:11) As Nathan discovered, no problem is too big for Jehovah, who can provide the strength and help needed to meet His standards and receive His blessings.—Psalm 46:1.
* Even when the laws of the land are in conflict with their Bible-trained conscience, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not engage in protests or any form of political campaigns in order to change such laws.
# Not his real name.[color=olive][/color][color=olive][/color]
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FinalEnigma
- Site Supporter
- Posts: 2329
- Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2006 3:37 am
- Location: Bryant, AR
Post #49
Unless you describe fornication as specifically sex outside of marriage, then abstaining from fornication is a bad idea. It is unhealthy for a human being to not have sex.Still, with God’s help, anyone can learn to “abstain from fornication,� which includes homosexual acts, and “get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor.�(1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4) Admittedly, this is not always easy. Nathan#, who formerly pursued a homosexual life-style, said: “I thought I could never stop.� But he did change with help from “the spirit of our God.�(1 Corinthians 6:11) As Nathan discovered, no problem is too big for Jehovah, who can provide the strength and help needed to meet His standards and receive His blessings.—Psalm 46:1.
also, homosexual reform therapy has a track record of causing emotional problems and depression.
We do not hate others because of the flaws in their souls, we hate them because of the flaws in our own.
Re: Homosexual Marriage
Post #50This addresses a theological perspective.asp59 wrote:[center]
The Bible’s Viewpoint
Does God Approve
of
Same-Sex Marriage?[/center]
DURING the church ceremony, the two men stand hand in hand before a renowned Episcopal bishop. They make a “covenant . . . before God and the church.� Clothed in ornate gold-and-white vestments, the bishop publicly blesses their union. Afterward the couple hug and kiss and are given a standing ovation. According to this bishop, such homosexual relationships “are holy and deserve to be blessed, . . . deserve to be called what they are: sacred.�
However, other religious leaders voice strong opposition to same-sex unions. “We are so disturbed by this [bishop’s] decision,� stated Cynthia Brust, spokesperson for the American Anglican Council, a group of conservative Episcopalians. “Same-sex blessings contradict the clear teaching on marriage and sexuality from the Bible,� she said, adding that “sexuality . . . is to be confined to a man and woman in holy matrimony.�
The fire storm of controversy over this issue is not restricted to religion. Internationally, heated political debates are raging, since the social, political, and economic implications involving pensions, joint health care, and taxes are great.
Issues involving civil rights and legal recognition are often very complicated and divide public opinion. True Christians are careful to maintain neutrality by avoiding political debates. (John 17:16)* Still, some who respect the Bible find themselves confused regarding the subject of same-sex marriage and homosexuality. How do you view same-sex marriage? What is God’s standard for marriage? What impact does your attitude have on your relationship with God?
[center]Our Creator Sets the Standard[/center]
Our Creator established rules governing marriage long before governments began regulating the institution. The opening book of the Bible tells us: “A man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh.� (Genesis 2:24) The Hebrew word “wife,� according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, “connotes one who is a female human being.� Jesus confirmed that those yoked together in marriage should be “male and female.�—Matthew 19:4.
Thus, God intended marriage to be a permanent and an intimate bond between a man and a woman. Men and women are designed to complement each other so they may be capable of satisfying each other’s emotional, spiritual, and sexual needs and desires.
The well-known Biblical account of Sodom and Gomorrah reveals God’s feelings about homosexuality. God declared: “The cry of complaint about Sodom and Gomorrah, yes, it is loud, and their sin, yes, it is very heavy.� (Genesis 18:20) The extent of their sinful depravity at that time was apparent when two guests visited the righteous man Lot. “The men of Sodom . . . surrounded the house, from boy to old man, all the people in one mob. And they kept calling out to Lot and saying to him: ‘Where are the men who came in to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intercourse with them.’� (Genesis 19:4, 5) The Bible says: “The men of Sodom were bad and were gross sinners against Jehovah.�—Genesis 13:13.
The men became “violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males.� (Romans 1:27) They had “gone out after flesh for unnatural use.� (Jude 7) In countries where homosexual rights campaigns are pervasive, some may object to using the word “unnatural� to describe homosexual behavior. However, is not God the final arbiter when it comes to nature? He commanded his ancient people: “You must not lie down with a male the same as you lie down with a woman. It is a detestable thing.�— Leviticus 18:22
[center]
Your Accountability to God
[/center]
The Bible is clear: God does not approve of or condone homosexual practices. He also disapproves of people who “consent with those practicing them.� (Romans 1:32) And “marriage� cannot give homosexuality a cloak of respectability. God’s direction that “marriage be honorable among all� precludes homosexual unions, which he considers detestable.—Hebrews 13:4.
Still, with God’s help, anyone can learn to “abstain from fornication,� which includes homosexual acts, and “get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor.�(1 Thessalonians 4:3, 4) Admittedly, this is not always easy. Nathan#, who formerly pursued a homosexual life-style, said: “I thought I could never stop.� But he did change with help from “the spirit of our God.�(1 Corinthians 6:11) As Nathan discovered, no problem is too big for Jehovah, who can provide the strength and help needed to meet His standards and receive His blessings.—Psalm 46:1.
* Even when the laws of the land are in conflict with their Bible-trained conscience, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not engage in protests or any form of political campaigns in order to change such laws.
# Not his real name.[color=olive][/color][color=olive][/color]
However, the OP states.
In a country with freedom of religion, why would we enforce your theological perspective on everyone through the secular government?This topic is devoted to the question: Should we legally recognize gay marriage?
