What exactly is the christian fear of gay marriage?

[connermt]

This thread is meant for clarification purposes:
As a christian, what do you fear the legalization of gay marriage will do to the country, your faith and yourself personally?
Please provide examples of past issues where something was made legal and created a negative issue with your country, faith and/or yourself.

Of course there are extremes on each side, but the majority of people who are pro-legal gay marriage don't seem to much care what a church says, so long as their legal rights are adhered to just like eveyone else's.

I've looked at many responses to both sides and can honestly not see, other than hate or "being gay is gross", any legitimate reasons that would want one to say "gay people who care about each other and live in a relationship shouldn't have the say legal rights as straight people.

Any elightenment on the subject would be appreciated.

[DiscipleOfTruth]

From what I understand it's the belief of some if not most christians that homosexuality according to their Bible goes against God. Therefore, being a sin, not so much the homosexuality itself but rather to them that it's a sin against God-a way of Satan attacking God through people. That it's not just about people but rather principalities(Demons that influence people) regardless if the ''sinners'' realize that it causes pain to God.

As unbelievers we don't take the ''supernatural(spirit) world'' that is supposed to be intertwined into our physical existence as something serious enough(since we don't feel certain that it actually does exist) for us to include it as a factor in our arguments for or against homosexuality. This is why we see a divide in unbelievers for or against it for other reasons then a christian would. And even among christians there's a divide that homosexuality is a sin according to God.

As believers and unbelievers combined on either side to support or go against this issue there is no common ground that can be agreed on to accurately debate if it should be legally allowed or not. We would have to first debate if the supernatural realm actually exist and if it holds this as a sin first. This is impossible because christians practice faith in their beliefs leaving the possible non existence of a supernatural realm as something not possible in their minds. And if any of them do hold it as a possibility then they label it as a doubt inspired by Satan to confuse them, and something that they feel God will hopefully take away from them.

[Shermana]

I am a states rightist. I believe States should decide what they deem terms like "marriage" and "gender". I personally believe if a State wanted to vote to re-illegalize interracial marriage, it would be within their rights, just as it would be their responsibility for the social and economic backlash.

Therefore, using Judicial Fiat to overturn the will of a majority state-constitution legal vote on one issue is an example of how the Democratic Republic can have its legal framework overruled by a Dictate in the name of "Civil rights".

If the people want to vote for it to be allowed and for the government to change its definition of "marriage", that's within their rights too.

The Federal Government shouldn't be involved with marriage except to regulate the illegal, forced, underage, and fraudulent marriages. They should only be a backup when states will not enforce their own marriage laws. Why should I not be able to marry 8 beautiful virgin 20 somethings?

Recently, the Canadian government in November upheld their bans on Polygamy on the grounds that it can be used as a means of forced Muslim marriage and abuse of women. What a compelling argument. So therefore, no woman should be legally allowed to consentually marry a man who can support her along with his other wife because the system can be abused by Muslims due to government negligence on its own social responsibility of its own laws. What a great reason.

So why is polygamy not being advocated either? When do I get to return to the days of Solomon?

[His Name Is John]

I don't fear gay marriage, I oppose it.

I don't fear prostitution, I oppose it.

I don't fear the use of illegal drugs, I oppose it.

I don't fear slavery, I oppose it.

The link you have between opposition and fear is not true. We do not oppose things simply because we fear it. There is often a link between fear and opposition (people don't like things that might make us scared) but they can exist without one another.

I don't oppose just war, but I do fear it.

I don't oppose the government, but I do fear it.

I don't oppose God, but I do fear Him.

I guess you could say I oppose gay marriage because I am scared of what that will represent. This is partially true, but what it respresents is a society in which homosexuality is seen as just as normal as a heterosexual relationship. I don't feel any fear towards that (some Christians would say I should), I do however oppose it.

[Rkrause]

This thread is meant for clarification purposes:
As a christian, what do you fear the legalization of gay marriage will do to the country, your faith and yourself personally?
Please provide examples of past issues where something was made legal and created a negative issue with your country, faith and/or yourself.

Of course there are extremes on each side, but the majority of people who are pro-legal gay marriage don't seem to much care what a church says, so long as their legal rights are adhered to just like eveyone else's.

I've looked at many responses to both sides and can honestly not see, other than hate or "being gay is gross", any legitimate reasons that would want one to say "gay people who care about each other and live in a relationship shouldn't have the say legal rights as straight people.

Any elightenment on the subject would be appreciated.

For me personally it wouldn't change my lifestyle or viewpoints at all. As long as churchs aren't marrying gays claiming that the christian God endorses and approves of gay marriage. (I would not endorse or approve of the acts of homosexuality knowing those are sinful).

As far as our country goes, I believe God will hold our government reponsible for legalizing sin and there will be some form of punishment for the governments involvement in leading others to sin more. Not to mention the homosexuals relationship with God itself is harmed through sin.

Learning the outcome of Roe vs Wade was a devastating day for me personally (I am anti-abortion) that gave women and men an excuse to kill people legally IMO.

[Rkrause]

I don't fear gay marriage, I oppose it.

I don't fear prostitution, I oppose it.

I don't fear the use of illegal drugs, I oppose it.

I don't fear slavery, I oppose it.

The link you have between opposition and fear is not true. We do not oppose things simply because we fear it. There is often a link between fear and opposition (people don't like things that might make us scared) but they can exist without one another.

I don't oppose just war, but I do fear it.

I don't oppose the government, but I do fear it.

I don't oppose God, but I do fear Him.

I guess you could say I oppose gay marriage because I am scared of what that will represent. This is partially true, but what it respresents is a society in which homosexuality is seen as just as normal as a heterosexual relationship. I don't feel any fear towards that (some Christians would say I should), I do however oppose it.

X2 and good job.

[dianaiad]

For my part, I fear being legally forced to support something I find morally objectionable.

Let me give you a specific example. The state of Illinois recently legalized homosexual unions.

Catholic Charities was one of the largest groups helping orphaned and abused children in the state. The state then said that Catholic Charities had to include homosexual couples in their foster care and adoption program.

Catholic Charities said that this would violate their consciences, but they would refer homosexual couples to other agencies in the state that also did foster care and adoption work.

Yes, and the KKK Charities said that it would violate their consciences to include mixed race couples. Your point?

Did the KKK have charities? Ah, well....makes no matter; if they were getting public funds, they have to go by public rules. (shrug) Taking government funds is making a deal with the devil; the golden rule becomes 'he who has the gold makes the rules.'

BUT---my concern is for those services, businesses and charities that do NOT accept public funds, or who accept such funds only when they are attached to specific clients, the way Pell Grants and student loans are.

[connermt]

I don't fear gay marriage, I oppose it.

I don't fear prostitution, I oppose it.

I don't fear the use of illegal drugs, I oppose it.

I don't fear slavery, I oppose it.

The link you have between opposition and fear is not true. We do not oppose things simply because we fear it. There is often a link between fear and opposition (people don't like things that might make us scared) but they can exist without one another.

I don't oppose just war, but I do fear it.

I don't oppose the government, but I do fear it.

I don't oppose God, but I do fear Him.

I guess you could say I oppose gay marriage because I am scared of what that will represent. This is partially true, but what it respresents is a society in which homosexuality is seen as just as normal as a heterosexual relationship. I don't feel any fear towards that (some Christians would say I should), I do however oppose it.

I don't buy that clever word play. You oppose it because it's not "normal"?
Some could right say that opposing something comes from fear itself. It's not "normal" to use a computer in 1980, but people did.
It's not "normal" to deep fry a turkey, but people do.
The point is if you oppose something that's not "normal", then logically, you must oppose a lot of things that you likely take part in that's not "normal".
Thus, I can't believe that your opposition comes from anything other than fear. What, exactly your fear, is up to you to decide.
Beyond that, what you oppose due to it's lack of normality, may actually, become quite normal in the future. Would you then oppose it? Possibly, if you fear it.

[connermt]

This thread is meant for clarification purposes:
As a christian, what do you fear the legalization of gay marriage will do to the country, your faith and yourself personally?
Please provide examples of past issues where something was made legal and created a negative issue with your country, faith and/or yourself.

Of course there are extremes on each side, but the majority of people who are pro-legal gay marriage don't seem to much care what a church says, so long as their legal rights are adhered to just like eveyone else's.

I've looked at many responses to both sides and can honestly not see, other than hate or "being gay is gross", any legitimate reasons that would want one to say "gay people who care about each other and live in a relationship shouldn't have the say legal rights as straight people.

Any elightenment on the subject would be appreciated.

For me personally it wouldn't change my lifestyle or viewpoints at all. As long as churchs aren't marrying gays claiming that the christian God endorses and approves of gay marriage. (I would not endorse or approve of the acts of homosexuality knowing those are sinful).

As far as our country goes, I believe God will hold our government reponsible for legalizing sin and there will be some form of punishment for the governments involvement in leading others to sin more. Not to mention the homosexuals relationship with God itself is harmed through sin.

Learning the outcome of Roe vs Wade was a devastating day for me personally (I am anti-abortion) that gave women and men an excuse to kill people legally IMO.

Thanks for the feedback. In regards to the church issue bolded above, that would be something you'd have to take up with the individual churches, no?
Fact is, some churches are, today, marrying gay people. That would seem to be the church's decision independent of any gov't legality (so long as they keep their tax free status).
That brings up another point: if you don't like something a church does/believes in (say, marrying gay couples), you simply don't go to/associate with that church. You don't try to get the church shut down, bring legal charges up against it, etc. correct?

[Rkrause]

This thread is meant for clarification purposes:
As a christian, what do you fear the legalization of gay marriage will do to the country, your faith and yourself personally?
Please provide examples of past issues where something was made legal and created a negative issue with your country, faith and/or yourself.

Of course there are extremes on each side, but the majority of people who are pro-legal gay marriage don't seem to much care what a church says, so long as their legal rights are adhered to just like eveyone else's.

I've looked at many responses to both sides and can honestly not see, other than hate or "being gay is gross", any legitimate reasons that would want one to say "gay people who care about each other and live in a relationship shouldn't have the say legal rights as straight people.

Any elightenment on the subject would be appreciated.

For me personally it wouldn't change my lifestyle or viewpoints at all. As long as churchs aren't marrying gays claiming that the christian God endorses and approves of gay marriage. (I would not endorse or approve of the acts of homosexuality knowing those are sinful).

As far as our country goes, I believe God will hold our government reponsible for legalizing sin and there will be some form of punishment for the governments involvement in leading others to sin more. Not to mention the homosexuals relationship with God itself is harmed through sin.

Learning the outcome of Roe vs Wade was a devastating day for me personally (I am anti-abortion) that gave women and men an excuse to kill people legally IMO.

Thanks for the feedback. In regards to the church issue bolded above, that would be something you'd have to take up with the individual churches, no?
Fact is, some churches are, today, marrying gay people. That would seem to be the church's decision independent of any gov't legality (so long as they keep their tax free status).
That brings up another point: if you don't like something a church does/believes in (say, marrying gay couples), you simply don't go to/associate with that church. You don't try to get the church shut down, bring legal charges up against it, etc. correct?

In my church I won't have to worry about gay marriages but concerning other issues I have talked to the Elders and Pastor to get "back on track" with the Biblical viewpoints. I visited one church who preached "gay rights" and I also approached her (a deacon) about her sermon and she is no longer a deacon or preaching. (I didn't get her fired but my comfortation may have contributed a small part)

I wish the government would just use the term "civil union" instead of "marriage" it would stop a lot of these problems and debates and keep all churches out of this mess.

[connermt]

This thread is meant for clarification purposes:
As a christian, what do you fear the legalization of gay marriage will do to the country, your faith and yourself personally?
Please provide examples of past issues where something was made legal and created a negative issue with your country, faith and/or yourself.

Of course there are extremes on each side, but the majority of people who are pro-legal gay marriage don't seem to much care what a church says, so long as their legal rights are adhered to just like eveyone else's.

I've looked at many responses to both sides and can honestly not see, other than hate or "being gay is gross", any legitimate reasons that would want one to say "gay people who care about each other and live in a relationship shouldn't have the say legal rights as straight people.

Any elightenment on the subject would be appreciated.

For me personally it wouldn't change my lifestyle or viewpoints at all. As long as churchs aren't marrying gays claiming that the christian God endorses and approves of gay marriage. (I would not endorse or approve of the acts of homosexuality knowing those are sinful).

As far as our country goes, I believe God will hold our government reponsible for legalizing sin and there will be some form of punishment for the governments involvement in leading others to sin more. Not to mention the homosexuals relationship with God itself is harmed through sin.

Learning the outcome of Roe vs Wade was a devastating day for me personally (I am anti-abortion) that gave women and men an excuse to kill people legally IMO.

Thanks for the feedback. In regards to the church issue bolded above, that would be something you'd have to take up with the individual churches, no?
Fact is, some churches are, today, marrying gay people. That would seem to be the church's decision independent of any gov't legality (so long as they keep their tax free status).
That brings up another point: if you don't like something a church does/believes in (say, marrying gay couples), you simply don't go to/associate with that church. You don't try to get the church shut down, bring legal charges up against it, etc. correct?

In my church I won't have to worry about gay marriages but concerning other issues I have talked to the Elders and Pastor to get "back on track" with the Biblical viewpoints. I visited one church who preached "gay rights" and I also approached her (a deacon) about her sermon and she is no longer a deacon or preaching. (I didn't get her fired but my comfortation may have contributed a small part)

I wish the government would just use the term "civil union" instead of "marriage" it would stop a lot of these problems and debates and keep all churches out of this mess.

This would be your belief, being legally forced on everyone, even if they don't agree with it. That's wrong as the church is not a governing body.
Techinically, the church should get rid of the term "marriage" (at least the legal aspect of it) as the church doesn't hold the key to legal marriage for anyone (even if they don't want to admit it).
The real problem is belief vs. legality. A church marriage has no legal bearing on a couple's relationship. The church needs to understand, and accept, that fact.
So long as the gov't doesn't force a church to wed gay couples (not likely), the church can pout all it wants, but they have no legal foundation to justify their POV.
One can believe anything they want, with or without facts to justify it. That's the whole problem here IMO.