Gay marriage - why do people keep insisting on bringing religion into what is a legal matter?

Answer 1

Cyclone- Actually marriage was first about property and having a woman to bear children. (Women were considered property.) Later it was to seal business deals and end fueds. The notion of Religion came much later. The idea of Love being the basis of marriage is less than 200 years old.

That said. Here is something to read and ponder.

12 reasons why gay people should not be allowed to get married:

1. Homosexuality is not natural, much like eyeglasses, polyester, and birth control.

2. Heterosexual marriages are valid because they produce children. Infertile couples and old people can't legally get married because the world needs more children.

3. Obviously, gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

4. Straight marriage will be less meaningful if Gay marriage is allowed, since Britney Spears' 55-hour just-for-fun marriage was meaningful.

5. Heterosexual marriage has been around a long time and hasn't changed at all; women are property, blacks can't marry whites, and divorce is illegal.

6. Gay marriage should be decided by people, not the courts, because the majority-elected legislatures, not courts, have historically protected the rights of the minorities.

7. Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That's why we have only one religion in America, and that’s why Atheists and Agnostics are not allowed to get married either.

8. Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

9. Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

10. Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That's why single parents are forbidden to raise children.

11. Gay marriage will change the foundation of society. Heterosexual marriage has been around for a long time, and we could never adapt to new social norms because we haven't adapted to things like cars or a longer lifespan.

12. Civil unions, providing most of the same benefits as marriage with a different name are better, because a "separate but equal" institution is always constitutional. Separate schools for African-Americans worked just as well as separate marriages for gays and lesbians will.

Answer 2

It is only because of ignorance !

When one is invited to a wedding, the do not attend the part that involves the legal system - the issuing of the marriage license. The only part the majority of the people know about it the religious ceremony.

Without the legal requirements being met, a religious ceremony alone does NOT make a legal bride a groom.

It IS possible to have a marriage without religion, but is NOT possible to have a marriage without the legal side of it.

I don't think that they are purposely ignoring the fact that marriage is a legal contract between two people, I think that it is just that they are brainwashed into thinking that marriage is a religious ceremony before God.

Gee, how would atheists ever get married if it were only by religious ceremonies ?

Answer 3

Legal matters are a result of application of enacted laws, and why those laws were enacted is legitimate grounds for debate, as is the basis for keeping laws on the books. Prohibition, slavery, and laws against inter-racial marriage being good examples. The law against Gay marriage was passed purely for religious reasons. Gay marriage was perfectly acceptable until it was banned by the Pope based on Biblical law. It still is in many parts of the world. There are no arguments against gay marriage other than by citing Biblical law, and countries, like Canada, where it is legal have had no resulting negative consequences, other than complaints from Bible-based religious groups. As long as the argument is couched solely in terms of using the law to compel observance of Christian doctrine religion cannot be kept out of it.

Answer 4

I don't know why people, some of them are here, insist on bringing religion into the mix. After all, those who get married must also obtain a government issued marriage license in order to be a valid marriage in the eyes of the law. Take the government out of it and they're basically left with nothing.

Answer 5

My point exactly. The church can still deny holy marriage to gay people, they still get freedom of religion. We just need the same rights under law.

In Canada here it's a legal issue, that's how the law changed, through the courts. Has nothing to do with religion, we can't force gay marriage on them. They still have their freedoms, but so do we under law.

So yeah, I totally agree, it's legal, not religious.

Answer 6

I don't think its a matter of bringing religion into the matter I think what gays want is respect and gay marriage is part of that respect if two people love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together and want to seal the relationship with a marriage certficate then why not. In the UK we have civil partnerships not quite marriage but almost and all the legal ties that bind two people together.

Answer 7

Marriage is sacred and should be recognised as being the best option for straight couples. Marriage in a church or chapel is best, followed by secular places.Co-habiting is way down the list.Gays, animals etc can't get married and never should. Sway 26...If you don't think enough of your boyfriend to get married and keep the vows ,fine but there are many people who do and should be encouraged to.

Answer 8

Exactly.
The Constitution guarantees equal rights for all.
Marriage rights (1000+) are state-given rights.
Religion should have absolutely no say in what rights the state gives its citizens per the Constitution in a country with separation of church and state.

["State," here, meaning the government, not a particular US state.]

Answer 9

They believe that their moral view of life is the only one, so they try to impose themselves, although their opinions are different from those of the others.
Here in Italy we're in a worse condition than you in UK due to Pope Nazinger and the Catholic politicians. The teocons are meeting on 12th May for the Family Day in Rome to protest against what they don't consider "normal families" and to defend "the values of the traditional family". We live in the Middle Ages! Bye

Answer 10

Church folk like to believe that by them putting their "Holy" stamp on it, it makes the marriage blessed & a thing of finality. Its all a crock. Cuz a few yrs down the road, 50% of those people who had the religious wedding are waiting in line at the Divorce Court.
I, personally, do not want a church wedding. I want a intimate ceremony held promptly at sunset, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on the beach. And i want it performed by a Justice of Peace.