And please people, don't assume you know where I stand on this issue. I know where MOST Christians seem to stand on it, but not sure about the many other religions/non-religious stand. It's and honest question with nothing derogatory aimed toward gays/lesbians or those with different belief systems than me.
2007-07-31 06:29:33 · 60 answers · asked by Marvelissa VT 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ok, it's obviously supposed to say "where do you stand..." excuse the typo.
2007-07-31 06:30:09 · update #1
Equal rights for all humans demand no less.
2007-07-31 06:34:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 16⤊ 0⤋
Anyone old enough to remember when black people were not allowed to marry white people? used to be the law, used to be supported by religious folks, christians in particular. (they also were big fans of slavery, notice a pattern? creating a caste system of who gets what rights?)
You mention an important thing which is that all too often people presume to know the intent of the author of the question, without providing their own answer and not referencing what they perceive is bias in the question itself.
I would guess that anyone who has taken coursework or studied Logic/Philosophy, Critical Thinking and knows about fallacies in arguments must have several aneurysms just scanning some of these questions, and especially the Answers themselves...
The jury is out on whether i would best be described as atheist/agnostic/pagan... i am studying the basics of buddhism at the moment, but as a non-religious person - who believes most of all, as far as personal conduct, Do No Harm, first and foremost, that Gay Marriage is not harmful to anyone, it's a personal matter, and to deny any group of people a right to a lifelong, loving partnership is unjust.
As a proponent of social justice, it is really tragic that a so-called progressive nation such as the united states, would be so far behind many other countries who have legalized marriage.
I would wager that non religious/atheist/agnostic/pagan/etc. folks are much more open to equality...
((peace))
2007-07-31 06:47:42 · answer #2 · answered by lunaticxxcalm 3 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Marriage sucks in general, and I don't recommend it to anyone gay or straight. However, as an American, I feel this should not even be up for discussion. The whole reason we founded this country was to get away from a government that told it's people what to do and what not to do til they were so sick of it they braved the ocean in ships with no motors just so they could have all the freedom they wanted in a new land. Now we have a frikken government that has gone against the constitution mixing church with state when inventing laws that are based on the bible's dogma, limiting the freedoms of those not trying to use the bible as a guide for modern living.
That's where I stand.
2007-07-31 06:56:30 · answer #3 · answered by RealRachel 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋
I believe all humans deserve equal rights, so yes, I believe same sex couples should be able to enter into the same kinds of unions as couples of opposite sex.
I don't care what we call this union, so long as its available to all. My favorite suggestion is that a legal union (the thing the government recognises for legal reasons, tax reasons, etc) be called a civil union, and then what churches do be called marriages. Marriages could also be civil unions, presuming they meet the legal requirements, but people could also get civil unions without a church. That way the churches could control who they consider in a proper relationship among its own members, but everyone could still have the same legal rights and responsibilities of being a legal couple without the judging of someone else's belief system.
(Personally, I think it's rediculous that certain churches want to control the term "marriage" but this is too big an issue to get caught up on words!)
(I'm pagan)
2007-07-31 06:53:25 · answer #4 · answered by Nightwind 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I'm humanist and straight.....where do I stand?
Last time I checked, gay people are still people. Let them be married and have done with this whole stupid argument.
Really, the reason to say no to gay marriage is thinly veiled bigotry fueled by stupid religiosity. There is no argument that the anti-gay marriage can give and still appear to be the "kind" christians they claim to be.
What about the argument saying that a child needs a father and mother? Well, if we didn't have single parents in this country proving that a child can turn out just fine without one or the other in their life, I might be inclined to agree.
But we do, so I'm inclined to say that it doesn't really matter at having a male and female present. Two females or two males can be just as good or just as bad as heterosexual couple.
So my stand is, let them be married and be as miserable in marriage as the rest of us straight people can be. lol
2007-07-31 06:42:34 · answer #5 · answered by Humanist 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Well, I am agnostic leaning towards atheist, and I am also happily married (although not in the eyes of the state of tx) to my wife of 4 years and we have a darling baby daughter together.
I would love to be able to legally marry. It is a legal protection for my family- nobody has to grant us a religious ceremony- I don't interfere with some religious beliefs- but I deserve the same legal benefits that straight couples get automatically. And, we have spent literally thousands of dollars to get only some of the benefits a $35 marriage certificate buys a straight couple.
How is my wanting to be able to see my spouse in the hospital- should she ever become hospitalized, and care for her in sickness- possibly an attack on straight marriage? To anyone who denies us this, and other similar legal protections- you haven't a heart of compassion.
My family has only had positive and loving reactions from our non-religious friends and family. Thank you for all the supportive answers too.
2007-07-31 06:41:33 · answer #6 · answered by quirky 5 · 9⤊ 0⤋
I'm coming to this question very late, so nobody's going to read this...lol...but I'm an atheist, and I'm gay, so - are you sitting down? - yes, I'm all for gay marriage.
Not even so much because I myself want to get married - although I have a boyfriend I love and plan to spend my life with - but because it's a symbolic barometer of where we stand in this society.
And I have to say - the responses to this question are extremely refreshing. Compare and contrast with the replies every time this question is asked of "Christians."
2007-07-31 07:34:24 · answer #7 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sure let 'em do what they want. We've come a long way in this country since the days where blacks and women weren't given equal rights. We can't suddenly stop now when it's another group of people. If we're going to interpret the Constituation for its word that ALL men are equal then we have to stick to it. No changing our minds when it comes to a group of people who are less accepted because it offends our religion and bible. NOT THAT WE SHOULD BE USING THE BIBLE TO PUSH LAWS TO BEGIN WITH! I could branch out into a long essay about seperation of church & state here, but I'll leave it at that.
2007-07-31 06:40:00 · answer #8 · answered by Dethklok 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Who does it harm? The honest answer is no one. My hetero marriage is in no way threatened by it. The fabric of our society is not in any danger from it. Because really, what is "it"? It is love, and who do we think we are, and what right do we think we have, in saying that two consenting adults can't have a legally binding, loving marriage?
Some people might ask why they need to get married? Why can't they just be together? I would pose the same question to hetero couples. Why does anyone need to be married? I suspect the answers given by straight couples are the same reasons that would be given by the G&L community. Love, commitment, security, ritual, legal rights, etc.
They are not second class citizens.. so why have laws that say otherwise?
2007-07-31 06:39:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 10⤊ 0⤋
I really don't care what they do. Marriage is just a man made legal convention that suits only the purpose of the society that regulates it. I choose not to be bound up by arbitrary contracts that have no real meaning in today's world. Any good divorce lawyer can take those sacred vows and shred them to pieces.
Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution.
2007-07-31 06:39:46 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋
I have no problem with it. I just can't see how them being married is any different from them just living together. Neither way affects me and my family in any way and if those two people love eachother, why would it matter what their gender is? Just because I'm not homosexual doesn't mean that no one else should be allowed to be. Despite efforts to make everyone conform to a standard image and ideal, there is no standard image or ideal. To each their own.
2007-07-31 06:52:29 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋