Are presidential candidates endorsing religion when they say they 'don't believe in gay marriage'

Question

Countless lesbians and gay men have stood before ordained members of the clergy and committed their lives to one another in marriage. Each time a public official, or presidential candidate says he or she 'does not believe in gay marriage' is this not also an assertion that he or she disagrees with the religious beliefs of those couples, witnesses, and clergy who consider these unions as sacred in the eyes of God as any marriage between a man and a woman?

if you are speaking of people who believe in aliens as a religious principle, yes, indeed, you are expressing a religious belief.

Once again, pay attention to the question, people. We are speaking about people who are expressing views on LEGISLATION when they comment on their personal beliefs regarding this issue. And remember, clergy are vested by the state with the power to sign marriage licenses.

terry o, please specify where you find the statistical "fact" that 'same-sex union rarely last and usually end in seperation.'
also, you are aware, aren't you, that more than half (MOST) heterosexual marriages result in divorce, and that in addition to these 'broken' homes, there is an increasing number of single parent families here in the US?

i use the "kitty" as an avatar because most of the right wing idiots who post here made comments based on how 'angry' they thought my actual photo looked. in fact, what they thought was an angry look was the result of my eyebrows making an adjutment to my eyesight as i grow older.

coffee, your personal religious beliefs, as charmingly naive as they are, are hardly of concern as a constitutional issue. the real question at hand is, does legally defining marriage as something that occurs betweeen a man and a woman endorse one particular religious concept of that word and that union over another?

by the way, Juan... i hope you're not addressing your remarks to me, personally. besides engaging in ad hominem, you'd also assume that i'm posing this question based on personal experience, which is hardly the case. for your information only (and this should have NOTHING to do with the issue at hand)
a) i have no religious beliefs, and
b) i am not currently 'in a relationship' -- my own partner died several years ago (let's see what sort of assumptions people make based on THAT comment), and we felt no need whatsoever to be married, either legally or in any religious sense.

Answer 1

I think it's time to abolish all marriage from law.
We should not longer legally recognize any church marriage. In order to become a legal couple, everyone goes to a justice of the peace at city hall.

Your religious marriage is between you and your church and should have no other standing.

Answer 2

When?! Why?! Have people considered that politicians could be trusted by what they say? Why do people consider politicians worthy of being listened to?

I would do this: If you want to be married, get married. As you said, ' Countless lesbians and gay men have stood before ordained members of the clergy and committed their lives to one another in marriage.'

So get married and be committed to each other. The political mess ESPECIALLY just before elections is not what to stress, but the lobbying is where the movers and shakers are.

What I would be glad to see is the trend to remain faithful to each other and move on with the Gospel. There are many Gay and Lesbian Christians. I would hope that they spend their time worshiping God and less time with the political deceptions of politicians.

Answer 3

Likely, but not neccessarily. It can be opposed for other reasons which address such issues as the breakdown of the family unit, or the need for a child to have a father and a mother for a balanced upbringing, or medical reasons, or the fact that same-sex union rarely last and usually end in seperation.
But, if they are, what's wrong with that? Public officials have voiced their faith for two hundred years. Nothing new there.
Personnaly, I'm against it for religious reasons, which some of you already know.

Answer 4

I don't believe in aliens. Does that mean I am ascribing to a specific religious belief??

Just because one espouses a belief concerning a certain topic does not mean that that belief has its foundation in religion.

You'll never know the whole story of a person's life, how they grew up, what things affected them. You can't just assume 'religion' is the reason someone disagrees with you.

Answer 5

this is one nation under God....our laws are based on biblical principals and foundations.....

these unions are not sacred in the eyes of God....it is an abomination before God....

ordained members of the clergy that have done such have put their ecclesiastical position in jeopardy and could be removed from the church for doing such which is against the Bible...

it is insulting to the institution of marriage, cheapen and degrading it.

If they want a civil contract/ union then leave it at that...do not expect the church and government officials who are in office by the vote of the people to condone such.....

It is Satan's way of destroying the family....legalized abortion and children are now worthless....destroy the sanctity of marriage...the family is worthless....a nation divided against itself can not stand...Satan is destroying the very foundations and people are letting him do it....why??

Answer 6

90% of the USA is Christian, and a large majority of the Christians are against gay marriage. If all the gays and lesbians voted in one block, they would have little or no effect on any election. So, candidates go with the numbers. That is all there is to it.

Answer 7

Many people who have no religious belief are married. Marriage is not only a religious ceremony, it is covered by civil law.
The candidates are far more connected to civil law than they are to religion.
Please keep religion out of the government, and the government out of religion.
Because some church recognizes something, does not mean the government should also.
We must all obey civil law. Church law is only for that particular religion - - - leave everybody else out of it.

Answer 8

A true follower of Christ would not have let them marry. Those who did are only in it for the money and want to fill up their congregation. It's a total PR move. Show me where it says in Scripture that it's okay for a man to marry a man and a woman can marry a woman. You can't because it doesn't.
I support Major Naugle. And to oppose gay marriages does go against "gays" religious beliefs.

You can't bump 2 bulbs nor 2 sockets together and produce light. It's an abomination period. A mans part fit into a womans part for a perfect reason, procreation. God hates the sin NOT the sinner.

Answer 9

Being gay is not natural. If everyone was gay, the human race would cease to exist. The Bible clearly says that being gay is a sin. I have no problem with gay people. But, God does.
If you believe the Bible, you cannot accept being gay as being natural. It is not sanctioned or accepted by God.

Answer 10

The only argument against gay marriage is religion, so these candidates are just showing their religion.

I'd think, however, that these candidates would want to show their understanding of the Constitution, which indicates that we should not legislate based on religion. Call me crazy.