Is marriage a privilege or a right?

Question

What’s the point in denying any particular group of people the same right/privilege under the law?

Mindy- too funny.

Mindy- too funny.

WOW, a lot of unhappy marriages in here. i'm thinking of proposing to my girlfriend but now I'm having second thoughts.

Stephanie- I agree with you 100%. I'd marry you, but you're taken.

tivovovo- it's good to know there are youngsters such as yourself out there.

geesh, 43 answers and not one star?

coragryph- I'm glad you brought up the Loving case, it's my favorite. Without it, I and my girlfriend might not be here.

bles- I think it's reasonable to keep marriage between two people OF THE SAME SPECIES. but more power to you and your donkey.

scubadog35- the point IS to accomodate a minority. the US is majority rules with minority rights. IOW the majority doesn't have the right to deny a minority their rights.

Answer 1

The problem here is that marriage has a dual nature. It is recognized both as a legal institution (rights and responsibilities between two parties) and as a sacred religious bond between man, woman, and God (by most of America).

Those who recognize marriage primarily as a sacred religious bond believe it is defined as this (or something very close to this): man and woman joined together as one person by God for the purposes of consummation.

In fact, in earlier times, if a man could not consummate with a woman for any reason, he could not marry her. For example, if the man had injuries to his genitalia from a war wound, the Church would deny the marriage. The religious definition is thus taken very seriously, and I would bet the religious definition today is still the same as it was thousands of years ago.

Many people are therefore upset when they perceive the institution of marriage: "bastardized and perverted. It makes a mockery of [their] belief system. Like a woman marrying her cat. Or a prostitute having sex on the altar." Thus, in their mind, this sacred institution is cheapened and undermined. Has nothing to do with bigotry (maybe in some cases in might); instead, the perceived attack on the underlying core belief system.

Granted, people feel justifiably discriminated against based on differences in legal treatment that "married" couples enjoy. Not just homosexuals; but single people. After all, why should married people be the ones receiving preferential treatment?

I have mulled this over quite a bit. And I have a solution to this problem. Not a perfect solution, but pretty good anyway. Here it is:

Have the state issue something like "a certificate of union." This certificate will signify a purely legal relationship between parties.

Then you let each organized religion decide which people may "marry" according to their own belief system. But whatever procedures are used for these religious cermemonies carry no legal significance.

Also, abolish common law marriages.

In this manner, you can ensure that people are not unfairly discriminated against with respect to those legal benefits heterosexual couples enjoy who are presently "in a union", for this takes the fight completely out of the religious arena.

This is in also in accordance with the public policy underpinning the separation of church and state.

Answer 2

In fact one really can not break this down to it just being a right. One can not say it is just a privilege either. Marriage is much more that just a right and a privilege.

I can tell you this: Marriage is the union between an man and a woman. Not a man and a man. Not a woman and a woman.

The fact that this causes some people distress is the shame if there really is one, because love is many things, but has never been nor should ever be something of which to be ashamed.

If it is just the word that sickens some, then I wish that some smart person would coin another word, so that love could be love and the world could move on to more urgent matters.

Answer 3

A privilege is something that once granted can be taken away.
A right can not be taken away but it can be given away.

Our constitution enumerates the rights of the individual and forbids government from abridging those rights.

Marriage existed before government and will continue to do so. I don't know when government became involved with licenses and marriage. However, the existence of licenses indicates that marriage is a privilege as we know it today.

The definition of marriage is a union between men and women only. Some will point out that polygamists have multible partners but that doesn't change the basic man/woman dynamic.

A privilege can be denied. Marriage is between men and women. Polygamy is forbidden, brother and sister marriages are forbidden.

Answer 4

well...if you really get into it. Marriage is a religious ceremony with legal benefits. So its actually legally, neither since according to the constitution, state and church are seperate. The law should only allow civil unions, and all current marriage benefits should be given based upon civil unions. A marriage should still be able to be performed by a church, in a religious ceremony but no rights should be granted based simply upon marriage, since it is religious, not legal If Marriage becomes simply religious, with no additional rights, and civil unions become the legal term for the joining of a couple, than any two consenting adults would be able to get a union, and the religious fanatics would not be able to stop it, which they shouldnt be able to anyway

Answer 5

I think marriage is a privilege. I don't support gay people, but I'm not gonna stop them. I think being gay is kind of like a religion. Some people are into it, others aren't, and you can't force it on anyone else. They should be able to get married under freedom of religion. But there are a lot of people in this country who want to control everyone else, whether they really feel strongly for it or against it.

Answer 6

Marriage is the right of a man and a woman not both of the same with each other.
It is called a sin which is Gods laws and this and every country is based on laws from Morales and two men or two women do not make a marriage. It was created when it was to protect family and keep a man from moving on just like what goes on the the gay community of higher promiscuity and changing partners.
Keep your ill manners to your self just I do by not making you be strait and and a religious person. But look out you Democrats want to and have befriended to a small degree of a partnership with Islam which will behead you as you have no place in their world only if you are one of them then they do rape men than kill them.
Keep your sin to your self and stop trying to make us except it as we will never who do follow Gods words and common seance.

Answer 7

i think marriage is both. The right to marry the person whom you love and the privilege of being recognized as a married person. because wut is the point of getting married, if no one recognizes you as a married person?

I may be wrong but, i think you are asking regarding gay marriages. but really think about it, its something called the labeling theory I learned in Sociology class. Some one call you a married person, 1 is because you have gone through the ceremonial process of marriage, and 2 is because of the mate of your choice is in fact the opposite sex. then by putting a label on you as married is considered logical.

on the other hand, when you gone though the ceremonial process and because of the mate of your choice is the same sex, it raises concern and confusion to others which is categorized as "deviant" behavior. given the norms and values of the society, then by label, people will not recognized your status. I would consider being recognized is a privilege.

Answer 8

Marriage is just an affirmation of your commitment to your relationship, and as far as I'm concerned, any couple of ANY gender that can keep it together for at least 8 years is beating the odds for first time marriage divorce.

Like...heterosexuals have done all that well at it, right? 50% get divorced!

Answer 9

It is a civil right, as defined by the U.N. and the U.S. government. It is unfair to deny marriage between consenting, mentally competent, adults, no matter their race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

Religious organizations may view it as a sacrament, a privilege, or a blessing, and they have the right to restrict it *within their organization* as they deem appropriate.

It is also an individual choice, and individual people may view it as good or bad, and choose to participate or abstain, as they deem appropriate for themselves.

Answer 10

It's a right. Even if it were a privilege, it wouldn't be fair to deny anyone of it. Marriage is a right that anyone should have.

I'm 15. When I was a kid, no one ever talked about homosexuality, sex, or drugs with me. I didn't need them to. I knew drugs were stupid and formulated my own opinion that sex isn't something I want. As for homosexuals, I grew up not thinking there was anything wrong with them. I grew up just thinking, gee, why does anyone have a problem with homosexual people? They...just like different things. So I still don't understand the problem.