Is opposition to gay marriages legally justifiable?

Question

It seems to me that most people who oppose gay marriages do so for religious reasons.It's CLEARLY stated in the constitution that the affairs of government and religion must be totally separated.How can someone who opposes gay marriages for that reason then be legally justified in his/her stand point?These people tend to be very conservative and religious strict.That's all fine and dandy,but the foundation of our country teaches that you shouldn't impose your beliefs on someone else.Everyone stresses moral issues and religious issues pertaining to gay marriages, but these are the same excuses that the government used when it banned interracial marriages, saying that God separated races by continents for a reason.Many of us now days see that as ridiculous, but isn't that what they're doing to the gays? If our founding fathers (very religious men) stressed the importance of separating religion and politics, shouldn't we take that into consideration?How can we outlaw gay marriage?

A government should not represent the views of the "majority" of its voters. It should represent a foundation that supports and helps better ALL it's citizens. Because of this "majority rule" nonsense, we as a country have had to overcome segreagtion, the internment of Japanese americans and a whole list of other nonsense. When a government reflects it's majority, that obviously leads it's minority to be oppresssed. America clearly has a history of that. Now do you think that is right ?

And oh yeah, if you are truly religious, you would oppose to the oppression of a minority group. If you're going to be a christian ,be a real one.

Dave c-thank you. Even though you sound like you oppose gay unions, you at least provide reasonable explanations for it.

Isolde, your explanation totally goes against the principle of this country. America is one of the most individualistic countries in the world. That means we can marry ANY consenting adult with no government intervention. How would you like it if this country suddenly turned into a gay majority country and told you that you caldn't amrry heterosexually? You'd be mad and try to protest. But they would bring up all their reasons for it. A government cannot tell someone who to marry, a person can only tell him/herself who to marry!!! If you're into arranged marriages, this is not the culture for you!!!

To Isolde again: the people may not decide who may marry, the people may decide who THEY marry.

Answer 1

It's a good question. I've wondered myself about the legal justification for favoring the natural family. I've since concluded there is a great deal of justification.

First of all, nowhere in the Constitution does it say religion and government must be separate. If you're referring to the Establishment clause, it says that government can't favor a particular religion or interfere with its practice.

The natural family (father, mother, children) has been the basis of society for centuries. Favoring it and even protecting it does not favor a particular religion. There's a great deal of evidence that shows the natural family is ideal for protecting, providing for, and raising children. Statistics show that when the natural family is incomplete, many problems arise.

The following article goes into more detail on the legal justification for protecting and promoting the natural family.

http://www.familywatchinternational.org/fwi/policy_brief_marriage.pdf

Answer 2

Legal. This is a democracy. The people have the right to determine who may marry. Whenever the issue has been on a ballot, the people have determined that marriage is between a man and a woman. The only exceptions have been in courts by narrow margins by judges with their own agendas, and not the peoples.

Legal. Women and men are different. Marriage is a contract between unequal participants. The law protects women contractually when they enter into marriage because they may make unique sacrifices to start families. Same sex couples may need contractual protections, but it would be a contract between equals.

Religion. When same sex marriage is legalized the ACLU will attack all churches who refuse to perform them. This is happening in Canada now.

Answer 3

You can separate religion and politics, but not people from religion and/or politics. The government is supposed to be for the people. If the majority of the people are religious, then the government should be an expression of that.

I am religious, why then does the government, and the non-believing bunch get to subject me to their beliefs? I am against abortion, yet my tax dollars are used to fund abortions...why it that okay?

It's important to always stand up for what you believe in, even in the face of almost sure defeat. We are a society, we are not each individual islands. We have our individuality, but we are woven together as the fabric of humanity. So what one does, effects others. As our nation barrels down the easy road to hell, it's extremely necessary that some stand up against the flow and say this is wrong.

I feel sure that eventually, gay marriage will become normal and accepted. People will look back one day at this time in history and say "weren't they silly" but that society will be just that much closer to damnation. There is already so much that has been given up in the name of individual rights. We have millions of dead unborn children who will never have their right to life, we have many kids raised in single parent homes, we have children with transgender issues, we have teachers who can no longer say "mom and dad" in their class rooms, we have rampant STDs, we have kids getting birth control, we have perverts targeting our children...etc. etc. all because we have loosed our ties to God.

The government is supposed to be for the people...last time I looked religious conservatives were still part of "the people."

Edit: We now have a government that is ruled by the minority instead. How is that better? The point is, "government" is not some computer making decisions...it is people...be it minority or majority. People have beliefs, faith, morals etc. My point is that in bending over backward to placate the minority the majority is ignored. This is not a better place to be either.

Answer 4

You need to study history a bit more. Nowhere is it "CLEARLY stated in the constitution that the affairs of government and religion must be totally separated." It says congress shall not establish a religion. It also says congress shall not interfere with the free exercise of religion. You must be reading a different document. Have you really read the constitution or studied it? Try it.
Finally, everyone in America is free to vote, organize, lobby and influence government in a way that is consistent with their beliefs, views, understandings and desires. This is the American way. What you recommend sounds like something out of the USSR. Next we'll need thought police to determine if our motivations are acceptable.
We can outlaw gay, sibling, polygamous, itrafamily and animal marriages because govt. regulates these things. The govt. reflects the views of the voters. Every state which has voted on the issue of gay marriage has voted it down in favor of traditional marriage. The people have spoken.

Answer 5

Like it or not, our country was founded on Christian beliefs. Our laws are based on Christianity. Gay marriage is immoral, and wrong. A marriage consists of one man and one woman, that is how God planed it, and that is the only way it should be. Children need a father and a mother to raise them. Not two fathers or two mothers. There are enough broken families due to divorce, without confusing things further and having same sex parents.

Answer 6

And what else? This is not a marriage, but a suicide and an abomination. Would we support suicide and abomination? Even the nature teach us such a thing is not natural, and is an abomination.

So get behind me Satan! Vade retro Satanas!

The kingdom which is not ruled by our Lord is but for a moment, but the kingdom which is ruled by our Lord shall be established forever...

Answer 7

        Regardless of the civil vs. religious issues involved, it is perfectly understandable why it is considered unnatural even by non-religious people. If everyone were homosexual, our race wouldn't exist. Even in nature (i.e., among non-human animals), such activity is an example of aberrant behavior -- for the species would never survive if it were normal.

EDIT:
>> Dave c-thank you. Even though you sound like you oppose
>> gay unions, you at least provide reasonable explanations
>> for it.

        Actually, I agree that civil law has no right to dictate belief upon the people. But, then, civil law which dictates teaching evolutionary beliefs is also wrong.

Answer 8

you make a good point, but i already agree that gay marriage should be legal. there is no other reason besides religion to oppose it, but right now this country is run by religion, no matter what the constitution says. i hope you vote, i do. short of a revolution, that's the only way to gain change.

Answer 9

Southsider--That is truly disgusting. Do other people feel this way as well?

There is no reason why gay marriage should even be an issue outside of religious bullhonkery. Keep in mind just who is holding this country's reins.

Answer 10

Last time I read the 1st Amendment it said, CONGRESS shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.