When I asked: Why do Christians try to legislate a morality in which the freedoms of others are marginalized? (abortion, same-sex marriage) The Constitution protects minority rights while allowing majority rule: Hence, "murder," while it affects none of us personally, these activities DO infringe upon the rights of others guaranteed in the constitution: life, liberty, and due process (see Amendment 14). Thus, as murder infringes upon other people's right to life and liberty, property, these are against the law--not "moral" laws, individual rights laws. Same-sex marriage that DOESN'T infringe upon fundamentalist freedoms to live as they wish--doesn't even infringe on their rights to speak out against it! And as for abortion being "murder," I point out this verse: Exodus 21:22-25: And if men struggle and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage, yet there is no further injury, he shall be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide
2007-12-30 15:50:07 · 7 answers · asked by jtim24 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Esther: How does legal same-sex marriage infringe on your right to believe it to be wrong?
2007-12-30 15:59:32 · update #1
Ah, but not all American Christians think that way.
We're a pretty diverse bunch, once you get past the loudmouthed ones who tend to hog all the press.
2007-12-30 15:53:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
First, virtually all laws regulate morality in some way or another. The argument that you can't legislate morality is simply a soundbite for the ill-informed.
Second, the rights guaranteed by the Constitution come to us (according to the Declaration) from our creator who endows us with these inalienable rights. Murder is not illegal because it infringes upon the rights of others, but because it violates the laws of nature and nature's God (again, quoting the Declaation).
Third, every group (religious people included) are allowed to push for whatever morality they desire to be put into place. No group can advocate to make one religion or other the religion of the country or to force people to believe one way or another, but any group is free (including Christians) to try to have what they see as morality enforced through law.
Finally, Ex 21:22 does not say "miscarriage." It says (according to the original Hebrew) that if "the baby comes out but there is no serious injury . . . " The question is: to whom is there no serious injury -- the woman or the child who "comes out"? If the latter (as the majority of commentators agree) then this verse supports the view of the pro-life community that abortion is murder because if there is serious injury you are to "take a life for a life . . . ."
2007-12-30 16:04:02 · answer #2 · answered by beowulfs_kinsman 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Please don't judge all Christians by the behavior of some that are politically active. Personally, I have a problem with the government sanctioning (or rewarding) marriage in any way, but if they're going to hand out differential benefits based on marital status, then they have NO right to discriminate against any two people that choose to be married.
As for the verse you cited, I'd point out that it clearly establishes that an unborn child has value apart from the life of the mother! Furthermore, it assigns that value to the father not the mother. This verse can't possibly justify current abortion laws that allow women to decide without intervention from anyone whether their baby will live or die! If you don't want to call that murder, not a problem for me...but plain and simple, abortion gives women the right to put their own needs or desires above the needs of the life they created.
2007-12-30 16:10:46 · answer #3 · answered by KAL 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Murder is not a freedom...great verse...
Exodus 21:22-25: And if men struggle and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage, yet there is no further injury, he shall be fined as the woman's husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide.
It shows God's opinion in the matter of abortion.
2007-12-30 15:54:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Unborn children are fully human, not sub-human like blacks and women were once considered by our Supreme Court. Marriage is between one man and one woman, similar to the laws against harems and polygamy. Christians are only protecting the rights of ALL citizens in our nation for the benefit of ALL our citizens.
The Laws of Marriage Prohibitions laws forbidding incest, polygamy, harems, pedophilia, etc... protects the procreative process for future generations. Why do homosexuals desire "Special" treatment under our laws??
It does matter.
2007-12-30 16:00:17 · answer #5 · answered by Lives7 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can simply turn the question around back to you. Who are you to legislate my morality? Who are you to demand I accept same sex marriages?
The United States has freedom of belief. That means if I believe it is immoral for two people of the same sex to be joined together in marriage, I am going to vote against it.
You are, in essence, saying I've no right to my beliefs or voting the way I choose.
2007-12-30 15:57:11 · answer #6 · answered by Esther 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the only thing i care to respond to in your question/statement is the bible verse......hmmmmm "woman with child so that she has a miscarriage"......
ummm....notice how it doesnt say, "a woman with FETUS"
???????????????????
2007-12-30 15:54:52 · answer #7 · answered by SunnyBeaches 3 · 4⤊ 4⤋