same sex marrage

There are so many factors that may affect one's view of this topic it becomes easy to see why it is controversial.  To list all of the arguments would be impossible.   However, by focusing on the main topics that both that both defend and disagree with the issue, we are able to get a brief glance at the enormity that the outcome of a problem like this carries in our society.

Right from the beginning the bible states that it was not good for man to be alone; "therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh." (God)  We can also read about God's discussion of unlawful marriages:  "Thou shalt not lay with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."  (God)  And to the people who disregarded this, the punishment was written simply; "they shall be cut off from their among their people."  Is it possible to say that these words that have provided strict guidelines for all these years no longer have any meaning or promise because we are no longer a people?  Or is it right to think that we are adopted into the family of God and are now apart of His people?  Who decides?  What if your family isn't Christian, does the law of God apply to you? (God)

For years and years these were the words that nearly everyone followed.  Only people who were clearly wrong dared to disobey the word of God.  It was clearly black and white, and often times church leaders were looked to for advice on what to do when we are faced with a choice.  After all, they "represent" Him, so they must know right from wrong. So what do we say to Bishop John Shelby Strong who is quoted as saying, "I regard the blessing of gay and lesbian couples by the church to be inevitable, right, and of a positive good.  We must be willing to relinquish prejudice and turn our attention to loving our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, supporting them, and relating them as part of Gods creation."  And how about the Roman Cardinal Basi Hume?  He says that love between people, whether of the same sex or a different sex, is to be treasured and respected.  "To love another person is to have entered the area of richest human experience."  I think that we are getting mixed messages. (Cahoon)

Now entering the picture is mans interpretation of the law.  This view no longer takes into consideration anything based on Christianity, by simply what has been written by another person.  I believe that the reason for this turn from one written law (the bible) to another is due to the fact that it is easier to find loop-holes in something that God had little to do with (but this is only my belief).  It is easier to see all the reasons why one can marry a person of the same sex when you are dealing with a race that wants to be considered open minded and fair - despite what they may know in their hearts to be right.  In the court case of Loving vs. Virginia, the appellants are fighting for their civil right to have a (same-sex) marriage.  This particular case points out that the right to marriage occupies an extremely venerated position in our society. marriage exists as a protected legal institution primarily because of the societal values associated with the continuation of the human race.  (Dirty)  Also, it should be apparent that no same-sex couple offers the possibility of the birth of children by their union.  Many times similar cases involving female/female marriage or male/male marriages are refused by the courts for this very reason.  The state has the authority to refuse to authorize a same-sex marriage from the impossibility of reproduction rather than from any discrimination on the account of sex.  It is now apparent how the law defined a marriage.  Legally it is considered the union of one man and one woman.  This is only because of the unique physical characteristics of each sex in being able to reproduce.   Never the less, "discrimination!" is screamed inside the walls of the court and the issue of homosexual marriage moves from a moral to an ethical issue.  (Brown)

 Bibliography

Rotello, Gabriel

http://abacus.oxy.edu/QRD/media/print/gabriel.rotello/gay.marriage.the.next.big.battle

Brown, Jennifer G.

http://www.outnow.com/67/hawaii.html

Sanders, D. B. Skeeter

http://members.aol.com/otlm/julyaug/antimarr.html

Loveline.com

http://cemulimedia.com/loveline/loveome/.htm

Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund

http://www.gaysource.com/gs/ht/oct95/questions.html

Cahoon, Robert E.

http://www.bestweb.com/cahoon

Teriaine, J.

http://www.buddybuddy.com

Haig, Sir Douglas

http://www.demon.co.uk./kdm/haig.html

Dirty Hippies Liberal Christian Home Journal

http://student-www.uchicago.edu/users/mbaldwin/homo.html

Zingale, Daniel

http://www.hrusa.org/feature2/mar16.html

God

exerpts from the Bible