A little food for thought from Ask Dennis
Show me the Nearest Soapbox, please.
Now, for a change of subject, let’s talk about gay marriage. Because I think the Christian faith has really done a number on us where this is concerned. And bear in mind, I’m not talking about Christians, as a group of people – this is not a blanket statement about a group of people – but merely about the effect that the Christian doctrine has had. Later, I will discuss some Christians – but again, I won’t be categorizing all Christians – just the ones against gay marriage.
Right now, men can’t marry men in the U.S. and women can’t marry women. Why? Basically, because this nation, like it or not, was built on Christian principles. Like it or not, the god of Christianity rules our nation. That’s the way the forefathers actually wanted it, in fact. Unfortunately, they didn’t entirely set it up that way. They came for “religious freedom,” so that’s what they worked into the system. Now, what they actually meant when they said that was “freedom to choose whichever form of Christianity you like best.” Had it occurred to them that someone might want to believe something outside the Christian bible, they might have been a little more specific.
So here we are, stuck with this “freedom of religion” thing, this “no establishment of religion” business. The fact is, however, that our nation is still run by the Christian faith. Anyone want to disagree? Name the last president who was Buddhist. Or Hindu. Or Muslim. Or even Jewish. See there?
So Christian laws, in effect, become national laws – and state laws, and county laws, etc. By the Christian faith, homosexuality is wrong; therefore, marriage becomes a sacred thing by Christian standards, between a man and a woman. Not between a man and a man or a woman and a woman – never. So…religious law becomes national law, and on down the line.
But then we have this tricky “freedom of religion” thing, which is the only reason there’s room for debate at all. What I want to know is – why do those particular Christians who oppose marriage even care? They say it’s a sacred thing, between a man and a woman. Well, let’s examine this.
Christianity did not invent marriage. It was around for a very long time before the Bible was ever written or even thought of. So what makes those particular Christians think that they own the rights to marriage?
Then there’s this “sacred” issue. Well, frankly, I don’t see why I can’t get married anyway. The fact that my marriage would not be “sacred” according to the Christian faith – well, it doesn’t bother me. And I don’t see why it should bother anyone else. The same people who don’t want me to get married already believe I’m going to hell, so what do I care if they think my marriage has no holy quality to it?
And some would say that since marriage is “sacred,” a same-sex union diminishes the sanctity of a heterosexual one. How is that, exactly? If I got married tomorrow, to a nice, strapping man, are there really straight couples across the nation who would turn to each other and say, “our marriage means so much less now?” If they would, then I say that’s their own issue, not mine. If someone values something on a personal basis, and they really believe in it, how the hell can I change that? What has my marriage to do with theirs? Do we have to join the same club? Do we have to go to monthly meetings? Are we required to dine together once a week? Is there something no one’s telling me about marriage? Because it seems to me that I could get married tomorrow, if it were legal, and most of the people who find it offensive would never even know that I did it, let alone be affected by it.
I don’t know. Maybe it’s because they’d rather believe that we’re not out there. But the possibility of marriage would provide legal evidence that we exist. We would no longer be this mythical society, this tall tale of demons who steal after good Christian children in the dark of night. Or maybe it’s that, with an entire population of legally proven gay people whose existence could no longer be denied, they would have to actually practice the Christian principle of non-judgement rather than merely preaching it.
So where is this religious freedom? Because I am religious. I’m not Christian, but I have religious beliefs. I believe in being generally kind to my fellow human beings. I believe that good deeds are both necessary and desirable. I believe in the power of love. But in my religious beliefs, it’s perfectly alright for two men or two women to be legally married and share all the benefits that such a union entails. So where is my religious freedom? Why are there laws that so blatantly trample on my rights to believe and practice as I see fit?
Den.
Will Wonders Never Cease
Deep Thought: Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself. Mankind. Basically, it’s made up of two separate works-”mank” and “ind.” What do these words mean? It’s a mystery, and that’s why so is mankind. 
Better Late Than Never
The Big Day
Hard Day’s Night
News Flash
Sad Songs (Say So Much)
