The Religious Violence of "Defending Marriage"

[davidinalameda]

http://divinity.uchicago.edu/martycenter/publications/sightings/archive_2009/0312.shtml

A recent article in The Atlantic and recently released Lutheran documents give good reasons to revisit the status of gays and lesbians across American society. Unfortunately, few commentators to date have addressed the most troubling development of the past few years: the growth of DOMA Laws, or "Defense of Marriage Acts." These laws are forms of religious violence.

The Federal Defense of Marriage Act, passed in 1996, stipulates that for the purpose of federal laws and operations, "the word 'marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife." According to domawatch.org - a website sponsored by supporters of these laws - thirty-seven states now have some form of DOMA Laws on the books. The rationales for such defensive laws are often couched in neutral, "secular", or "naturalist" language. But the move to establish such laws came from religious groups, notably conservative Protestants, Catholics, and Mormons. And the logic and appeal of these laws also originates in religion, and functions as a form of violence. Six theses can clarify the contours of the religious violence embedded in these laws.

very good read

[RJ Connors]

1. Your right, that was a very good read

Thanks for posting.

[davidinalameda]

3. you're welcome

[msongs]

2. been doing religious violence for 2000 years, that crowd nt