"It's my religion" is a pretty crappy basis for laws and policies

[Zenlitened]

That's the last-resort line usually trotted out by people who oppose equal civil rights for gays and lesbians.

Well, if your religion frowns upon same-sex relationships... don't enter into a same-sex relationship, okay?

When the day comes that a law is proposed REQUIRING people to enter into same-sex marriages, I promise I'll be right there by yer side, opposing it. :crazy:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. People aren't that bright

Consider the fact that there are two parts to a marriage ceremony - the religious and the civil.

Everyone who's been married knows about going to get the marriage license, signing it after the religious ceremony. That's where the contract between the couple and the State is made - that's the legal marriage.

The religious thing might better be called a "wedding." Maybe then they'd understand that they are not one and the same.

For instance, how do atheists ever get married? Ask them that, and watch their eyes dim, their lips quiver, as their sweaty hands reach for either a gun or an American flag (they can't tell the difference), and listen to them belch, "MY COUNTRY, RIGHT OR WRONG!"

[hobbit709]

3. I told that to fundie once

I said the license was issued by the state-therefore it's a civil matter.
To get divorced you go to a state court-again a civil matter.
He told me that marriage was a sacrament. My response to him was "If marriage is a sacrament what part of "until death do us part" did you forget?" I said that because I knew that he is a failed Pentecostal minister and that he's been married and divorced 3 times.

[sui generis]

5. I've seen that very behavior

when you ask how atheists get married.

I can't think of anything I care about less than whether a babtist and a catholic get married, or whether a blue eyed person marries a green eyed person or whether two green eyed people get married.

Nothing. in the world.

My life is just too busy - even if in bizarro world I did care about it I would respect that they are people who can make their own choices.

I keep thinking what circumstances would I think I had something to say about people getting married? Not same sex, because I am unlawfully married myself to someone of the same sex, but, for instance, nothing but man / box turtles comes to mind.

I can't think of a single human interaction between two consenting adults (provided it's not exploitative) that would move me to stand against civil marriage.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. No better than "it's my hobby", in fact

No-one suggests that thimble collectors get tax-free status. Does anyone think JK Rowling should get to have a special say in the laws of the USA? Yet her works are about a hero who uses magic to defeat evil. Surely that puts her on a par with the Pope?

[BlueEyedSon]

4. I prefer to characterize it as equivalent to: "it's my OPINION."

And we all want laws based on that, don't we?

[FM Arouet666]

6. Yes, what is so hard to understand

Marriage is "sacred." Hello, "sacred" is a religious term. Those of a different religion, or who, Gasp, have no religion, may not hold the same opinion. A christian marriage does not become an abomination simply because others who hold a different view get married. However, If we do require same-sex marriages I vote Bush has to marry Rove. On second thought the image is making me sick. :evilgrin: