New Hampshire holds House hearing on gay marriage: "Christian rights at risk!"

[Bluebear]

CONCORD, N.H. — Former Senate Republican Leader Bob Clegg told The Associated Press on Thursday he will introduce legislation giving gays — and other adults who don't choose to marry — the same legal rights as married couples..."Marriage is a religious ceremony," said Clegg. "The bill is not just for gays and lesbians; it's for anybody."...

But supporters testified their Christian rights were at risk if gay marriage isn't stopped.

State Rep. Dudley Dumaine, the prime sponsor, said it also would prohibit civil unions.

"I don't understand the pressing need to write discrimination into the constitution," said Susan Bruce of Jackson. "Are there marauding bands of homosexuals harassing heterosexual couples until they divorce? I don't think so."

Rep. Carol Estes, D-Plymouth, likened the amendment to measures that barred blacks and whites from marrying — which meant she could not have married the man she loved.

"The rights of the minority must be respected," she said.

But Helen McPhillips of Danville said God set the pattern for marriage as only between a man and a woman. She said allowing gays to marry would result in profound changes in society.

"Two mommies and two daddies isn't going to work," she said.

"We're talking about a radical, radical redefinition of what marriage might be in New Hampshire," added Rep. Daniel Itse, a bill sponsor.

John Keck of Bedford said marriage should be supported as an institution because men and women procreate.

"Why mess with the wisdom of nature," he said.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/NEWS03/702020359/1004/NEWS03

[DRoseDARs]

1. Ms. McPhillips needs to take an intro-level anthropology class...

Marriage isn't a Christian institution. It's a Human institution that can be found in every culture and every religion taking every form at every point in Human history.

[Bluebear]

2. But God only recognizes Christian marriages.

Evidently. Those Shinto marriages don't take, you know.

[mmonk]

13. That's correct. It even has pagan roots in the western world.

[moggie]

3. What about childless marriages?

If marriage is all about procreation, should we bar infertile people from marrying?

[Bluebear]

4. Yes. And people too old to have children.

Sorry!

All the arguments fall apart, and just to the south of us Massachusetts has had gay marriage for years now and it has not fallen into the ocean, so I don't know what the problem is.

[Perky]

5. It's not about Christian Rights...It is about Christian Relevance

And as soo as these modern day pharisees undertand this the better off everyone will be.

[Bluebear]

16. What do you mean it is about Christian Relevance?

No comprende.

[Perky]

17. Christians

nominal though they may be as christians have a very misplaced sense of duty to "protect" the world against man's sin. There was a time when religious influence held sway over society. Not so much in an active way but simply becsue 90% of the culture considered itself Christian (it was largely civil religion, but we called it "Christina").

I think that in response to modern influences lioke tghe media, the fundies began to see an erosion of the possive constraint religion had on american soicety. Licentiouse behavior has always existed, but suddenly Hristian found it being more and more mainstream.

THeir reaction has been to become the self-annointed knights of decency. But is no so based some sort of genuine concern about society as it is about remaining culturally relevant. They simply feel that unless they pitch a hissyfit Hollywood and the courts will win the war for culture and CHristianity will no lnoger be considered relvant.

My tension with them is that in so doing they seek to push their moral code on the world (The Pharasaical approach)rather than the Jesus approach which was very counter-culture and mocked this type of relevance. You want the world to come to Christ? Then you need to foucus on feeding the poor and being kind and seeking simple beauty rather then getting all uppity and political and mean.

They seem to have completely forgotten that the response to both immorality and injustice is to be more like Jesus, not less.

[Bluebear]

18. Very clear.

As you know, it is the pharasaicals who keep trying to poke their nose in my business with whom I have the problem!

[badgerpup]

6. Oh my gods...this is TOO rich...

"The word marriage came from Latin maritare, union under the Goddess Aphrodite-Mari. Because the Goddess's patronage was constantly invoked in every aspect of marriage, Christian fathers were opposed to the union. Origen declared "Matrimony is impure and holy, a means of sexual passion". St Jerome said the primary purpose of a man of God was to 'cut down with an axe of Virginity the wood of Marriage."
St Ambrose said that marriage was a crime against God, because it changed the state of virginity that God gave every man and woman at birth. Marriage was prostitution of the members of Christ, and "married people ought to blush at the state in which they are living"....a moral crime, more dreadful than any punishment or death...spurcitiae, 'obscenity', or 'filth'.
(snip)
The Anglican marriage service came from Anglo-Saxon deeds used to transfer a woman's land to the stewardship of her 'house-band' (husband).

"Marriage" p585
The Woman's Enclyopedia of Myths and Secrets by Barbara G. Walker
ISBN #0-06-250925-X

There's pages more, but you sorta get the picture...

:rofl:

[sweetpotato]

8. LIES! The Bible says so!

This cannot pessibly be true, those crazy women's studies feminists just make that stuff up.

read your bible!

:sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Demeter]

11. And Then They Decided That Without Reproduction, Christianity Was Doomed

and took the easy out Paul gave them: "It is better to marry than burn"

[Philosoraptor]

7. Soon we'll all be forced to be homosexuals at gunpoint!!11!!111

[Demeter]

9. And What Rights Might Those Be?

Nothing can be interpreted in the Constitution as Christian Rights; nor in any body of secular law. There are, however, a number of rights to be left alone and private, to protect minorities from majority bullies, and that famous right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[xchrom]

10. i belong to a roving band homosexuals.

we harrass heteros.

but how did she find out? -- ya know you just can't keep a secret anymore.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

12. And I thought the gay agenda was tasteful decorating??

[xchrom]

14. oh no -- we threaten hetero marriages, donchya know.

especially christian marriages.

atheists seem to be immune from our charms.

christians on the other hand.....

[ccpup]

15. and teaching the Straights

how to exfoliate. Don't forget that. It's #2 on the Agenda.

[donco6]

19. You were wearing those trendy mesh hoods from D/G.

You can see right through them, dontcha know?

[xchrom]

20. damn it donco -- now they

know where me and my homos hang.

[AspenRose]

21. I sent Carole Estes a thank you note.

My interracial marriage is not a threat to American society.

Someone else's marriage, gay or straight, certainly doesn't threaten me, or anyone else for that matter.

Live free or die!

[Matariki]

22. Well, when are these idiots going to work on passing laws against usury?

since in their minds we're apparently are operating under 'biblical law'.