In this year's election, the land of cheese, land of my nice suburban home, will allow voters to decide if they want to add an amendment to the constitution which would guarantee the definition of marriage as a contract between "one man and one woman." I'll vote no. Even if it means gay sex in my front yard and men marrying dogs.
First, let's get a few things clear: I'm a religious person. I'm a Christian. The Bible is my holy book. I'm not a big fan of the protestant doctrine of Solo Scriptura, but even if I was, I'd be more than happy to argue that God/Bible (the difference sometimes blurs), has little to say about homosexual marriage. I do not believe homosexuality is a sin. Saying so is like saying being single is a sin: God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve...therefore being single must be sinful, right?
The term Sodomy offends me. The term refers to the events at Sodom, as documented in Genesis. Most people assume the "sin of Sodom" refers to homosexuality. No. No. No. No. No. For God's sake NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Don't believe me? How about some scripture: "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy" (Ezekiel 16:49). Strange....sexual acts aren't in the list. But forgetting the poor and needy is....damn scripture....how did that verse get into the bible....
But even if I did have moral qualms with homosexuality, for the life of me I'll never understand why people get so upset by it, so motivated to make sure to prevent homosexuals from getting married. Even if homosexual marriage were legal, there is no law which would force your church to marry people. What's the big deal? Do you really believe making gay marriage legal will increase the number of homosexuals? And cynically, it's about time the gay community joins the rest of us. 50% of us will suffer divorce. Divorce lawyers everywhere should campaign for making gay marriage legal.
Proponents of preventing homosexual marriage value narrow scriptural interpretation over well attested scriptural tolerance and compassion. Did you know that a gay couple isn't guaranteed the right of hospital visitation, or terminal medical decisions, or inheritance? Can you, o heterosexual reader, imagine going to the hospital and being told you had to leave the bedside of your beloved because visiting hours were over?
I will vote no this fall, even though I worry the issue is somewhat of a moot point. Given the results of so many other states, I doubt Wisconsin will fair any better. I just wish more people would see the gay marriage initiatives for what they really are: just another ploy by republicans to increase turn-out at the polls. Sigh.
Get your buttons and t-shirts here.
And for some more good stuff, watch some Jon Stewart on the issue:
4 comments:
Good morning Joel.
It's funny. I agree with almost all of what you are saying, but maybe for different reasons than you stated. I just don't think that Jesus or Paul would have gotten involved. They were too busy working with the poor, the outcast, the destitute to mess around with political bullshit.
And that's basically my stance. Leave politics and religion alone. I don't believe they should mix. Instead of bitchin' about gays you will most likely never meet, make some cookies for a lonely neighbor, invite someone over for dinner, something.
For the love...
But my question for you is this...
All politics aside, why do you believe that homosexuality isn't morally wrong?
Can I answer your question with a question, Matt?
You asked about 'homosexuality'....
Are you referring to a lifestyle, in general? And, if so, do you separate the lifestyle, generally referred to by the term--which can mean anything from 'artistically savvy' to 'has good taste in shoes'--from the act of homosexual intercourse?
I personally believe the bible talks about the latter while the former isn't even on the radar...
My $.02
Hmmm... Good question. There are aspects of the lifestyle with perks, you get to obsess about fashion, you get to really work on making yourself look good, and not care about vanity. But there are rough over-sexualized parts as well. I think the lifestyle of homosexuality is really a different conversation.
So, my question is really about the act of intercourse between two same-gendered people. And so, the question remains, why did joel think that's not morally wrong?
Hey Joel--I thought you'd appreciate this. Taken from WaspJerky.blogspot.com (who took it from someone else):
"Christianity survived the death of its founder, centuries of brutal persecution by the most powerful Empire on earth, Crusades, corruption, bad popes, multiple schisms -- and still spread and thrived, converting over the course of its history hundreds of millions of people from wildly diverse, often hostile cultures.
It'll survive two guys sharing a life insurance policy."
Absolutely beautiful.
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