California Court Decision on Gay Marriages

M Richardson · 05-19-2008, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by ODH

New Hampshire passed Civil Union law this year and it has really effected my marriage. It has legitimized the homosexual lifestyle, which now that a civil union is an option is becoming very appealing to me. . . uh, then again maybe not.

I'm sorry. I'm just not clever enough to follow whatever it is that you are trying to say. Could you please be a little less obtuse for the slower members of the board? Thank you.

Spider · 05-19-2008, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by ODH

New Hampshire passed Civil Union law this year and it has really effected my marriage. It has legitimized the homosexual lifestyle, which now that a civil union is an option is becoming very appealing to me. . . uh, then again maybe not.

Originally Posted by M Richardson

I'm sorry. I'm just not clever enough to follow whatever it is that you are trying to say. Could you please be a little less obtuse for the slower members of the board? Thank you.

He's sarcastically saying that now that homosexuality has been legitimized, he may give it a try, and this will affect his marriage. What he's really saying is that it is ridiculous to think that passing a civil union law would have any such effect.

M Richardson · 05-19-2008, 12:23 PM

Thanks. I guess I have difficulty with sarcasm when tone of voice isn't available. I honestly read that 5 times and couldn't figure out the point.

Spider · 05-19-2008, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by M Richardson

Thanks. I guess I have difficulty with sarcasm when tone of voice isn't available. I honestly read that 5 times and couldn't figure out the point.

Sarcasm is my default tone of voice.

ODH · 05-19-2008, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by M Richardson

Thanks. I guess I have difficulty with sarcasm when tone of voice isn't available. I honestly read that 5 times and couldn't figure out the point.

Yeah, sarcasm was the point. I tried to find a little smily face that was sarcastic but couldn't. I just don't understand why people think that letting gays marry effect straight people and their marriages.

arm-spin · 05-19-2008, 01:07 PM

I think the idea is that gay marriage somehow "cheapens" the institution of marraige itself; if the institution of marriage violates a religious taboo (against homosexualilty) it is no longer as sacred as it once was.

(BTW I'm just trying to explain why some of my religous friends are opposed to gay marriage. I myself tend to agree with ODH. My own marriage is sacred- or not sacred- depending on how I treat my own wife. Whether homosexual persons are allowed to get married or not has no effect on me.)

ODH · 05-19-2008, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by arm-spin

I think the idea is that gay marriage somehow "cheapens" the institution of marraige itself; if the institution of marriage violates a religious taboo (against homosexualilty) it is no longer as sacred as it once was.

(BTW I'm just trying to explain why some of my religous friends are opposed to gay marriage. I myself tend to agree with ODH. My own marriage is sacred- or not sacred- depending on how I treat my own wife. Whether homosexual persons are allowed to get married or not has no effect on me.)

I have heard that argument and it makes some sense on the surface, but does gay marriage really effect anybody?
Do any of your religious friends think their marriage is weaker?
Most of the arguments I hear against gay marriage seem to be Homophobia.

ban basketball · 05-19-2008, 01:44 PM

I'll only interject to say that we began the process of "cheapening" this ancient and sacred institution long before courts started ruling on gay marriages.

If Britney Spears, in a drunken deal, can get married and divorced in one day in Las Vegas, we've "cheapened" it. If I can pull up to a drive up window and get married by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas, we've "cheapened" it.

In a serious sense, we began "cheapening" it when couples began opting for non-religious weddings. We've also been "cheapening" it for years through marriages in a courtroom. In fact, that is exactly how my wife and I were married. Far from a religious, sacred ceremony.

arm-spin · 05-19-2008, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by ban basketball

I'll only interject to say that we began the process of "cheapening" this ancient and sacred institution long before courts started ruling on gay marriages.

If Britney Spears, in a drunken deal, can get married and divorced in one day in Las Vegas, we've "cheapened" it. If I can pull up to a drive up window and get married by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas, we've "cheapened" it.

In a serious sense, we began "cheapening" it when couples began opting for non-religious weddings. We've also been "cheapening" it for years through marriages in a courtroom. In fact, that is exactly how my wife and I were married. Far from a religious, sacred ceremony.

I agree 100% with what BB is saying here. And ODH, I don't actually think gay marriage weakens anything, I was just trying to explain why others feel that way.

IMO there is homophobic opposition to gay marriage ("gays are perverts" that sort of thing) and there is religous opposition ("the Bible says homosexuality is wrong".) Being a Christian myself I can see where those with religous reservations are coming from but because the United States (and Canada) are not supposed to be governed by the Bible, I have no opposition to gay marraige.

Hope thaty clears up my position.

Spider · 05-19-2008, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by ban basketball

In a serious sense, we began "cheapening" it when couples began opting for non-religious weddings. We've also been "cheapening" it for years through marriages in a courtroom. In fact, that is exactly how my wife and I were married. Far from a religious, sacred ceremony.

But while a wedding is usually a religious occasion, it is always a civil contract. The two are usually merged into one ceremony, but they are very different things. A couple can get a civil divorce which is not recognized by the Church, and a couple getting only a religious divorce is still legally married.

California Court Decision on Gay Marriages

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