http://rlew.com/2008/09/why-keep-marriage-between-man-and-woman/ Toward a God-Entranced Vision of All Things Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:22:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://rlew.com/2008/09/why-keep-marriage-between-man-and-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Cindy Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:26:32 +0000 http://rlew.com/?p=60#comment-106 I have to take issue with this post. If the primary purpose of marriage is child-bearing, then we would also not allow couples who choose to remain childless and those who cannot biologically have children to receive marriage licenses either. It would follow that, like same-sex marriage, their marriages are not fulfilling the "primary" purpose of marriage, so there should be no reason for them to be allowed to marry each other. Of course we would never think of doing that as a society because marriage is a fundamental, constitutionally-protected, civil right. To deny that right to an entire class of people is discrimination, plain and simple. To say that the reason why we are not required to confer those rights upon all citizens is because they cannot bear children (while conferring the right on other couples who fit that same description) is a farce. I have to take issue with this post. If the primary purpose of marriage is child-bearing, then we would also not allow couples who choose to remain childless and those who cannot biologically have children to receive marriage licenses either. It would follow that, like same-sex marriage, their marriages are not fulfilling the “primary” purpose of marriage, so there should be no reason for them to be allowed to marry each other. Of course we would never think of doing that as a society because marriage is a fundamental, constitutionally-protected, civil right. To deny that right to an entire class of people is discrimination, plain and simple. To say that the reason why we are not required to confer those rights upon all citizens is because they cannot bear children (while conferring the right on other couples who fit that same description) is a farce.

]]> http://rlew.com/2008/09/why-keep-marriage-between-man-and-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-105 karen Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:23:47 +0000 http://rlew.com/?p=60#comment-105 A friend of mine referred me to your blog. I read this entry awhile ago and have been thinking about it since. I support traditional marriage because of my religious upbringing, but I have real qualms about your entry and the article. If the only reason why same-sex marriage should not be legal is because of its lack of value for the society, I don't think that is a good reason. Does everything need to have value in order for it be maintained and supported? What about the child who is born with severe disabilities? Does he have value or worth even if he cannot do things as most of us can? I get that there are sociological consequences for gay marriage, but isn't this more an issue about absolute sexual morality? A friend of mine referred me to your blog. I read this entry awhile ago and have been thinking about it since. I support traditional marriage because of my religious upbringing, but I have real qualms about your entry and the article. If the only reason why same-sex marriage should not be legal is because of its lack of value for the society, I don’t think that is a good reason. Does everything need to have value in order for it be maintained and supported? What about the child who is born with severe disabilities? Does he have value or worth even if he cannot do things as most of us can? I get that there are sociological consequences for gay marriage, but isn’t this more an issue about absolute sexual morality?

]]> http://rlew.com/2008/09/why-keep-marriage-between-man-and-woman/comment-page-1/#comment-104 euniquesnackgirl Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:45:50 +0000 http://rlew.com/?p=60#comment-104 in light of the marginal passing of proposition 8 in california, i wonder if the anger of pro-gay-marriage activists is a repercussion of a long history of unloving behavior largely by the christian community. the thoughts to ponder at this time would be (1) how to have open and compassionate dialogue between peoples of opposing views, (2) how to demonstrate that opposing same-sex marriage is not about taking rights away from individuals, (3) how to demonstrate care and compassion to those who disagree. in light of the marginal passing of proposition 8 in california, i wonder if the anger of pro-gay-marriage activists is a repercussion of a long history of unloving behavior largely by the christian community. the thoughts to ponder at this time would be (1) how to have open and compassionate dialogue between peoples of opposing views, (2) how to demonstrate that opposing same-sex marriage is not about taking rights away from individuals, (3) how to demonstrate care and compassion to those who disagree.

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