re: #599 sizzleRI

re: #603 WindUpBird

I’m kinda late on this topic, but I want to say this:

This whole thing really bothers me because I think a lot of religious people don’t separate their religious views on this issue from the Constitutional aspects, just like many of them can’t seem to separate their views on science from religion.

About a year ago I got into a heated debate about it with a friend of mine who’s also an American convert. She doesn’t hate gay people, but she thinks homosexuality is a choice and she thinks it’s “wrong” (FWIW, she had the same opinion before converting.)

Aside from the fact that I think it’s absurd to assert that homosexuality is a choice, I kept trying to get her to understand that marriage is (or should be) a civil matter insofar as the law is concerned, and it should therefore be considered a civil right protected by the Constitution for everyone.

We went round & round about it for what seemed like forever, and things were getting very heated. I finally asked her if it was a religious matter, then pray tell WHOSE religion should dictate the rules? Protestants? Catholics? Jews? Muslims? Mormons? They’re all different. What about Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists, Wiccans, etc? What about atheists? Since they don’t have any religion, should they not be allowed to marry, or should they be forced to abide by someone else’s rules? Would SHE mind having to abide by another religions rules?

That pretty much ended the discussion. She conceded that maybe it was a civil matter after all, but she wasn’t very happy at the realization. In the interests of our long-standing friendship and the affection I have for her, I left it alone at that point.

I think until more people correctly understand the Establishment Clause, this nonsense is going to continue. If we had an official state religion that dictated our laws, then I would say, “Okay, we have to follow that.” But we DON’T, we have the Constitution. Maybe it needs to go to the Supreme Court, I don’t know… if it remains up to Congress, I fear things will never change because politicians will worry more about votes… if it remains up to the states and their respective voters, then it’ll be the the tyranny of the majority unless or until people change their thinking.

It really sucks for you guys.