Same Sex Marriage

I can't remember who said it first, but the advice to anybody who objects to a same sex marriage is not to marry somebody of the same sex. Problem solved!

What I don't understand is the notion bandied around that allowing gay marriage would somehow devalue it for the rest of us. I'm in a happy heterosexual marriage but I wouldn't suddenly feel threatened if homosexuals had the same rights, that's a very strange idea. Furthermore I don't get the idea that gays are somehow bringing down the sanctity of marriage. Yeeeess, whereas (say) Katie Price is really showing us the way.

Most of the objections to gay marriage come from people who take a work of fiction seriously and believe in magic sky fairies. Their views really shouldn't be taken seriously. I was at a wedding earlier this year and the priest began by telling us "in this church we believe marriage is a commitment between a man and a woman" before launching into a thunderous diatribe which ended with his face turning purple. At this point all I could think was "you're wearing a dress", but I let it go...

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Originally Posted by gadjo_dilo

Finally!!!! I worried that Christmas is coming and yet nobody has started a controversial debate about God/religion/church. :laugh:

Interesting it was started by the guy who claimed that last night would drink some pints.....

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There you go. The power of Kronenberg!! :beer:

It's a very controversial debate in the UK because it's being debated and the Law changed to facilitate same sex Marriage rather than a Civil Partnership which we currently have. Civil Partnership offers the same rights as Civil Marriage.

However, the problem is that it is illegal to have any sort of Religious readings, signs or music in Civil Partnership services. The debate is to allow Civil Marriage which can take place anywhere including in Church.

Now, in theory, Churches can 'opt out' of offering the service but I think it's hypocritical tht two people of opposite sex with no religious beliefs whatsoever can quite happily get Married in Church with the Clergy's blessing but two practicing Christians of the same sex cannot.

I also find it contentious that the Church is getting all high and mighty about one religious Law that some argue is ambigious to start with but freely ignores or revokes hundreds of others. If all these Laws were implemented, it whould make Shari Law look like the Peace and Love movement.

On the other hand, organisations like the Church of England should be allowed to practice their beliefs as they see fit as long as their docterine doesn't hurt anyone. It should be a matter of personal belief and not legislation if they allow their members of the same sex to join in Matrimony within their Church. If you turn up at a Hotel and are turned away because of your sexuality, then you have activly discriminated against someone but if you 'choose' to get Married in a Church that deems your request is against it's beliefs, then should they be made to change their beliefs?

Some Churches are happy to allow same sex Marriage within their religion. Quakers I believe will be holding the services. Is that enough or should the other faiths be forced to change their religious views. I know that at the moment organisations can opt out but that wont last long and eventually Christians, Jews, Muslims, Mormons etc will be basically made to change their religion by legislation. I don't think that is right either.

I don't have time and patience to read the debate above.
I'll never understand the sense of these marriages and I'm too bored and tired to say why.

Do us a favour and don't post here then :z

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Originally Posted by Knock-on

However, the problem is that it is illegal to have any sort of Religious readings, signs or music in Civil Partnership services.

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Is it really illegal? I mean, if two people having a civil partnership ceremony particularly wanted a hymn to be played, I very much doubt a prosecution would ever be brought; nor would any sensible authority object.

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Originally Posted by Knock-on

Now, in theory, Churches can 'opt out' of offering the service but I think it's hypocritical tht two people of opposite sex with no religious beliefs whatsoever can quite happily get Married in Church with the Clergy's blessing but two practicing Christians of the same sex cannot.

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You are right. It is absurd.

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Originally Posted by Knock-on

I also find it contentious that the Church is getting all high and mighty about one religious Law that some argue is ambigious to start with but freely ignores or revokes hundreds of others. If all these Laws were implemented, it whould make Shari Law look like the Peace and Love movement.

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Again, a very good point. Why is this? In my view, underlying homophobia.

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Originally Posted by Knock-on

On the other hand, organisations like the Church of England should be allowed to practice their beliefs as they see fit as long as their docterine doesn't hurt anyone. It should be a matter of personal belief and not legislation if they allow their members of the same sex to join in Matrimony within their Church.

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They should, and it should, but it is very strange that one church could go from a place where same-sex marriages are, in effect, prohibited to one where they can happen merely on the basis of a change of vicar.

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Originally Posted by Knock-on

Some Churches are happy to allow same sex Marriage within their religion. Quakers I believe will be holding the services. Is that enough or should the other faiths be forced to change their religious views. I know that at the moment organisations can opt out but that wont last long and eventually Christians, Jews, Muslims, Mormons etc will be basically made to change their religion by legislation. I don't think that is right either.

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If religions are sensible, they will wake up and see how, in this instance, the world has changed. But I fear they're not.

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Originally Posted by gadjo_dilo

I don't have time and patience to read the debate above.
I'll never understand the sense of these marriages and I'm too bored and tired to say why.

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Why bother posting that?

Actually, same sex marriages could potentially be encouraged on the basis of population control.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

So?

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Are you 'all' for hypocrisy then?

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Originally Posted by SGWilko

Are you 'all' for hypocrisy then?

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What's that supposed to mean?

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Originally Posted by SGWilko

Actually, same sex marriages could potentially be encouraged on the basis of population control.

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Ah, yes, let's forget about the fact that it may be nice to let same-sex couples who love each other just as much as any opposite-sex couple have the same right to marry.