While seventeen states have already granted couples the right to marry whom they love regardless of gender, the rest of the country continues to forbid same-sex couples to marry (Ahuja) and in doing so, infringe upon one of the most basic freedoms we are allowed. Arguments for same-sex marriage, despite being backed up with hard legal evidence and Supreme Court rulings, continue to face opposition on the grounds of religious beliefs and personal values. Often cited by Catholics is an interpretation of marriage as “a promise made to God” and “a holy sacrament” that is only to be shared between one man and one woman. Other biblical interpretations suggest that a capital sin is committed by those in homosexual relationships and therefore must …show more content…
Continuing to deny same-sex marriages based on religious beliefs, outdated social norms, and personal parenting ideals allows a severe but perfectly legal violation of civil and human rights to occur.
At the forefront of the gay marriage debate is the Catholic Church, which has become the most outspoken critic against marriage equality. With approximately 78 million Catholics in America, this is a huge number of people who subscribe to a religion that self-identifies as being strongly anti-gay (Parnass). Chapter 20 of Leviticus, a book of the Old Testament oft-quoted for its numerous examples which Catholics claim provides credence to their anti-gay beliefs, states that “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them” (The New Oxford Annotated Bible, Lev. 20:13). In other words, this passage states that any man who has sexual relations with another man has committed a sin and will be put to death because of it. However, the Catholic Church is in no position to claim that marriage between same-sex couples should not be allowed. What many Catholics fail to realize is that marriage is a secular institution, meaning that any one man and woman can get married outside of the church regardless of the religion, or lack
For the past 3 decades the views surrounding marriage has undergone a great deal of change (Lennox, 2015, p. 1101). This shift is due to the continual discussion of gay marriage. The interplay of religion and politics has led for much controversy. In the United States, the use of Christian and Jewish biblical texts are the main sources drawn upon for opposition, but have also been used as a supportive means of equality. Beyond the religious there are also psychological and physical health arguments, as well as civil rights arguments. Same sex marriage is examined through different paradigms, thus giving rise to religious, political/legal, and religious arguments surrounding the legalization of this institution for gay and lesbian couples.
Gay marriage is not the only issue that is being discussed throughout America involving the gay community. In a particular study done by USA Today, results showed that when Americans were asked if they think homosexual relationships between consenting adults should be legal, 46% answered yes (“USA Today” 6). However, when asked if they would then favor a law that would allow homosexuals to get married, only 24% were in favor (6). This survey also showed the differences of peoples’ ideas based on if they attended church or not (6). The results showed that 73% of Americans who attend church weekly oppose the legalization of gay marriage and only 38% of those who don’t attend church oppose legalization (6). These results show that for many Americans, marriage is a religious agreement, but for many others, marriage is a right that should be given to all who want to partake in it.
Among young influential minds, The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington DC. evoked foster care placement to prevent the ability of children being placed in homosexual homes. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 16 states, “Men and women of full age, without any limitation...have the right to marry...found a family... entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution…” (UDHR, 1948). Not defending the ability to same-sex marriage. In New Jersey a Methodist Ocean Grove Camp declined a Civil Union Ceremony. Religious beliefs argue that in the bible God does not promote or support gay marriage. Supporting their reasons in the bible, as stated by God, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither...nor homosexuals...will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1st Corinthians 6:9-10 (NKJV)). Debates continue in several schools. At a school in Florida a social studies teacher posted a comment on facebook criticizing same-sex marriage. In other schools teachers dismissed students involved in homosexual relationships claiming to be uncomfortable. Therefore, many will argue the several consequences to allowing same-sex marriage, but the inability to see past the discrimination among Americans prevent a growth in our society. Positivity can be created through Americans creating a
To contravene God and the bible must be the incipient trend since homosexuals celebrate it and feel that is it ok to get espoused under God. Marriage is a sacred commitment between man and woman and the legalization of gay espousement threatens the Americans religious rights. This topic matters because Christians feel as if getting married under God is an act of dishonor and that it is irrelevant. Marriage should stay between a man and woman because that is verbalized in the bible, children are more likely to live a normal life, and religious beliefs are not being ignored.
The legalization of gay marriage has been a controversial issue in many state courts since the mid 1970s. Gay marriage scares many people because it strays from the norms of heterosexual relationships. Traditional American ideals have become a part of culture and society that everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, or race, or gender, expect to have as a basic human rights. Several times in history these have been identified as inalienable rights. One of the expected rights of many American citizens is the right to choose who they love, who they marry, and how they live their day to day life. When heterosexual Americans were introduced to the idea of same sex marriage, they became afraid that it would “taint the minds of the young members of the community,” since homosexualty was and still is frowned upon in the community. Thus, the homosexual community’s opportunity to freely choose how to live their life is taken
While some states have began to embrace the civil rights of all American people and allowing both hetero- and homo-sexual couples to marry, some states have done quite the opposite and banned same sex marriages and unions. Not all Americans feel so strongly about legalizing same sex marriage. Those against same sex marriage believe marriage has been defined as being between a man and a woman. However, that has not always been true, as explained in the beginning of this paper, the ancient people commonly wed the same gender and them and also had same sex sexual relations (ProCon.org). In fact in the first century Nero the Emperor of Rome married at least two of his lovers who were men (Chastain 19.) It was not until Christianity became a wide spread religion that sodomy and homosexuality became immoral. Those who oppose the legalization of gay marriage also believe that same sex marriage will threaten the institution of marriage. Marriages since 2011 have been at a new low, with only 52 percent of adults being married (Yen). However gays are fighting for the right to marry who they love, while heterosexual couples take that for granted. Divorce rates are currently lingering around 40-50% that is without gays being able to be married in many states. By allow homosexuals to marry their significant others, it will allow for a stronger bond and maybe bring back life into the deteriorating world of marriage. In states that do allow for same sex marriages, their divorce rates are
Look back twenty-five years ago, on same sex marriage was a ?thought experiment? in our culture. The idea promoted primarily by those on the left and other cultures who?noticed?? amount of?boundaries to personal freedom and behavior. (April 6th, 2013 Dr.Jim Eckman).Just Seventeen years ago Congress pass a Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which define a marriage, as a union between a man and women. In recent years, the debate has moved beyond questions of individual rights and proper family formation to include questions that pit religious liberty against non-discrimination policies. While all laws legalizing same-sex marriage contain some conscience protections allowing churches and other religious groups to refuse to marry gay and lesbian couples,
In the United States, legalization of same-sex marriage has a long-standing history of opposition from religious circles. Some argue against the legalization of same-sex marriage based on their interpretation of the Bible’s stance against homosexuality (Dobson, O’Brien). Other opponents argue against the practice based on universal tenets of moral behavior, fundamental beliefs that are said to underpin our country’s existing laws and should not be eroded (George, Finnis, Friedman).
Legalizing gay marriage has given America a troubling debate throughout a majority of the states. With only thirty-seven states allowing legal gay marriage, the other thirteen have either banned it or are still deciding (unknown, 2015, para 1). Gay marriage is seen as different and wrong to so many people in America that is has become sickening. People do have their differences and as Justin Timberlake once said, “We’re people and we’re different, all of us. And we should be using our differences to bring ourselves closer together” and with this being said, everyone is equal to one another in different ways (Timberlake, 2014, 10). For example, two people could have two different religions, which is different, but also equal in the sense
Christian groups who stand up for same-sex marriage often say that all people are created exactly how they are by God and should have the same rights as others no matter their sexual orientation. Those who are opposed to it argue that same-sex relationships are against God's will. The Jewish church also varies in its approach to same-sex marriage while the Islamic faith completely rejects homosexuality.
The issue of whether a loving, same-sex Christian marriage can exist under complete Biblical authority has been one fraught with debate and controversy. This disagreement has notably increased in the past century, with the advent of homosexuality being recognized as an exclusive sexual orientation and the recent Supreme Court decision to recognize homosexual unions as marriage. In these times, more than ever, the church needs to have a concrete and truthful stance on this matter.
Much of the argument lies in the Holy Bible, which is a book written nearly 3500 years ago. While the book does state that man shall not lay with man, it also provides the reader with a plethora of other suggestions. It even discusses the logistics of buying and selling slaves. With that in mind, a large portion of the Bible cannot be taken literally, but instead read for the overall message of the book -- which undoubtedly revolves more so around the themes love and acceptance, rather than discrimination on a basis of sexual identity. This is a concept humanity has failed to grasp for thousands of years, and thus the fight against gay rights continues to this day. When arguing for the sake of equality, however, one must raise the question: if Jesus Christ were alive today, what would he say about gay marriage? Would he use words like "faggot," or "dike,"? Or would he walk with them, as he did with the outcasts and lepers of his time? Religious scholars have yet to debate questions such as these, and for good reason. Jesus was more concerned with love than discrimination; to deny that would raise questions of literacy and comprehension. To examine love as a concept, however, is a crucial step in understanding marriage
Same-sex Marriage is a controversial topic. Everyday across the country, there are news stories about acts of discrimination, violence, or hate crimes against same-sex couples. It is very often criticized and looked down upon because many people think that this act is “against the bible”, or it’s “disgusting”, “gross”, or “not natural”. The discrimination against same-sex marriage is preposterous and discouraging. If you really think about it, they’re just the same as any other sexuality. We all have the same hopes and dreams. We all want happy, fulfilling lives, with families and successful careers. When we’re hurt, we all bleed the same blood. “All men are created equal”, yet gays and lesbians are treated worse than other people everyday.
Same sex marriage has been broadly debated in countless countries for a long time. It is a major issue because it deals with moral and human rights. A gay person has the right to do anything that a heterosexual person has the right to do. Who deemed one sexuality greater than the other? Love is love and a person should never be penalized for who he or she loves President (Obama Supports Same-Sex Marriage).
There are two main reasons why many religious groups are against same-sex marriage. The first argument is that people who are gay are not able to procreate. They do not have the correct corresponding body parts to make children (Waldman, 2003). Anyone who has taken sex education knows that humans can not reproduce without a male’s sperm and a female’s egg. Roman Catholics believe God created marriage as a lifetime union between one woman and one man with the purpose of having a loving relationship and for procreating, caring for, and teaching children (Charron & Skylstad, 1996). Sex that does not occur with the intent of procreation is not approved by many faiths. In Judaism, for example, there is an important Bible passage that supports this idea. The story of Onan is about Onan sleeping with his dead brother’s wife. In order to prevent having children, Onan does not ejaculate inside of his brother’s wife. Instead he ejaculated on the ground. Because