What I'm saying is basing such a moral code on the beliefs of people living 2000 years ago and thinking it is the end all answer doesn't make sense. We have come a long way over two millennia. Why keep regressing? What exactly is harmful about homosexuality?
...a rhetorical question of course.
ost-4-1090547912: Didn't see that one coming!!! (I mean absolutely no disrespect here, that really did catch me off guard lol.)
My belief, as a Christian, is that I am supposed to do what I can, when I can, to convey the message that we are saved by grace. Believing in Christ and accepting him as your savior is the way to heaven. God forgives all sin, when you ask for forgiveness. I am a sinner. I will never be a perfect Christian. And I fail daily, regardless of how hard I try. It's because I'm human. And that is also why God loves me as his own.
And I have to say, the firefighter thing still has me laughing. I don't know if you were making fun of me or not, but that was awesome!
definitely a continuum.
I'm pretty far towards one end of that continuum.
I also think it's ridiculous to argue based on votes because a large part of the population doesn't really care what others do. Only the activists on either side seem to be so passionate that they would show up
in the past we haven't left similar things up to a state to vote on (like civil rights). Of course that would then require elected officials that are smarter than the average HS soph so we're kinda stuck. Since neither can be relied upon just remove it from govt's hands altogether and be done with it
It seems like a lot of inferences are being made about this man's beliefs. Everybody is so quick to label people like this as a "bigot" without knowing his belief system on a deeper level. Can I get a formal definition of "anti gay" so that I can see how it applies to anything this man said?
The same thing happens all the time in the racial arena. If I think that affirmative action should not exist, I am labeled "anti black". Nobody cares about the reasoning for having that belief. Just that affirmative action is "pro black" so if you are opposed, then you must be "anti black".
I don't see this as a civil rights issue on a scale anywhere near what you are referencing. In effect we are talking about contract law and the parameters of contracts that receive some sanction by the government.
It's also not necessarily about individual rights - it is about privileges conveyed to a group based upon some contract which they enter into. Ultimately no person is prevented from entering into that contract so long as they agree to the parameters of the contract. Gay people do not agree to the parameters of the contract (understandably so) but they are not prevented from entering the contract should they so desire.
That said, I have no problem with changing the parameters of the contract but if the people aren't the ultimate arbiter of the parameters I don't know who is. I think you have to look pretty hard and sideways at the Constitution to find a right to marriage let alone a right to gay marriage but somehow not a right to polygamy.
I don't put it on the same level as the 1960's push for civil rights but it is similar IMO.
how is it not about individual rights. Yes they are rights given to couples but it's still individuals being prevented from it. Not sure I agree with the "sorry guy, marry a chick and all is well" idea. They are denied solely on sexual orientation and that is mainly driven by religious belief in the Bible (we could argue what % but it's still a very large one).
My point is that what they are being denied is a set of government benefits based upon entry into a contract. They are not barred from entering into that contract.
Personally I agree that we should only have civil unions and leave the "marriage" part to independent organizations but that ain't never gonna happen.
if it's not in the Constitution then the govt should quit trying to mess with it. Either every consenting adult gets the same treatment or none do. IMO that applies to polygamy as well. Heck, lawyers should be all over this
definitely agree the name is a key part of the argument
and I've yet to see much of a benefit from the govt for having a kid. The money I get to claim covers about 2 weeks worth of child care. Woohoo
Chick-Fil-A made a pretty smart move here, actually. My promoting intolerance and bigotry, you're playing to your target demographic. Hell, look how many people are poised to visit Chick-Fil-A for its "appreciation day" via Mike Huckabee's Facebook event. The vast majority of Chick-Fil-A's customers either don't care enough about prejudice inflicted upon gay people to stop eating there or find that it lines up perfectly with their religious, political and world views.
In turn, there are a lot of people who won't eat at Chick-Fil-A anymore... but never really did in the first place. Chick-Fil-A is a staple of the bible belt and Heartland, but how many blue state residents really eat there? Washington, Oregon, and Connecticut have zero locations, Massachusetts and New Hampshire represent the two stores in New England, New York and the District of Columbia each have one and there are very few located in NorCal.
I think that the views of the Cathy family and Chick-Fil-A as a whole about this issue and other similar situations are embarrassingly antiquated, but you're trying to earn the business of a bunch of people who think that a floating man in the sky should dictate laws in the United States. So, in that sense, Chick-Fil-A might as well stick to their guns on this.
You obviously missed the story I linked where California is considering a law to allow a child to have more than 2 parents. How do handle a custody dispute if those people are fighting it out?Polygyny, polyandry, group marriage and the like are all inherently different from gay marriage. Marriage in the United States has a collection of legal benefits which directly link together two parties; when three or more parties are involved, the issues of inheritance, responsibility status and whatnot do not remain the same.
Gay marriage is the exact same contract as "traditional marriage," except binding two people of the same gender.
in the recent past we haven't left similar things up to a state to vote on (like civil rights). Of course that would then require elected officials that are smarter than the average HS soph so we're kinda stuck. Since neither can be relied upon just remove it from govt's hands altogether and be done with it
ost-4-1090547912: Didn't see that one coming!!! (I mean absolutely no disrespect here, that really did catch me off guard lol.)
My belief, as a Christian, is that I am supposed to do what I can, when I can, to convey the message that we are saved by grace. Believing in Christ and accepting him as your savior is the way to heaven. God forgives all sin, when you ask for forgiveness. I am a sinner. I will never be a perfect Christian. And I fail daily, regardless of how hard I try. It's because I'm human. And that is also why God loves me as his own.
And I have to say, the firefighter thing still has me laughing. I don't know if you were making fun of me or not, but that was awesome!
Bigotry does not require trying to prevent someone from practicing their beliefs. It is about your own tolerance/intolerance for others viewpoints. It's pretty clear you think people that believe in religion are dumb, weak minded, inferior in some way.
That is the definition of bigotry.
Homosexuality always turns into a religious debate. Everyone opposed to homosexual marriage is not religious.
You're trying to hard...
You obviously missed the story I linked where California is considering a law to allow a child to have more than 2 parents. How do handle a custody dispute if those people are fighting it out?
I understand the first point you're making, but the definitions of tolerance and bigotry you're using seems like a bit of a stretch in this case.
Based on your wording, every Volunteer fan is bigoted against Vanderbilt and Alabama fans. Do most actually hate them as people and desire to restrict their rights based on their allegiance? No. But, if someone who supports the rights of religious individuals without actually thinking they're right is bigoted, then so are all sports fans.
By your definition, a person displays bigotry every time they think someone is wrong because, in that situational context, you naturally think they're "dumber" than you are because you consider yourself to be right. This is obviously an oversimplification, as bigotry is a much bigger issue than "agreeing to disagree."