A Christian's View of Same Sex Marriage

Well, I haven't been here for awhile...

The big news, of course, is he California Supreme Court's ruling to allow same sex marriage in California. Hur-rah! It's about time.

Of course the religious right is attempting a ballot measure to prevent/stop the ruling from coming into being, but I have hopes that this latest attempt to prevent equality for the GLBT community will fail. I certainly do hope so. We were able to prevent an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution, and we defeated a VOTE for an amendment to the Arizona Constitution; surely we can manage the same in California.

But, if we don't, I still believe it will turn around. This is the same reprehensible nonsense as disallowing women the vote, and even more similar to the ugliness of preventing African Americans general civil equality.

It IS a civil rights issue. It is a matter for the courts in this regard, for the courts are meant to protect the minority from the prejudices of the majority. Those whom purport that radical judges are to blame misunderstand fundamentally the purpose of our judicial system. Interracial marriage was a scandal at one time, after all; now it is quite normal in the majorities viewpoint. This will happen for same sex marriage as well. As more and more countries (Denmark this week past) and states realize the disenfranchisement and inequality created by a personal faith indifference to civil rights, we will find the religious view of 'sin' must be abolished in the civil arena regarding someones sexuality. The only other course is to become a theocracy, and Americans who founded this country did so to escape the dictates of their own theocracies at home. Just as Islam has created theocracies in multiple Middle Eastern and Eastern countries, to the detrement of their citizens' freedoms, Americans will surely not allow fundamentalist Christians to become the voice of our laws at home. As a pluralistic and secular society it must offend even moderate Christians, not to mention those of other faiths and/or no faith whatsoever, to be dictated to by one segment of America's citizenship.

Those of hyper-conservative faith backgrounds certainly have rights as well, but those rights do not include imposing their faith beliefs on the nation as a whole. Even they should be able to understand this simple idea, that no one church may determine civil laws for all Americans. Rather, the faith of individuals must only govern those whom agree with their doctrines and philosophies; and that government is found within their own homes and families and in their own churches and temples, but certainly not in society generally. Would fundamentalist Christians wish to be ruled by a Jewish or Muslim state? Of course not. The solution is to have the Church separate from the State. Period.

Home is the right and proper place to instruct in religious societal values. This is the primary place to teach one children about one's own faith's principals, which may not congeal with societies secular view. The responsibility of parents is to teach their children their values and traditions so as to armor them against what their faith may hold as wrong in the great wide world.

Likewise, public schools may not cater to religious beliefs. Should you wish a narrower social upbringing there are private faith schools. It is the duty of the public school system to reflect the diversity of public thought and opinion without bias for or against the views of either liberal or conservative thought. The fear of children being exposed to multiple viewpoints is ridiculous. All their lives people are exposed to beliefs differing from their own. This is why the imperative for living a life of faith must be dependent upon a child's home life; the faith lived and taught lovingly at home will produce a competent adult capable of not only choosing well for themselves but also also capable in their ability to debate their beliefs throughout their lives. Conversely, the purpose of public education is to present young people with the multiple beliefs of the world at large, to foster tolerance and understanding even of those whose views we cannot concede as genuine for ourselves. In short, individuals may not and should not expect a 'crutch' for their religious views by enforcing these views upon society. Christ said it himself, and very well indeed: "Give unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's, and unto God what is God's." If Christ authors the separation of Church and State why is it so difficult for us to do likewise?

As a Christian, a Catholic, I am able to best speak from this background. Throughout the New Testament Christ spoke one central message of inclusive love. Nowhere did he encourage violence against anyone, even those he found living outside his grace. He stopped the stoning of the prostitute. Nowhere did he encourage disenfranchisement, no matter their race or politics; consider the the meaning behind the parable of the good Samaritan. Christ saw one thing, that his Father had created all men in his image. He loves us all today as well.

We have that same obligation. Justice and equality for all, whether you are Christian, Jewish or Muslim. Whether white, black or brown. American or Chinese. Gay, lesbian or straight.