I am a married, white, 40-ish heterosexual, christian female with children but I found myself very disappointed on the ban of same-sex marriage. My husband was very supportive of my feelings by stating, "you'll get over it". My mother reminded me that the bible states that marriage is only one man and one woman. My oldest daughter accused me of being a "people lover" like it's a bad thing and my youngest daughter just doesn't know what to think.
With all that, I guess my sadness about the issue comes from the fact that church and state are supposed to be separate according to the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. By banning same-sex marriage, are we supporting the notion that christianity is a superior religion, even more supreme than equal rights?
First Amendment to the Bill of Rights states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Many Meanings of "Marriage": Marriage is not a monolithic, unchanging institution, even though many people define it that way (or believe that God has defined it that way). Civil marriage and religious marriage are different institutions, but are often confused with each other because states allow the religious ceremony to double as the state ceremony. There are different marriage laws in all the states and different definitions of marriage in every religious tradition. In addition to this diversity, civil marriage rights in the U.S. have been significantly broadened during the last fifty years.
Civil vs. Religious Marriage: Unlike some religious definitions, civil definitions of marriage do not usually mention childbearing, sexual relations, living arrangements, or religious beliefs or observance. clergy or congregations marry couples it is a religious rite, not a civil ceremony, although the government may recognize it.
Clergy and congregations choose whom they marry. They aren't compelled to accept the state's marriage definition, and indeed, many religious institutions don't accept it. Many religious institutions are more restrictive than the state, rejecting interfaith marriages or remarriages after divorce. And some have a broader definition, blessing the unions of same-gender couples.
The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches,
Ecumenical Catholic Church,
Church of God Anonymous,
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal,
Reconstructionist Judaism,
Reform Judaism, and
Unitarian Universalist Association bless same-gender relationships as a matter of policy. The
United Church of Christ, and various
Quaker groups leave the decision to clergy, congregations or local governing bodies. The
Presbyterian Church (USA) allows the blessings of same-gender unions with terminology restrictions.
Marriage, as defined by the civil law, is currently available to same-sex couples in six countries. The
Netherlands was the first country to allow same-sex marriage in 2001. Same-sex marriages are also legal in
Belgium,
Canada,
Norway,
South Africa and
Spain, along with two states in the United States:
Massachusetts and
Connecticut[14]. From May 2008,
California allowed for same sex marriages, though
Proposition 8 has overturned that right as of November 2008. In 2005,
Spain became the first country in the world to recognize same-sex marriage (including adoption rights) on
equal terms and under the same law.
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