The Forum > Article Comments > Why every Christian should be in favour of gay marriage > Comments
Why every Christian should be in favour of gay marriage : Comments
By Dave Smith, published 15/12/2010Christians have no basis for objecting to gay people having access to the institution of marriage.
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Posted by Rhian, Wednesday, 15 December 2010 4:16:59 PM
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There are two basic human instincts. One is sexual, which attracts opposites, the other is the gregarious instinct that attracts the same type. People may confuse the two. Also, in some individuals the sexual instinct is stronger than the gregarious instinct, and vice versa.
Posted by Istvan, Wednesday, 15 December 2010 5:50:29 PM
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Dave
Not even the government or the church claim that marriage is constituted by an act of the government or the church. Both have always acknowledged that it is constituted by the act of the parties in taking each other to be spouses. Gays have as much right - indeed more - to do that as everybody else. Posted by Peter Hume, Wednesday, 15 December 2010 5:54:32 PM
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Thank you Dave for a very fair-minded argument. If we saw more of this kind of thinking from the clergy, the atheist dragon may well be able to retire sleepily back to its cave.
Atheist activism arises, not out of a desire to take people's religion from them, but as a means of discouraging them (in league with the government) from forcing their doctrine onto those of us who do not share their views. Like it or not, this is a secular nation and, as you say, if Christians and the clergy want to participate in national affairs they must come to the table with rational arguments, not armed with doctrine. As Barack Obama said in his Call to Renewal Address - http://www.barackobama.com/2006/06/28/call_to_renewal_keynote_address.php "Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values. It requires that their proposals be subject to argument, and amenable to reason. I may be opposed to abortion for religious reasons, but if I seek to pass a law banning the practice, I cannot simply point to the teachings of my church or evoke God's will. I have to explain why abortion violates some principle that is accessible to people of all faiths, including those with no faith at all." Gay marriage threatens no-one. Christian marriages will still be exactly the same as they were. Children will live with gay couples whether or not they are allowed to marry. No-one is forcing those who disagree with gay marriage to participate in it. The point of gay marriage is that it says clearly to our GLBTI community - you share full equality as Australian citizens. The overwhelming global medical and psychological consensus is that sexual orientation is not 'chosen' and cannot be changed. Under these circumstances, for our government to treat a group of Australians differently under the law is intolerably inequitable. Again, thank you for your contribution. I hope to hear more of your thoughts. Posted by Chrys Stevenson, Wednesday, 15 December 2010 5:59:16 PM
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There is nothing new in this article.
The author appears to be saying that homosexuals already are somehow producing kids or carrying them over from normal relationships so it is in the interests of those children to let their "co-parents" marry. Presumably the author is unaware that children are also being produced from incestuous relationships, so obviously, when made aware of this fact, he would agree that it would be in the interests of those children to let their biological parents marry. What could serve social stability better than incestuous relationships? Everyone knows that blood ties are among the strongest. The Pakistanis have engaged in first cousin marriage for years for this very reason. The author's reasoning, such as it is, cannot possibly preclude incestuous relationships. "To (reject incestuous marriage while championing "gay" marriage) is simply unchristian," not to mention illogical. Posted by Proxy, Wednesday, 15 December 2010 6:25:22 PM
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I don't know whether Christians should oppose gay marriage, though from my perspective the more silly things they do the quicker we are likely to be rid of them and their influence. But from the lukewarm and grudging nature of the article, and the foaming-at-the-mouth responses so far, it's pretty clear that proponents of marriage ought to oppose Christianity.
Could any sexual orientation possibly be more disruptive to social harmony and responsible child-raising than adherence to bizarre and draconian Bronze Age codes of behaviour? No wonder there are many more stories of children who were psychologically damaged by being brought up by Christians than there are of those psychologically damaged by being brought up by gays. Or cousins, for that matter. Posted by Jon J, Wednesday, 15 December 2010 6:41:00 PM
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His point about diversity of marriage in the bible is a good one – different societies have different ideas about acceptable marriage practices.
It’s also worth pointing out that the New Testament is decidedly lukewarm about marriage, with family obligations and loyalties often presented as potential barriers or rivals to religious commitment.
The reason I as a Christian support gay marriage is not for its social utility. Rather, it is based on two things.
First, the universal and inclusive nature of the gospel message – all people are called to participate fully in life in abundance, including the blessing of married life. Christians are supposed to reach out to an include the despised and the marginalised, not lead the charge in their demonization.
Second, modern understanding is that homosexuality is not a choice, is not a reversible condition, is not harmful, and most if all is as integral to the being and person of gays as heterosexual orientation is to straights. This means that past prejudices against homosexuality were ill-founded. It is no sin to be who God made you