' You might also want to read up about a little thing called the enlightenment...Christianity was not a great supporter of learning.'

Just maybe Cobber some could see how the more educated the regressives have become the more irrational, illogical and perverted in their doctrines. Your posts go a long way to confirm this.

One only has to look at the federal public service, where gay de facto relationships have been accepted for spouse travel, superannuation and other benefits to realise the additional cost burdens to the taxpayer of same sex marriage. The APS is silent on the additional costs. Why?

Accepting that the same-sex defacto relationship regulations already apply in Australia, having been introduced by the Rudd and Gillard+Greens governments without consultation with the electorate and by changing numerous laws.

Same sex marriage through trashing the Marriage Act is just the icing on the cake for Gay Pride activists and for the cultural Marxism of the 'Progressives' who would dispense with the institution of marriage entirely.

One would imagine that the federal parliamentarians would pause and engage their brains a little longer before engaging in any more abrupt changes to the institution of marriage, particularly because the flow-on effects of the enormous changes to de facto (Common Law) marriage (now defined as 'relationships' by the political 'Progressives') have not been fully realised, researched and understood as yet.

However, political populism to please the tabloids is common among the many career politicians that blight the State and federal parliaments.

Onthebeach, would a plebiscite on gay marriage settle your so called concerns?

It might have missed your attention but these folks and all those who support them, which includes around 70% of the straight community!

Who to a generic man sympathize with their position; also pay tax!
Rhosty

Marriage follows our natural instincts, in that it is based on pair bonding, which is common in a number of species, where nore than one partner is required to raise the offspring. So a species like say the prairie vole, behaves much like a loyal husband, when temptation is offered to them. It comes down to genes and brain chemistry. The driving force for women is an urge to have children, which justifies marriage. For men, available sex gives for a good reason to stick around with one female. Both seem to have an urge to raise children, although not in each individual, as genetics varies between them.

Rhrosty,

As you know, the supporters of gay marriage oppose a referendum.

However, I believe that the consultation that the then Labor and Labor+Greens governments should have had with the public before introducing the changes to de facto arrangements is still outstanding. So that should be the starting point.

The author of this article has every right to dislike marriage, and I assume he isn't married himself at this time.

However, he has no right to call those of us who believe in marriage, or are currently married, neurotic. I find that offensive and ignorant in the extreme.

There are many many happy marriages in Australia, and I will be pleased when adult gay couples can get married legally if they please.
At the end of the day, it is all just a matter of choice about whether you marry, live in a de-facto relationship, or remain single.

Neither of these choices should require others to pass negative judgements on other people's legal relationship decisions. It is none of their business....