by Cl Nash

Created on: July 11, 2008

Gay Marriage: I Do, But They Don't

Gay marriages are less about moral conviction and more about religious freedom. The primary and most enduring argument against gay marriages is that they are not commensurate with the teachings of the Christian Church. Yet, freedom of religion is one of the basic tenets of this country. This means people have the right to practice their own understanding of right relationship with God or to advocate that they do not believe in God at all. Since this is true, our legal system should reflect a social morality that does not rely upon one particular religious belief system to help create its laws. For example, theft or murder clearly causes harm to those about us and is, therefore, illegal.

Yet, a homosexual lifestyle impacts persons who choose this lifestyle. (Notice, I did not say they choose to be gay, but that they choose to embrace the lifestyle. They can also choose to keep their sexuality closeted.) Despite this, some believe that marriage should and even must be sanctioned by the Church. In this article, I will explore the issue of religious freedom as revealed in arguments for and against gay marriage. I will also consider what it means for the Church to sanction marriages. If the State also has a right to sanction marriage, under what circumstances should the State accept or deny marriage applicants?

The Church's Sanction of Marriage
The Church has a right to adhere to its teachings. This, too, is a freedom of religion. Many people believe that having a spiritual belief system which provides a sort of moral compass within their own lives helps sustain them in difficulty, for example. Yet, there are many who believe that the church will have to "grow" and catch up with the 21st Century's new understandings of morality. Indeed, I have heard many people call the Church beliefs bigotry. For me, this is not necessarily so.

In general, the Church ban on gay lifestyles evolves from a set of Holiness Codes. Such codes also prohibit such things as using tobacco and alcohol products. Despite the specifics from one group of churches to the next, these codes stipulate a stringent understanding of accountability. Such accountability is not something to be despised. Indeed, accountability is a central thread of religions the world over. Each church house should and must tell new members of its expectations. These expectations should be reinforced with the regular membership. When we gather together as a community of faith, how do we live

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