by Ben Hughes

Created on: March 23, 2008   Last Updated: January 19, 2009

Ancient societies needed a structure to continue the human species, a system of rules to handle the granting of property rights and to ensure the protection of bloodlines. Marriage fulfilled these needs.

Although some form of legal or approved partnerships have been around since these ancient civilisations, it wasn't until religions introduced the concept of marriage that it became a recognised form of partnership which lasted the centuries until now.

And what do these religions say about marriage? Marriage, as an institution, is between a man and a woman. As the Bible, the Torah and the Qur'an state, God made Adam and Eve and without the union of male and female, the human race would soon die out.

Romance and love is more easily thought of, among most people, as between people of opposite sexes. But while falling in love appears to be more of a heterosexual emotion, it's clearly just as true for homosexuals as well. With the increasing trend towards equality, shouldn't the idea of marriage be extended to homosexual couples as well?

Sacred concepts come from God and as God ordains marriage as sacred, it should only be between a man and woman. But God loves everyone equally, no matter which gender they are or what their sexual tendencies. So why shouldn't gay people marry the same as straight people?

Same sex couples can now have civil partnerships, which are moving towards granting the same rights as for married couples. But God cannot agree with same sex relationships, not necessarily because they are morally wrong, but because they aren't what he made men and women for. Marriage is for procreation and children ideally need alternative points of view in life and different perspectives on life issues.

By brushing aside the institution of marriage and reducing it to modern-day equivalent is disregarding the blessings of God and the commitment needed for marriage to work. By allowing same sex relationships to be equivalent to marriage is to allowing co-habiting couples to also claim married status.

Civil partnerships don't relegate other relationships to a lesser state than marriage but distinguish between different types of relationship and make each unique in its own way.

Learn more about this author, Ben Hughes.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.