waynepii wrote:So only Christians should be able to marry?
You really want my opinion on this? Okay, but you asked for it. Yes only Christians should be able to be married. Does that mean that there shouldn't be other forms of unions by different names, no, that means marriage is a Christian institution. I may be wrong to say that in many peoples eyes, but it is my belief.
waynepii wrote:Many people are married in secular ceremonies performed by secular authority (judges, JPs, ship captains, etc), are those people less married than those of you who were married by clergy?
In the traditional God sent marriage sense, yes they are "less married" as you put it. God recognizes people married in His name and His tradtions. Other marriages may be legal, but God doesn't recognize them.
waynepii wrote:Marriage carries a number of privileges and responsibilities - virtually all of which are secular (tax status, inheritance, financial, community property, health care decisions, ... ). What are the "sacred" aspects of marriage that are so important to you?
Since when was all that secular? Last I checked before secularism these things existed and were in faith based cultures around the world. What are the sacred aspects you ask, a union between man and woman in a physical, mental, and spiritual way. It acts on many levels. It is a time honored traditoin, one that we hold sacred. The union itself and the fact that it is brought before God and aproved by Him is sacred. The ceromony has sacred symbols. Do you know why the bride wears a veil? Do you know why it is important?
waynepii wrote:As was asked before by another - what are the "drastic" effects same-sex marriage will have on your faith?
I answered this already, pay attention. I said you would be stomping on my religous beliefs and telling me "well we are chaning what your faith says and you have to accept it." Now answer my question. Which was....
Gabrielman wrote: but imagain if you had a tradition that was sacred to you and someone from another culter came along and told you that you had to change it to what they wanted it to be.
What would you think then? Put yourself in this spot and tell me how you would react. Would you let everyone walk all over your faith and ideas cause they want to and they say you should let them?
waynepii wrote:Wasn't a woman's role as described in the Bible essentially subservient to her husband?
I never read that in the Bible.
http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/sexism.html
If you are reffering to sexism in the Bible, read that.
So far as poligomy, there are pleanty of threads and posts about that here, why don't you read them instead of making me rewrite all this for you? Saves me time anyway
http://discussions.godandscience.org/vi ... t=poligamy Here's one of them.
God bless!