Gay rights are they really a religious issue?

[Labrocca]

I would like to start a topic about gay rights and how the issue is really centered around religion more than it is about civil rights. The heart of the issue is Christian Conservatives that are working to block legislation allowing gays to marry.

[Mitch]

In Canada, as many of you may know, Gay Marriage IS legal. This is a wonderful feat on the government's part as we have undergone much pressure from the US not to legalize gay marriages.
My church marries gay couples, and we have many gay couples in our congregation. I really do think that other countries, the developed ones at minimum, should legalize gay marriages.
Gay rights/marriages should NOT be a religious issue, it is not a problem of religion. Your sexual orientation doesn't depend on if you're religious or not, it is who you are. You can change religions no problem, but you cannot change your sexual orientation.

[oboehart]

I think it's criminal that an issue that SHOULD be decided based on our legal system, our charter, and the rights of people. Homosexuals are people, just like everyone else, and they deserve the same rights and respect as the rest of us. Religion shouldn't be used to make decisions in any case, and that INCLUDES the decisions based on gay rights.

[Cattraknoff]

I don't see a problem with gay marriage. However religions should also not be forced to marry a gay couple (as has been attempted a few times in the past).

Being gay is wrong in the biblical sense, after all. It's also wrong according to the Koran, etc.

[Coll]

At least as interpreted by most major Christian societies.

[Locke]

At least as interpreted by most major Christian societies.

Simply the conveyance for such prejudices. The interpretation lies in man's fear of the other.

[Mitch]

The Bible says a lot of things, it's just that people select certain things they want to believe.
My church was the first in Calgary to marry a gay couple and we have gay couples that go to our church. It simply depends on how the Bible is interpreted, my church questions and thinks about it a lot.
Here's a good clip from the TV show "The West Wing" that explains it well:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5-zhNiGlogQ

[Cattraknoff]

The Bible says a lot of things, it's just that people select certain things they want to believe.
My church was the first in Calgary to marry a gay couple and we have gay couples that go to our church. It simply depends on how the Bible is interpreted, my church questions and thinks about it a lot.
Here's a good clip from the TV show "The West Wing" that explains it well:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5-zhNiGlogQ

Honestly the fact that it's so open to interpretation should be evidence enough that it's a political tool. The favorite tool of tyrants in history is leaving dogma and law very vague in meaning.

[Locke]

The Bible says a lot of things, it's just that people select certain things they want to believe.
My church was the first in Calgary to marry a gay couple and we have gay couples that go to our church. It simply depends on how the Bible is interpreted, my church questions and thinks about it a lot.

Do you happen to go to the Unitarian Church on 16th?

[Mitch]

I go to this church: http://wildroseunited.ca/
If you meant "United Church" then yes.

[Locke]

I go to this church: http://wildroseunited.ca/
If you meant "United Church" then yes.

Nope, nevermind.
To contribute further to the debate, one could equally as well compound religious rights in the name of homosexuality (although that is a situation ludicrous in itself. It is mainly for purpose of comparison.) The mandate of "God" should not affect anything outside of religion itself, considering no proof of God exists outside of religion; in other words, circular logic.

[Carter]

I don't see a problem with gay marriage. However religions should also not be forced to marry a gay couple (as has been attempted a few times in the past).

Being gay is wrong in the biblical sense, after all. It's also wrong according to the Koran, etc.


And so far, God has not shown herself, so we aren't sure those books are correct.

Marriage is an institution of legal holdings and sharings...legal maneuvering in taxes and other financial issues.

To deny states rights to gay is to tax them without representation. IT's wrong...in our secular nation, it is wrong.

[Coll]

Herself?

/throws away bible

[Cattraknoff]

And so far, God has not shown herself, so we aren't sure those books are correct.

Marriage is an institution of legal holdings and sharings...legal maneuvering in taxes and other financial issues.

To deny states rights to gay is to tax them without representation. IT's wrong...in our secular nation, it is wrong.

But your nation was founded on Christian principles. Not to mention a significant majority of Americans are (supposedly) Christian. The trouble you will run into is the same as is occurring in California; A public vote decided against gay marriage (although to court did overturn it). However the right to love or marry whomever we wish is a fundamental human right, and as such the court did make the right choice in that case. The general public should not be allowed to infringe on the rights of others, whether it is justified by a vote or not.

[Mitch]

Coll, you need the class clown award. I might whip something up ;) :p

We can't really avoid the fact that marriage is somewhat religious. However, the church can decide if they want to merry a gay couple or not, but they can't infringe on the right of marriage. Religion cannot decide law or human rights, unless it's purposely a Theocracy of course, but in this case the US is NOT. How many people like Saudi Arabia's treatment of citizens? Not many.