DOMA unconstitutional (5-4); Court punts on gay marriage (no standing)

Fair enough. I'm not sure the word savvy applies to that individual, but I'll drop it rather than risk taking this too far over the political line.

 

Why shouldn't they? He believes that there literally exists a fundamentalist Christian version of God that created humanity for His purposes and has decreed that homosexuality is immoral and that society should reject immorality on the governmental level in order to show devotion to God and serve that purpose.

If that's true, then it trumps personal freedom. (also, please direct questions to me as "Dickfinity")

 

Sorry. We don't do that here. Religious beliefs have no place in a legal discussion.

 

That wasn't really necessary. And you're welcome.

 

Works for me. But I doubt they'll just accept that and move on.

 

There's an internal logic to what Rick's dad believes that makes it a far better premise for the beginning of a conversation than, "My religion. The end."

That said: It dies on the vine because, after he articulates that, you have to challenge the underlying premise, that there is a God and that this God condemns homosexuality. Or, even more importantly, that there is a God and we owe Him any fealty whatsoever. I believe that there is a God. I do not necessarily believe that I owe this God anything, other than I guess some gratitude. Far short of worship and obedience. I owe my parents neither of those things, either.

 

They'll tell that deep down in your soul, you know they're right and anything that you say or even think otherwise is just self-deception. And as far as I can tell, they truly believe that.

This would normally be the weekend I visit my parents and go to their church with them, but I have a wedding to attend. I'm *really* thankful for that, because my Dad just can't quite deal with the whole "let's not talk politics and focus on the parts of religion where we have common ground" idea when he's riled up about the news.

 

No, it dies on the vine because this is a legal issue, so religion has no place in it.

Your lack of faith is every bit as irrelevant as his belief. And no, they don't have to challenge the underlying premise. That's what faith is.

 

I don't care which side of the fence you fall on, this guy's summing-up of the DOMA decision is pretty funny ...

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/352350/simulacrum-self-government-mark-steyn

 

There are actually some things that cannot really be disentangled from morals -- things that you cannot argue are "merely" based on a moral code, whether from the Bible or coming from elsewhere. There are some things that are based on an individual's perspectives, beliefs and basic sensibilities about right and wrong, whatever they may be.

Not everything can (or should) be defined strictly in a legal sense because whether Dick likes it or admits it, or not, all legal issues have within them some sense of morals, direction and dictation based on less tangible factors, reasons and opinions. That's the nature of anything involving the human element.

I'm conflicted as to how I fall on this issue.

I am a person of strong Christian faith who, admittedly, doesn't care for this ruling. Yes, it offends my sensibilities to see pictures and broadcasts plastered all over the media of same-sex couples engaging in pointed, public shows of affection and affairs.

But I'm also smart, educated and open-minded enough to see and know that there are at least two sides to any argument, and not all of my conflict is based solely on my faith.

I have my own thoughts, questions and beliefs about the root and genesis of homosexual orientation, and I think this may be the basis of the struggles with this issue by many otherwise typically non-judgmental, open-minded people.

I also believe there are a lot more conflicted types about this than anyone will admit right now, when it is politically incorrect to be against the idea of homosexual couples being just the same and as equally entitled as anybody else.

 

Happy gay couples offend your sensibilities?