California Prop 8 Overturned By Openly Gay Judge

[Ranger]

Homosexual "marriage" would certainly limit the spread of HIV/AIDS, whatever one's moral feelings on the issue.

I'm not sure I really agree with this statement. Of course there is the possibility, but what would the difference be between a committed couple versus a married one? I've know plenty of guys that cheat on their wives. It seems to me that I recently read that the largest outbreak of STD's are by married men.

[Jumpstart]

There is no logical reason gay marriage is not allowed. I also hate how the Republican party has become so focused on religion. It makes me sick.

1. Gay marriage serves no purpose to society.

2. A whole group of people make you "sick" because an element of their culture is religion? But your are good with homosexual activity and the homosexual agenda?

Wow..... and some wonder why the USA is on the downswing.

[Ranger]

There is no logical reason gay marriage is not allowed. I also hate how the Republican party has become so focused on religion. It makes me sick.

I believe the term 'marriage' should not be used in the context of same sex unions. Civil union would be a better term as marriage is generally considered a religious sacrament.

I'm sorry you are pissed at the party's stand on religion, Deus, but I'm for it. If our party didn't stand for religion then the liberals would tear it down to the point of forcing religion into hiding just as it once was. I believe that on the whole, religious people try to hold themselves to a higher moral standard and I see nothing wrong with that. That's not to say there are "religious" people who don't do that, but being a religious person myself I can say that my fellow religious friends are good people.

No matter what your view of religion is, it's hard to debate that the core teachings of most religions are generally a good "owners manual" in practice. Do not lie, do not kill, do not commit incest - these are not bad things. I'm sure you will argue otherwise, but nobody is infallible and of course religion can cause bad as well, as history has shown us.

[Anton]

I'm not sure I really agree with this statement. Of course there is the possibility, but what would the difference be between a committed couple versus a married one? I've know plenty of guys that cheat on their wives. It seems to me that I recently read that the largest outbreak of STD's are by married men.

I was politely alluding to the fact that the culture of promiscuity in homosexual circles, along with basic physiological reasons, is responsible for homosexual males comprising 53% of all new HIV/AIDS infections*. But you're right, I suppose allowing homosexual marriage would probably not impact that. *http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/survei....htm#incidence

[Irving]

1. Gay marriage serves no purpose to society.

If you took a week off of work and put in 8 solid hours a day, I don't think you could be a bigger hypocrite.

[omio]

What blows my mind is that the middle class is slowly disappearing yet the big issue is 2 people of the same gender getting married. Yes America is really going down the shitter.

[DeusExMachina]

1. Gay marriage serves no purpose to society.

2. A whole group of people make you "sick" because an element of their culture is religion? But your are good with homosexual activity and the homosexual agenda?

Wow..... and some wonder why the USA is on the downswing.

The homosexual agenda. Watch your cornhole, bud! If you're wondering why the USA is on the downswing, you just have to look in the mirror. You're a hypocrite in the most literal of definitions.

I believe the term 'marriage' should not be used in the context of same sex unions. Civil union would be a better term as marriage is generally considered a religious sacrament.

I don't know how gays would feel about this, but it makes sense. I'm sure there would be issues with it from some activists. Hell, I think in terms of government all marriages should be called civil unions. Marriages happen in church. Its really semantics, but would be a good division. But saying "we got civil union'd last fall" makes me cringe.

I'm sorry you are pissed at the party's stand on religion, Deus, but I'm for it. If our party didn't stand for religion then the liberals would tear it down to the point of forcing religion into hiding just as it once was. I believe that on the whole, religious people try to hold themselves to a higher moral standard and I see nothing wrong with that. That's not to say there are "religious" people who don't do that, but being a religious person myself I can say that my fellow religious friends are good people.

No matter what your view of religion is, it's hard to debate that the core teachings of most religions are generally a good "owners manual" in practice. Do not lie, do not kill, do not commit incest - these are not bad things. I'm sure you will argue otherwise, but nobody is infallible and of course religion can cause bad as well, as history has shown us.

I agree with this, but I feel like we should be beyond the "owners manual" portion of it. If the only reason people do not do evil is because of their religion, then that is a pretty weak set of morals. It certainly served the purpose a long time ago, but I think those teachings are ingrained in our society by now. Religion is for expanding one's spirituality, and I see no need for that in government. I don't think any government issue should be influenced by religion, and I think its more used as a "scapegoat" or a way to convince people to support a cause. "Hey, you're a Christian right? Well, any GOOD Christian would be for this. You want to be a GOOD Christian right?"

[BigBear]

I think we are starting to get human nature and standards/morals mixed up a bit under teh guise of religon...

Morals and standards are not "ingrained" in a society. They are learned attributes to a persons character. Religon is used to try to teach "goodness". Soceity left to their own devices would not be "good" due to human nature.

[Byte Stryke]

I believe the term 'marriage' should not be used in the context of same sex unions. Civil union would be a better term as marriage is generally considered a religious sacrament.

I'm sorry you are pissed at the party's stand on religion, Deus, but I'm for it. If our party didn't stand for religion then the liberals would tear it down to the point of forcing religion into hiding just as it once was. I believe that on the whole, religious people try to hold themselves to a higher moral standard and I see nothing wrong with that. That's not to say there are "religious" people who don't do that, but being a religious person myself I can say that my fellow religious friends are good people.

No matter what your view of religion is, it's hard to debate that the core teachings of most religions are generally a good "owners manual" in practice. Do not lie, do not kill, do not commit incest - these are not bad things. I'm sure you will argue otherwise, but nobody is infallible and of course religion can cause bad as well, as history has shown us.

I Agree. However, in the context of government rights and responsibilities I believe there should be no differences between civil unions and marriages.

I have no problems with any religions being affirmed in their identity, morals or goals. I do have a problem with the elitists of those groups demeaning and persecuting those not "In Line with Party Doctrine!" which leads to the scary places...

I Agree with the whole right and wrong thing... we need rules. I just don't feel that the abstract rules established by religion for no other reason than the sake of a different interpretation of a book (Regardless of books name) have any validity in our government.

[Ranger]

If the only reason people do not do evil is because of their religion, then that is a pretty weak set of morals.

Ahh, but I would disagree with you there. Morals come from SOMEWHERE, we didn't wake up and think "It's wrong to kill someone", society through religion can help us build those morals. A good example would be in Muslim society where hand for a hand is still practiced, while we see it as barbaric in the west. I think religion has done a lot to build societal norms.

Religion is for expanding one's spirituality, and I see no need for that in government.

I agree. Government should not dictate religion in any way at all.

I think its more used as a "scapegoat" or a way to convince people to support a cause. "Hey, you're a Christian right? Well, any GOOD Christian would be for this. You want to be a GOOD Christian right?"

Being a good Catholic I understand Catholic guilt . However, while this can be used poorly it can also be used in a good way as well. "God says you'll burn in hell for murder" is a good societal scare, "God says you'll burn in hell for eating chocolate" maybe not so much.

So, I believe in God and I believe in Christianity and my beliefs teach me quite clearly that homosexuality is against His will - that is why I am against it. However, it also teaches me that we should forgive others for their transgressions, thus I believe that what they do is their business and since we were given free will then that choice is theirs to make.