Religion and Homosexuality

I don't see why people are so against homosexuals/homosexuals getting married/and homosexuals adopting children.

Why?

If two people are in love with each other and want to get married and adopt kids, why shouldn't they be able to?

Love is love. It shouldn't matter if they are two men, two women, or a man and a woman.

No one should discriminate anyone else's lifestyle. Afterall, it's their life. They should be able to live it how they please.

I don't see the problem in them adopting either. When people adopt, isn't the reasoning behind it to love and care for a child? Why should it matter if it's gay couple? It shouldn't matter. Just because two people are in a homosexual relationship doesn't mean they can't love and care for a child.

Homosexuals are people just like everyone else. They should be treated with the same respect as everyone else, and they should have the same rights as everyone else as well.

I realize this is a thread on Religion as well. I honestly don't believe God looks down on homosexuals. That just seems absurd to me. I think he loves everyone regardless of their sexual preference. :)

I'm not in a set religion, but I have my own beliefs and faith. I have absolutely no problems with homosexuality.
My friend goes to a church who are against homosexuality. They wouldn't mind if a homosexual came into their church, but they believe that if that person doesn't realise that what they're doing is "wrong" then they have to leave the church.

Ryland Blackinton.:

I'm not in a set religion, but I have my own beliefs and faith. I have absolutely no problems with homosexuality.
My friend goes to a church who are against homosexuality. They wouldn't mind if a homosexual came into their church, but they believe that if that person doesn't realise that what they're doing is "wrong" then they have to leave the church.

So they're okay with gay people if they're full to the brim with self-hate?

Healthy attitude, that.

Ryland Blackinton.:

I'm not in a set religion, but I have my own beliefs and faith. I have absolutely no problems with homosexuality.
My friend goes to a church who are against homosexuality. They wouldn't mind if a homosexual came into their church, but they believe that if that person doesn't realise that what they're doing is "wrong" then they have to leave the church.

So... what about all the Christians that don't realize they're going straight to hell because of their judgmental beliefs and the fact that they are blasphemously playing God? Do they get to stay in church?

VampShadsOwns:

The issue is that in Christian doctrine Marriage is the definition of union of MAN and WOMAN.

The issue is also that, in the U.S. at the very least, you don't need a Christian or religious ceremony to get married. You need a certificate signed in a courthouse and a justice of the peace to marry you.

Religious people are deciding that they get to control what goes on in a courthouse.

And that is fucking bullshit. Sorry, but it is. The last I check God "lived" in their church, not the courthouse. They can keep out of politics. Otherwise they need to pay all those taxes since they're meddling in places they aren't supposed to meddle in. (If that doesn't make sense to non-Americans, churches don't pay taxes here because they are recognized as separate from "state". If they are throwing their weight around in politics I don't think they're behaving as "separate from state" and I think they should lose their tax-exempt status.)

SammySuicide:

I think being homosexual is perfectly fine in church. I don't see why people hate them and damn them to hell because they like the same sex. I think gay marriages should be allowed in church because its just like any other marriage between a male and female. I don't see why it would be a problem.

I don't think a church should be forced to perform a marriage it doesn't want to. Churches aren't forced to perform heterosexual marriages if they don't want to and they shouldn't be forced to perform these. I believe that citing the Bible as a reason to not have gay marriage is wrong. I also believe that forcing a Christian clergy-person to perform a marriage they are not ever legally bound to perform, gay or straight is wrong as well.

Honestly, yes. I believe that religion is one of the main reasons why gay rights are limited. I'm not very educated about other religions other than my own (Catholicism) but I know for a fact that, obviously, Catholics are not very accepting of homosexuality. I hate it. Like, I'm straight but I'm very supporting of Gay rights. I'm slowly tearing myself away from my religion because I don't believe in the values of the church. But, back on topic, yes. I really dislike the fact that people of my religion always say, "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve or Alicia and Eve." Honestly, back the fuck up. There's nothing wrong with homosexuality. I think Gay marriages in a church should be allowed. Marriage is based on love. I don't care. It just should be allowed. It's so complicated, I just want to sit people down sometimes and be like, "Tell me what your God thinks about Gay rights." and debate it so hardcore and jus- UGH. It fires me up. I don't know. It's just so unfair.

lolkaitlin:

I think Gay marriages in a church should be allowed.

Churches don't have to marry anyone they don't want to. I don't think gay marriage should be illegal, but churches - I feel - should actually have a right to say "no" to marrying a couple (and not just homosexual couples by the way).

acid bath:

lolkaitlin:

I think Gay marriages in a church should be allowed.

Churches don't have to marry anyone they don't want to. I don't think gay marriage should be illegal, but churches - I feel - should actually have a right to say "no" to marrying a couple (and not just homosexual couples by the way).

Which they already do, so that's not an issue.

^No, it's not an issue as such, but the person I quoted seemed to imply that churches should just allow marriages whether they agree or not, and I disagree with that.

saint druscilla.:

VampShadsOwns:

The issue is that in Christian doctrine Marriage is the definition of union of MAN and WOMAN.

The issue is also that, in the U.S. at the very least, you don't need a Christian or religious ceremony to get married. You need a certificate signed in a courthouse and a justice of the peace to marry you.

Religious people are deciding that they get to control what goes on in a courthouse.

And that is fucking bullshit. Sorry, but it is. The last I check God "lived" in their church, not the courthouse. They can keep out of politics. Otherwise they need to pay all those taxes since they're meddling in places they aren't supposed to meddle in. (If that doesn't make sense to non-Americans, churches don't pay taxes here because they are recognized as separate from "state". If they are throwing their weight around in politics I don't think they're behaving as "separate from state" and I think they should lose their tax-exempt status.)

God doesn't live in a Church...God is everywhere. He is bigger than the universe...he created it...

But, I do see your point. Especially if the Church shouldn't be meddling in the Courts etc...except that don't they swear by the Bible in courthouses over there?

However, I was pointing out that is the Church's view/definition of marriage

I personally don't see a problem with same-sex couples having civil ceremonies to let the world/state etc know they are committed to each other for life. [I say civil ceremony to commit to each other for life because I use the term married only for man/woman]

I am not sure about the debate on whether they should have children, but I personally know I would prefer to have a mother and a father. Not a Father and a father, and a mother and a mother. But, not because I think it's wrong. That's just me.

Adoption is another interesting point. Depending on the country there are different requirements. Some countries won't allow single parents to adopt, some will only allow couples. Certain aged parents etc. I have never heard of any laws/regulation concerning same-sex versus male/female couples though.

EDIT:

as to the comment above by someone about allowing Gay marriages in Churches...it's all very well saying it...but I don't think that will ever happen, because The Bible clearly states that marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN. End of.

VampShadsOwns:

as to the comment above by someone about allowing Gay marriages in Churches...it's all very well saying it...but I don't think that will ever happen, because The Bible clearly states that marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN. End of.

The Bible clearly states a lot of things but most Christians think it's fine to ignore them.
Maybe one day they'll end up ignoring that too. It's possible.
So it isn't really 'end of'. No debate is ever 'end of'.

VampShadsOwns:

I am not sure about the debate on whether they should have children, but I personally know I would prefer to have a mother and a father. Not a Father and a father, and a mother and a mother. But, not because I think it's wrong. That's just me.

I personally would prefer having gay parents to being institutionalized and having no parents. But that's just me, probably there are people who like living in orphanages or with foster parents.

VampShadsOwns:

I personally don't see a problem with same-sex couples having civil ceremonies to let the world/state etc know they are committed to each other for life. [I say civil ceremony to commit to each other for life because I use the term married only for man/woman]

I think marriage should stay a religious ceremony, and the church can decide who they want to marry. However, civil unions- which have the same legal process and benefits should be allowed for those who either can't or don't want to get married in a church.

VampShadsOwns:

I am not sure about the debate on whether they should have children, but I personally know I would prefer to have a mother and a father. Not a Father and a father, and a mother and a mother. But, not because I think it's wrong. That's just me.

They're not alloweed to adopt. People seem to think that children brought up by gays would just make their children gay. :roll:

But like most other logical things, those people ignore what studies have shown: children raised by gay couples are not more likely to be gay. They're just more likely to be more tolerant of other people's differences.

Dancing Caveman:

VampShadsOwns:

I personally don't see a problem with same-sex couples having civil ceremonies to let the world/state etc know they are committed to each other for life. [I say civil ceremony to commit to each other for life because I use the term married only for man/woman]

I think marriage should stay a religious ceremony, and the church can decide who they want to marry. However, civil unions- which have the same legal process and benefits should be allowed for those who either can't or don't want to get married in a church.

Why? Why change the law?
Why can't my heterosexual mother get married, in your opinion?
Marriage isn't a religious ceremony.
Marriage in a church is a religious ceremony.
If marriage were religious you wouldn't pick up your marriage certificate in a courthouse.
If we're going your way, then I think anyone who wants marriage to be a strictly religious ceremony shouldn't get a single fucking government right with their marriage. It can be exactly the way they say God wants it: religious.

And, currently, in the United States, civil unions do not have equal rights to marriage.

^ Woah, calm down. You totally misunderstood me. I said that "marriage" is a religious ceremony, and I was just meaning it in the church sense. I want homosexual couples to be able to marry. I was saying that civil unions should be available for those who can't marry in a church and that they should be exactly like a marriage.

o_O

Dancing Caveman:

^ Woah, calm down. You totally misunderstood me. I said that "marriage" is a religious ceremony, and I was just meaning it in the church sense. I want homosexual couples to be able to marry. I was saying that civil unions should be available for those who can't marry in a church and that they should be exactly like a marriage.

Why not have a marriage then?
Marriage isn't strictly religious.
I don't understand why we need to create civil unions and marriages.
Everyone is equal and everyone should have equal rights.
I don't want to get civilly unionized.
I want to get married.

VampShadsOwns:

as to the comment above by someone about allowing Gay marriages in Churches...it's all very well saying it...but I don't think that will ever happen, because The Bible clearly states that marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN. End of.

It's already happened in some churches.
The Bible also clearly states that we are not to sit in judgment upon others since we are not free of sin.
It also states that I can sell my daughter into slavery and be stoned for working on a Sunday.
Edit: Sorry. I can't sell my daughter into slavery. My husband can. I can't because I'm a woman and I'm meant to be nothing more than a child-bearing prize.

VampShadsOwns:

I personally don't see a problem with same-sex couples having civil ceremonies to let the world/state etc know they are committed to each other for life. [I say civil ceremony to commit to each other for life because I use the term married only for man/woman]

And see, I use the term married for everyone because separate but equal is bullshit and I hate discrimination on the basis of something a person cannot control. Racism is viewed as bad and so should discrimination on basis of sexual orientation.

VampShadsOwns:

I am not sure about the debate on whether they should have children, but I personally know I would prefer to have a mother and a father. Not a Father and a father, and a mother and a mother. But, not because I think it's wrong. That's just me.

I have multiple friends with gay parents and they don't care. Studies have shown that children are going to grow up just as well-adjusted in a home with gay parents as with straight parents. You probably would prefer to have a mother and a father because that's what you've grown up with.

A child who doesn't know any better, know what the conservative side views the "perfect" family has, or has grown up with two moms or two dads probably wouldn't care. They would just be happy to have parents that love them.

druscilla runaway.:

Why not have a marriage then?
Marriage isn't strictly religious.
I don't understand why we need to create civil unions and marriages.
Everyone is equal and everyone should have equal rights.
I don't want to get civilly unionized.
I want to get married.

*facepalm* That's what I'm trying to say! I was just using marriage and civil unions to differentiate between the religious ceremony and the non-religious ceremony.