Thread: This gay marriage thing is blowin' up

Originally Posted by Mr. E

One more thing to tack on, I disagree with your assessment of the lack of a polar nature to sexuality Syme. I think bi-sexuality is a purely social creation only partaken in because of the social expectation of child production and heterosexuality, and that all bi-sexuals are actually just homosexuals who aren't willing to commit sue to fear or due to nurture.

Uhh, you can dream up whatever theories you want about bisexuality; if you think they're all just closet gays (?) then that's your business. But the spectrum nature of human sexuality isn't "my" assessment, I'm just stating the conclusions that have been reached by actual researchers who study human sexuality. With all due respect, I will take their word over yours. Also, bisexuality--like homosexuality--is commonplace in nature, many non-human species exhibit bisexual behaviors, so I think that undercuts your personal theory a bit.

As for polygamous/polyandrous unions and other forms of group marriage, no, I don't view them as problematic. I think they should be permitted as well.

As for the idea of making "marriage" a purely religious term, I see the goal that you're trying for with that idea and I agree with it, but to me it doesn't make any sense to talk about "letting religions keep" marriage; as simonj and ephekt have pointed out, marriage never was and certainly is not now a purely or even largely religious institution; why should society surrender the term "marriage" to religious institutions which have no claim to originating it or being the sole purveyor of it? Marriage is a secular and civil institution; it is now, and it was throughout most of European history, let alone the history of the rest of the world. Religion's claim that marriage is "theirs", in that it's somehow a fundamentally sacred or spiritual institution, is utterly bogus. Marriage isn't fundamentally religious, it isn't sacred by definition, and religion needs to accept that fact and deal with it. So again, I see no reason that secular society should stop using the term "marriage" and surrender it to religious groups.