Religion's baulking at homosexual marriage is utterly sanctimonious.

[William769]

THE reaction by conservative religious leaders and political commentators to the decision by the ALP on gay marriage has been that this tilt will imperil the party at the next federal election. It may well do. But the reasons supplied are shocking arguments against a call for legitimising gay marriage.

I am not a member of the left-wing intelligentsia, I am not gay and I am not standing for office. But I am a believer in clear reasoning, and what has been written on the subject cries out - if not to heaven, then to the intellect - for a response.

The case for gay marriage has been advanced by various parties and it is not my business to defend their specific arguments or their political ideologies. But surely one might make the following argument for such a move, without regard - for the moment - to the moral prejudices of religious conservatives or the electoral analyses of the pundits (some of whom I number among my friends).

There are a significant number of our fellow citizens who are gay. Their sexual orientation is not a matter of "sin", but of biochemistry. They are, in this sense, a minority that has long been persecuted and vilified in conservative religious societies.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/gay-vows-not-so-queer-20111207-1oj50.html#ixzz1frGp6Jla

[HillWilliam]

1. Recommended

Edit to add quote

"But the idea that any of us should still have our moral reasoning overshadowed by these arcane and morally dubious books is highly challengeable."

Roight!!!

[Rambis]

2. Marriage was all about keeping blacks from marrying whites

It was illegal so you had to ask for permission in the form of a marriage license and the state could say.... um no! :crazy:

[Kurmudgeon]

3. Not all religion, please don't group me in with right wingers.

[William769]

4. I happen to be of the Christian faith also.

I don't believe the article did that.

[DCKit]

5. What a dreary heaven it would be without queers and dogs.

I want to go to the other one.