Same Sex Marriage

[CommanderOtto]

Why is the government involved in marriage of any sort?

Because it's a contract, and one with a lot of legal consequences.

Because the government makes it that way. I see marriage as nothing more than a private and sometimes spiritual contract between two humans to live together under one name and household. Why is there any need for the government to dictate these arrangements?

dude, cause people living together share their money and their roof. If someone wants to separate, then there has to be some way of legally separating the assets. That's why the government forces you to create a contract.

[Darth Crater]

Also, viewing it as a private or spiritual contract between two individuals is a modern and Western perspective. Traditionally, marriages were often arranged for one or both parties, and were contracts between families which often involved payment.

[Brazosgrad]

I'll be paying for it till I die. Perhaps all sides will one day realize it only pays back if you stay single. And tis the only sure way to stick it to the government. Nahhhhhh who am I kidding....

[WD-40]

Wait til they find out they lose half their [poo] when they break up.

You can likely lose half your [poo] getting your sphincter repeatedly stretched from a very un-natural act.

[(=DK=)Samonuh]

Because it's a contract, and one with a lot of legal consequences.

Because the government makes it that way. I see marriage as nothing more than a private and sometimes spiritual contract between two humans to live together under one name and household. Why is there any need for the government to dictate these arrangements?

dude, cause people living together share their money and their roof. If someone wants to separate, then there has to be some way of legally separating the assets. That's why the government forces you to create a contract.

Why do we assume the government can do a better job of this than the citizens?

Also, viewing it as a private or spiritual contract between two individuals is a modern and Western perspective. Traditionally, marriages were often arranged for one or both parties, and were contracts between families which often involved payment.

If we followed all of our traditional practices, society wouldn't prosper. Guess where we live? In Western society. We should begin treating marriage the way our society has adapted to it...

[MATTHEW'S_DAD]

Wow, I'm agreeing with Sammy.

[[m'kay]]

Wait til they find out they lose half their [poo] when they break up.

You can likely lose half your [poo] getting your sphincter repeatedly stretched from a very un-natural act.

So wait, you want to keep your [poo]? Hell, by what you're saying, being gay would just be plain efficient.

[Darth Crater]

dude, cause people living together share their money and their roof. If someone wants to separate, then there has to be some way of legally separating the assets. That's why the government forces you to create a contract.

You're not actually forced to. You can live together indefinitely without being married. It's just that marriage makes a lot of things (everything from joint ownership to being eligible for hospital visits) much more convenient.

If we followed all of our traditional practices, society wouldn't prosper. Guess where we live? In Western society. We should begin treating marriage the way our society has adapted to it...

Absolutely. That wasn't an argument for a different view of marriage at all, just a look at how it got that way. And on a similar note, another question - why is religion involved in marriage of any sort?

[WD-40]

Wait til they find out they lose half their [poo] when they break up.

You can likely lose half your [poo] getting your sphincter repeatedly stretched from a very un-natural act.

So wait, you want to keep your [poo]? Hell, by what you're saying, being gay would just be plain efficient.

Actually, I was just thinking they'd be early candidates for 'Depends'.

[(=DK=)Samonuh]

Absolutely. That wasn't an argument for a different view of marriage at all, just a look at how it got that way. And on a similar note, another question - why is religion involved in marriage of any sort?

Well, I think a big problem is that we like to view marriage as if it has one definition and serves one purpose. Marriage doesn't have to be a religious act, but that's what it has evolved into for some people. Marriage is discussed in the Bible, particularly in Proverbs, as a positive bonding of two humans. As far as Christianity is concerned, God made man and woman (e.g. Adam and Eve) to live together in pairs, and a marriage is the fulfillment of this obligation. To a Christian, marriage is an intense spiritual connection between two humans. Jesus calls it "a uniting of two into one 'flesh.'" So naturally, religion (at least Christianity) has a justification to involve itself in the marriages of its followers.

Let me stress again, this is not the only type of marriage out there. Some people simply view it as a contract to live together throughout both persons' lifetimes. If somebody doesn't want religion delineating his or her marriage, so be it...