Ranties

[rurounihime]

More bullshit about preserving the sanctity of marriage.

I'm still waiting for that Magical RebuttalTM from the "sanctity of marriage" people. You know the one I'm talking about: It will supposedly refute the challenge made to fix divorce rates, domestic abuse, spouse-ditching, child abuse, drunken marriages that get dissolved the very next day, and spousal murder BEFORE deigning to say that gay marriage impinges on the "sanctity of marriage."

What sanctity? The sanctity I see, currently, is most certainly not exclusive to heterosexual couples. It isn't confined to divisions of sexuality; marriage sanctity is a huge and rewarding effort made by both spouses, regardless of gender. And frankly, the idea that het-couples magically get to sidestep the requirements being placed on gay marriage just because they are heterosexual is the most hypocritical argument I have heard in a long time.

So. Magical Rebuttal? Let's go, people, pronto. If you seriously believe that the sanctity of marriage will be destroyed by legally recognized gay unions, you better put your money where your mouth is and prove it to me, preferably without using religious reasoning that half the people in the world don't follow or recognize anyway. That's called subjective "proof", and it doesn't apply to everyone, or even most people. If there's a scientifically acceptable reason out there, tell it to me. Because I'm really starting to believe that you HAVE no answer to that argument.

One more thing: If your sentence ends with "it just IS that way," then don't bother wasting your time using it here. You will not like the response I give you. That kind of reasoning would never hold up in a scientific journal or in a competent court of law. We're all critical thinkers. We can be mature enough not to resort to petty tantrum throwing and foot stomping.

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Comments

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

You are absoultely right: America is NOT a Christian nation. I guess what's really pissing me off about this is that the careful line that was drawn centuries ago between Church and State is being breached by the current leaders. And that is a TERRIBLE idea. Terrible. There's a good reason why the separation between religious and secular was made initially, and it seems no one in power right now is willing to go back and take a look at that. Either that or they are actively trying to get back to a Church-ruled State, and that idea just makes me so squirmy in so many different ways. It caused a lot of problems in Europe way back when, and there is no reason to think that it won't do so again. I am so very thankful that it takes forever to alter the Constitution, because if it could be done in a heartbeat, there would be no checks and balances anymore, and that's just scary.

I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion. I get very ngry, however, when well-meaning people try to "good-intention" their beliefs on me. If people can argue their side without resorting to attempts at conversion, then more power to them, and have at it, I say. But I just hate being told I'm going to hell because I don't embrace a certain set of beliefs, and it is NOT just Christians who do this. Let it be known (if it isn't already) that religious prejudice is in every religion, regardless of how righteous or forward-thinking that religion is. I'm not saying everyone practices religious prejudice. Just that I suspect there is no religion I know of that does not contain fanatics.

So, yes, my Christian friends can put forth an argument. But it is a scenario where they stop listening to MY argument that makes me upset. If God loves everyone, then God loves everyone. Saying that a group doesn't receive that love is like that whole "more equal than others" mentality. How can an equal be more equal than others? The statement itself contains its own hypocrisy.

Faith is such a tricky thing to argue, and that's why it is the basis for so many of the conflicts in our history and our present. The bad thing is that faith is supposed to unite people, to give peace. And it's being used as an excuse to destroy people. That makes me so sad.

[rurounihime.livejournal.com]

Again, I think we're going to butt heads over the argument for Evangelism as imperative. I disagree. I don't believe it is my duty to save someone who doesn't believe as I do, or who, by my religious definition, is damned. My religious definition is not the only one, so I would find it difficult and unfair to use it as the blueprint for everyone else. And I think there is a big difference between telling someone when you think he/she is damned, and pressing the issue. I think your approach of informing the person is most definitely justified. And who here could say that they wouldn't try their darnedest to help a loved one? That's part of what love is. But if, after hearing the argument, the person does not decide to embrace it, that's that. To press the issue shows a disrespect for what they consider important.

And you are so, so right about secular "faith" being just as Evangelical. People think that because they don't have a religious title tied to their comments, they aren't being religiously prejudiced. And that's such a crock. There are at least two sides to every argument. And both of them can degenerate. I think it's a function of people trying to feel more important, more righteous, than others, and so they tend to smack down what they don't personally find important, therefore labeling everyone else as "stupid." Which is wrong.

I don't know if you were thinking of thise when you mentioned scientific theories, but my brain went into a tangent: It's just such a leap for me, personally, to see people ignoring scientific discovery and such out of hand just because it conflicts with their religious beliefs. I guess you'd say part of my faith lies in the truth of science, and so of course it's very hard to come up against people who put very little creedence in it. But I guess that's the same way you would feel about someone who doesn't believe in God. For you, it's been "proven," for lack of a better word. For others, it hasn't even come close.

I know there's a way to accept both without demonizing one or the other. And I know people have found it. But most people don't seem to want to try. I guess I like to think that everyone would want to at least try. But then again... these are humans we're talking about...

Sorry, I'm also a bit of a pessimist. Could you tell? ^__^ ♥