Scripture, if taken literally in all of the history, metaphors, allegories, parables, poetry, and instruction, will be interpreted wrongly. It is more correctly interpreted when read through the experience, culture, and intent of those who wrote it.
Focus on the Family should be commended for what they get right as much as what they get wrong and in my opinion, they score heavily on both counts.
JTT says
Quote:I have no personal interest in this, nor do I have any personal gain to be made from it.
Nor do I other than an interest and commitment to do what I can for the welfare of children.
Quote:I hold these convictions because it is fundamentally unfair to treat people in a discriminatory fashion. It is contradictory, IMO, to speak of concern for children but then seek to put their parents in the position of being second class citizens, unable to marry because someone holds personal views of "white weddings".
All inequities regarding marriage have been set aside by law in the United States. Within regulations prescribed for marriage, any adult, gay or straight, can marry without regard for race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. The regulations simply prescribe that marraige is between a man and a woman. That is not discriminatory. It is a regulation.
It is often mandatory to treat people in a discriminatory fashion to achieve goals or excellence in an endeavor. Thus it is unlikely that 99% of excellent Japanese athletes will get a try out for the NBA not because they are Japanese, but because Japanese people are almost always persons of smaller stature than the NBA requires. Fire and Police Departments don't have to consider applications from little old ladies, not beause they are little, old, or female, but because they cannot meet the specifications for fire fighters or policemen. Retirement communities can restrict tenants to age 55 or older, not because younger people are inferior or unacceptable, but because a particular homogenous community is desired. Little leagues can bar persons past a certain age, not because they aren't good people, but because it would diminish the experience for younger, smaller players. There are a number of reasons a marriage license might be denied--too young, communicable disease, already married, etc., and of course licenses are issued to a man and a woman, but otherwise they are entirely undiscriminatory in the United States. And
the laws that exist are explicitly in place as marriage implies the possibility of children and the welfare of the children must come first.
Quote:Don't view this as a personal attack, FF. That makes it much too easy for you to help yourself off the hook. The plain and simple fact is; people who discriminate against any group or urge others to do the same based on their personal prejudices are ignorant.
I never consider it a personal attack when people disagree with me, nor do I take exception. I only take exception to those who brand as 'ignorant' or 'uncomplimentary adjective de jour' anyone who holds a different opinion. As explained in the previous paragraph, all, maybe most, discrimination is goal oriented and completely devoid of prejudice or bigotry.
Quote:A number of countries have found it extremely easy to allow same sex marriages. Why would they go against hundreds of years of tradition? Because it is simply NOT right to treat people in such a substantially different and highly discriminatory legal manner
Most countries however see it like most Americans do, and those Amercians include the large majority of black Americans with whom you compare the same sex marriage issue.
All this was after
Quote:Testament to your stolid ignorance, FF. And on such flimsy evidence, your own personal little biases. That's how slavery and segregation maintained its firm grip for so long; ignorance.
So far you have given no evidence why my point of view is wrong but have only presented your point of view. I don't consider you ignorant because you disagree with me or because I think you're wrong on this issue. I personally think two people can disagree profoundly and neither be evil. I just think the one who feels need to insult the other probably has the weakest case.
