A new add from the folks over at the National Organization for Marriage shows confused kids that apparently weren’t taught by their parents about the different kids of folks in the world; you know, those people that happen to be attracted to the same-sex and want to consecrate their relationship in marriage like any other couple might.
Prepare to gag.
One of the kids say “God created Adam and Eve? That’s so old-fashioned.” Thank you little girl, for speaking the truth.
In North America, we have advanced from the days of demonizing gay people, to where they can live their lives how they choose without the threat of violence. Unfortunately there are still people out there that want to force gay people to adhere to their religious beliefs, we still have growing to do.
For several years California has seen much debate over the issue of same-sex marriage. In 2000 it was banned and in 2008 the California Supreme Court reversed this ruling. Now it will be voted upon this November.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is urging its members to donate their means and time to vote against same-sex marriage.
Here’s my question; isn’t church and state supposed to be separate in North America? If so, then why is it that a church is encouraging its members to support certain legislation?
For centuries churches have imposed their morals onto other people that weren’t part of their faith through government legislation, and it continues to do this day.
Here is the full text of the announcement from the Church.
The banning of same-sex marriage is most often based on religious grounds. While the separation of church and state is supposed to be the norm, that hasn’t been the case in recent years with various church groups lobbying government to impose their morals onto other people.
The main justification used for the attitude that homosexuality is “an abomination” is in the Old Testament in Leviticus 18:22;
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination”
Interesting. I wonder what other commandments there are in the Old Testament that Christians must be adhering to? I mean if they just pick and choose what to believe and enforce from the scriptures isn’t that inconsistent?
Here is a fake letter to Dr. Laura that has made the rounds for a few years that demonstrates this nicely I think.
Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly
states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.
a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you
clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this?
g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?
i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is eternal and unchanging.
Remember the principle of the separation of church and state? The Europeans who settled North America thought that this was important, especially in light of religious persecution they endured in England, where the head of the state was also the head of the church, and religious ideals were used to influence governmental decisions, policies and punishments.
Though it is talked about still as being a fundamental principle for Western style democracy, it is unfortunately still a condition not yet achieved.
For many years individuals and organizations have used the government to force their religious beliefs onto other people that may not share or welcome those beliefs. Issues of same-sex marriage, drug prohibition and other “vices” were often restricted in some way because of these beliefs.
And it continues to this day.
In the last few years California has had some resolutions to allow for same-sex marriage. Groups from all sides with different agendas made their voice heard through various means. One of these groups included churches.
“The LDS Church has joined with several California religious groups to file a friend-of-the-court brief in defense of Proposition 22, a law passed in 1999 that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.”
In this case, the LDS church is using the government to force their religious belief; that marriage should be between a man and woman; onto other people not of their own faith. This goes against the principle of the separation of church and state.
I find it to be somewhat hypocritical of the LDS Church to do this, after all, they faced much religious persecution during their formative years for their practice of plural marriage, many times resulting in the lynching and murder of it’s members, including it’s founder Joseph Smith. They eventually traveled west to Utah so they could live in peace and have religious freedom, which differed from the religious beliefs and practices of the mainly Protestant populous with which they were surrounded.
That is fine; they can choose how they wanted to live. What if at that time though they had pushed for legislation that would force all married men to have at least 2 wives? Would that have been fair to people that weren’t of their faith, or had conflicting religious beliefs? Of course not. That is no different than pushing their current religious belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman to people that don’t share their same beliefs.
While a church and its members certainly are free to believe and act as they wish provided that they don’t harm other people, they should not use the strong arm of the government to push those beliefs onto others through legislation.
Marriage between one man and one woman IS a Christian belief, and should not be forced upon people that don’t adhere to that faith, or to any faith.
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