Good strictly secular argument against same sex marriage

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The heart of the pro-gay marriage argument is that you are forcing your beliefs on those who do not share them. This, in my opinion (and those of many others) requires very solid justification.
No, the heart of the pro-gay marriage argument is that a perverse sexual morality must be dignified with a license to perform. It’s as simple as that. And the justification for why it is as simple as that is common sense, a rare commodity in today’s world, to say the least.
 
So called SSM just lowers the bar for marriage and the common good.
 
Same-sex marriage, like heterosexual marriage, should be a license to perform sexual acts that result, or may result, in the production of offspring. Thew only sexual act homosexuials can perform is sodomy whih cannot result in the production of offspring. Moreover, the sodomite relationship has been universally held by all societies throughout history to be abnormal behavior not to be condoned by the state, even if it is not punished by the state (in some states it is or was punished … Thomas Jefferson while governor introduced a bill in the Virginia state legislature to castrate men convicted of sodomy). .
 
The link doesn’t seem to work. I think that this is the one you intended:

defendthefamily.com/_docs/resources/9707137.pdf
I read this. The author appears not to want to acknowledge a distinction between SSA and a practicing homosexual. I’m not sure how he can or would explain the existence of a person enduring SSA but trying to live chastely… And it seems that his argument would collapse if it turned out that SSA were genetically influenced. He also focuses on Homosexuality as spreading disease, which I would have thought is more a function of promiscuity (and perhaps of anal sex?), neither of which is intrinsic to a homosexual relationship.
 
He also focuses on Homosexuality as spreading disease, which I would have thought is more a function of promiscuity (and perhaps of anal sex?), neither of which is intrinsic to a homosexual relationship.
AIDS is mainly attributed to homosexuals or bisexuals. Whereas the incidence of AIDS among heterosexuals is relatively minor by comparison. The sexual diseases of heterosexuals, while often serious, are not so often fatal as those of homosexuals. Any kind of sexual promiscuity is dangerous behavior, and homosexuals are well known for promiscuity (especially male prostitutes … toy-boys) though some are loyal to their partners.
 
AIDS is mainly attributed to homosexuals or bisexuals. Whereas the incidence of AIDS among heterosexuals is relatively minor by comparison. The sexual diseases of heterosexuals, while often serious, are not so often fatal as those of homosexuals. Any kind of sexual promiscuity is dangerous behavior, and homosexuals are well known for promiscuity (especially male prostitutes … toy-boys) though some are loyal to their partners.
Well…I don’t have the medical facts to comment on the origins of AIDS, but I don’t see merit in discussing homosexuality on the basis that it and promiscuity go together. I can accept however that the moral latitude that accepts homosexual relations may well also extend to accepting multiple partners. But that is not intrinsic to homosexuality.
 
So called SSM just lowers the bar for marriage and the common good.
This completely lowers the bar, and marriage becomes that much more meaningless. Marriage has been the institution between a man and woman, and the foundation for a good society. Each time a requirment is thrown away from marriage(this time gender), marriage will keep getting less and less meaningful, and people will not even bother after a while(outside church). Before we know it, polygamists will be saying they are discriminated against, and the government will permit.
ted.com/conversations/17943/does_permitting_same_sex_marri.html
 
Now I must confess this thread has garnered much more attention than I had anticipated, but I actually had the curiosity to see where this goes. But this is a question I ask myself quite often because I have same sex attraction, there ain’t much I could have done to change and I’m guessing god doesn’t offer refunds or exchanges for crosses he gives us. But I’ve done resolved to live a life of chastity because
  1. I love my faith and want to live true to it
  2. I love my family and don’t want to shame or hurt them
  3. I’m quite prude
  4. I respect the sacrament that help make me
But the most compelling reasons for me were religious, cultural and personal preference and none of the reasons strongly secular. And I’m going to be honest it’s not an easy cross to bear, but god gave us free will to accept or reject his grace. My problem is that if gay unions are wrong, unnatural, bad for society etc. well I can point out a bakers dozens of morally reprehensible things that are legal under the law on the top of my head. Case and point the infamous Virgin Mary elephant poo icon. But we don’t pass laws against them as rancid as they are, because I think we acknowledge the freedom to fall from grace. For what wisdom is the cross if we only begrudgingly accept it because it is forced on us? Anyway that’s just my take on it, but if I had to vote I would defend marriage because of my reasons listed above and not because the secular reasons discussed above. To me they are very weak in the eyes of the legal system and honestly we’re taking a pretty big butt whooping in a lot of demographics
 
The heart of the pro-gay marriage argument is that you are forcing your beliefs on those who do not share them.
Let’s look closely at exactly what is and what is not being forced. The act of of “getting married” can be divided into two parts. The first part is the main reason people want to get married - to live together and share their lives with each other. And all but the most rabidly anti-gay societies allow this kind of activity, despite the fact that it conflicts with their beliefs about what is right. So at least with this part of gay marriage, in most places, gays are not being forced to conform their lives to the beliefs of others, which is contrary to your claim.

The second part of marriage is society’s response to the union. In this part, the couple is the passive recipient of actions and affirmations, which the rest of society is being forced, or at least strongly encouraged, to do. This is the part of marriage that falls under the law that is being disputed today. In most cases, the legal recognition of any marriage, gay or straight, affects not so much the actions of the couple as the actions of the rest of society. So even in this part of marriage, your claim is inaccurate, because there is more forcing going on in recognizing a marriage than in not recognizing a marriage. I could just as well say that the recognition of gay marriage forces the beliefs of gay people on those who do not share those beliefs.

The question of gay marriage is not a simple one of “live and let live”. For if that were the case, the gay marriage lobby has already achieved its objective. Gay couples already have the freedom to live together and share their lives. They can even hold a ceremony and exchange vows in front of a gathering of their friends.

So it is a complete exaggeration to cast this debate in terms of forcing views on those who do not share them, unless it is that gay marriage forces the beliefs of the gay couple on those who do not share them.
 
Now I must confess this thread has garnered much more attention than I had anticipated, but I actually had the curiosity to see where this goes. But this is a question I ask myself quite often because I have same sex attraction, there ain’t much I could have done to change and I’m guessing god doesn’t offer refunds or exchanges for crosses he gives us. But I’ve done resolved to live a life of chastity because
  1. I love my faith and want to live true to it
  2. I love my family and don’t want to shame or hurt them
  3. I’m quite prude
  4. I respect the sacrament that help make me
But the most compelling reasons for me were religious, cultural and personal preference and none of the reasons strongly secular. And I’m going to be honest it’s not an easy cross to bear, but god gave us free will to accept or reject his grace. My problem is that if gay unions are wrong, unnatural, bad for society etc. well I can point out a bakers dozens of morally reprehensible things that are legal under the law on the top of my head. Case and point the infamous Virgin Mary elephant poo icon. But we don’t pass laws against them as rancid as they are, because I think we acknowledge the freedom to fall from grace. For what wisdom is the cross if we only begrudgingly accept it because it is forced on us? Anyway that’s just my take on it, but if I had to vote I would defend marriage because of my reasons listed above and not because the secular reasons discussed above. To me they are very weak in the eyes of the legal system and honestly we’re taking a pretty big butt whooping in a lot of demographics
Very brave of you to admit to this on here, and it is interesting to hear that you are choosing to remain chaste.

This is purely my speculation but I think one of the main reasons why Homosexuality is so vehemently opposed compared to something equally abhorrent in the eyes of the church is personal discomfort and indeed fear. We might look down upon an alcoholic, but in the case of a homosexual straight men paticually automatically assume gays will be “after them” so to speak.

Also, in regards to an earlier argument. I do not think using the claim that there was no demand for gay marriage in the past is a very good one. Cabals, secret clubs and individual homosexuals like Oscar Wilde have always existed, but it’s only been fifty-sixty years in some parts of Europe that we don’t jail them for being homosexual.

Look back further and there’s a long history of homosexuals being tortured and executed. There couldn’t really be a demand if the Spanish Inquisition was going to burn them in the town square automatically.
 
So basically the main arguments I’m hearing is pretty much it’s not good for society and biologically incorrect and therefore impossible. As much as I agree with both of those, I think I’m going to have a doozy of a time convincing others. Thanks for all the responses!🙂
If you understand that “not good” does not necessarily mean “bad,” You are correct. Yes, it is impossible for same sex unions to engage in marriage because biologically they cannot. Trying to convince others to accept your position is almost impossible in many situations, but we can hope for understanding. If you really think you would have a doozy of a time explaining the Catholic position, I think that says more about the person you are talking to than the Catholic position, especially when you say you are talking with people in a “scientific environment.”
Now I must confess this thread has garnered much more attention than I had anticipated, but I actually had the curiosity to see where this goes. But this is a question I ask myself quite often because I have same sex attraction, there ain’t much I could have done to change and I’m guessing god doesn’t offer refunds or exchanges for crosses he gives us. But I’ve done resolved to live a life of chastity because
  1. I love my faith and want to live true to it
  2. I love my family and don’t want to shame or hurt them
  3. I’m quite prude
  4. I respect the sacrament that help make me
    But the most compelling reasons for me were religious, cultural and personal preference and none of the reasons strongly secular. And I’m going to be honest it’s not an easy cross to bear, but god gave us free will to accept or reject his grace. My problem is that if gay unions are wrong, unnatural, bad for society etc. well I can point out a bakers dozens of morally reprehensible things that are legal under the law on the top of my head. Case and point the infamous Virgin Mary elephant poo icon. But we don’t pass laws against them as rancid as they are, because I think we acknowledge the freedom to fall from grace. For what wisdom is the cross if we only begrudgingly accept it because it is forced on us? Anyway that’s just my take on it, but if I had to vote I would defend marriage because of my reasons listed above and not because the secular reasons discussed above. To me they are very weak in the eyes of the legal system and honestly we’re taking a pretty big butt whooping in a lot of demographics
As a Catholic, we are all called to a life of chastity (proper sexually conduct), even married people. If you believe marriage IS something, then you know we are not saying same sex couples ‘may not’ marry, we are say they ‘can not’ marry; they are not able to marry. So comparing marriage to other illegal activities doesn’t make any sense; they are begging the question (Are same sex unions marriage?) If you want to compare sodomy to the “baker’s dozen of morally reprehensible things that are legal,” then I would agree with you.
It is my observation that the folks who believe same sex unions can be marriage want you to believe it is just your religious/personal option; that way they can reject it out of hand.
 
Same-sex marriage, like heterosexual marriage, should be a license to perform sexual acts that result, or may result, in the production of offspring.
And herein lies the problem, because nowadays nobody believes that you should need a state license to perform sexual acts.
 
The US has roughly 300 million people. 98% is close enough to 100%. 300 million gay people. None having babies, because the are gay. They die off, how many are left? 0.

Get it?
You are still missing the point that gay people can and do have children! It is a more necessarily deliberate act than with heterosexuals, but that is not a bad thing. Fewer unwanted pregnancies and abortions is hardly a downside, is it?

The fact that otherwise intelligent people struggle to grasp such a simple point is a chilling illustration of how dogmatic beliefs can cripple our reason. 🤷
 
Marriage as an institution addresses the obvious, natural need in society to establish and protect society-building family units. Was there a debate (hundreds of years ago) about which sex-combinations ought to be eligible for marriage?
When and where? The Roman Christian Emperors just declared that same sex marriage was punishable by death, true, but I don’t see what you think that proves. Likewise the invading Europeans did not ask the native Americans if they wanted to give up their same sex marriage traditions.

Note that even if only families with children count as ‘society-building’, many same sex couples are raising children and many married heterosexuals are not.

So we are back to my original question, which noone has answered:
That assumes that conception is the sole purpose of marriage. Or, to be fair, is an essential component of marriage.

Now, I have no problem with you believing that, as regards living your own life, but do you think you can prove that objectively and indisputably, such that you are justified in forcing that belief on others who do not agree with you?
 
You are still missing the point that gay people can and do have children!
Only if one equivocates the meaning of “having children”.
It is a more necessarily deliberate act than with heterosexuals, but that is not a bad thing. Fewer unwanted pregnancies and abortions is hardly a downside, is it?
All pregnancies are wanted by someone, even if its not the parents.
The fact that otherwise intelligent people struggle to grasp such a simple point is a chilling illustration of how dogmatic beliefs can cripple our reason. 🤷
Insult?:confused:
 
Well…I don’t have the medical facts to comment on the origins of AIDS, but I don’t see merit in discussing homosexuality on the basis that it and promiscuity go together. I can accept however that the moral latitude that accepts homosexual relations may well also extend to accepting multiple partners. But that is not intrinsic to homosexuality.
Many homosexuals have died from AIDS. Many of them who did die from AIDS did so because they were promiscuously involved with other men. While promiscuity may not be intrinsic to homosexuality, it is certainly found with many of them, just as it is found with many heterosexuals.
 
You are still missing the point that gay people can and do have children! It is a more necessarily deliberate act than with heterosexuals, but that is not a bad thing. Fewer unwanted pregnancies and abortions is hardly a downside, is it?

The fact that otherwise intelligent people struggle to grasp such a simple point is a chilling illustration of how dogmatic beliefs can cripple our reason. 🤷
The fact that otherwise intelligent people can find an excuse to justify sodomy is a chilling illustration of how relativistic beliefs can cripple our reason.
 
Biologically, homosexuality is inimical to the purpose of a society, which is to protect and promote human life through generations.

A society in which there were no homosexuals would not be weakened in any way, but a society in which everybody was homosexual would perish.

Marriage, in its civil form, is a sanction by the civil society. And since homosexuality is inimical to its prolongation, the society has no reason to give homosexual relationships that sanction.

ICXC NIKA
Boom.

Homosexual marriage simply isn’t possible. You can’t have a natural marriage between two people who lack the biology for reproduction.
 
Let’s look closely at exactly what is and what is not being forced. The act of of “getting married” can be divided into two parts. The first part is the main reason people want to get married - to live together and share their lives with each other. And all but the most rabidly anti-gay societies allow this kind of activity, despite the fact that it conflicts with their beliefs about what is right.
Oh, go on. Tell us again about how homosexuals should just be grateful that you are not imprisoning and beheading them! 😛

The fact is that you are demanding that society impose your views on marriage on those who do not share them - not just homosexuals, but those religions such as Quakers whose beliefs embrace same sex marriage. Or the Native American tribes for whom same sex marriages were a major, traditional part of their beliefs. These groups are prevented, by you, from holding legally recognised same sex marriages, but they are not trying to force you to carry out same sex marriages.
 
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