"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."
-Thomas Jefferson
That is not some obscure quote. Its carved on the wall of his memorial.
America is a democracy that is governed by popular social opinion. The popular social opinion right now is that gay or transgender marriage shouldn't be any different than straight marriage. (This opinion polls at over 80% of voters under 30, and the majority of the general population)
This next sentence is the most important of this whole essay:
No statute set by the Supreme Court will force conservative Christian congregations to perform gay marriage. Just as FDA regulations on the sanitary processing of hogs, doesn't force an Orthodox Jew to eat pork. A ruling in favor of gay marriage simply allows the possibility. If your individual Church doesn't believe that LGBT people should marry, and you aren't gay yourself; then a ruling on
Gay marriage doesn't affect you.
However, a ruling against it discriminates against almost 12 million Americans. Americans, who may or may not have the same religious views as you. There is a significant portion of America whose Muslim faith dictates that they make a pilgrimage to Mecca. The Laws of our country obviously do not impose this obligation on everyone, but they don't PROHIBIT it for those who religiously believe it to be a requirement; Gay Marriage is no different.
Regardless of any one person or faith's interpretation of their respective religious text, let’s be sure we as human beings do two things:
1. Compel others to hear our opinions, think on them, and make up their own mind. Let’s not use Ad Hominem attacks on other's faith to further our arguments. My LGBT supporting Christian church is plenty Christian to me. Even if you don't agree, please respect that.
2. Let's not allow our religious views to dictate how everyone else MUST think. The very first statement of the very first amendment to the U.S. Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." No one is forcing you to change your personal religious views on an issue, so long as you don't allow your personal religious views to force the way everyone else thinks.
Religious persecution is not only a phrase applied to people discriminated against because of their religion, it also applies to the people persecuting others who don’t have the same faith. In either case the persecutor, not the persecutee is in the wrong.
But Here’s the key, I will support tooth and nail, the right of others to be Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, or Gender Queer. Their bodies, their lives, and their personal interpretations do not fall under the jurisdiction of my personal interpretation, only I do. I can sit next to someone in the pew and sing the same praises to the same God, regardless of what he/she/he-she interprets the bible to dictate on the subject. In the same way, I can sit next to someone on the train and ride to work safely without fear of discrimination regardless of their religion or beliefs on the subject; And I personally believe that, that kind of acceptance, and tolerance is what Jesus cares about above all else.
Love In Christ,
-Chris
