scrubbedexpat098

I say legalise it, make the churches allow it and let me set up my video camera for when the vicar calls for exchanging of the rings, could go one of 2 ways, Australias funniest home vids, or porn

GarryP

To say that marriage, a human created contract, isn't the problem is kinda ridiculous.

People are people, and they will do and behave the way people always have done. To have a contract that explicitly expects behaviour other than what you can reasonable expect puts that contract, and it's definition firmly in the firing line.

It's not fit for purpose, and the point of what I was saying is that its because the purpose is not well understood is why it's not well defined. You actually have to understand what marriage is for before you can move forward - and the best bet is to stop giving legal weight and tax advantages to it until you have.

Oh, and if you want to make progress on it and stop marriage being the train wreak inducing mess that it is - I suggest putting the religion thing to the side. The whole ceremony in the church is very much NOT what marriage is - and it confuses the whole issue.

BadgeIsBack

Marriage is a great idea..it makes people think about the consequences of commitment...

it provides for stability.

eddie007

makes the visa application process less complex

knockoff nige

I think if someone is prepared to state in the internet that they are for or against gay marriage, they have a responsibility to justify it. It seems to me that we currently don't have gay marriage in Australia and most parts of the world because people who are against it, aren't prepared to argue the point. They have a very weak case.

What bugs me though is that this should be a referendum. Politicians are simply voting based on their own personal values. Why do they get to do that? Why has one politicians belief got so much weight? Did we vote them in because we believe everything they stand for? I should get to vote for it as should the entire population. Then we'd know whether Australia wants it or not. If the answer then is no, we live with it.

Gay people in a committed relationship should either have the same benefits as married people or do away with any benefits to married couples. I think I'd prefer the latter as otherwise, you're an inferior citizen if you're single.

eddie007

I would guess that most people who are against same sex marriage are so for religious reasons....

For many religious beliefs would be NO justification for not allowing it, because they don't hold the same beliefs...

Past threads on here that even go NEAR discussing personal religious beliefs demonstrate very good reason for some one who objects on "moral/religious" grounds NOT to attempt to "justify" .....VERY good reason


I am in favor of same sex civil union....

But I would anticipate not being asked to justify my answer.... It's only when some one disagrees that some posters EXPECT justification...

knockoff nige

I don't think people should justify their belief in order to defend themselves. But I think it's important to explain your position so that people can become more educated on the subject. If everyone keeps their reasoning to themselves then we have a very poorly educated society and we won't progress. This particular topic is not about facts, it's about values and they'll be stuck in the Stone Age if we don't discuss them.

eddie007

Ok...

"I am against same sex marriage because my religion tells me that same sex relationships are against the word of God, and are therefore therefore immoral..."

Discuss.

knockoff nige

It's clearly not your belief so why post that? Or do you think you can speak for everyone who is against gay marriage?

Look, lay off the narcissism.

eddie007

Actually, my religion DOES tell me that same sex relationships are immoral... AND against the word of God..

And your response is EXACTLY why no one wants to "get into this one" on
<<snip>>

bcworld

If it's supposedly immoral why world you support same sex civil unions but not marriage? The religious don't own marriage...the 70% of Australian marriages which don't take place in a religious setting are testament to that.

eddie007

Because I don't believe my church, nor any religious organisation has the right to impose it's doctrine and dogma on society as a whole....

A civil union is a Marriage in my eyes. The religious part of marriage is down to personal belief and choice.

knockoff nige

Yes exactly. Looks to me like those who claim to be religious want to pick and choose the parts of the religion that they want to live by.

The religious argument is not the only argument for opposing gay marriage. I saw an interview of a priest in the states who said that a child needs to have the influence of a mother and father. That's not religious but it's also very weak and he failed to elaborate on it.

If no-one wants to get into this on here, why are people replying to this thread?

eddie007

The "it's a sin" argument is the one which I have found most people who are against gay marriage appear to choose ...And for them it is clearly the most fundamental reason not to allow gay marriage.

If some one believes that it's a sin to have a same sex relationship no further argument against gay marriage is necessary for them.... That is their belief.

knockoff nige

Wrong. That's what they want to believe. Would you agree that the amount of 100% devoted religious people in Australia are in a minority? Yet, they get the 'laws' of their religion upheld without even having to fight for it because it's written down in an old book. But only when the debating gets to occur do things change. If there is a demand to change something, it should get argued. But this one is getting swept under the carpet with the response 'because that's just how it is.'