I've been battling internally about proposition 8 ever since it has started. There has been many struggles in my faith, and how I should proceed. I know there will be many consequences of my faith and what I believe in, but I stand firm in my beliefs in not to discriminate, or to hate.
I know there will be people who will oppose me, and maybe even judge me, but it is a fate that I would willingly accept.
I look at proposition 8 as a historic landmark of traditional values clashing with common values of today. Are proponents of the ban on gay marriage liars, cons, and conspirators to take away the rights of people who are gay?
When I look at the supporters, they are conservative religious people. Their faith is what they cling to by the clear definition of homosexuality being sin. Are people to say that their religion is false and they are discriminating and because their faiths does not coincide with beliefs and values that support same-sex marriage?
I'm trying to understand more, and I am searching for the truth. I understand there are different denominations of Christian faith, and they lead to different interpretations. At the same time that Christians are called to love, they are called to stand firm on what they believe is truth. That is admirable and honorable.
I say that because it is easy for people to sway in beliefs, but for people to stand strong is something to be acknowledged, and can be said for proponents of same-sex marriage. To band-wagon, I believe, is shameful. To say "yes" to proposition 8 in the name of hate is wrong.
There needs to be the practice of mercy and grace as Jesus in scripture dined with the beggars, the lame, and the sick. He even was more strict to those who knew the scripture.
From my understanding of opponents of proposition 8, there are legal differences between a civil union and marriage. To those who read this, please correct me if I'm wrong. I want to understand more about the situation. I am only typing according to my understanding.
There are legal problems I would say that the a civil union does not guarantee the same rights as marriage. If they don't, I am sorry to hear, but I also want to understand more about marriage. How is marriage defined? There are so many legalistic ideas.
In my understanding, marriage is to bring two beings who love and cherish each other in matrimony. Now there are religious, cultural, and civil differences. The Christian faith understands marriage to be God ordained, and because God's creation was intended for man and woman to be together. That is very controversial between heterosexuals and homosexuals.
In a civil context, marriage is a two persons enter into a consensual contract to bind them as one.
Okay. That's what I understand thus far about marriage
We live in a liberal society where almost any liberal idea with time, will become socially acceptable. Christian beliefs have been labeled discriminatory over time. For example, evolution was not a highly accepted theory because of many conservatives.
Overtime the courts intervened, and evolution became highly accepted. Liberal idea. Not to say that there isn't any truth to evolution, but in the course of time, those who believed in the creation idea became outcasts.
In some essence, history is repeating itself. In the past years, many Christian ideals have been torn down in fear of being discriminatory because of not practicing tolerance to different ideologies.
Liberal ideas and history repeating itself. It's something that I feel like I can be uncomfortable with. Where does liberalism end then? Standards will constantly change to not anger any group that feels like a social outcast. Will bestiality, polygamy, incest, necrophilia, pedophilia, become socially acceptable?
People will say no because those are special social, or psychological issues that are not acceptable. I have trouble believing that. If we have allowed evolution become mainstream, and now the issue same-sex marriage, what's not to say these issues would be legalized given time.
Coming out is a very dangerous thing.
Not just for people who are gay(I'm trying to be politically correct. If this term is offensive, I apologize. Please suggest the correct term.) but others as well. This is just my concern. People might think that I'm over analyzing, or that I'm pushing it to an extreme, but my thoughts aren't meant to be false or misleading, but to understand.
Okay. Maybe I should also try to understand a little more about homosexuality since I'm heterosexual.
I am confused to whether those who consider themselves gay that it is a choice or not a choice. Whether it is biological or not. In my perspective, I see it as a behavioral issue that is cultured with environmental, social, and perhaps family factors.
Can it be simply turned off or on? I don't know exactly. I wondered what it was like in one point in time what did it feel like to like the same gender or to be attracted to the same gender. I was not really turned on by the same sex, so I considered myself heterosexual. I don't know whether that was helpful in understanding.
I guess what I'm saying that I think it is possible. There so many influences that shape people's sexuality. I think that is safe to say. I believe that it can be cultured. It can be habitual.
When we look at kids who watch or play violent video games, they inherently will grow accustom to think that violence is okay. When kids think swearing by thinking F@!$ and S#%& is okay, they will incorporate it. When boys think that nothing is wrong with sexually promiscuous pictures, or music, what's not to say that they will think that pornography and masturbation is okay.
Can it be turned off? I like to believe so. We take away the violent games, we discipline them when they use inappropriate language, and we educate them on the affects of pornography.
Again, I like to remind people, that I am sharing this not to hate, not to mislead. I would enjoy a casual conversation because I want to understand where people are coming from.
Anyways.
I see proposition 8 as a way to tell people where the line of liberalism should be drawn. Given no one is perfect, and there are always going to be flaws. That is the nature of man. If we strive treat people of value and of worth, that's saying something.
I condone the nature of those who do not practice mercy in their act of showing what is morality. That only deters people from even listening. I know there are problems with the current situation of the benefits and rights of those who want same sex-marriage, and something should be done.
Anyways. I'm having trouble processing my ideas. Frankly I'm tired and I need rest. Thank you to those who read this. I respect your opinions as you read mine. Feel free to comment me if necessary. Please be respectful of other people's opinions. They are entitled to that regardless of their beliefs.
I know I have more to say. There will be a Part II of this course in my journey.
Goodnight.
