How Do You Define Marriage?
As most of you know, I am working towards a degree in emergency medicine. As part of any degree I have prerequisite classes mandated by the university. I have been participating in a Sociology of the Family class because I am such a strong proponent of family values and morals as Your Moral Compass. During our class time tonight we were discussing the family in crisis. We discussed the definition of marriage. Guess what, not a single person in our small group could come up with a common definition. Then we discussed if marriage is more of a religious institution, or a state contract, or both and why?
For me marriage has always been a religious institution created by God for one man and one woman; both being gifts to each other from God. That definition has served me well in approaching the issue concerning same-sex marriage which I vehemently oppose especially when they try to call it marriage. However, my professor, in all her brilliance (I mean that, I am really enjoying her class and learning so much) posed the question, if marriage is a religious thing then how can you say it is okay for atheists or agnostics to use the term marriage? After all their marriage is outside the bonds of Holy Matrimony because of their apparent disbelief in God who after all instituted marriage and lay down the guidelines for it, which is what I believe.
Believing what I believe about God and his gift of marriage then I have to conclude that I feel the same way about marriage of atheists and agnostics as I do about same sex marriage. Why is it, that same sex marriage takes center stage in topics like this, but not the atheists or agnostics? I am interested in hearing from some of you about your definition of marriage and whether these groups should be allowed to call themselves married.
For me marriage has always been a religious institution created by God for one man and one woman; both being gifts to each other from God. That definition has served me well in approaching the issue concerning same-sex marriage which I vehemently oppose especially when they try to call it marriage. However, my professor, in all her brilliance (I mean that, I am really enjoying her class and learning so much) posed the question, if marriage is a religious thing then how can you say it is okay for atheists or agnostics to use the term marriage? After all their marriage is outside the bonds of Holy Matrimony because of their apparent disbelief in God who after all instituted marriage and lay down the guidelines for it, which is what I believe.
Believing what I believe about God and his gift of marriage then I have to conclude that I feel the same way about marriage of atheists and agnostics as I do about same sex marriage. Why is it, that same sex marriage takes center stage in topics like this, but not the atheists or agnostics? I am interested in hearing from some of you about your definition of marriage and whether these groups should be allowed to call themselves married.
posted by Troy at 10:50 PM
2 Comments:
Your professor is using a "smoke and mirrors" or "slight of hand" tactic (whether she is doing this on purpose or not, I will leave to you).
I believe that morality, or the laws of morality are laws given to us by God, either in a cognitive sense (like handing us the Bible and telling us to read it) or in an implied sense (like the laws that are written on our hearts). This would seem to indicate that at the heart of the matter morality is truly a religious function or byproduct.
So when an atheist abhors the idea of murder or the idea of stealing, and when this same atheist follows their (God given) conscience and does good, don't we call them moral?
Those who don't believe in God, His laws, or His ways still follow God mandated commands all the time. Non-believers are still subject to the laws of gravity the same as the rest of us. And the same (original) source that draws men's feet to the ground is the same source that draws men's hearts to their chosen woman's heart and causes that man to want to solidify his feelings, dedication, and love through marriage.
So how can I allow an agnostic or atheist to use the term "marriage" if it is primarily a religious thing? The same way I use the term "moral" when an agnostic or atheist through their own conscience follow God's laws, thereby showing (contrary to their own thoughts) that yes, there is a God.
Troy,
Interesting stuff, I will have keep up with your posts.
Bryce
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