The Accidental Strawman

While writing my last post I had to use a good measure of restraint to avoid launching into a long rant on one of my pet hates and obsessions. I ended out using the example of abortion in legal morality because I have respect for both sides of the mainstream argument. In the particular topic I'm thinking of I don't have respect for one of the factions. The Christian one.

The argument is of gay marriage. I find the stubborn opposition Christians tend to show in this area unimaginably frustrating. I find it frustrating because there is no straight answer. Only straw-men. Usually something about the negative affects on children. But in their heart the majority (though not the loud ones) know that this is not the real reason that they show opposition. The problem is that they know it has more to do with their own beliefs then any real concern of the mental state of children. Not to say those concerns don't exist, but just that they are not the real motivator.

But society has taught us to think relatively and so, because we are tolerant, we must keep beliefs out of it. And so the straw-men are invented and dressed up. And we've been pretending their real so long we've forgotten they aren't.

So without further ado, here, in my words, is the real problem Christianity has with gay and lesbian marriage.

First, what is marriage? In the modern world it is a legal contract. It defines the legal relationship between two people. OK, that's cold. But as numerous soaps and comedies have reminded us, it only implies a spiritual and emotional bound. Otherwise it's marley a contract.

But this isn't the view Christians have. From the Christian view marriage is a spiritual connection. A spiritual union even. It was a union created and sealed by God. The ceremony and the legal contract came after. They came as reminders of the bond shared.

So here you have opposing views. To humanists marriage is a legal bond that implies a spiritual one, and to Christians marriage is a spiritual bond that implies a legal one.

However you feel about tolerance toward the homosexual portion of the population. However close minded you think Christians may be. This issue runs over the line of right and wrong sexual conduct and into the very definition of a sacred bond and relic of the Christian heritage this country holds.

For the humanist the extension of marriage to be available for gays and lesbians is like extending the definition of eligible voter to include women. For the Christians it like extending the definition of aardvark to be inclusive of hummingbirds.

You are trying to change something sacred to cover something it is not.

The simple fact is that, even if you practice it in law, to a Christian, a man can never marry a man, or a woman a woman. It's not possible. Despite what you call it.

That is why the thought is offencive to the Christian faith.