(today, the above comment was anonymously left in response to this post)
so, because you believe that someone is a prophet and you accept his call for bigotry, marriage has to become a purely religious institution? States would need to ratify laws in order to accept marriages from other states, some churches would be okay with gay marriage, others not, civil unions would have to replace marriage for all of us who aren't interested in a religion sanctioned commitment? All for what you call a 'rusty old word'? Let's make it simpler - your beliefs are yours, leave me to mine.
You want separation of church and state? I do too, and I am not going to have a religion define what I do in my life. It seems to me that no church should be injecting millions into a governmental, political campaign - not without losing tax exemption.{that's separation of church and state}
What if your prophet receives the word of your god {not mine and many others} that what the rest of us are doing is not for you to legislate, campaign against or judge? When did one of your prophets change the church's doctrine on African Americans in the church/priesthood or change the church's stance on polygamy? These words from on high came at the hour of being politically necessary. But I suppose until that happens, it is just fine to discriminate.
shame.
It's about time someone said something. Thank you anonymous - I thought everyone concurred with me, that I had found the best solution and had won unanimous agreement. Thanks for standing up and letting me know I'm still a shameful bigoted sheep who doesn't believe in God God, just a god my prophet claims to hear.
Why would you be afraid to use your real name to express those thoughts? I never understand anonymous comments like this? You are entitled to your opinion about gay marriage and about me. I don't attack people with names, real people (except maybe Glenn Beck) - I don't attack people I disagree with. I try to understand their point of view and explain my beliefs so that you might understand mine (because I certainly don't think I am a stupid bigot - and recognize that I could be wrong).
(If you or anyone else ever doubt the power of your words to impact me, I am literally shaking here ... such a strong physiological response).
However, I think you may have gotten several point wrong. I'm not sure if you were interested in contributing to an actual discussion, but you commented on my blog ...
FIRST - separation of church and state is to protect the churches from from the state, not the other way around. First amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Passing a law to revoke tax exempt status for churches who make financial contributions to political causes would violate the NO LAW bit of the first amendment. No?
When you get right down to it, people are free to do whatever they want with consenting adults. No enforceable laws can really keep homosexual relationships from existing, so poof, LGBTs can love whomever they wish. There are multiple documents they can have an attorney draw up granting their beloved all the same benefits that a traditional marriage offers. They may or may not be eligible for joint insurance benefits offered by an employer; they may be discriminated against by an employer for their sexual orientation. Each individual or couple facing discrimination could sue, I guess. I think it would be more prudent for America to provide all couples (gay and straight) who want to join their lives and assets with a federally issued civil union entitling them to receive equal benefit and protection under law, regardless of state or plumbing.
California and 30+ other states have voted concerning the definition of marriage. The majority, religious or not, wants to uphold a traditional definition of marriage. I'm sure you are aware, it is not just Mormons, the Mormon church JOINED a multi-faith coalition to pass Prop 8. My church has become something of a scapegoat for the negative media, a safe place to focus blame and hate. Fine. It's painful to hear, but it is normal for a minority to feel animosity when they don't win. If you want to be "fair," you'll acknowledge it's not just us bigoted, prophet-following Mormons who have passed these laws, though.
You commented about changes in LDS policy concerning polygamy (ended in 1890) and opening the priesthood to all worthy males (1978, my birth year), wondering about a possible change in policy about homosexual marriage.
Let me tell you, after all the mental gymnastics I have had to put my mind through to understand why the church would stand so hard on this issue, despite the negative exposure ... such a declaration would rock the foundations of my faith in the church. (ever feel like you are setting yourself up to be knocked over??)
And yet, it would be so much easier ... I'm a live and let live kind of girl. If you knew me, if you had read my blog more than that one post, that one day, I hope you'd get that. I have ever-evolving opinions and a blog with which to express myself, but I respect that people disagree with me. I enjoy discussing the unprovable, but you anonymously come to my table saying your God is righter than my god and I have no right to support a view that is contrary to yours, especially not financially - how can you and I have a discussion with that mindset.
Anonymous. Indeed.
Shame on you. Shame on you for not having the courage to put your name to your convictions. Shame on you for jumping to conclusions about a person and getting it wrong. You took the time to leave a comment, but you got it all wrong. And didn't even have enough respect for yourself, for your ideas to put a name to it. I could talk to you like a person if you were something besides an ambiguous pile of inaccuracies ... but as it is ... pshaw.
And I wanted to put up cute pictures of my kids ... gah...
5 Brilliant Bits of Inspiration:
That's right girl, stand up for what you believe in. This is your blog and we read it because we are interested in what you have to say. I've never understood why someone would make such a rude comment. Their anger isn't going to change anyone's opinion (that would require rational conversation which apparently they are not capable of).
Keep telling us what you think; the rest of us are interested(:
People who don't even put an "internet name" to comments don't deserve to be listened to. I'm sorry that you had to wake up to such a crappy email, as that's never a great way to start the day.
I really dislike hit-and-run bashers, whether they are bashing a person for expressing their views, or bashing a church or religion, or bashing a famous personality.
They aren't really interested in a real discussion.
I make no secret of the fact that I am not a member of the church to which you are belong. But it pains me to see people mock convictions that have not been arrived at lightly, especially when they seem to be setting up their own personal feelings as the yardstick to judge everything else in the world.
Guess what? Sometimes our feelings are wrong. If I always let my feelings guide me, I would have sworn off tomatoes as "bad for me" when I was a kid and never have tried them or certain products made from them ever again. But tomotoes ARE good for me, and now I love them. But the fact that I enjoy them now does not mean that tomatoes were bad for me then, and good for me now.
I continue to appreciate your thoughts. As a husband and father of a different church, I like the perspective I get by reading your blog.
I just want to say that I am proud to be related!! Thanks for your blog!!
Thank you all for your support. Though I feel guilty for jumping on a guy for disagreeing with me. I really am fine with people expressing a contrary opinion - but let's have a discussion, let's get our facts straight and define terms and go from there.
Especially thanks Angela ... it's one thing for people who only know me as a blog writer to appreciate the "me" I give you, but it means so much to me, for all of you who know who I am, who I am when I'm not trying to be witty and eloquent, who have to juggle what they know with what I say here ... I do try to be honest and authentic, blert, just, thanks for knowing me and liking me and my blog anyway.
Post a Comment