First off I would like to emphasize that I am not bashing religion or religious people with this post. That is the last thing I want to do. I respect everybody's right to worship, or not worship, in any way they choose.
What I want to say is that I grow increasingly fearful at the direction in which some people are trying to take this country. The so called religious right is trying to push their beliefs on everyone and it saddens me. One of the fundamental beliefs that this country was founded on is the right to freedom of religion. To me that includes freedom from religion if one so chooses. The religious extremists would have everyone believe the same way that they do and conform to their values without question. They use scare tactics and bullying to try and force their values on corporations, the government and individuals. The greatest issue in question today, in my opinion, is the whole issue of gay marriage. The religious right would have people believe that gay marriage would destroy our country and all we stand for, but I have yet to see any of them present a valid argument as to why this would be so. How could two people expressing their love and commitment to each other ever be a bad thing. The reasoning I hear most is that the Bible says so. It only portrays marriage between a man and a woman. However, they seem to ignore the fact that the Bible also shows many other rules on marriage that we have laws against or are regarded is wrong. Here are a few examples of rules or laws from various places in the Bible. Plural marriage, or polygamy, is encouraged, and in some cases law. A woman who is raped must marry her rapist. If a husband dies and has not produced a male child his wife must marry his brother. Wives must obey their husbands command without question and submit to him. Christians are forbidden from marrying non-Christians. Adultery is encouraged, mainly when the wife has not been able to bear a male heir, or children in general. And , lastly, God himself said that a wife must not separate from her husband, but if she does she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband, and a husband must not divorce his wife.
I find it disturbing that these religious bullies like to pick and choose the things from the Bible that they want to follow. There are a great many things taught in the Bible that have no place in modern society, or conflict with other scriptures. It is perfectly fine to take prisoners of war and make them into slaves in the Bible. Should we go back to that? I don't know of too many people that would be okay with that. Should we go back to the days of stoning a woman to death for not being a virgin before marriage? I think not! Nowhere in the Bible that I have been able to find does it forbid a man from marrying another man. The idea that have come across most is that God created Eve for Adam so that he should not be alone. The first "marriage" in the Bible. But if you ask me, to use this to define marriage as between a man and a woman only would be like saying "and God created a ham sandwich so that Adam should not be hungry" therefore the definition of lunch is between a man and a ham sandwich and not a turkey sandwich!
I believe that these people are the most dangerous kind of bullies in America! It is not anyone's place to push their beliefs on someone else, especially when it comes to laws. Read the first amendment if you haven't already. It prohibits the establishment of an official religion, or favoring or disfavoring one view of religion over another. As such, using the Bible as your only argument for making a law is unconstitutional. Whether you agree with me or not, I couldn't care less. It is my opinion and I have a right to it. I only hope that this post will make you think.
