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The Jujitsu of Same-Sex Marriage: One Last Surge of Reflection for the Court
First Things ^ | April 14, 2015 | Professor Hadley Arkes

Posted on 04/17/2015 10:23:05 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

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1 posted on 04/17/2015 10:23:06 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
For years, I have been stating, here and elsewhere, that if there is nothing special about marriage being between one man and one woman; then, what is so special about the number two.

This whole "gay" marriage thing is really about the destruction of marriage as a bedrock institution of our society. The polygymists are next. Group "marriages", hey, why not.

If the meaning of marriage is what the popular culture of the moment says it is, then it means nothing. Once redefined, it will be redefined again and again, removing all meaning from the word marriage.

2 posted on 04/17/2015 10:32:50 AM PDT by LibertarianLiz
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Logic on which to hang your hat.

Thanks for posting this article.


3 posted on 04/17/2015 10:42:55 AM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: jonno

I found it while looking for something else entirely, which happens more and more these days.


4 posted on 04/17/2015 10:43:55 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
The confusion comes from not differentiating between marriage, a union based on pledged love and personal commitment before God, and thus a religious event - and civil union, a government status that enables shared administrative representation.

Separate the two and it all becomes clear. Marriage should not be reachable by the government because its love and religious qualities are outside the evaluative powers of government by definition.

Marriage should also not be termed alone, but in reference to the spiritual tradition, religion or church from which it is derived in each case. This is true anyway - religions don't generally accept marriages outside of their own tradition.

Then, as a separate event, people should have to file a separate petition for civil union with the government that is never called "marriage."

5 posted on 04/17/2015 10:58:03 AM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: LibertarianLiz; 2ndDivisionVet

” If the meaning of marriage is what the popular culture of the moment says it is, then it means nothing. Once redefined, it will be redefined again and again, removing all meaning from the word marriage. “

There is already a 44 year old man who wants to marry his 18 year old daughter (not his by blood, but by marriage)


6 posted on 04/17/2015 10:58:20 AM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) (GOPe is that easy to read))
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

There already exists a standard definition of “marriage” that withstands all the tests of time, tradition, and biology. If that definition is to be changed, something radically different has to have emerged about human nature to justify the change. Yet the homo community has demonstrated no compelling reason to redefine such a cornerstone institution except their own caprice.

I propose that they have failed to meet their burden of proof, and that that alone is justification for leaving the definition of marriage as it is, and as it has been for centuries.


7 posted on 04/17/2015 10:58:24 AM PDT by IronJack
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The author is quite the intellectual. But he is not smart enough to understand that “gay marriage” in Massachusetts was not instituted by the Supreme Judicial Court, but by Mitt Romney, the “Republican” governor.


8 posted on 04/17/2015 11:02:50 AM PDT by EternalVigilance ("Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." -- Benjamin Franklin)
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To: EternalVigilance

Not to excuse Mitt, but I think it’s reasonable to assume that we would have gay “marriage” in MA - regardless of who was the Gov for that state...


9 posted on 04/17/2015 11:20:46 AM PDT by jonno (Having an opinion is not the same as having the answer...)
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To: Talisker

Something like this was proposed 50-some years ago by C. S. Lewis who was commenting on the deteriorating state of marriage in England in the mid 20th century. There would be church marriages and government “marriages.”

I’m looking at how well the government has lately been serving as a steward of the institution of marriage, even if all the “gay marriage” stuff could be subtracted out of the picture. And the record is atrocious. While stuff like this grabs the limelight, we hear less about things like how (only some?) states now ban married couples from sex if one is also suffering from dementia — because that partner can’t “choose” in real time.

I’d likely get aboard a “divorce government from marriage” bandwagon. If the government really should get out of the bedroom, don’t be all special-case about it. Just. Do. It.


10 posted on 04/17/2015 11:36:24 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: EternalVigilance

Mitt rolled over, BUT there had to be something to roll over TO.


11 posted on 04/17/2015 11:37:44 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: IronJack

It could be said that it will become a reductio ad absurdam with tragic consequences for families well beyond what they are now — and some lying cabal of professors will take an oath and deny it in open court.

The traditions of old Just Are Not Respected Any More.


12 posted on 04/17/2015 11:39:49 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Talisker; xzins; wagglebee
Then, as a separate event, people should have to file a separate petition for civil union with the government that is never called "marriage."

Have you never heard of the term "marriage license". That is what this whole thing is about.

Should "marriage licenses" be granted to same sex couples, or father/daughter - Father/Son - Mother/Daughter - Uncle/Niece - Multiple Couples....

The answer is NO!

And it is clearly not up to a bunch of unelected and unaccountable justices who are all suffering from Alzheimers disease to make the decision for the whole of the country.

Marriage has both a traditional and legal definition. If you separate one from the other, then marriage has no meaning at all.

13 posted on 04/17/2015 11:41:55 AM PDT by P-Marlowe (Saying that ISIL is not Islamic is like saying Obama is not an Idiot.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I think that this article is largely a distraction from the real issue, which goes to the sanctification of family formation, procreation and the social fabric. There would be no reason for the State to even get involved in people's living arrangements, were these considerations not paramount.

Frankly, polygamy is a far less serious challenge to the social structure, than making a mockery of family formation in relation to procreation. Solomon having multiple wives did not undermine the concept of marriage in the Old Testament. The present effort to divorce "marriage" from biological reality--i.e., who is able to procreate; why is humanity divided into two sexes, etc..--can surely undermine the social fabric.

Everyone reading this was once an adolescent. Did not most of those with whom you grew up, not have at least a major focus, in high school, on an effort to idealize a pursuit, or the invitation to a pursuit at the very minimum, for finding a mate from the opposite sex? The theme is basic, in some form, in most of the literature people read for recreation. It permeates the movies--even those produced by "artists," who themselves eschew traditional sex roles. The pursuit of sexual role adequacy & decent child rearing, inspire much of what ennobles individuals, through the generations.

The writer raises questions about allowing couples over what used to be referred to as "the age of hope," from marrying. But that is answered by the idea of giving anyone the benefit of the doubt--a benefit growing out of the report of the incredibly late in life birth to Sarah in Genesis. Of course, the ACLU might not like the concept, but earlier generations of the Western peoples considered the Bible a guide to what was morally acceptable. Like it or not, the concept of marriage has always been inextricably linked to family formation, via a sanctification of a properly mated--that is a naturally mated--couple's union.

14 posted on 04/17/2015 11:47:07 AM PDT by Ohioan
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To: P-Marlowe

What was this word you were putting in Tali’s mouth? Out with it BOY.

Divorce government and marriage.


15 posted on 04/17/2015 11:49:10 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Ohioan

Not only benefit of the doubt per the bible, but also establishment of a pattern. The couple is not bidden to divorce once they are past even medically proven childbirth years. And yes, Grandma and Grandpa can still “have sex.”


16 posted on 04/17/2015 11:51:01 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: Ohioan

And getting backing for the bible means getting backing for God. It’s vain to complain that those who treat God as a passing acquaintance are doing a lousy job of sticking to the bible. The spiritual power to care about bible norms is not being had by those people and no, it cannot be ginned up on one’s lonesome.

From a worldly point of view, I would even say, if you think the bible is a great book to base a society on, then encourage every kind of evangelism you can in that society. “High minds” like Tom Jeff were only able to keep it up because there were so many Christian witnesses around them. Take those witnesses away and suddenly the “high minds” are wondering why they were bothering with that book.


17 posted on 04/17/2015 11:55:40 AM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (Embrace the Lion of Judah and He will roar for you and teach you to roar too. See my page.)
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To: P-Marlowe; xzins
Marriage has both a traditional and legal definition. If you separate one from the other, then marriage has no meaning at all.

Exactly.

If homosexuals are worried about legal status they should form legal partnerships. They can involves as many deviants as they want and amend it at any time to suit their fetishes.

18 posted on 04/17/2015 11:55:54 AM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

“The justices have made their decision. Now let them enforce it.” — Andrew Jackson


19 posted on 04/17/2015 12:05:53 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
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To: HiTech RedNeck; Talisker; xzins; wagglebee
Divorce government and marriage.

Why not just surrender the whole issue to the perverts?

Just cave in on the culture wars. That's the ticket.

20 posted on 04/17/2015 1:05:34 PM PDT by P-Marlowe (Saying that ISIL is not Islamic is like saying Obama is not an Idiot.)
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