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What’s Really Wrong With Same-Sex Marriage: On the 10th anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, it’s proper to ask whether same-sex marriage is a good idea
American Thinker ^ | 06/20/2025 | Tom G.K. Swift

Posted on 06/20/2025 8:20:55 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

On the 10th anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges (federally mandating “marriage equality”), it’s proper to ask whether same-sex marriage is a good idea. One reason to think that it’s not is the existence of an epistemic oddity, an oddity which strongly undermines any argument for same-sex marriage (hereafter “SSM”). The oddity in question is characterized by what may be called an "underdetermination asymmetry."

Start with the following very simple observation.

There are two ultimate positions in the SSM debate, and only two. On the one hand, there’s love or care as the basis of marriage, as in the view of SSM’s supporters. On the other hand, there’s procreation as the basis of marriage, as in the view of traditional marriage’s defenders. Any apparent exceptions will turn out to be folded into either love or procreation -- for example, commitment, which is parasitic on love and/or procreation. (I’ll henceforth ignore care -- the radical marriage reformers’ favorite criterion of intimate personal relationships -- because it cashes out similarly to love.)

The reason why SSM is supported by so many people is that everyone can see the salience of love. If marriage exists for romantic or erotic love rather than for procreation, as many people think, and if David and Ted love each other, then why not let them marry in a civil ceremony, with the full approval of the state? Conversely, if marriage exists for procreation rather than love, then why grant civil marriage at all to same-sex couples, who can’t procreate?

This is where the idea of underdetermination can help us to see the truth about marriage.


(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: gaymarriage; genderdysphoria; grooming; homosexualagenda; intercession; obergefell; romneymarriage; scotus
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1 posted on 06/20/2025 8:20:55 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Simple answer. No.


2 posted on 06/20/2025 8:23:33 AM PDT by Right Brother (I don't really care Margaret.)
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To: SeekAndFind

We conservatives need to stop giving in to the redefinition of words that the left continually does. We should at least say “so-called same-sex marriage” or, when written, put the word marriage in quotes as in same sex “marriage”. There is no such thing. The word partner suffices.


3 posted on 06/20/2025 8:35:25 AM PDT by Freee-dame
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To: SeekAndFind
I have to admit that this column drifted off deep into the philosophical weeds, and I sort of lost the direction. I do tend agree with the procreation idea of the essay.

I think marriage ultimately has its roots as a way to provide stability in society. Parents who are committed to marriage will raise more stable children. In that sense, marriage has a positive influence for the entire community, and benefits were granted to those who practiced that.

Along came the same sex couples who were interested in obtaining the benefits (such as health insurance coverage, survivor benefits, etc.), but really have provided little in the social stabilization element. And in some cases, have eroded the social fabric.

Then there is the religious factor, where marriage is a sacrament-a gift from God. And in that respect, there really isn't same sex marriage, but just a civil union.

4 posted on 06/20/2025 8:36:01 AM PDT by Repealthe17thAmendment
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To: SeekAndFind

Literally the day after SCOTUS declared gay marriage was legal, the campaign to recognize transgender rights and aggressive grooming began. Anthony Kennedy said that anyone who opposes gay rights is a bigot. Kennedy was a fool.


5 posted on 06/20/2025 8:39:33 AM PDT by DeplorablePaul
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To: SeekAndFind

Marriage is where the two sexes truly come together and meld into a spiritual, and a new and powerful physical union of the two minds and hearts which then expands to their family unit which in itself is a new and powerful entity created from the pairing, it is far more than the two sexes merely meeting for rutting, entertainment, and cooperative interaction for tasks.


6 posted on 06/20/2025 8:41:50 AM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: SeekAndFind

Marriage is a picture, type or foreshadowing of Jesus (the Bridegroom)relationship with His believers (the Bridegroom of Christ) and that’s the reason it is under attack. Marriage was created by the Lord, not government, for this reason.


7 posted on 06/20/2025 8:42:59 AM PDT by DocRock
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To: DocRock

Auto spell got me, Believers are the Bride of Christ.


8 posted on 06/20/2025 8:44:05 AM PDT by DocRock
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To: SeekAndFind

What’s wrong with same-sex marriage should be naturally obvious. If marriage were meant to be same sex, then they wouldn’t have
Different names for each gender as a distinguishment. But whole idea is to have children and start a family, it’s not for the purpose of people’s own vain self indulgence.


9 posted on 06/20/2025 8:58:46 AM PDT by ac-rep
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To: Right Brother

It probably isn’t great. But we have huge issues to take care of. I’m not sure this would help 2026 midterms.


10 posted on 06/20/2025 9:00:54 AM PDT by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
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To: SeekAndFind

Marriage was created by God.

Two sodomites can not be married anymore than God could bless any sin.

Love whoever you wish, but you can’t be married, and you don’t have to put your pecker in another man hairy butt hole, it’s nasty and bad for your health.


11 posted on 06/20/2025 9:13:50 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009
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To: SeekAndFind

Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

Redefining marriage obliterates it. Societies will not thrive with screwed up notions of marriage. Whether sodomite or serial monogamy or porn addiction or whatever. All attempts at destruction of the nuclear family must be opposed.


12 posted on 06/20/2025 9:22:07 AM PDT by Persevero (You cannot comply your way out of tyranny. )
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To: Repealthe17thAmendment
Getting immersed in a discussion about whether heterosexual marriage is preferable to “same-sex” couples on moral or philosophical grounds is a losing proposition in a legal dispute.

The Obergefell case was argued on stupid, losing grounds. The best way for conservatives to win that argument would have been to make a startling admission that the Plaintiffs in the case were right. Provisions of federal law — particularly the U.S. tax code — that relate to married couples should be eliminated entirely. This is because marriage law is a STATE responsibility, and has no place in federal law.

The defense in that case should have addressed the idiotic REMEDY the plaintiffs wanted to impose — by having the Supreme Court impose a federal mandate on an area of law that isn’t even mentioned in the U.S. Constitution.

The best argument to put forward in any dispute about “gay marriage” should be to get the government the hell out of marriage entirely.

13 posted on 06/20/2025 9:30:16 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("The gallows wait for martyrs whose papers are in order.")
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To: Right Brother

It just ain’t natural! Isn’t that clear? Ever try breeding two same sex dogs?


14 posted on 06/20/2025 9:30:16 AM PDT by dvan (Send Them Home!Napolatono)
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To: SeekAndFind
I always thought that Civil Union was the way this should have been done. Make it a pure economic transaction as opposed to a reproductive agreement. If two guys or two girls decide they want to play house, make them economically tied to one another with all that entails both positive and negative. But don't pretend it's a marriage.
15 posted on 06/20/2025 9:35:06 AM PDT by Ditto
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To: Repealthe17thAmendment

The author way overthinks this issue.

If we would just awaken ourselves out of our moral stupor, and come to the clear, obvious realization that homosexuality is simply IMMORAL and wicked, everything else falls into place. No deep philosophizing needed.


16 posted on 06/20/2025 9:35:09 AM PDT by fwdude (Why is there a "far/radical right," but damned if they'll admit that there is a far/radical left?)
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To: Right Brother

Correct. And it is not a proper question in the first place.


17 posted on 06/20/2025 9:35:58 AM PDT by Tudorfly (All things are possible within the will of God.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Of course it isn’t a good idea. It’s a deviant idea. There are a lot of deviant ideas aside from or flowing from homosexuality. The thing that makes me shake my head today is that we are starting to hear from homosexuals that other such deviants are, you know, weird and a bridge too far. See the story about the physical trainer lesbian babe who doesn’t like “leather guys “ whatever the hell they are.


18 posted on 06/20/2025 9:38:35 AM PDT by TalBlack (Their god is government. Prepare for a religious war.https://freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=4322961%2)
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To: DeplorablePaul
I don't usually wish death upon someone, not even my non-threatening enemy, but I hope Kennedy's is long, torturous, and lonely. He has contributed the lion's share in the destruction of this nation.

Kennedy authored FOUR of the sodomites' foundational 'rights' cases.

Romer v. Evans essentially reversed Bowers v. Hardwick, a case affirmed that there was no constitutional protection for acts of sodomy, and that states could outlaw those practices.

Lawrence v. Texas affirmed homosexuals right to engage in any kind of sexual behavior in private that they wanted, invalidating a slew of state anti-sodomy laws, and throwing gasoline on the fire of the "homosexual rights movement."

United State v. Windsor struck down Section II of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA,) passed in 1996, mandating the federal government recognize as valid same-sex marriages performed in states which allowed them, with all federal benefits bestowed on real marriage.

Obergefell v. Hodges finished off the rest of DOMA by ordering all states and territories to perform same-sex marriages, against the precepts of 31 state constitutions.

19 posted on 06/20/2025 9:48:16 AM PDT by fwdude (Why is there a "far/radical right," but damned if they'll admit that there is a far/radical left?)
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To: Freee-dame

Exactly right. There is no such thing as “same-sex marriage.”


20 posted on 06/20/2025 9:50:11 AM PDT by T Ruth (Mohammedanism shall be destroyed.)
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