Controversial Issue: Gay Marriage

[aes_999]

Beg to differ when you say normal Catholics DISLIKE gay people.
They just believe that being gay is wrong, and obviously they're entitled to their beliefs.
It doesn't mean that they hate gay people.

[paulsterio]

Please use quotes in future.

1. It is relatively separate, but you still have issues such as the government endorsing religious mentors in public schools. And that religion has a very strong hold on politics.

2. I think the hyperbolic tripe spun on the media channels has greatly influenced things and the perspectives of people.

3. One of the reasons. There is also the problem of no centralized doctrinal body, per se, and just Mullahs extolling their own spin of the Hadith or Qur'an.

Hmm, that's true, but like what's your opinion on say the banning of the Burqa in public places in France, is that a form of forcing Muslims to follow the majority's sense of normalcy, or is the Burqa really a threat to security?

I support gay marriage for the same reason that I defend minorities: I have empathy for other people. I can just imagine the pain, the torment and the fear that many innocent gay people face on a daily basis, most of which are inflicted upon by judgemental hypocrits. Bullying is a problem and it needs to stop. Only by recognising and acting upon the desires of others can we solve this controversial problem once and for all.

Let's analyse the persuasive language!
In this little quote, you've managed to use a hyperbole which portrays gay people as in need of help as well as attacked those who are not in favour of gay marriage, likening them to bullies, who are often frowned upon by society. By referring to the "desires of others", you appeal to the reader's sense of equality by suggesting that others' desires are of great importance. By portraying yourself as empathetic, you position readers to take on your argument, encouraging them to see your view as one of empathy and understanding
(Sorry, I just had to do that - It was so persuasive! )

In all honesty, I think you've exaggerated a bit here, they probably do not go through torment and fear on a daily basis. Gay marriage isn't really a great issue, the media has no doubt blown it up beyond what it's supposed to be. I have a friend who is gay and he leads somewhat of a normal life, even though he agrees that there is a negative view of gay people in society, he has never experienced anything which has made him felt uncomfortable.

[Mech]

Hmm, that's true, but like what's your opinion on say the banning of the Burqa in public places in France, is that a form of forcing Muslims to follow the majority's sense of normalcy, or is the Burqa really a threat to security?

If we have laws stating that you cannot conceal your identity in a public place, and that is the prevailing legal precedent, banning the burqa makes sense. If it is reasonable, or poses a risk to anyone, I have no clue and is another question. I am not sure how many times burqas have been used in crimes or been detrimental to witness/criminal identification.

It would be forcing Muslims to adhere to the laws that exist. They are not exempt from law because their religion says so. Why cannot Muslim women wear the hijab (without the niqāb)?

[Stick]

You don't realise how secular Australia is until you compare us to another country like England or the USA. The USA has a lot more religious people (predominantly christian) than us and England is practically run by a Monarch with archaic religious beliefs (their obsession over historic practices and values has always seemed somewhat inferior to me).

Whilst I respect christian beliefs and morality, I oppose hatred. The bible has so many interpretations of what is okay and what isn't, but as a general rule: the more you take the bible literally, the more hatred you're going to spread.

Stick, if you don't mind me judging, I would say you're a fairly laid-back catholic. You believe the religion and the existence of a god, but you have your own opinion on it which opposes many others. One of the main ideologies which you oppose is homophobia, and I respect that. But let's face it: most catholics dislike gay people, so you are not the typical sheep.

I support gay marriage for the same reason that I defend minorities: I have empathy for other people. I can just imagine the pain, the torment and the fear that many innocent gay people face on a daily basis, most of which are inflicted upon by judgemental hypocrits. Bullying is a problem and it needs to stop. Only by recognising and acting upon the desires of others can we solve this controversial problem once and for all.

Yeah, I am fairly laid-back.

I would much prefer if homosexuals had their own unionship ceremony, but I guess legalising gay marriage wouldn't be too bad either.

EDIT: 100th post!

[Mech]

Yeah, I am fairly laid-back.

I would much prefer if homosexuals had their own unionship ceremony, but I guess legalising gay marriage wouldn't be too bad either be great.

For the record, I respect you, I just do not agree. 

[Mao]

Yeah, I am fairly laid-back.

That is a very good attitude to have, especially when it comes to this kind of debate. I find 'evangelist' atheists to be equally annoying, if not more annoying, than an evangelist theist.

I would much prefer if homosexuals had their own unionship ceremony, but I guess legalising gay marriage wouldn't be too bad either.

I understand what you are saying. From my understanding, an important part of the ceremony is where the couple receives blessing. In Christianity, this blessing is from God; in Chinese culture, you seek blessing from the Jade Emperor and whatever other deities that happen to be fashionable to your family (there's a lot of them); I imagine there is something similar in Islamic cultures too.

I would even go so far with saying atheists do not have traditional marriages. In that sense, same-sex marriages are no different.

Maybe religions should push to separate their marriage from the typical marriage, as opposed to excluding other types of unions.

[sunintherain]

\ but there seems to be a sort of anti-Islam view that some people have, idk why really :S

Are you being sarcastic..? it's hard to tell on the internet, if not well then the propapagnda instigated by George Bush and his minions should answer why there are alot of anti- islamist views, i just wish people would look into the religion and read for themselves rather than listen to a bunch of extremists and the jewish owned news stations. 

[Truck]

\ but there seems to be a sort of anti-Islam view that some people have, idk why really :S

read for themselves

First I sorta semi-agreed... or at least saw where you're coming from...

\ but there seems to be a sort of anti-Islam view that some people have, idk why really :S

bunch of extremists and the jewish owned news stations. 

Lol what? Goodbye credibility.

[ham4]

\ but there seems to be a sort of anti-Islam view that some people have, idk why really :S

Are you being sarcastic..? it's hard to tell on the internet, if not well then the propapagnda instigated by George Bush and his minions should answer why there are alot of anti- islamist views, i just wish people would look into the religion and read for themselves rather than listen to a bunch of extremists and the jewish owned news stations.

I don't think you're giving the Australian public enough credit sunintherain. What you're saying might have been true on September 12th 2001, and perhaps even for one or two years after that. But now I think muslims are just as accepted as any other group in Australia. Go down to Brunswick or Fitzroy or Coburg or Northcote and you'll see areas where muslims are a very large minority ethnic group and they get on just fine and face very little (if any) anti islamic violence. I would say we have accepted Islam as a community.

Also, our media industry does not have a strong jewish influence. That's alleged to be America... and even over there it's hardly a significant factor.

As for the topic at hand, I think the only valid argument against gay marriage was that it held religious significance, and it would infringe on the beliefs and theocratic rights of Christians to allow gay people to be married (theocratic rights being a moral concept rather than a legal one). However, I don't think that marriage has to hold any real religious significance nowadays, atheists can get married with a celebrant if they choose, therefore not allowing homosexuals to marry is simply an infringement on their rights to equality and so they should be allowed to marry.

[sunintherain]

Also, our media industry does not have a strong jewish influence. That's alleged to be America... and even over there it's hardly a significant factor.

I think your forgetting the factor that America has huge amounts of influence on Australia

[Truck]

Also, our media industry does not have a strong jewish influence. That's alleged to be America... and even over there it's hardly a significant factor.

I think your forgetting the factor that America has huge amounts of influence on Australia

1) What does that have to do with anything ?
2) Even if it was to do with the American media, how do "Jews" have anything to do with it lol?

[Mech]

... I am not even sure how we got on to Jews.

[MarindaMarco]

Also, our media industry does not have a strong jewish influence. That's alleged to be America... and even over there it's hardly a significant factor.

I think your forgetting the factor that America has huge amounts of influence on Australia

Also, our media industry does not have a strong jewish influence. That's alleged to be America... and even over there it's hardly a significant factor.

I think your forgetting the factor that America has huge amounts of influence on Australia

Okay, that's a fair statement. But anti-Islamic sentiment hasn't been fueled by some secret zionist agenda, it's been fueled by good ol' American patriotism. And, like I said, this may have been a heavy influence on September 12th and the couple of years afterwards, but Australians are not stupid people. Any anti-Islamic mindset that may have existed in the early 2000s is largely gone as we have realised that we're not the white knights we thought we were.

Look at our reaction to the arab spring for example. Did Australians see a 'bunch of no good arab rebels stirring things up' or a 'grass roots uprising of oppressed people looking for rights and freedoms!'?

With the exception of fears over the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt and Al Qaeda in Yemen the media portrayed the arab world and muslims as good, normal people with similar values to us, and that's how we perceived them.

[Special At Specialist]

These statistics might not be 100% accurate, but they are close enough:

In the USA:
76% Christianity
15% Atheism
9% Other

In Australia:
64% Christianity
19% Atheism
17% Other

If religion is the largest opposing factor of gay marriage, then why has gay marriage been legalised in parts of the USA but not in Australia?
Is it because Americans pride themselves on living in a "free country" so much that they will fight for their rights?

[Camo]

These statistics might not be 100% accurate, but they are close enough:

In the USA:
76% Christianity
15% Atheism
9% Other

In Australia:
64% Christianity
19% Atheism
17% Other

If religion is the largest opposing factor of gay marriage, then why has gay marriage been legalised in parts of the USA but not in Australia?
Is it because Americans pride themselves on living in a "free country" so much that they will fight for their rights?

I never knew our Christianity percentage was so high.