I think I can see where the debate or conflict on gay marriage is coming from. It's a debate of which identity is more important - the identity of a group or identity of an individual.
If God thinks that man sleeping with a man is a sin, marriage is an union between a man and a woman, and people inside and outside of the church that disagree with it being a sin (and thus disagree with God), and those people want to change the church identity by changing human legistlation, things are bound to get turbulent. Even more so if it's presumed that the identity of the Christian church is shaped by God and not a man. Because to a Christian, human legistlation should not surpass the laws and views of God in importance.
Christianity is still a very visible religion, and somehow these people still want to change Christianity instead of building a Christianity derived religion or belief system of their own, with it's own name. And they still want to be married in the eyes of God, instead of settling with civil marriage, or whatever wedding can be arranged regardless of religion. Or simply skipping any ceremonies and choosing cohabitation.
So, they are seeking approval from someone who clearly does not grant it. And that's God, no less, but priests are still going to say He does.
Anyway, this topic is general Christian group identity vs. individual identity discussion. Gay marriage is just a good example to start with.
If God thinks that man sleeping with a man is a sin, marriage is an union between a man and a woman, and people inside and outside of the church that disagree with it being a sin (and thus disagree with God), and those people want to change the church identity by changing human legistlation, things are bound to get turbulent. Even more so if it's presumed that the identity of the Christian church is shaped by God and not a man. Because to a Christian, human legistlation should not surpass the laws and views of God in importance.
Christianity is still a very visible religion, and somehow these people still want to change Christianity instead of building a Christianity derived religion or belief system of their own, with it's own name. And they still want to be married in the eyes of God, instead of settling with civil marriage, or whatever wedding can be arranged regardless of religion. Or simply skipping any ceremonies and choosing cohabitation.
So, they are seeking approval from someone who clearly does not grant it. And that's God, no less, but priests are still going to say He does.
Anyway, this topic is general Christian group identity vs. individual identity discussion. Gay marriage is just a good example to start with.
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