2008-DEC Newsweek article
in support of same-sex marriage
Readers' reactions to the article, Part 1
Sponsored link.
Discussion on the Newsweek website:
An initial indication of the popularity of the article, and of the controversy
generated by it, was a note added at the end of the article. It was noticed on
2008-DEC-13:
"Due to the high volume of traffic, we have had to temporarily
suspend the comments function on this story. We regret the inconvenience, and
will have it restored as soon as possible. Thank you for reading." 1
Although the article was posted on the Newsweek web site on DEC-06, the comments
posted by readers only start from the evening of DEC-11 when we downloaded them
on DEC-14.
Selected postings on the Newsweek website:
- On the topic: Marriage is a privilege, not a right:
-
anti-personnelmine: ... The majority may vote any way it pleases until it
infringes on the minorities rights. Once again, a moral issue is
deemed unjust as law if it detracts from a person's liberty,
property, or well being. Prop. 8 did that. It doesn't matter if the
majority of VOTERS decided that gay marriage was immoral if the law
itself is unjust. No one can expect Christians to vote for something
they feel is wrong, but they cannot be allowed to propose laws that
deny a freedom.
- TheTruthBum: "We define it as a privilege, not a
right, and the majority defines things. ... Who defines things as rights, the majority and those in
control. The majority of the supreme court gets to define things, and so
does the majority of the voters. So it is not a right, and does not
have to be guaranteed as a right."
- Apple597: "Right, and if it were up to you and
the 90% of the majority 60 years ago when people of different races
could not marry, a lot of us would not exist. Well, thank goodness
we are a constitutional republic and we have an independent
judiciary that upholds the rights of everyone, not just the ones the
majority thinks should be upheld."
- ep122: "The difference is that the taxpayer subsidizes the privileges of
marriage, and should have a say in the definition of marriage. As a
taxpayer, if I want my tax money to go to one man and one woman,
then I should have it. It's not discrimination to deny homosexual
marriage because No one has the right to marry the same sex. What
homosexuals want is actually a NEW right, not a right that already
exists."
- On the topic: Homosexuals, and perhaps their children, will go
to Hell:
- Thetruthbumn : "May the sins of the mother
not condemn her children. Blastphemer."
- anti-personnelmine: "May Thetruthbum's
children not inherent his hateful beliefs. ..."
- Thetruthbum: "You know I'd say this
post is actually putting compassion forth for the family of
someone who does not believe as they do because such beliefs as
hers are blasphemes, and shall be punished. I am simply saying I
hope her choices do not keep her children out of the Kingdom of
Heaven. That is not a bad thing to say or want is it? I hope
your children will go to heaven, even though your own choices
may keep you from it."
- anti-personnelmine: "You're not
saying that because you wish it. You are trying to incite
anger."
- On the topic: Bible quote:
- Power1: "Paul declared: 'This know also, that in
the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of
their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers,
false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of
God; Having a form of godliness; but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away.' (2 Tim. 3:2-5)."
- On the topic: Sodom and Gomorrah:
-
texrancher: "Why is it so hard to grasp
that God is against gay marriage? The New Testament says to Hate the
SIN love the SINNER. Of course a TRUE Christian would accept a
gay/lesbian with open arms and an open heart, but would not accept
their lifestyle. I see you have left out the story of Sodom and
Gomorrah. Two cities destroyed for their sexual immorality, which
does say women lusting after women and men lusting after men."
- Homosexual Man: "Tex let me help you out here. Somebody has been lying to you. The
New Testament does NOT say 'Hate the SIN love the SINNER.' It's not
from the New Testament any more than 'a stitch in time saves nine.'
It's just an excuse to hate."
"And the Sodom and Gomorrah story says NOTHING about 'women lusting
after women and men lusting after men.' The Bible is frustratingly
vague about most things, but one thing it says straight up. The sin
of Sodom was NOT homosexuality. It was arrogance, greed, and
refusing to help sick people and poor people:
"Lo, this hath been the iniquity of Sodom thy sister, Arrogancy,
fulness of bread, and quiet ease, Have been to her and to her
daughters, And the hand of the afflicted and needy She hath not
strengthened." - Ezekiel 16:49
"In other words, you need to support Universal Health Care or God
will kill you like he destroyed Sodom."
- On the topic: Same-sex sexual activity is unnatural:
- raynel: "I am so tired of you atheists bashing us
religious. Ggo pick on some one else. Have you seen 2 male dogs together
or 2 female cats together? noooo. So are animals smarter than humans
maybe smarter than you for writng this trash? Abomination is in the
Bible look it you scum"
- Homosexual Man: "Hey sweet Christian scum
Raynel. ;-) Yes I have seen 2 male dogs together and 2 female cats
together. It's hot!
- goodstoryteller: "Yes, on several
occasions I have seen that. One I will never forget when the
homophobic, fundamentalist, women whose two male dogs were doing
it in her front yard and she went ballistic."
- On the topic: A criticism of the Newsweek article:
- Dianna+: "This is really sad. You should be more
informed on subjects that you write about. You have totally
misrepresented the gospel of Jesus Christ and other God given writers of
the Bible. Please consider doing more in-depth research before speaking
out on such important and life changing subjects."
- On the topic: Hidden agenda of the Newsweek article:
- socalnate1: "This article started with the
assumption that the Bible is not to be taken seriously. Unfortunately
that is not a good way to convince Christians to accept gay marriage and
a rather silly axiom to start the conversation with.
- Andrew21: "I don't believe that Ms. Miller is
really trying to convince serious Christians that the Bible condones
homosexual behavior. I believe her target audience is the occasional
church goer who only has a very rudimentary knowledge of the Bible.
These people are easily swayed as they don't have a firm foundation
in the Word. The goal here is to sway the maximum amount of public
opinion, not prove that the Bible condones this behavior."
- On the topic: The Bible's inerrancy and lack of ambiguity:
- Victrola: "Exodus gives the Ten Commandments, and the book of Leviticus (the
author was Moses) is entirely Gods rules and laws for Holy living
and in Leviticus 18:22 - God says 'Do not lie with a man as one lies
with a woman; that is detestable.' In fact if you read Leviticus 18
it does cover quite a few sexual sins...but the topic is
homosexuality and...it's a sin."
"This isn't Miller's first job as a
writer so she should know to verify her sources and data before
quoting. She should be fired for flat out lying about of all things
the Bible. There are very few people or things that should be given
respect...the Bible should never lose it's place of honor. The Bible
is true in every word, God breathed and will stand the test of time.
So if you are going to quote scripture, then you must believe the
Bible to be real...right? So at least quote it correctly and then do
what it says in regards to sin. You turn away from your sin and
repent or your 'detestable acts' will be dealt with by a just God.
This is not me saying so, therefore I'm not judging you...it's in
God's word and I, along with millions of other Christians, believe
God's word to be without error"
- On the topic: Individual freedom of choice:
- reeree1965: "Really, folks, think what you want about
same sex marriage, but when it comes down to it, each of us will have to
answer for our own deeds and actions. You worry about your immortal soul,
and I will worry about mine, thank you very much. If you are against gay
marriage, then join a church that has the same view and won't conduct same
sex marriages. Government should be without prejudice and discrimination.
Marriage is a contract between two consenting adults. Any woman that would
like to revert to the 5000 year old meaning of the institution of marriage
where she is nothing more than property of her husband would be nuts. If it
would keep you up nights that your gay neighbors are married, then you need
professional help. For us, however, the problems are real, especially when
it comes to issues like medical decisions, inheritance rights, taxes, and
property rights. And if this institution were so precious and sacred to the
heterosexual community, then there wouldn't be a 50% divorce rate and
Brittany Spears wouldn't be able to get married for 55 hours just to see
what it's like.
This review continues in Part 2
References used:
The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above
essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
- Lisa Miller, "Our Mutual Joy, Page 3" Newsweek, 2008-DEC-15, at:
http://www.newsweek.com/ Spelling and grammatical errors were corrected
to make the postings more easily read.
Copyright © 2008 by Ontario Consultants on Religious
Tolerance
Originally written: 2008-DEC-14
Latest update: 2008-DEC 14
Author: B.A. Robinson
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