Reply #54: No offense taken... [View All]

[ShimokitaJer]

I've certainly seen a lot worse on DU.

I have a feeling we're actually on the same side of the issue. I fully support civil unions for gay couples. The only reason I'm pressing the point of the difference between religious and civil definitions of marriage is because I believe those in power are attempting recast many government institutions as religious and that needs to be resisted. Bush's "protection of marriage" act, his support for "faith based initiatives," the debate over the ten commandments in the courthouse, the debate over "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance -- I believe these are all part of an attempt to redefine civil institutions as religious, and particularly Christian. The only reason for granting the same legal rights to gay couples but calling it something different, is to further push the impression that marriage is necessarily a religious bond