Should government regulate marriage??

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

How long ago was it that the said question could have been asked about bills that call it hate speech and a punishable crime if you preach against homosexuality?

We are moving in that direction.

Just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't.

Just because the government hasn't forced you to marry an albatross doesn't mean it won't. However, in any discussion of public policy it is incumbent upon those in the discussion to use reason and common sense.

What interest does the state have in who marries who (or whom)? The only possible interest involves the reproduction of the next generation; we don't want you marrying your first cousin. We lightly regulate who can reproduce with whom because the inbred offspring of some unions will produce a burden on society.

I get the impression that there is a sizeable number of Apostolics who actually support gay marriage just out of anti-social feelings. It seems some folks hate their society to the point that they actually want to impose new and onerous laws just to vex everyone else.

Has life lost all meaning for you? Do you really want to stand before the Judge of your soul and answer for your dereliction of duty?

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

And... yes... marriage is a state issue... that will change if people get marriage defined on a federal level. These things SHOULD absolutely be handled on the state level but people are calling for a federal definition... this will start the ball rolling to move marriage from a state issue to a federal issue... and that is a bad direction.

I agree, but there are complexities to the issue involving one state recognizing the "full faith and credit" clause. If one state goes wack-a-doddle then all other states might be compelled to accept their licenses. A federal amendment would stifle that and protect the interests of the majority of states.

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

The move is on now to make drivers license a federal document rather than a state document. Get the federal government delving into the definition of marriage and marriage licenses will move that same direction.

Also... Marriage Licenses have not been a part of American Society for over 200 years. Marriage Licenses began to be issued in the mid 1800's but not for everyone. The initial Marriage Licenses were required for blacks & whites to marry. Every one else could marry without one (and did) but if a black and a white wanted to marry they had to get a license from the state to do so.[/quote]
I have copies of marriage licenses granted to my ancestors dating from the 1600's in Virginia. The marriage license was used in 38 states at one time to prohibit interracial marriages - and some states were more broad and inclusive in their discriminations than others. But the license wasn't issued to regulate just interracial marriages but also to prevent consanguity and incestuous marriages and polygamy.

The way to get around the restrictions was to simply exercise one's own right to free assembly. Common-law marriages were recognized unions that did not have the sanction of the state. "Gay" unions are established on the same basis. The courts have ruled in the famous celebrity "Palimony" cases of several years ago that cohabitation establishes rights and claims for the cohabitants.

The argument that is being made - "If we don't license gay marriage then the government will force me to marry Bubbles the Chimp or that Ugly Girl in my 3rd Grade Class!!" is lame.

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

Some time after these licenses came into play the move toward everyone having to have one started up. All states had not adopted marriage licenses laws until 1929.

Yes, not all states, however the practice of licensing marriages goes back to colonial times.