by Dyre on Fri Mar 19, 2004 4:35 am
I think I've read the first one or two pages and the last one or two pages. This post went from marrying ones grandmother (among other marriages) to homosexuality, to religion and work places.
I think that marriage can be sacred in the eyes of the ones getting married if it is the right thing for them to do. It should not matter if someone who was same sex oriented got married last week or not. The "special" part in marriage is that it is the joining of two people. Not two people as long as no one who was "different" joined as well. If you love someone enough to get married, marriage will be special and sacred to you no matter who else gets married. It's not like the homosexual people have glass walls in their bedrooms and live by the highway for all to see. What one does in private should stay their business unless the person involved decides to disclose it.
As far as religion goes.......*shakes head* discussions on that are never resolved, and never will be. Everyone thinks differently and thats what gives us the variety we so enjoy today. If someone wants to pray, let them pray. If someone doesn't want to pray then they shouldn't have to. It's that simple. If "Amy" is praying, and "Jon" doesn't want to hear it, "Jon" needs to move away from "Amy". Amy has the right to do as she pleases, say as she pleases, and think as she pleases. Thats freedom. Jon has the freedom to move if he doesn't like what Amy is doing or what his ears are hearing. It is the people who are to lazy to avoid the things they don't like that try to take that particular freedom away so that they don't have to work to avoid it. I'm not christian, Mormon, or Baptist. I have still attended all of the above with my family because they have asked me to. I sat quietly and listened. I learned a few things I didn't know yet and gathered my own thoughts about what was being said. Just because I went does not mean I agree with what they said, BUT, I have the tolerance enough to listen or respect others views enough to not try to ignore or flame them. In the same sense I do not like coming home to have fliers on my door saying that I am going to hell. That to me is forcing. When someone brings it to your private and personal place and throws it everywhere you look or in the entrance. Or if you were forced to pray at work or get fired. Along those lines are force and no force should be tolerated in a free world.
Lastly, (i know your saying thank you) you should not argue with your friends (these boards) because they think or feel differently. You should not try to bend their way of thinking to yours. instead you should listen to what they have to say, think about it (I mean actually think about it), see if they have valid points, and then take what you want from what they said, say what your opinions are, and then move on. There is no need for a 12 page message topic about mental masturbation issues. Because someone thinks (stubborn) differently, acts (religion) differently, or likes (homosexuality) differently does not mean they are to be feared, shunned, or hated upon for any means. I have had great friends in all three catagories and have never once had any problems other then the "normal" problems I have with my "normal" friends. In fact I have even felt closer to some of the above mentioned then to the others. And what is normal anyway?
With that said, I hope you can come to a conclusion that the religious argument will never be solved and that you all have great day.