I actually do agree Troubleshoots. I don’t think that religion is terrible in itself, I think how people use religion is one of the main causes of the lack of innovation and thinking in this world. I just can’t help but believe that hell exists solely to scare people into doing what God wants. It seems like a scam almost, do what I want and you’ll live forever in Heaven, the ultimate paradise. Disobey me and go against my book and you’re condemned to a life of eternal darkness. Seriously, what the fuck. No one deserves that except maybe the worst criminals in this world who kill millions. I refuse to believe that a God would let this happen, if there is such a spirit.
… When taken out of context, just like any other book. Everything in there has a place, it’s just that lots of it was for a time long past.
Goodbye humankind. 
I would answer, but you wouldn’t understand where I was coming from. What one thinks of homosexual marriage depends on what one thinks of marriage in the first place. And what one thinks of marriage depends on a whole chain of other things leading back to your worldview.
I’m somewhat of a similar opinion to Trouble; if you were to ask me what my religion is, I would say “I don’t follow any religion.” Had enough of it from the rest of my family, used to go to church, etc, but it just felt like a complete waste of time, plus then you constantly have people saying you are obviously a bad person if you . Religion can be stabilizing, but too often it is forced upon people, interpreted wrongly (which, again is entirely subjective in itself), and quite often people just straight-up miss the point. While there have been many acts of goodness inspired by religious ideas, there are just as many atrocities committed in the name of ; ever heard of the Crusades? Besides, it is almost perversely humorous how similar different opposing religions are when you break them down, yet they despise each other.
The problem is that, today, marriage is decoupled (pun intended! 
) from religion. People who are non-religous marry, because they need the rights that come with marriage. Those rights include how they are allowed share money in a bank account and property in general. It also includes things like the right to adopt children, and then the question whether gay marriage should be allowed becomes: should gay couples be allowed to adopt children?
Today, marriage is not a concept of religion, it’s a concept of our political states and countries. It’s not symbolic anymore. It gives citizens rights they wouldn’t have otherwise.
In response to the other posts about whether religion is a good idea or not, I have this to say:
Although I am not sure about other religions, I know that the on of the two main ‘commands’ of Chrisianity is to “love one another as you do yourselves”.
My question to you is this:
Have any of the people who influenced your view of Christianity (or any religion) shown that to be true of their actions?
Not saying that those who don’t aren’t really Christians. Just that they may have missed a (very important) point. I have even been yelled at by people in the streets that I am going to hell. Which is actually kind of funny. I have also seen/heard of people who just show kindness to others and help them out. Who do you think is a better picture of a Christian? And who do you think is the more common one?
@matheus23: I think actually the opposite. I think that marriage has become too linked to lots of laws, to the point where it starts losing it’s meaning as a religious concept. However, the result is the same.
I don’t get why this should be the opposite, that’s exactly what I’m thinking! 
I didn’t write anything about how it happened, but I wrote about the ‘result’.
Straight guys cant marry straight guys any more than a gay guy could marry a gay guy.
Gay guys still have the right to marry, they are inclined not to because of there sexuality.
So is the debate really about discrimination?
In any case, I dont think anyone here would discriminate against anyone for their sexuality.
Unfortunately the most common is the latter. That is exactly why I cannot stand religion, people use it to take advantage of others when they have no right. I do not have a problem with religion as long as you do not use it to your advantage.
matheus, I would really like to believe that isn’t true. I want to believe that two people want to get married because they want a commitment. Too much of this world is centered around business and politics already, I’m (in my short time on this Earth) am already sick of it. Living in this world, I just get a feeling that everything is about money and power which really just sucks a whole ton. I wish I could live in a world where people were actually passionate about what they do (I know some of us are), and where people just loved each other instead of trying to take advantage of others.
umm where have you been for the past couple of years? It isn’t legal in most states for gays to marry. This is discrimination because the law says they cannot, not because of social pressure. I would like to know what you are talking about because that was just one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard in regards to homosexuality and the laws surrounding it.
Well make that game already!
YES! (Parts of) what you’re talking about is capitalism. Not that it’s a bad thing from the ground up, but even oxygen can be toxic in too high doses.
In other words: I know that feel, bro
Instinct.
We don’t need religion to tell us that we should be kind to one another.
Prove it.
New York.
Never said it was.
No law, in any state prohibits a gay man from marrying. Marriage being defined as “the formal union of a man and a woman, typically recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife.”.
Laws in many states do however, prohibit a man from marrying a man, or a woman from marrying a woman. But this is not sexuality specific.
My point was that the debate on gay marriage isnt about unfair laws that only apply to homosexuals. It is about changing the accepted definition of marriage.
partly successful supression of innovation? the dark ages , if there was no religion we would be 200 years more advanced.
The dark ages eventually ended, and there was enlightenment.
So it was only partly successful.
:\
Religion is just an older, more established version of a group, a movement etc. of people who want to increase something specific.
This means, people believe in its aims and think that everybody should, because it is good.
Unfortunally these people are those who believe they know what is right or wrong and because they are humans and humans mostly mistrust new ideas, people etc. first, they say it is evil and proscribe it.
Well, ironically most of our morality system points right back to religion. Of all the systems out there, morality toward fellow human beings tends to create the most debate because of its roots in religion. Most laws and practices in terms of human rights has a lot to do with people’s religious compass. Even if you don’t necessarily believe, societies leave morale influences on all members.
One could argue that without religion that the world would be socially behind. Religion allows a certain measure of tolerance to be attained over time. Being able to reinterpret the Bible in many ways has allowed Christianity to push the boundaries of tolerance. The more people that try to live in a socially acceptable way, the better we are in the long run.
Now, that doesn’t mean I’m disregarding the past. Christianity has had its fair share of holy wars, sexually discriminating against people, and even violating young children. Thanks to these actions, Christianity is going through a rebirth, or second Renaissance. Combined with the Internet, I believe that all individuals are becoming much more aware. The more people are aware, the better people will be tolerant and wipe out these notions of discrimination.
It is a process, but one that is shaping for a better world overtime. There is still a lot of old questionable practices still around, but as each new generation gains more knowledge, these practices will slowly be erased with time.
@ctomni231: Well, there is a point where we need a definition what is Christianity and what is just calling itself as…
Everything a matter of definition… definition…
Well I personally believe that religion used to be a way to give yourself hope in something, but now it has just become ridiculous. Honestly, why do something that a little book says to do for your entire life to get into some “Heaven” when you absolutely no proof whatsoever that any of it exists. It’s like an internet meme in a way, nobody has a clue who’s really leading it, but everybody does it. We haven’t a clue if we benefit from it or not.
On the gay rights, I am all for it. Just because someone is attracted to a different gender than is common doesn’t mean that they aren’t people. Making it illegal is even worse than orally discriminating it, because this means that those people can’t legally own a child together, or do many other things a married couple normally could. Marriage has evolved (or should I say devolved) from a signature to a necessary thing for a couple that wants to spend the rest of their life together.
I believe that most people shy away and discriminate gay people because they are scared. First, scared of not being normal, and after that, scared of being shunned by society. The first one gave the ball a shove, and now it’s rolling down the neverending hill.
I found a great video on this a while back: What If Being Gay Was the Norm?
CnOJgDW0gPI