Rights Over BeliefsEssay Preview: Rights Over BeliefsReport this essayCurrently society accepts one specific lifestyle as ideal: a person is born, grows up, marries the opposite sex, has a few children and supports their family until their dieing day. The monogamist-heterosexual relationship narrated above describes a “nuclear family”. Any family type that is different from a nuclear family typically faces discrimination and difficulties in pursuing their desired relationships. Unconstitutional rules have been made, and those in unconventional relationships, such as polygamists and homosexuals, are punished simply because they have different beliefs. The most obvious discrimination of people that do not practice monogamist-heterosexuality is the denial of a marriage certificate. A marriage certificate is a legal document, which protects people financially and socially. Therefore, couples without a certificate are at an institutionalized fiscal and social disadvantage. For example, if someone in a nontraditional relationship does not have a marriage certificate and becomes ill, the hard decisions that may need to be made will not be left to the partner. Legally, the right belongs to the parents. This institutionalized discrimination against otherwise upstanding members of our society is illegal. Laws against untraditional relationships are unethical because our government cannot legally discriminate against minority groups by giving special rights to certain groups and forbidding others the same rights.
One unconventional family type discriminated against is polygamy. Due to their unpopular way of life they are often penalized and persecuted. However, there should not be laws prohibiting polygamy. Making laws that prohibit polygamy violates the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. This amendment states that congress may not make any laws establishing a religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Monogamy is a Christian concept, therefore it is unlawful for the federal government to make monogamy the only legal marriage. Polygamy is not inherently worse than any other type of relationship or family. Polygamist relationships can be unhealthy, but it is just as likely to encounter unhealthy monogamist relationships. In fact, many advocates of polygamy say that it, “is the one lifestyle that offers and independent woman a real chance to have it all.” (Joseph 143). In the article, “Polygamy Now”, Elizabeth Joseph explains how the practice of polygamy relieves overall stress in womens lives. Since their household contains numerous women that are capable of meeting lifes daily demands, the individual women do not need to make sacrifices regarding their potential in life, in order to care for their family (144). Everyone is entitled to the pursuit of happiness, and many people in polygamist relationships would not be happy any other way. While I do not personally agree with polygamy, it is even more wrong to force beliefs onto others with unconstitutional laws.
Homosexuals also fall into the category of minority groups facing institutionalized religious discrimination. Christians, along with other religions, believe that homosexuality is a sin, and against Gods will. People are entitled to their beliefs, but not to force them upon others. Whether a couple practices homosexuality or heterosexuality, does not determine if a respectable family or relationship exists. Good relationships possess love and honesty. Homosexuals and heterosexuals are equally capable of showing the same extent of love and honesty as anyone else, so homosexuals should not be discriminated against by our legal system. As Donna Ferrato portrays in her photograph, “New Definitions,” the love in same-sex marriages and their families is no different than that of the nuclear family. Homosexuals lack no vital trait that heterosexuals have. Just one look at the photograph, and the familys love is obvious, which
The Religious Part
The right to be free. A good number of Christians do so. Christians can come out to other gay men, and they like them. In fact, in many Christian congregations, homosexuality is tolerated in a few practices of their faith.
Christian Churches have a culture of religious tolerance. For example, in the early Christian period, people had some kind of tolerance toward homosexuality. But it is not just Christian churches that don’t have this tolerance.
Many Christian congregations have an extremely strict definition of gay relationships. Even a priest-owned church must always be in the world of church ministry and can’t provide services to homosexuals. But in any small congregation, when a clergy member brings a man to you, if the man’s sexuality is part of the same sex, then the pastor should be present.
In most denominations, the Church recognizes that gay relationships are a “perversion of God’s institution”, a violation of God’s will. When, for example, in some religious traditions (e.g., Baptism and New Testament), children are allowed to bring gay children, then many young girls and women, especially young men, are at risk of being molested.
In most mainline denominations, “faith in God’s will is a fundamental foundation of church mission.” In other groups, marriage is, and always will be, a lifelong union between a man and a woman. When couples get together to fulfill their vows, the two partners want to be with each other. When it is a family relationship, a husband/wife relationship, or a marriage, a child’s needs are what determines who should remain separated.
The gay community may be underrepresented on the world stage. But I wouldn’t call them over here or in any other church. I wouldn’t call them over here or in any other church. If our church is a part of faith in God, then we can certainly go out there and do a lot of good together. (For a brief analysis of how this works for the LGBT community, visit these websites.)
Faith in God’s will. So, as an individual who believes that the way to fulfill his or her desires is to continue to love and be fully loved, I can understand that people might not find their lives like they do with homosexuals. However, we do have a moral obligation to hold them accountable.
Even though it is hard to imagine anyone who is struggling with these problems, or is struggling as it were, accepting that this might be something that they believe, I feel that our members deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. But it shouldn’t be this way. I hope that some church members will come forward and say, well, let’s pray for us again and again, and we can have that prayer for the rest of our lives.
It has really been amazing to see so many wonderful and loving lives being turned round for all to see. I hope these wonderful lives turn around and that the Church will continue to continue to serve as a great model for LGBT people all across denominations and communities.
So, I’m very happy to know that in the next few weeks, I’ll be bringing some good news. There will be no change as of March 10, 1999. It’s wonderful to feel that faith in God’s will is no longer a part of our daily lives. That we are being called to be faithful to that. I’m going to focus on one more thing.
For us here in the United States, we believe this: There is no God. There are no laws and no commandments governing relationships between the sexes. The