Is Religion Taking a Backseat in Same-Sex Marriage?
- By WRN Editorial Staff --
- 04 May 2015 --
Religion was barely mentioned at all in last week’s Supreme Court arguments. Are we seeing the last days of religious-based marriages and welcoming same sex marriage?
This is a question that is in the minds of many people following the Obergefell v. Hodges case. Marriage has been practiced for many centuries and is seen as the foundation of one of the oldest institutions in society that is “The Family.” Looking broadly at marriage, religion has played an important role in coordinating the event and guiding the couples getting married.
However, religion is no longer placed at the high pedestal as it was a few decades ago. In fact, more and more people are shunning and ignoring religious teachings when it comes to marriage. A few years ago people thought that the time was right to exercise their freedom and saw it fit to have their civil rights acknowledged. The time is now right for gay people to exercise their freedom as well. According to Justice Anthony Kennedy, marriage has been stable for over a millennia but change is inevitable.
In this case, many people thought that religion would play a role in directing the path the case would take. However, the mention of religion or its teaching only lasted 20 seconds in last week’s oral arguments at the Supreme Court and not from a party to the case, but from someone in the audience. In his outburst, the protestor claimed that The Bible teaches that anyone who engaged in same sex marriage would burn in hell. He further asserted that both practitioners as well as people who recognized and supported this sort of union were guilty as well.
Could you debate same-sex marriage w/o mentioning religion? The Supreme Court can & did…
— Tobin Grant (@TobinGrant) April 30, 2015
Some people argue that the problem is not about what is written in the scriptures but how people interpret the teachings. All along, traditional marriage has been related to what the Bible states. According to the New Testament, a traditional marriage is between one man and one woman. Nonetheless, the disciples (apostles) never got married and Paul encouraged people to focus on spreading the gospel and marry only when necessary. Jesus himself was never married and his mother, Mary conceived him outside marriage.
So if there is no same-sex marriage because that's what the bible tells us then isn't that establishing a national religion?
— Ali Parton (@aliparton) April 30, 2015
If the proceedings from the ongoing case in Obergefell v. Hodges are anything to go by then religion is under test. Justice Antonin Scalia who for a longtime has been known to be a strong supporter of traditional marriage (man and woman) took a softer stand this time round. Her arguments were that would it be right and justified for people against same sex marriage (Rabbi, Imams, and Priests) to officiate the occasion.
People are closely watching the proceedings from the Obergefell v. Hodges and only time will tell whether the traditional marriage under religious foundation will withstand the test of time.