[Vision2020] From Southern Methodist University

[Art Deco]

Not the CCC.


Religion has no place in government legislation
By Spencer J Eggers

Email: seggers at smu.edu 

Published: Thursday, September 8, 2011

Updated: Thursday, September 8, 2011 23:09

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While the subject of marriage between same-sex couples makes the rounds on Capitol Hill, conservative, anti-gay organizations in the media have increased their efforts to convince the public that same-sex marriage is morally contemptible. Groups such as the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) have saturated media outlets with their condemnation of same-sex marriage and gay rights, advocating for the legislative enforcement of traditional, Christian values in America.

One television advertisement created by NOM went so far as to claim that homosexuals want to take away our freedoms and interfere in our lives. The self-entitled "Coming Storm" commercial describes marriage between same-sex couples as a dark force that, unless stopped, will destroy everything we once held dear. This commercial, and others like it, are prime examples of the idiotic, fear mongering rhetoric used to distort the true intentions of American citizens who want nothing more than to have the same basic human rights that everyone else in this country is afforded.

I am astounded when I hear someone support a bill or a law because "the Bible says so," and I am perplexed when I hear someone respond to an equal-rights advocate with the words, "That's not what God would want." I myself am a devout Christian, but I also recognize that we live in a country in which the separation of church and state is a fundamental part of our government. Bringing your theology into our legislative system isn't just wrong, it's un-American.

The beliefs of one religion should not be forced upon the rest of society. Just because your church does not allow same-sex marriage does not mean that our government can't allow it.

Each of these groups makes no attempt to hide the fact that their primary objective is to enforce Christian faith, ideals, and the Bible upon all Americans (be they Christian or not).

Those against same-sex marriage often claim that gay-rights advocates would like to force us all to accept their views.

They say that gays and lesbians don't have a right to redefine marriage for the rest of us; they don't have a right to force us to accept their beliefs. And yet, these same individuals want to alter our constitution to specify that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman, in accordance with Christian theology. Their intention is to legally force all Americans-regardless of their beliefs-to accept their religiously-based view of marriage. The word "hypocrite" is too kind to describe what they're doing.

Let's be honest: gays and lesbians don't need you to accept their lifestyle. However, they do need you to accept their inalienable right as American citizens, under the United States Constitution, to get married just like anybody else, to have full access to their hospitalized loved ones just like anybody else, and-dare I say it-to be able to file a joint tax return just like anybody else. It's not a question of theology;

it's a question of basic civil rights.

If you have a problem with homosexuality, that's fine. If you don't agree that homosexuals should be allowed to get married, good for you. You are entitled to your opinion, but remember that our government does not exist to enforce your religious ideals.

That is why I ask, from one human being to another, please stop using the Bible, religious doctrine, and theology to support anti-gay legislation. It doesn't belong there. Your religion does not belong on Capitol Hill, so please stop acting like it does.

Spencer J Eggers is a senior majoring in Accounting and Spanish with a minor in Photography. He can be reached for comment at seggers at smu.edu


_________________________________________
Wayne A. Fox
wayne.a.fox at gmail.com
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