The Obssession with Homosexuality

[Andres]

So if there is a legal institution of Rabbis and I want my dog to be a Rabbi I can make him a legal Rabbi?

I don't keep myself busy with "what if there would be". There isn't. And bringing a dog into it, makes your argument very silly, so I don't take it serious. A dog is not a human being.

Christians want their institution to be recognized by the state, and it is being. Still, it is a religious institution being recognized by the state.

No, it is not a religious institution. There's legal marriage and there's the religious institution. Those are NOT the same, despite of how many times you claim that it is. It's not. Get over it.

That is why changing it would cheapen the religious institution in their minds.

Indeed, in their minds and only in their minds. They ask for unequal treatment, they have to bring good reasons. "I think it will cheapen my private, non of the state's business, religious institution" is not a justification for discriminiation.

I understand your point Andres, but I think you should be arguing for absolving the legal institution of marriage, not changing it.

Ah, now we're talking. That's something completely different and I do consider it an alternative solution. Get rid of mariage entirely and there can be no longer discrimination.

However, if people are going to live together, be it two or more persons, then it is desirable imo to have some form of civil union, a legal framework which the parties involved can or cannot accept, including legal consequences. If people are going to share their lives and belongings, there should be the possibility of some legal protection and/or consequences. But then again, some will say that's the same as marriage, but it's just no longer called marriage. Still, a legal framework for a long lasting relationship is reasonable and should be there, at least as an option you can chose for.

Surely you can see how changing it would weaken the religious institution in the minds of Christians.

And there, I disagree again; it is wrong to mix up the legal marriage with the religious one. They are seperate. The fact that a part of the religious people fail to understand that cannot be a justification for discrimination.

Marriage should be defined by the religious definition as long as it exists, but I think it would be much better and take care of the problem to get rid of government representation of religious institutions.

The legal marriage is not a religious institution.