Law, Liberty, and Life Together
Jordan Ballor, Acton Institute
There’s something about the Christian understanding of creation and fall that provides a unique point of departure for understanding the nature of human social life.
Five myths about picking a pope
Thomas J. Reese, Washington Post
Let’s look at some of the misconceptions about how the cardinals will select the latest successor to Saint Peter.
Human Flourishing: Seeking More For The Oppressed
Anthony Bradley, Acton PowerBlog
We need to do more than “end slavery” or “end poverty.” We need to think more deeply about what it means to be human and how we can put people in positions, in accordance with their design by their Creator, to live well.
The Gay Marriage Beauty Pageant
Eric Teetsel, The American Spectator
Conservatives think they are in a boxing match; liberals understand that marriage policy is a beauty pageant.
There is no marriage debate. For a debate requires a shared moral space, some shared premises. But here, the shared premises do not exist.
For the same reason, there is no abortion debate.
Now, a nation is defined by its shared moral sense. What it means for America can be guessed.
“But here, the shared premises do not exist.”
So none of the moral precepts held by one side are shared by the other? Really?
Here are my values:
-empathy
-longsuffering when dealing with human weakness
-generosity
-commitment
-fidelity
-self sacrifice
I support civil gay marriage, but I’m reasonably certain that you values these ideals as well.
Are you suggesting that while none of these items are a necessary component for a “real marriage”, having opposing sets of genitals is?
James,
What you list is not unique to sexual unions, indeed they are for all relationships. So if you are suggesting that these are the defining qualities of sexual unions you are mistaken. They are expected in everyday life with all kinds of people, including those with whom we disagree.
As to genital differences, while they are not the only prerequisite for sexual unions (after all, my daughter is different from me in this respect, and that obviously doesn’t demand we have a sexual union…God forbid! Or as my daughter would say, “Gross!”) those differences do in fact enter in. From a purely physical standpoint, a man is built for a woman. A woman is built for a man. There is no ability to have children whatsoever without the two becoming one in some sense, even if it is a joining in the test tube. Point is, the differences matter. Period. That is a physical reality. To think otherwise is to be in confusion.
Understand that these differences are not the only thing that legitimates a sexual union. There are other requirements. However, don’t over look the basic distinctions between man and woman. God established them for a reason for marriage, for child rearing, and for society.
Robert, I apologize for what may be an intrusive question, but …
Would you have married your wife if you had discovered, prior to the marriage, that she were infertile because of a hysterectomy or something even more limiting? Is there something unique about her that you felt was not shared and could not be shared with other available women at the time?
Your answer may make your ideas more comprehensible to me.
By the way, I’m not suggesting that men and women are indistinguishable. That would, indeed, be incoherent and false.
James,
I don’t know if what I am about to write will help you understand, because in the end it still comes down to accepting that there is a God given order to creation, and it comes down to faith in Jesus Christ and the Word of God, the Bible.
However, I will answer your question as best I can. First of all, when I married my wife it was with the understanding that she couldn’t have children. So would I have married her if we couldn’t reproduce? Yes. In fact I did. The Lord was gracious to us and we have had children together anyway. All things are possible with God.
Are there things about her that attracted me to her outside of her “female nature,” the answer is yes and no. Yes, in the sense that we had shared beliefs. No, in that my desire to marry her and have a sexual relationship with her was still based on her being female, and unrelated to me.
I can have shared likes, beliefs, etc. with lots of people, but who I will marry begins with certain ordered facts that God has established. I will marry a woman. That is an ordered fact from God. Second, she will not be a close relative, nor will she be married to another. That too is an ordered fact. Third, she will be a Chrisitan. That is an ordered fact for a believer. Physical attraction comes into this as well, but it doesn’t trump the orders of creation established by God.