Day 19: What is your opinion of religion and politics?

Today was a better day than yesterday. I therefore have no excuse to evade the topic any longer. Although, I guess this post doesn't have to be about my particular beliefs - I could just talk about overgeneralized and easily corruptible institutions, but that could get rather dull.

First, Religion. From the outside, it's a quick label. Yes, I'm religious - meaning I have a deeply-rooted faith in God. I read the Bible. I study what it says. I pray. I take comfort in the relationship I have with Him. My faith gives me so much - joy, hope, peace, love, morality, integrity, understanding, and purpose. My faith begins with Christ. Basically, I believe He was who He said He was. Starting there, everything else falls into place.

a couple pages from one of my Bibles

Christianity sometimes (often?) gets thrown under the bus. People scrutinize it, find fault with it, and reject it at the first sign of trouble. Sadly, the criticism is frequently deserved. We hold ourselves to impossible standards and then act shocked when others fall short as well. We purposely err on the side of caution and then demand those carefully discerning what is right to be overcautious as well. We judge too quickly and take up a defense when we should repent, ignore, or accept. We give people truth when they need love and grace. Then again, perhaps I have held Christians to an impossible standard. We are all fallible people right?

Politics. They're everywhere right now. My parents are very definite about what they (and I) believe. I used to be definite too. I bought in to all the propaganda. Then I went to college and learned to think for myself. I realized the faults of the party to which my parents were so committed, but I reluctantly voted for the "lesser of two evils" in the general elections that came by. I've never really liked the party lines anyway. I don't understand supporting an unreliable person, let alone a party full of unreliable persons. I prefer to support ideas - the trouble is finding someone who supports them as well.

Some ideas that are important to me: Life is sacred. It's precious and must be protected, defended, and cultivated. People are precious and must be provided for, taught, and loved. But life isn't just human, we have a responsibility to take care of all life - including the earth. Personal responsibility is another important issue for me. I don't want the government taking care of every little detail of my life. I am responsible for my communities needs. I am responsible for my mistakes. I am responsible for meeting the needs of those around me. Finally, individual liberty is immensely important to me. Restrictions often just make bad people more creative. Obviously, some borders have to be drawn, but as much as is possible, I must be free to make my own decisions. So should you.

Sometimes I just want to vote based on names.

Day 18: Your views on gay marriage

I'm not sure why this topic comes before I give you any background regarding my political and religious beliefs, but even though I'm tempted to switch the days around, I feel as though I have fiddled with this list enough. I am certain, however, that many thoughts I share today will be reiterated tomorrow. Also, I apologize for the seriousness of these posts, but I don't generally joke about politics - which is sad because it shut out several potential career paths.

First of all, people lose all sense of decency in this discussion. They throw in red herrings, build up straw men, pursue non sequitur arguments, and commit just about every other logical atrocity there is. It's embarrassing. I rarely voice my opinion for fear of increasing the absurdity, intolerance, and tactless behavior. And I'm not talking about one side or the other - both sides are making the same mistakes.

Second, marriage and homosexuality are two different topics. Marriage (we'll start there) is something I have become increasingly disillusioned with. Perhaps I have lost faith in men and therefore cannot see myself putting up with one long-term, or perhaps I'm worried about becoming a nagging, manipulate wife obsessed with getting a better couch, but I'm not interested right now. I've seen so many people get caught up in their passions causing them to ignore advice from friends and family. They get married simply because it seems to be the next logical step, but they aren't committed to the relationship - just the happiness of the moment. Marriage is more than taking the next step, it's an unbreakable resolve to love someone "til death" regardless of circumstance or momentary emotion. Many people are so selfish the aren't capable of loving someone that much. I guess I'm saying that marriage is broken. It's become a means to combine income and pay less in taxes. Therefore, arguing to "preserve marriage" seems like a lost cause.

Homosexuality is one of the most personal topics in existence. It's talking about who you love. It's the entertaining of certain curiosities and feelings. It's mentioned in the Bible; it's mentioned in the Qur'an. Most religions address it in some form or another. Many condemn it. That's hard. It's difficult to listen to someone say your feelings are wrong. It's difficult to say someone's lifestyle is wrong. Luckily for me, that isn't the topic. The topic is gay marriage - or whether or not the government should allow it.

So here is my opinion (did you think I would ever get there?). It's not the government's job to determine the validity of a union. It doesn't do that anyway (see divorce). The government is merely interested in monetary concerns, visiting rights, and census counts. The only reason to fight gay marriage on a state level is because it complicates things. All the forms have to be changed, all the statements reworded. What do we do with the people who believe it's wrong? Hard questions have to be answered. But that's just laziness holding back a system. I believe you have the right to enter a union based on personal preference. None of my other beliefs should stand in the way of that.