TED Conversations

Andrew Buchmann

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

Does the bible support or refute same sex marriage?

If you haven't heard, New York State passed a same-sex marriage bill this past weekend. The Catholic church was the biggest opponent to its passing. I do have one concern however and am posing this question based on this passage from the bible:

"Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." Peter 2:13-14

I am no biblical scholar, so how does this work? The law allows for religious exceptions, but the bible says to submit to authority.

Please keep in mind the TED Conversations terms of use.

Related Talks:
Topics: equality
0
Share:
progress indicator
  • thumb

    Elizabeth Hacala

    • 0
    Jun 28 2011: I think the biggest issue with this whole question is that there are really two kinds of marriage. Many people have both types of marriage in the same ceremony.

    The civil kind of marriage covers inheritance rights, property rights, the right to visit one another in the hospital, the conveying of benefits etc... For this kind what the bible (or any scripture) says is immaterial it is a secular institution.

    The second kind of marriage is religious marriage. This is interpreted by each religious group differently. Even within the same faith, there are groups that will interpret that differently.

    The New York law allows gay marriage for the secular stuff and protects the religious groups privileges to interpret as they will, Personally I think the religious protections are redundant as churches already deny marrying male/female couples for a whole host of reasons including that one of them is divorced without explicit legal protections.

  • Comment deleted

    • thumb

      Andrew Buchmann

      • 0
      Jun 28 2011: But again, Peter 2:13-14 says to submit to human law, and now there is a law which allows for same sex marriage.

      • Comment deleted

        • thumb

          Andrew Buchmann

          • 0
          Jun 28 2011: Is that then a literal or symbolic interpretation?
      • thumb

        Tim blackburn 30+

        • +1
        Jun 28 2011: "But again, Peter 2:13-14 says to submit to human law, and now there is a law which allows for same sex marriage"

        whats that have to do with anything? the gay marriage law is not forcing people to gay marriage.
        • thumb

          Andrew Buchmann

          • 0
          Jun 29 2011: It is law that two people of the same gender have the right to marry. Therefore, this right must be accepted because it is law.
  • thumb

    Tim blackburn 30+

    • +1
    Jun 27 2011: wwjd?


    really though, the bible refutes it, hands down. but i believe god does not.

  • Comment deleted

    • Comment deleted

  • thumb

    Matthieu Miossec 100+

    • +8
    TED TranslatorAssociate
    Jun 27 2011: I'm tempted to answer with "does it matter?". I just did.
    • thumb

      Jimmy Strobl 30+

      • +1
      TED Translator
      Jun 27 2011: I'm not really getting the question so I'll just do this thing under Matthieus comment...
      Echoooo...
      • thumb

        Andrew Buchmann

        • 0
        Jun 27 2011: The question was to see how this specific contradiction in the bible will be responded to.

        "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." Peter 2:13-14

        So therefore what Yahweh says is wrong, same sex marriage, is also ultimately right because it is now law.
    • thumb

      Andrew Buchmann

      • 0
      Jun 27 2011: Of course not Matthieu, I'm just curious to see how the contradiction is explained away.
Showing all 12 comments