We may not be *BETTER* than *THEY* are ; but we are no worse
Funny thing is the Christian faith did not consider marriage a sacrament or a religious "thang" for a great number of years. It was considered to be a secular matter.
....and yes in the beginning (of church marriage) same-gender couples received the same blessing as did all others.
You don't see this icon hanging in churches of my brand and flavor of Voo-doo (religion). [But it's in MY HOUSE DAMN IT!]. Any guesses why that may be? *FEH* No, it's
not "suggestive". It blurts it right out, methinks!
~If the hate-filled christianist churches don't want to grant us their 'god's' blessing, fine.
UHM Why do you need it?
Orthodox Christians make the sign on the cross by putting together the firt three fingers and folding back the last two (thumb, pointer and middle finger merge; ring and pinkie fingers folded back) This sybolizes the Holy Trinity [Father, son and Holy Spirit] which is furhter symbolic of body mind and soul working in concert to create what we think of as the human being. Now those two last fingers (pointing back at YOU) are symbolic of the two natures of Christ; human, and Divine. Just as J.C. was said to be both SO ARE WE ALL!
Similarly incense belongs only to G-d. It sybolizes prayers rising to her (him). Yet in my brand of Voo-doo, the priest censes (blesses with incense) everyone in the congregation. Why? BECAUSE COLLECTIVELY WE ARE G-D since there is a bit of G-d in all of us [no matter how evil one may come across]!
So let's not feel the need to look to others for a neasure of our self-worth. They will not in the forseeable future EVER give us their blessing. We need to find strength in ourselfves and as a community and a group.
The ignorant masses may or may not not have anything of insight to offer the world. Their creativity and energy is invested in raising little DNA replication (mutations?) of themselves. Our creativity and energy, however is free to be harvested for other things. Perhaps some of those are higher-level things that may acutally better the human race. It's a possiblity.
Just because they hate us does NOT allow us the luxury of hating them. Hate destroys those who do it. Instead, bless then away from you in their ignorance while understanding their way-of-thiniking is limited and rigid. Think of it as having a special-needs child. There is no room for anything but love no matter how frustrating it may be to those who have a clearer throught process.
If this posting comes across as arrogant or haughty or whatever other adjectives come to mind, keep in mind that intent and tone and attitude don't accurately convey in writing. FLAME AWAY AT ME IF NEED BE. I'm a big girl and I can take it. Just use a little KY and go slowly. Now that I m in a rental apartment the walls are thin and the neighbors hear everything.
http://www.theologic.com/oflweb/feasts/06-29.htm