Let the Joyous news be spread: New Jersey votes yes on Gay civil union!

[carol134 0]

I only support what I read in the word of God.

[lisah25 3]

Do you think God's word should be reflected in the laws?

[Dani-X 0]

Biblically, marriage was created by God to be between a man and a woman. The bible does say (many times) that relations between same sex people is a sin.

While I respect the Bible, US laws and decisions should not be based on it. Because somebody happens to have a different opinion than what the Bible says doesn't mean they're wrong.

The Bible has amazing power and numerous lessons can be learned from it. However, it's not the end all, be all.

[Wheetsin 714]

There is only one right way and that is through the Bible, follow that and nothing else really matters.

Big problem with that being three people can read the bible and it tells them three completely different things. Each follows what the bible tells them, and each thinks the other is doing it wrong.

[green 6]

I only support what I read in the word of God.

Which version of God? There are Jews and Muslims whose belief in God and their own holy texts are just as powerful as any Christian's belief in God and the Bible. Moreover, there are deep divisions in beliefs among the Christians themselves. It is for this reason that it is important that the state remain entirely divorced from religion.

[barbara465 2]

I am encouraged by the stand that NJ took. Hopefully we can eliminate church and religion from the union of people. I've argued this over and over that its the union we must fight for and not the religious ceremony. The IRS, companies for health benefits, recognition of legal rights, etc. must recognize the union of two people. Keep sex out of it. Why can't two same sex friends form a union to protect their assets, etc.? I don't think its fair to limit these rights to those that are married and recognized by the law. Married folks shouldn't get preferential treatment.

Hopefully other states will follow and finally as someone else has said, we can put this injustice behind us.

[leatha_g 4]

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[skyeblu79 0]

I think that's great. I don't think anyone should be able to tell someone else who they can marry.

[Alexandra 55]

The First Amendment protects us ALL, even those who think Christ was just a good man. Back in the late 18th century no waves of immigrants or revolutions of social thought had yet changed the fabric of American society, but our Framers had the amazing foresight to allow for that possibility.

[Carlene 12]

Its purpose was to protect the Church, not to disestablish it.

In that case, it missed by a long shot. The state of Utah was blackmailed into disavowing polygamy as a condition of granting it statehood.

[carol134 0]

I already know this is going to not set well with alot of you, but got too do it. For those who believe in the Bible here is some answers to this. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 1 Timothy 1:10 Romans 1:24-27 This comes for the Bible not my judgements. Love the sinner, not the sin.

Please read these passages in the Bible, then if you can honestly say it is not clear on same sex relationships all that can be done is to pray for you. I hope this does not stir up anger in anyone because it is certainly not intented to do so. Again it does not matter what I think but what the Bible states. God should and is involved in every part of our lives whether we like it or not.

[lisah25 3]

Big problem with that being three people can read the bible and it tells them three completely different things. Each follows what the bible tells them, and each thinks the other is doing it wrong.

Yep, even those of us who are Christians don't agree on what the bible says. So basing laws on it is tricky, whose interpretation gets to be law.

[lisah25 3]

There would be no established, national church for the united thirteen states. To say it another way: there would be no "Church of the United States." The government is prohibited from setting up a state religion, such as Britain has, but no barriers will be erected against the practice of any religion. Thomas Jefferson's famous "wall of separation" between church and state comment was made in a letter to a group of Baptist clergymen January 1, 1802 in Danbury, Connecticut, who feared the Congregationalists Church would become the state-sponsored religion. Jefferson assured the Danbury Baptist Association that the First Amendment guaranteed that there would be no establishment of any one denomination over another. It was never intended for our governing bodies to be "separated" from Christianity and its principles. The "wall" was understood as one directional; its purpose was to protect the church from the state. The world was not to corrupt the church, yet the church was free to teach the people Biblical values. It keeps the government from running the church but makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government.

This it doesn't make sense to me. The idea was not to have a state religion, but also to keep Christian principles in government? Isn't that very close to having a state religion? Granted it's not making any one denomination of Christianity "official", but seems to make Christianity itself the state religion.

[carol134 0]

The 10 commandments are pretty clear to me. Maybe I'm just weird.

[lisah25 3]

Please read these passages in the Bible, then if you can honestly say it is not clear on same sex relationships all that can be done is to pray for you. I hope this does not stir up anger in anyone because it is certainly not intented to do so. Again it does not matter what I think but what the Bible states. God should and is involved in every part of our lives whether we like it or not.

I don't think the issue is whether or not anyone believes the bible and what it has to say, but rather should what the Bible says is right and wrong be the law of the land. At least as I see it.