Journalings

I'm really rather lacking in understanding on the desire of homosexuals to "marry." Yes, I am a religious person, or perhaps spiritual is a better term, and I am Christian, Roman-Catholic, Zen Buddhist, Pagan, Wiccan..... whatever.

Marriage has a Judeo-Christian definition. It's different for Muslims. For Mormons. For Pagans. Pagans have handfasting. Some individuals merely make pledges. But I'm not interested in having a Bat Mitzvah. Or a rite of passage from some other culture. There are things that I just plain am NOT.

Our culture is one which has secularized marriage, made it the norm amongst all religions and individuals. But it is not the only way to join with another. It is, however, the only recognized way in our society to receive social and health benefits for both individuals of the culture. Perhaps if society objects so much to a formal marital right of two same-gendered individuals, they had best re-define what a couple must do for benefits. Is this trying to force an act, i.e. marriage, on individuals in our society? Why force all those wishing to legally join into a monogomous relationship, and receive society benefits for such, to engage in only one (religious) form of bonding?