Unsettling the ALP, Obama supports gay marriage::

Its fascinating that Obama has revealed his support for gay marriage. The ramifications for socially conservative America will be interesting to watch play out as the elections unfold.

Hot out of the blocks was Julia Gillard, from the left side of the ALP continuing her support for marriage as it stands.

It's interesting; I would have thought that this could have been a politically astute moment. Switch her position. It would take the heat off a number of things such as Slipper and Thompson. It would be a real differentiation between her and Abbott. As opposoed to an issue where the voters have to make up there own mind on who has the better health, ecconomic, social, etc etc policy. Gillard is loosing these battles as it is.

Gillard was to quick, this may have been an opportunity to increase Labors pathetic primary vote; alas I think she will miss the opportunity.

Sex license

One of the things that I used to joke about with a mate of mine was the well below average age that most Christians couples marry; the reason been 'to get there sex license'. It's quite understandable really that a couple would get married early rather than live burning with unreleased sexual tension or living in complete guilt that they fail the Christian standard. 

I've only known one person who really did the 'sex license' in a reckless way; I wish I could have cautioned him... Even at the time I knew words could not stop him. 'God' was speaking.  Move without even spending a few weeks in her company, to a new non-english country, new culture. Doomed...

The only thing holding them together is a 'God' who 'told' them they were matched. Later they start detesting each other and the God who had got it wrong. 

The sex license can be a horrid thing. 

The unfortunate thing about the sex licence is the guilt for those who slip up prior to marriage. Just about every leader that I've ever discussed this topic with to any depth has confessed that, yes, they had sex before marriage. It makes me wonder why no sex prior to marriage is so well entrenched with Christians? Maybe these leaders are just wanting to live vicariously, place ideals on others that they themselves were never able to achieve?

One thing I am sure about is that biblically we live in a completely differn't culture; and often things are just not clear for us today. What is clear is that the way we use money, treat others is way below the biblical mandate.

same sex marraige

Image via Wikipedia

Interesting ruling in the US state of Califorina  as posted from the ABC::

Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco has ruled that banning gays and lesbians from tying the knot is discriminatory and violates the US constitution.
Only five states and Washington DC currently allow same-sex marriage.
One of the plaintiffs, Jeff Zarrillo, says the United States is supposed to be about equality.
"Well this decision today brings Paul and I and so many others like us closer to that equality too," he said.

I can see Australia going down this path. I'm not really that hassled really. 'Civil Union' and a 'Defacto' relationship has almost the same legal implications as marriage except marriage is for a 'man' and woman'. So really it is just about definition and language. Maybe some implaction down the track are:
:: Marriage is only a 'Christian' or some other religion which becomes more and more irrelevant to the rest of western culture.
::Unknowingly the Culture uses the language of 'marriage' for 'Civil Union' making the older definition of 'man and woman' marriage irrelevant.
:: Western culture including Australia priorities legal issues around equality and anti-discrimination as such, I see marriage between same sex partners as inevitable and probably within my lifetime.

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• Judge overturns California's ban on same-sex marriage (cnn.com)
• Judge's ruling ready in Calif. Proposition 8 case (salon.com)

The percentages

Working in a secular setting is interesting. After a while you get to know where people sit, if they are aware of the spiritual, their opinion on the Church, Christianity, Buddhism etc etc.

I think as a very rough guide for my co-workers

20% antagonistic toward the Church and very cynical. They usually come out when the media reveals a 'Christian Nutter'. The Bushfires in Victoria was a good example and the 'Nutter' saying  it was God's vengence... Well the ward that I was working on, if you where a Christian you hung low.
Strangely I found it is rare to find an atheist, maybe an agnostic.

60% Apathetic towards the Church. Not really wanting to go, yet thinks Churches and Christians are ok. Possibly the easiest to get into a Church community.
Yet I think there are things keeping them back, they know that they may not scrub up to perceived Christian values and doctrine.  For example they are not married yet living with a partner. They believe that Homosexuals should have the right to marriage.  Clairvoyants are ok they have actually been to a few. They don't believe in a virgin birth.
In truth there a huge amount.

20% Actually go to Church, and talk of Christian things occasionally. Yep I'm in this group, though sympathise with the %60 often.

Out of all of the groups  most are very spiritual, they understand mystery and beauty. The wonder to be alive. Maybe this is a nurses fate where often death can visit those you look after and at the end of the shift you wonder why.

No preacher man for us!

Georgie Pilcher from the Herald Sun, has written an article which describes how couples would rather a civil ceremony rather than a Church ceremony.

Some of the reasons ::

"The idea of a god blessing their relationship isn't relevant to them," she said.

"People are saying 'it is up to us, we are committing to each other and not to God'."

Dosn't surprise me really the article. Its just another indication of how religion mainly Christianity is loosing its standing in society. Yes folks we are living in Post-Christendom.