Item Detail
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18137
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1
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0
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English
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The Case Against Same-Sex Marriage
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Dialogue : A Journal of Mormon Thought
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Fall 2007
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40
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no.3
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1-39
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The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement in 2004 reiterating the Church's stand that marriage should be defined as a union between a man and a woman. Muhlestein feels that members of the Church "will likely be called upon to articulate and support" this position and so provides a "case" against same-sex marriage. He states that the Supreme Court of the United States does not have the right to determine this position, but it should be decided by the voice of the people. In addition, the legalization of same-sex marriage by the court would "do violence to the intentions of the constitutional framers." The Bible also roundly condemns any type of homosexual relationship, but this religious argument will not persuade those who do not consider themselves people of faith or those who have chosen to "disregard or deemphasize" portions of the Bible that seem out of place in a modern society. Therefore, to convince a secular society that same-sex marriage is wrong, "sociological arguments" must be used. The arguments that Muhlestein presents are that same-sex marriage damages traditional marriage and it will result in an increase in those who practice homosexuality. In evaluating these arguments Muhlestein studies the two prevalent views about homosexuality. The first is essentialism or the theory that homosexuality is genetic. The second is a nonessentialist view which postulates that though genetics may play a part in ones sexual orientation, the culture a person belongs to plays a larger role. Muhlestein examines scientific and historical evidence in evaluating these two theories. He concludes that "the scientific and historical evidence for the nonessentialist view of sexual orientation is strong, and the subjective evidence for the essentialist view is not conclusive." Finally, although Muhlestein does not support same-sex marriage he does feel that gays and lesbians should be treated with tolerance, love, and respect.