I look forward to this series of essays, Dr. Thompson! I had several questions as I read, but it looks the three general areas you will examine should answer those questions. One question/thought I had was why does marriage need a political definition beyond the fact that it is a contract between consenting adults? Isn't marriage a matter of individual rights and leaving people alone to live their lives as they choose?
I love reading and discussing the “new, left-taboo subjects”. Traditional marriage is the perfect starting point because whether you’re religious or not (and I’m NOT), our very existence is self-evidently rooted in the union and mating of a man and a woman.
This is not some provisional theory; this is our evolutionary history—full stop. The short version goes back to the last other tribe of men (or hominids): the Neanderthal.
About 130,000 years ago our ancestors stopped mating with that other tribe of men and our current tribe of men—Homo sapiens sapiens—was born. This is mankind’s story.
More importantly, it is built into our essential nature as humans to find a mate and reproduce. This is fundamental to human survival. This is not a subjective preference for or against heterosexuals or homosexuals. This is raw, preprogrammed, evolutionary biology.
Here I must explain that I have no objection to, or argument against, men or women who prefer (either by choice or by some inborn predisposition) to be in same-sex relationships. I likewise have no objection to those couples becoming parents (by any means they may choose).
Whether or not such unions are as secure as those of heterosexual couples is another matter (for another time).
But for now I am ready to state my view of marriage as being the union of a man and a woman. This is not my opinion; This is rooted in our evolutionary history. The very fact that I am here (and this applies to all humans—past, present and future) is the evidence for my view. It is our reality.
PS—This year my wife and I will be celebrating 33 years of marriage. We have been blessed with three children (two sons and a daughter) who are now (soon to be) all college graduates and officially off the family welfare system.
The following is an example of the fallacy of adulthood.
“How did America’s young people, who seem to know so little about anything else, come to have such enlightenment? What is the source of this newfound wisdom? It would seem that the long arc of History has already declared as predestined tomorrow’s winner and losers. Who needs Xenophon, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, or Locke on marriage when you have “Will and Grace” and the “Modern Family” (aka the TV shows) on your side?”
They are enlightened because they may be from a family that is a same sex marriage or their friends are from a family with a same sex marriage.
In other words, their enlightenment is the result of their experiences growing up not from watching TV.
In fact, if you talk to these young individuals they may provide examples where the family with the same sex marriage is a better environment and more healthy than some traditional marriages.
I look forward to this series of essays, Dr. Thompson! I had several questions as I read, but it looks the three general areas you will examine should answer those questions. One question/thought I had was why does marriage need a political definition beyond the fact that it is a contract between consenting adults? Isn't marriage a matter of individual rights and leaving people alone to live their lives as they choose?
Great questions, Maryallene, and it is one that I shall try to answer near the end of the series.
Traditional Marriage
By Melgar du Poseidon
Brad,
I love reading and discussing the “new, left-taboo subjects”. Traditional marriage is the perfect starting point because whether you’re religious or not (and I’m NOT), our very existence is self-evidently rooted in the union and mating of a man and a woman.
This is not some provisional theory; this is our evolutionary history—full stop. The short version goes back to the last other tribe of men (or hominids): the Neanderthal.
About 130,000 years ago our ancestors stopped mating with that other tribe of men and our current tribe of men—Homo sapiens sapiens—was born. This is mankind’s story.
More importantly, it is built into our essential nature as humans to find a mate and reproduce. This is fundamental to human survival. This is not a subjective preference for or against heterosexuals or homosexuals. This is raw, preprogrammed, evolutionary biology.
Here I must explain that I have no objection to, or argument against, men or women who prefer (either by choice or by some inborn predisposition) to be in same-sex relationships. I likewise have no objection to those couples becoming parents (by any means they may choose).
Whether or not such unions are as secure as those of heterosexual couples is another matter (for another time).
But for now I am ready to state my view of marriage as being the union of a man and a woman. This is not my opinion; This is rooted in our evolutionary history. The very fact that I am here (and this applies to all humans—past, present and future) is the evidence for my view. It is our reality.
PS—This year my wife and I will be celebrating 33 years of marriage. We have been blessed with three children (two sons and a daughter) who are now (soon to be) all college graduates and officially off the family welfare system.
The following is an example of the fallacy of adulthood.
“How did America’s young people, who seem to know so little about anything else, come to have such enlightenment? What is the source of this newfound wisdom? It would seem that the long arc of History has already declared as predestined tomorrow’s winner and losers. Who needs Xenophon, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, or Locke on marriage when you have “Will and Grace” and the “Modern Family” (aka the TV shows) on your side?”
They are enlightened because they may be from a family that is a same sex marriage or their friends are from a family with a same sex marriage.
In other words, their enlightenment is the result of their experiences growing up not from watching TV.
In fact, if you talk to these young individuals they may provide examples where the family with the same sex marriage is a better environment and more healthy than some traditional marriages.