> Not just children, but family. Gay couples with children are _not_ "family"? I know a few gay couples that would argue that, vehemently. I know a few straight couples with kids that I would argue are _not_ family.
> I've done a lot of reading on the subject, > and for the most part I find that the original definitions of marriage say > the same basic thing. That it is a civil structure with religious basis that was primarily brought about to secure treaties between households for mutual defense and protection from marauding hordes and rival villages? That the desires of women throughout history have been sacrificed for the good of the family in the name of honor or duty? That the tradition of the bride's family paying for the wedding is based on the dowry, essentially a tribute paid to the guy with the boys? Or are we reading different sources? > I have been trying to find the origins of marriage, but it is pretty hard. > One of the earliest definitions I can find states that it was what happened > when a man and woman mated, and the man stayed with the woman after the > child was born and assisted in raising the child. While this suggests an origin for parenting, it doesn't necessarily suggest an origin for marriage. > I have been trying to find the origins of marriage, but it is pretty hard. > One of the earliest definitions I can find states that it was what happened > when a man and woman mated, and the man stayed with the woman after the > child was born and assisted in raising the child. ummm... yeah. :-p > I think marriage started out as one of two things, A way to get children out > on their own, and a way to ensure a child is raised by two parents. I > realize that problems with individuals occur, and that in general neither of > these always ends in a desirable solution, however that is where it seemed > to start. Many species that have longer infancies tend towards this sort of behavior, elephants come to mind. Mate for life, etc. Does that equal marriage though? > Of all the animals that practice monogamy, I haven't seen any that have same > sex monogamy. Except humans. > I've seen groups like the Bonobo Chimp that engage in same > gender sex act, but they don't seem to be monogamous, they are pretty horny > and don't seem to care. So are you saying that homosexuals are not capable of monogamy? Or are you saying that they are not capable of maintaining monogamous relationships? Or that homosexuals are no more capable of controlling themselves, are pretty horny and equate more to animals than to fellow humans? -- will "If my life weren't funny, it would just be true; and that would just be unacceptable." - Carrie Fisher ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:199823 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
