Gay Marriage: View from the Outside

I grew up in a Christian household and educated at a Christian high school and university. I am quite aware of the verses contained in the Book of Leviticus, which proclaim homosexuality a sin. I know that conservative Christians, regardless of denomination, believe that gay marriage is an afront to the notion of marriage established by God in the Garden of Eden and vehemently oppose the recognition of gay marriages as legal unions, worthy of protection under the law.

Without delving into my personal views on the morality of homosexuality or preaching about "loving the sinner but hating the sin," I agree that the arguments against legal recognition of gay marriage fail in the face of scrutiny based on logic and reasoning. Furthermore, conservative Christians who hold up the Bible in response to the "legalization" of gay marriage conveniently forget the principle of separation of church and state. While conservative Christians rally behind this principle when they feel their right to practice their religion is being threatened by public policies, they ignore it when they feel the State has failed to promote their beliefs. The very laws that protect one's right to practice his or her religion free from state interference are the same laws that protect the rights of others from State-sanctioned religion or religious laws.

If we accept the separation of the spheres of religion (the "Church") and government (the "State"), then we must respect the law impervious to religious beliefs or notions. I do not mean to suggest that we must compromise our religious beliefs or that secular laws take precedence over one's religion; rather, I believe we can practice our religion and live according to its laws regardless of the State's decision on gay marriage. As long as the State does not compel someone to do something contrary to his or her beliefs, ex. compelling preachers and priests to officiate at a gay wedding, Christians are not prevented from living their lives according to their moral code in a world where gay marriage is legal. The matter of gay marriage is, and should remain, a legal, not religious, one. As Jesus said, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's."