1. First of all, a big THANK YOU to all those who have sent us love and support, both online and over the waves, concerning the debacle with the JoAnn’s UK visa. It certainly helped us get to the point where we could simply surrender to what is, be grateful for the lessons, and willing to let the Universe take care of the details. No news on that score so far, but we’ll keep you posted.
2. The Gay Marriage issue has been in the news again. In May 2012, I put out a video on YouTube arguing that Gay Marriage cannot be an issue of morality since no-one is hurt or even inconvenienced by it. The video is well worth viewing in the light of how things have changed since then. See it immediately below this post.
The argument whether to allow gay marriage is not a moral one. It is simply a matter of whether one is open to adjusting one’s mind to a new reality or not. If not then that’s fine, just so long as you don’t interfere with someone else’s right to do so. Then it does become a moral issue. In fact I would argue that those who seek to prevent gay marriage on the only grounds I ever hear put for doing so — that it doesn’t quite fit their belief system, (for this read, fixed habit of mind) are taking the moral low ground; one small step up from bigotry.
You cannot argue on moral grounds in support of obliging people to behave the way we want them to for no reason other than we experience some discomfort at having to adjust our thinking about the meaning of a particular word. It’s only Police States that demand such gratuitous observances.
And, I know this will upset some people, but this remains true even if there is something in the Bible that gives a particular meaning to the word marriage that seems to support that kind of demand, notwithstanding the fact that the definition of the word has changed continuously down the centuries. At the time the Bible was written marriage was between a man and a piece of property (i.e. a woman), and in many cases coerced. At that point marriage was a question of ownership and domination. In my opinion, using Holy Scripture to justify questionable morality, as has been done continually through the ages, is to denigrate Scripture.
It will be interesting to see how the Supreme Court jumps regarding same sex marriage. The Justices don’t like hot potatoes and they weren’t too enthusiastic about chewing on this one. I think they would have preferred to not take the case. Interestingly, in their questioning of counsel putting the case against same sex marriage one or two of the Justices asked whether the state legislators had, in banning same sex marriage, done so purely out of their conscious or unconscious disapproval of homosexuality. They were clearly onto the pseudo morality issue already and realizing the Emperor had no clothes.
Most of the beliefs we hold and defend are little more than habitual ways of thinking and just as in this case, most of them no longer serve us. Either we have moved on or the context in which they were first formed has changed. In my new book, Expanding into Love, I offer a way to examine and identify beliefs that have outlived their relevance and become toxic. I then provide a very simple technique that enables people to let them go and become free. Click here to learn more about the new book.
I love your clear, to the point, no BS way of speaking the truth~
Hi Colin
Thank you for making this video. My son is a lovely young man who just happens to be gay. He is a decent, caring, and loving human-being who reflects the universe’s love throughout his day and life in general. Your video is import and I hope many watch it because it is only by being prepared to change our mind set or habit of thinking in a certain way, that we can truly experience love and respect for one another in this world.
Love
Geraldine UK
Colin, well done…well done! I count myself among those who were not at first enthused by the idea of ‘Gay Marriage’, though I was definitely for ‘equal rights’ under our national laws… I’m now beginning to see that without Gay Marriage, these ‘rights’ are never going to come to fruition, they just aren’t going to happen, unless one has that ‘document’ (marriage license) to substantiate their ‘legal claim’ to certain benefits that married couples of the opposite sex take for granted.
That this issue has come so far in such a short time is unbelievable… perhaps there is some divine influences (energies) that we are witnessing here.
Colin, I agree with everything you have said and I find you incredibly compassionate. However, to direct African Americans to show the same compassionate by way of comparing same sex marriage to slavery or Jews to compare the Holocaust has the potential to be inflammatory. Yes, there has been terrible abuse, hazing and bullying directed toward homosexuals, but the severity of their plight is very different from those who were hanged, set fire to, put in gas chambers, etc. It just seemed to be a disconnected thought in a very well thought out and very agreeable video. I suspect it may strike a cord with some in the same way.
Don’t forget, Kathleen, the Jews were not the only victims of the Holocaust. Along with many other groups of people that were thought to be less than human, Homosexuals were also gassed in those chambers as well as being used for medical experiments (while they were alive and often times with no anesthetic).
As always, your artical is right on the money!
Thank you for this incredibly thoughtful and reasonable look at the issue of same-sex marriage. So many people who quote scripture have apparently not studied how the present day bible came into being … and what was left out!
“At the time the Bible was written marriage was between a man and a piece of property (i.e. a woman), and in many cases coerced. At that point marriage was a question of ownership and domination. In my opinion, using Holy Scripture to justify questionable morality, as has been done continually through the ages, is to denigrate Scripture.”
In addition to what you write here, I also feel that same-sex marriage as an issue exposes a split in basic belief systems – e.g. marriage as loving respectful partnership on equal footing VS marriage as power struggle. As long as one person tries to dominate another, such a “marriage” will likely be rooted in fear, intimidation, control, manipulation, and resentment … and sooner or later every slave rebels against a master.
Thanks again for the article.
Yes Colin. If whatever others decide or wish to do is not immediately hurting themselves or others – ITS NONE OF MY BUSINESS!
This video is spot on! I recently wrote a research paper on gay marriage. I made several of the same points in my paper. I feel there is nothing wrong with same sex marriage. Gay/lesbian people should be offered the same rights as anyone else. They are not hurting anyone and deserve the right to happiness.
Once again, reading your thoughts on a debated subject soothes the mind, with an Ah ! Ah realisation of a deep and simple truth. Thank you!
I agree with the general message of this video, because I believe that we need to try to live and let live.
Unfortunately, I do know several people, all men, who have a deep rooted prejudice against gays. There is genuine fear there, but I am not sure of what. Is it that what we fear most is the unknown? Possibly some of these bigots have been approached by predatory gay men, maybe when they were children.
However, I haven’t any real reason to believe that this is the case. Fear causes aggression, and some of these men get very aggressive about anything to do with a gay person. The idea of gays marrying is utterly unacceptable to them.
The message of tolerance has to be continually reiterated. Perhaps one day when we all know that we were born out of love, that love is at our core, then fear of anything will subside and disappear. It is going to take a long, long time!
With love
Anthea
Dear Colin,
As always, I relish your “take” on things and so appreciate your courage and determination. I am a descendant of Lord Baden-Powell and so your “smart” British perspective, always has me cheering you on:). Too, I am the grand daughter of a Brit Episcopalian priest and I consider myself a christian. I have been so dismayed at the resistance our culture permits toward allowing gay marriage or shall we say, marriage between two committed individuals who happen to be of the same sex. I know that Jesus represented love, compassion and kindness. We always get into trouble when we second guess ore “reinterpret” what he stood for. Blessings to you and Joanne. Many thanks! Laurie from Wyoming