Divided by culture, not religious beliefs

[rug]

By Bob Martin / Guest column
Published: Friday, May 16, 2014 at 11:36 AM.

I recently read in the Times-News that some clergy members of the United Church of Christ are filing a lawsuit to ban North Carolina’s ban on gay marriage under the theory that the ban infringes upon their constitutional right of freedom of religion. The plaintiffs feel that North Carolina’s ban on gay marriage places them in an untenable position of having to choose between performing their religious duties, as they perceive them to be, or breaking the law.

North Carolina Values Coalition executive director Tami Fitzgerald is quoted as saying that, “It is both ironic and sad that an entire religious denomination and its clergy, who purport holding to Christian teachings on marriage, would look to the courts to justify their errant beliefs.”

I don’t believe there is any debate as to whether or not the two organizations ascribe to fundamental Christian beliefs, that is, that Christ is the son of God and that he rose from the dead. Both organizations also believe that the Bible is the holy Scripture. Yet both organizations differ completely on the question of gay marriage. How can this be?

Within Christianity there exists conservative, middle-of-the-road, and liberal sects. Within these sects some believe the others have divergent views, some believe the others are simply mistaken, and some believe the others are sacrilegious. I see things differently. I see the differences as differences in culture not differences in religion.

http://www.thetimesnews.com/opinion/opinion-columns/divided-by-culture-not-religious-beliefs-1.320363

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Any port in a storm.

And by 'port' I mean 'excuse'.

[rug]

4. I have to credit the article as more substantive than this response.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. How many non-religious cultural groups are filing such lawsuits?

This ought to be good.

[Viva_Daddy]

2. Please explain how religious beliefs are NOT a part of culture.

[kwassa]

3. He is saying that the religious part of culture is not the culprit.

I think. I haven't read the full article yet.

edit to add, now I have:

To understand how and why these different expressions occur within the same belief system, one must understand that there was a culture that existed in each geographical region before the Scripture arose. With the coming of the Scripture there came an integration of culture and religion. Very often the culture of the region was validated and entrenched by interpretation of the Scripture And so cultural norms became religious mandates.

I've often wondered if culture preceeded interpretation in the anti-homesexual debate.