Best Christmas gift you ever gave or received?

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Dan, I'm shocked! Hot Wheels...?!

The best Xmas present ever was -- JESUS!

:)

Jodi -

Lunch was superb !

I will interact with your extended paraphrase one sentence at a time.

Christians feel the word and religious ceremony that "marriage" is, according to the bible,  an act between a man and a woman, for the sole purpose to create life.

Wedding is a better word to describe a "religious ceremony".  Heterosexual marriage is created for the joy of procreation and sexual intimacy.  Consider the Song of Solomon in the Old Testament as an example of the celebration of sexual intimacy between a man and a woman.

And by saying that gay couples are not following exactly the religious meaning of the ritual called marriage, they should not be allowed to call it that.  

I would phrase it differently.  It's not that gay couples can't call their relationship a marriage.  Ultimately, they will call it whatever they wish, as they have free will to do so.  However, it would be more accurate to say that what gay couples have is not a marriage, in the sense of God's original plan.  They have a relationship, to be sure.  But it is different than God's institution of marriage.  Thus, to call a gay relationship a marriage is to ascribe to it a description that does not accurately reflect the elements of marriage as ordained by God. 

Christians feel marriage is religion based and there are rules to follow. Is it that they feel they have "ownership " in the word?

I believe Christians understand marriage not primarily as a religious based concept with rules to follow.  I believe Christians understand marriage as (1) a gfit from God to be both celebrated and protected (that is, for each spouse to remain faithful to the other) for the long term joy of the marriage.  Please see James 1:17; The Song of Solomon; Proverbs 5:15-19; Hebrews 13:4. (2)  Christians also understand marriage as a symbol of Christ's sacrificial love for sinners.  Please see Ephesians 5:25-33.  In other words, a marriage that works, that goes the distance, that stays together through all the ups and downs of life is a testimony to others of Christ's compassion.  (3) Finally Christians understand marriage as a one flesh union resulting in godly offspring.  Please see Genesis 2:20-25 and Malachi 2:15.

In sum: I don't believe Christians feel that they "own" the word marriage.  God owns everything, both the word marriage and the instituion of marriage.  He is entitled, as LORD of the universe, to create, establish and promote, what marriage is in accordance with His design.  Please see Colossians 1:15-18.

Hope that helps !  :-)

Dan, I'm shocked! Hot Wheels...?!

The best Xmas present ever was -- JESUS!  :)

THANK YOU MICHAEL !

I stand corrected !

And thanks for your wonderful sense of humor ! :-)

Men look for sex partners, women look for good fathers (I'm not speaking in modern terms at all).

Kevin -

Sadly, this is often true.  But there are also men out there who are looking for a wife to be their life partner, friend and lover.  There are also ladies out there who are looking for a man to lead them, protect them and love them, not as a father, but as a friend, life partner and lover.

Yet, as stated, I hear no real complaints in that area from ANY Christian or religious quarters.

Joakim -

I can only speak from my own point of view on this one.  Other Christians may think differently.  But this is my understanding.  A marriage between a man and a woman is still a marriage whether it is Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Zoroastrianist, Taoist, Atheist, etc.  Men and women of any religion (or non-religion) who join together for the joys and responsibilites of procreation and sexual intimacy are living out God's intended plan for marriage.  Thus, marriage has not been secularized whether the wedding is performed by the court (justice of the peace), or by any other religious leader (priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, etc.).  These marriages are functioning according to divine plan.  Furthermore, these examples of marriage are not being requested to accomodate the civil unions requested by members of the gay community.  So there is no reason to, as you say, raise "a great ruckus".

Note: Obviously there are exceptions to my comments above, such as polygamy and polyandry.  But I think these present another issue altogether.

That was the best Christmas morning ever.

Absolutely !  Thanks for warming my heart, Al !

My wife always gives really thoughtful Christmas presents.

Bruce -

My wife recently purchased one of those for her mom.  My wife has been digitially preserving very old photos of her mom's family and will give it her mom for Christmas !

Whoever invented those things came up with a great idea !  It's great that one can upload new photos too !

Still, then we’re no longer on the genetic reproduction level you argued just previously. If that was the main drive, each individual wouldn’t care about any other’s reproductive dead ends, since their main objective would be to further their own genetic material into future generations. Pure egotistical one might well say.

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The individual (read: repressed male) cares about the other's reproductive dead ends (read: out homosexual males) because of the existing temptation to have homosexual sex, which would render the repressed individual a reproductive dead end himself.

Look at it this way: at work you meet this cute little gal.  She walks the right way, all your dumb jokes get a laugh, you both worship the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers.  She doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, and neither do you.  You both do the same kind of LSD - a total love connection, right!?

So you ask her out, she accepts.  She offers the caveat "I don't put out" and you're fine with that, truly.  You just want to spend some time.  That other stuff can wait.

Well, the attraction is a little stronger than either of you thought, and as you fumble with each other's clothes she whispers into your mouth "I used to be a man".  Think on a gut level how this would feel, about the very person you were so hot for just a second ago.  It's obviously deception by omission, but the real betrayal is on a molecular level: your seed is on a rocky path where it will find no purchase.

Yeah, yeah, love conquers all.  That's why teenage girls are always worried about losing their boyfriends to menopausal women.  And that's why some guys hate "fags" - they're afraid they'll fuck them.

Metal music that really masculine genre already there so heavily influenced by it’s seeming antithesis.  ;)

Like I said before, communication is an interesting thing !  Different messages are conveyed by different motives, while similar messages are conveyed by similar dress.

Even though they haven't been officiated by any religious authority or medium?

Joakim -

I think I better understand your earlier question.  I am going to have to give it some more thought.  My brain has reached its limit for the day, so I will bid you a pleasant, "Good evening".  I'll check back tomorrow (12/24) or Friday (12/26) and attempt to give you an answer.

Either way, have a Merry Christmas ! :-)