Girl and Snake to Wed - Part 1
Not too long ago I came across an article about a girl, 15, in India who desires to marry a snake. Here’s the skinny: The girl, Kusum, was bathing in a river when a cobra began to wrap himself around her. Although panicked, the girl was able to shake off the reptile.
Upon her return to the village, Kusum told her father that she must marry the snake. Her family, of course, tried to dismiss her nuptial desires, but to no avail: the girl insisted on having her man, err, snake. To make matters worse, the snake kept coming around! (I’m not sure whether or not the reptile has actually asked for her hand yet, but I’ll keep you posted.)
The family took Kusum to a doctor, and then to a witch doctor, but nothing would stop the wedding bells from ringing in her ears. Finally, the father had to come to terms with the budding relationship of these young lovers: "Maybe it is the wish of the God."
Will Any-old Marriage Do?
Not only in our country, but all over the world, cultures are beginning to redefine marriage. Once marriage is no longer just between a man and a woman, anything goes.
The prevailing argument seems to be that if two people love each other, they should be allowed to marry. Here’s the trouble with such an argument:
- All we need is love?
I love the Beatles; and this is a great song; but it makes lousy social policy. Can I marry my neighbor’s wife as long as we love each other? How about my sister if we promise not to have kids? No? BUT WE LOVE EACH OTHER!
Can I marry myself? (How can you say no, you singlephobe?!?) How about a reptile? (Why not!?! Are you some kind of speciest?)
The truth is, having “love” as the standard doesn’t work. There must be some other standard; and it must be a standard that makes the state take interest. - All we need is a contract?
The State only has interest in two types of contractual relationships: corporations and marriages. The first because the State is required to regulate commerce (section 8, clause 3 of the constitution); and the second because it is the best way for it to perpetuate itself.
Mommies and daddies are from where the next generation of citizens will come. And the best environment for the raising of responsible citizens is a married, monogamist, heterosexual household. Married and monogamist because that brings stability to the home; heterosexual because both the mother and the father bring something in particular to the childrearing enterprise.
This unit is the best way to secure society’s future. Therefore, the State has an interest in favoring and protecting marriage between a man and a woman.
Stay tuned for part 2 to find out the fate of our slithering Romeo and his head-strong Juliet.
Labels: Apologetics, Cultural Mandate
posted by The Catechizer and The Deacon | 12:44 PM
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