Monday, July 6, 2020

Identifying with Issues

Theology graduates are wont to come into an issue from a theological point of view. But it may sometimes be more profitable to set theology aside, and think oneself into the issue. Immerse oneself in it. Adopt it. Then think. Here is a current example. Last week a news headline read "Civil Union Amendment Bill: Marriage officers won't be allowed to turn down same-sex couples". Specifically, officers may not turn down such couples "on the ground of conscience, religion, and belief". Accepted. It is my Bill now. Immediately there are two sizeable problems. Firstly, I am discriminating against customary marriages. I have been blind to a large Black population. O mea culpa. Secondly, I have failed to take into account a major reason why marriage officers turn down civil unions: authority. Which isn't conscience, religion, or belief. It's orders. We need a much more powerful Bill. 

POSTSCRIPT: In South Africa, many ministers are marriage officers.

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