So...

[kandrathe]

To relate it to gay marriage, I'm not for it or against it. I see this whole argument as "Does the Christian church think this is okay?" According to what I know of Christian religion (and very little, so please correct me if I'm wrong), the whole idea of marriage is to have children and recreational sex--sex without the making of children--is sinful. Christian religion is against homosexuality. Christian religion is also against adultery, beastiality, direct incest, sex out of wedlock, etc., because all those options are considered recreational sex. I've heard the argument that if gays could have children, then marriage would be okay. Why? Because Christian religion believes marriage is for having children, sex is for having children, and sex done without the purpose of babymaking is sinful.

Christianity does not condemn pleasure, even if it is sexual. The prohibitions and sexual morality of Christianity are derived from Judaism. The prohibitions within Judaism as I understand them are derived from what worked for social mores within that middle eastern Semitic culture to maintain order and unity in the society over about a ten thousand year period.

Take the religion OUT of the government...

I agree in principle, but it is easier said than done.

...and realize that people regardless of race or gender can raise fine and morally-upstanding kids

I think children are best raised by their parents. If it must be done by others then the State as guardians of the child should make the determination within the available pool of applicants (regardless of maritial status). From my study of child and adolescent psychcology and experience I would say that the first choice would be to find a substitute stable family with a man, a woman and 1 or 2 children. Both male and female children use their parental relationships as models of how to relate to others. Boys learn about maleness from their father, and about femaleness from their mothers. Single mothers in our society will tell you how important it is for them to find an adult male father figure for their sons. Loving homesexual same sex couples may be able to meet all the needs of adoptive children, but I think it would be much harder for social workers to insure that the placement is in the best interest of the child.