With the recent Supreme Court decision redefining marriage, and the US District Judge ruling that Rowan County, KY clerk Kim Davis be jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples based on her religious convictions, many in the public think the issue is settled and religious members of society have no logical, ethical or legal basis for their views. That false characterization ignores a rich wealth of historical, philosophical and theological support for the traditional definition of marriage of one man and one woman. The arguments that appeal to sentiments for redefining marriage in terms of fairness, civil rights and equal treatment under the law initially seem compelling and exclude reasonable dissent. However, they fall when their initial premises are challenged and shown to be false. Many arguments for traditional marriage can fall into the following categories:
1. The Ontological Argument. Ontology means “existence”, and archeological records definitively show the existence of traditional marriage for at least 10,000 years. That definition of marriage between one man and one woman has universal amongst all peoples, cultures and tribes. Even in ancient societies where there were homosexual practices, there was no homosexual marriage.
2. The Metaphysical Argument. Metaphysics means “essence”, and the essence of marriage is religious. The secular state that does not recognize God is the same state that decided to redefine marriage despite human history, moving from being non-religious to irreligious (or actively hostile to religion). This same secular state that has taken God out of the schools to the obvious detriment of society, has now taken God out of marriage. God has impressed His Law upon all men’s hearts, expressed as natural law. Secular humanism is the religion of and the deification of man, rejecting natural law. It is the religion of the secular state, and with its basis in moral relativism, fails due to arbitrary and conflicting tenets that invariably lead to chaos and confusion.
3. The Typology Argument. Typology refers to a classification according to a general type, especially in archeology, psychology and social sciences. The typology of marriage is sacred, given to all humanity for its good, and is grouped along with the relationship between Christ and His Church. There are serious consequences in altering the typology that speaks of Christ.