But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Blueletterbible.org: Mat 5:32
As I was thinking about the Defence Of Marriage Act, and the taxation revenue problems that we have today, I remembered some verses of the bible that people in red states don't like to quote so much, this being one of them. Jesus didn't like divorce all that much, and the churches of today are filled with divorced and remarried individuals. Therefore, as an amendment to end all of the argument about gay marriage, I would like to put forward a proposal.
I believe that everyone that has ever been divorced have any current marriages completely dissolved, in the defence of marriage. Also, all back taxes that result from the dissolution of said marriage be due to the government within the year, and fines for cohabitation laws (those written primarily against immigrants who have the amazing ability to live under one roof in peace) be rendered against them for the time that they lived together, if applicable. Watch as previously married couples are forced to deal with the gravity of the loss of company offered insurance, and making back payments to them. Heck, this might solve the health care crisis by making newly single mothers and fathers aware of the issues that are faced by the poor.
But just to really bring home the ridiculousness of all of this, I'm going to note that only men have a right to get marriage dissolved, and only in the case of a cheating wife. Also, because of the nature of 'adultery', and sexual activity, or the rules concerning loss of virginity, we might have some additional problems.
Come home to a wife giving a hummer to the neighbor? You might just be out of luck (and damn that first commandment, best you can do is sit and watch).
Come home to your husband bangin' the maid? Sorry, you're a woman, and you don't have the right to a divorce.
Of course, I don't believe any of this nonsense, but I'm just noting that people like to pick and choose the portions of the bible that they choose to quote, use and believe in our modern world, but that very same bible is an excellent tool to use against their arguments. Sometimes, only the bible (so often the absolute truth for so many) is the only way to argue with the religious. With such a huge percentage of the people of the population of the United States being Christians, I find it extremely important to study the bible, although I am an atheist, formerly Catholic. I read sections of it regularly, and I've gotten my wife into the habit as well (Agnostic, but leaning atheist).
The most basic rule is, if you don't believe in the bible, you don't need to follow it, but if you do, then anyone can call you on it. This can be very effective in arguments, indeed.
There are some choice tidbits in the bible, mine is only one point. I find that often if I can calmly point out the ridiculousness of the arguments of the religious by quoting their own bible, then many arguments become moot. This is especially excellent when you can pull it from the first four chapters of the New Testament.
I find the words of Christ to be peaceful and often filled with compassion, although at times misogynistic (goes with the times, I guess). For every quote involving punishment and eternal damnation in the old testament, there is a quote that directly counters it within the new. One of my favorites, a parable that everyone that speaks for peace should know follows:
Mathew 13
24Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
BlueLetterBible.org, MAT13:24
Basically, it says that people like me are still going to hell, but it isn't their job to deal with it. I've heard the response, God has already judged, and we are now the reapers. I respond simply: "That's how you interpret it, and wouldn't you prefer to err on the side of caution, lest you be judged?"
Of course, not everyone that is Christian has been divorced, but statements from Christ like this might require a lot of - forgive the pun - soul searching.