The clash of liberalism and toleration regarding same-sex marriages in the U.S.

Term Paper , 2005 , 16 Pages , Grade: good (B)

Politics - Political Theory and the History of Ideas Journal

Although there are marriage-like unions for same-sex couples in the U.S., the traditional institution of marriage is still only reserved for the conventional heterosexual couple. As a modern liberal country the U.S. would be expected to be tolerant on this issue, giving this subcultural group the freedom to marry. Some reasons why this is not the case can be found in the United States` strong ties to religion. This paper outlines the influence of religion on the interplay of liberalism and toleration in the case of same-sex marriages in the U.S.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Toleration
• Liberalism
• Toleration, Liberalism and Religion
• Religion reason for clash between liberalism and toleration?
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper examines the apparent conflict between liberalism and toleration in the context of same-sex marriage in the United States. The paper explores the role of religion in this conflict, focusing on the traditional institution of marriage and the challenges it poses to the promotion of tolerance and equality.

• The interplay of liberalism and toleration in the context of same-sex marriage in the U.S.
• The influence of religion on the debate surrounding same-sex marriage.
• The concept of toleration and its various forms.
• The legal and social implications of denying same-sex couples equal rights.
• The question of whether toleration requires a negative attitude towards what is tolerated.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The introduction provides an overview of the issue of same-sex marriage in the United States, highlighting the historical context and legal developments.
• The chapter on toleration defines the concept and explores various forms of toleration, drawing upon the work of Michael Walzer and John Locke.
• The chapter on liberalism focuses on the core values of autonomy and toleration, emphasizing the tension between these values and the legal and social restrictions placed on same-sex couples.
• The chapter on the relationship between toleration, liberalism, and religion examines the role of religious beliefs in the conflict surrounding same-sex marriage, exploring the question of whether toleration is only possible when state and religion are separate institutions.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper focuses on the key concepts of liberalism, toleration, same-sex marriage, religion, and the United States. It explores the relationship between these concepts in the context of legal and social debates surrounding the recognition of same-sex relationships as marriages.

• College: Maastricht University (University College)
• Course: Writing Political Philosophy in Practice
• Grade: good (B)
• Author: Anonym (Author)
• Publication Year: 2005
• Pages: 16
• Catalog Number: V55668
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638505574
• ISBN (Book): 9783656799054
• Language: English
• Tags: Writing, Political, Philosophy, Practice