Opponents of same-sex marriage often argue that God set forth the rules and regulations on marriage in the Bible. As a matter of fact, Jesus said there will be no marriage whatsoever in heaven.

Does that mean that marriage is bad?

A vast majority of the references to marriage in the Old Testament refer, not to the sanctity or "rules" of marriage, but to the giving of daughters as war trophies. For example, David killed 200 Philistines and presented their foreskins to Saul, who then gave David his daughter, Michal, in marriage. From Genesis on, men marry more than one wife and keep many concubines as well. Many passages forbid divorce and hold that anyone who remarries commits adultery. Are we really expected to follow these Biblical examples today?

The authors of the Bible did not understand sexual orientation and did not write about it. While the Bible does speak against rape, child abuse, ritual sex in pagan temples, and sexual orgies, it is silent on loving, committed same-sex partnerships, just as it is about space travel, genetic research and the Internet.

Jesus said, "Faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love."

I see little love in the hostile reactions of the opponents of same-sex marriage. I fail to understand their perverse preoccupation with the intimate lives of others who are harming no one.

Thoughtful citizens who truly love their neighbors will vote "no" on Question 1.

Pat Stewart, Greenwood