Hey ΕΛΛΗΝ.Α.Ι.Σ! Don't You Know That Hypocrite is a Greek Word?
Marriage equality in Greece and the tragedy of Christian minds dressed in chitones.
One of the hot-button topics occurring in Greece currently is same-sex marriage equality. Greece’s center-right government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is making serious efforts to legalize marriage for same-sex couples. The bill goes to vote in mid-February. As of right now, in Greece, same-sex couples have some protections through “cohabitation agreements,” which provide several rights and benefits of marriage.
Here are some extracts from reports on the matter
From the AP: “What we are going to legislate is equality in marriage,” Mitsotakis said. “We will remove any discrimination concerning sexual orientation in the issue of marital relationship.” In addition to marriage equality, gaps in parental rights would be addressed. The proposed law would “protect the existing children of same-sex parents, including those adopted or born to surrogates abroad. That would confer full parental rights to a surviving parent in the event of their partner’s death.”
From Rocky Mountain Outlook: “We are talking about something that is already in effect in 36 countries and on five continents. And nowhere does it appear to have damaged social cohesion,” Mitsotakis told his ministers in a televised statement Wednesday.
“I want to be clear: We are referring to choices made by the state and not religious convictions … Our democracy requires that there cannot be two classes of citizens and there certainly cannot be children of a lesser god.”
Recent opinion polls suggest that Greeks narrowly oppose same-sex marriage, with conservative voters more clearly opposed.
Greek society is torn on the issue; however, as expected, the Greek Orthodox Church declared its opposition to marriage equality.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate, which heads Orthodox churches worldwide, opposed Mitsotakis’ proposal. From Euronews:
“Marriage is the union of man and woman under Christ… and the church does not accept the cohabitation of its members in any form other than marriage,” the Ecumenical Patriarchate said.”
Metropolitan Bishop Panteleimon, a spokesman for the Greek Church’s governing Holy Synod, said that its written objections would be sent to all members of Greece’s parliament and read out at Sunday services around the country on 4 February.
“What the church says is that marriage is the union of a man and a woman and that is the source of life,” he told private Skai television. “The elders of our church are concerned with defending and supporting the family.”
Unexpectedly, another religion in Greece has decided to chime in and express its opinion on the matter with an official announcement. Agreeing with the Greek Orthodox Church is ΕΛΛΗΝ.Α.Ι.Σ, the Hellenic Ancient-Religious Holy Society (Ελλήνων Αρχαιοθρήσκων Ιερόν Σωματείον), which represents the “Ancient Hellenic Religion” – one of the two legally recognized polytheistic religions in Greece.
In its official statement from January 24th, the organization expressed its objection to the Greek government’s push to extend marriage equality to same-sex couples. Their rationale, which is the rationale that many other polytheistic Greeks share, is that marriage is a holy institution blessed and sanctified by Zeus and Hera. Same-sex marriage would be an affront on the sacredness of marriage and the establishment of the family.
While religions are obviously free to have their own worldview on matters like the meaning of marriage within their own religion they can have their opinion without degrading and dehumanizing others in the process. The statement by ΕΛΛΗΝ.Α.Ι.Σ used homophobic language and as such crossed one of several lines.
In their official announcement, they referred to homosexuals, specifically gay men, as κίναιδος, a slur that goes back to Antiquity with connotations ranging from “effeminate” to “ass-shaker”, and “shame-stirrer.”
In addition to their use of homophobic language, ΕΛΛΗΝ.Α.Ι.Σ crossed another more important line when they decided that their religious worldview should be shared with others across Greek society regardless of religious affiliation. Laughably the group demanded the bill be withdrawn immediately. It is laughable that any religious group would think it has the right to make any demands concerning legislation in a secular government.
Lastly and most importantly, I find the statement made by ΕΛΛΗΝ.Α.Ι.Σ be to a major display of their hypocrisy. It is hypocritical for a Greek polytheistic religious group to interfere and approve or disapprove the kinds of contracts a secular government wishes to engage with its citizens. In doing so, ΕΛΛΗΝ.Α.Ι.Σ is acting precisely in the same way the Greek Orthodox Church does: interfere with the lives of the Greek citizens.
The objection and frustration of the Greek Orthodox Church’s interference in the lives of Greeks (through its influence on government) has been a cornerstone of polytheistic Greek rhetoric for years. However, now we see that some polytheistic Greeks are no better than their Christian opponents.
By opening their ignorant mouths, spouting hateful speech, and attempting to insert themselves where they do not belong, in the middle of the Greek people and the Greek government, demanding that their religious views be enforced on everyone in society, they have shown us all how Christian their minds still remain. It is shocking how ΕΛΛΗΝ.Α.Ι.Σ does not seem to be aware of how they are being hypocrites; it is a Greek word, after all.
Below is a translation of the official announcement that was posted on Facebook January 24th 2024.
Notification
Subject: Gay Marriage
Athens 24/01/2024
The religious community of the Ancient Hellenic Religion ΑΕΘ and of the Hellenic Ancient-Religious Society ΕΛΛΗΝ.ΑΙ.Σ condemn the phenomenon of marriage between ‘shame-stirrers’ (cinaedonymphia) and the intend to legalize it by the Greek government. The Ancient Hellenic Religion thinks that the marriage of ‘shame-stirrers’ (cinaedi) is a direct assault against the sanctity of marriage and the formation of “oikos” ie: family
The sanctity of marriage in our theology, is obvious by the very existence of the highest Holy Couple, of Zeus Almighty and of Hera, who presides over the protection of the institution of marriage. An entire month in the Attic Religious Calendar (Gamelion from Gk 'gamos') is dedicated to this Holy Couple which also happens to coincide with the date of this announcement during which we have been officiating with great splendor the Festival of the Holy Theogamia (The Holy Matrimony of Zeus & Hera).
The legal recognition of cinaedonymphia with the term 'gamos' (marriage) by the Greek State identifies the “shame-stirrers” with married couples which will soon bring about the subsequent right to adopt children sooner or later with which we disagree a priori. Ancient Hellenic Religion (ELLEN.A.I.S) is therefore requesting the withdrawal of the relevant drafted legislation as we consider the matter already settled with the adoption of the Cohabitation Agreement as it pertains to the legal plea of the minority under discussion.
As per the above, it goes without saying that there is no possibility that there will be any gay marriages conducted in the temples of ELLEN.A.I.S.
The original announcement from Facebook
I agree with this. Even if we accept that a religious marriage within the ancient ways can only be heterosexual, that doesn't mean I as a gay man have to engage with it, and even if I don't marry a same-sex partner in the eyes of Zeus and Hera, I should still be able to make legal arrangements with a secular state to ensure my potential partner and children are protected under the law. It's as simple as that.